Another One!

I'm sad to say that another Hamilton Op Shop is just about to bite the dust.

Gateway Op Shop in the city is going the same way that the Presbytarian Support shop directly across the road went last year.. Boo hiss! 

It's the demise of the traditional op shop model. I'll be gutted when there are only 'vintage' stores left. (although they do have a place too)

As I mentioned in this post a slight silver lining is that the Closing Down Sales are usually pretty amazing. My sister-in-law, Stan and I went to Gateway this morning. It's had a good sift through but there are always treasure waiting to be found! Especially if you're not too proud to rummage ! Hahaha.

There is still plenty there, and at 5c for the clothing, 10c for nearly everything else in store, you'd be silly not to get down there Hamilton peeps!!

I DID NOT buy any linen, which is pretty miraculous. Plus I had my sister-in-law beside me saying "NO, Linda, you DON'T need any more sheets!!" Doh.

You can't get much cheaper than that!

My favourite clothing scores.. Nature baby clothes for Stan, retro PJs for small kids, red tank for me and an AWESOME GENUINE vintage Frankton tee. I love Frankton, which for non-Hamiltonians is the suburb in Hamilton that has LOADS of oppies, and continues to get more.. 

Made in Germany.
Cake Plate.



Happy (but sad) Days. 

Basketry

I haven't done any collection posts for a looooong time ... 

apologies to instagram followers who would have seen these recently! 

I am currently having to clear out our garage (EPIC) as we are adding an extension soon... 

SO I am doing a lot of collating, clearing, turfing and sorting..

I seem to have collected quite a few of these baskets over the years! I have a soft spot for them, (and they'e really useful on shelves etc) as my Mum used to take us kids into the 'old folks' home' in Greytown when we were kids and make these baskets with the residents. 

They are a very fine example of 'Nana Technology'. I LOOOOVE them. 

They often have the BEST coverseal on the bases. 

This one is a favourite. It's very robust,  the colours are amazing, and whoever made it was a genius.

Happy Days!

JUMBLE TIME!

SOME of  my recent, mainly jumble sale scores... It's Spring here in NZ and that means only one thing - JUMBLE SEASON!

Newest Staffordshire mug.

Kitsch Kids Cookbook (try saying that 10 times!)

Arlo with a jumper he found at a jumble sale and bought with his own money for Stan! Very proud!

In love with these original artworks. 

Hand tooled leather satchel. And a second pheasant.

Dress for Iris which she LOVES, fabric, stamping set.

Old books are the best.
Curtain / fabric stash
Mug for the kids.
Thermos
Shelf
Plastic bling obvs

More from the old mattress appreciation files.

Crown Lynn Noeleen

More for my swan collection.

Hope you're all swimming in Happy Days out there in Blogland.

Rotorua Re-visited

I had a wonderful time op shopping in Rotorua again. My favourites remain the big old Hospice and the Red Cross shop near the city centre. (Instgrammers will have seen all these sorry! )

I didn't photograph everything - but these are a few purchasing highlights!!

Linen, green bag , wallpaper, games for the kids as we were on the way to the beach..crown lynn mugs....

Some may have noticed that I love taking photos of old mattresses, as for some reason we don't seem to be able to produce funky mattress coverings these days!! Gap in the market - entrepeneur anyone?! I don't buy them. AS usually they are 40  years old -ish. one of the things I generally don't buy second hand. 

Hospice.

A dress and a skirt.

More clothes. 

If you're a thrifter/collector like me, you'll probably also be obsessed with storage!! This book also ticks another box of mine - i LOVE Sunset Ideas books. We're renovating (adding an extension) soon - and this book is absolutely BRILLIANT and inspiring.  

Wallpaper (to add to my collection) Tin Bin, TV picture (3D pic - ) LOVE these. 

Fondue Forks 

HAPPINESS
Red Cross at the recycling centre.
AMAZIIIIIIIIIINNNNGGGG

Cool

Sums up Stan right now! And the lovely ladies in an op shop in town - St Lukes (below) attached these 2 dogs to his pushchair. Stoked. 

HAPPY DAYS!!

Random Recent(ish) Finds, Part 1

Some of the stuff I've found over the last half a year or so... minimal words!! (due to minimal time!!) But im still trying to spread the thrifting lifestyle love via this blog! Excuse my randomness!

COT Stan is actually our first baby that has slept in a cot - so we had to buy one!! 

Dolls, linen etc

ANOTHER brolly for the collection

Kitsch

From the Dump Shop - when Frank Casey suit hire closed down recently I got these hat boxes - PERFECT for christmas deco storage. Win.

Handmade slippers, Needlepoint /decal patterns book

happy days!

Op Shopping in Rotorua

Hello Blogland!

About a year ago, while my husband tried to work out a way to save the education system (NZEI conference) Stan and I spent 3 BLISSFUL days in Rotorua  sleeping, wandering aimlessly and op shopping. It was Absolutely brilliant.

We're doing it again in a week's time! (which was what inspired this post!)

Firstly a shout out to a blog called Rotorua Travel Secrets for the opshops info! I didn't necessarily agree with her/his opinions about the best op shops (that's subjective of course) but it was SOOOO good to have the heads up about where to find them all!

Nice little church one in the city centre.

Also in the city centre.

That's Stan, as he was. He's a year older and bigger now obviously! 

This was a little beauty, with the friendliest, loveliest staff. 

My utter and total favourite. I absolutely LOVE this one. It's out of the way in an industrial area off Lake Rd, so not as obvious.. but an absolute gem. My favourite type of op shop is junky ones like this, in which you have to literally treasure hunt and rummage. And heaps of heaps, everywhere. And the woman working there still wears her actual specs, funky ones from the 50s. May this hospice shop NEVER change!!

This was next to nothing. 

A bit more than I like to pay (coz I'm a cheaparse) but I couldn't resist these from the Habitat for Humanity store. 

My basketry obsession continues.

Makes weighing oneself a little more pleasant.

When I showed the kids this, and they asked if it works, I confessed that I didn't know but for 50c it was worth a go. Of course my oldest son popped up with a line from my favourite Macklemore Song (having technical issues  can't link it!)
 "Saw a broken keyboard, I bought a broken keyboard." Crack up. 

Old toys are best. Actually. 

Cute bags of cheap Christmas kitsch stuff. #stash

Clothes, linen, fabric obviously. 

A different colourway of this pattern to what I already have. Score. 

I obviously had to get this, because of the Irises. (and because I ALWAYS buy these if I see them and they're a good price!) #collectALLthethings

Cute winking dog. 

Look out Rotorua - I'm coming at you again!

HAPPY DAYS!