Good Grief ! I'm not sure where this week has gone since Friday is here again already. How is that possible? Wasn't it only Friday the day before yesterday? No matter- If you have a favourite thing this week I'd love to hear all about it. Feel free to write your own post and link up at the bottom of this post so I can come and have a squizz.
Op Shopping is the art of buying things at a fraction of retail price, finding unique and unusual items, and adding pretty things to an already over flowing house. There is nothing I like better than toodling round the local op shops and scoring myself crazy bargains. It's absolutely true that one (wo)man's trash is another (wo)man's treasure.
Sometimes I see things that make me run across the length of a shop in order to get to it before someone else gets their hands on it. In this case I elbowed my own mother out of the way to get to these. Sorry Mum. I am a vintage chenille freak and it's possible that I have cornered the market in the Southern Hemisphere. When I die it's going to come to light that I was the crazy chenille lady. Even Mr. P doesn't know how much of this stuff I have stashed all over the house.
Ditto on vintage sheets .....I have about 40 of them ....I don't have any plans for them . I just collect them. I might need them one day. For when I open a vintage sheet shop.
Op shops are a mecca for all sorts of cool stuff...like fabric. I found these curtains and pounced on them like a seagull on a chip. How cool will these be for applique or the back of a quilt?
I love old glassware . This is a recent find.
And this is an antique butter dish I found on another trip. My sister loves this and it lives with her now.
Lace and Linen. I have big plans for these. Oh- the possibilities!
I picked up a pair of sizzling platters on one of my recent expeditions.One of the thrills of op shopping is that you never know what you'll find.
Among my all time favourite finds is this soup tureen.
And this very cute shabby old chair...
Do you op shop? What's the best thing you have found? Do you go with a plan in mind or just wander aimlessly waiting for something to catch your fancy?
Happy Friday to everyone. One more day until the weekend. Whoooooo Hoooo!
31 comments:
I haven't been op shopping for a wee while, and have been thinking lately that it's time I hit the ops again....never know what treasures I could be missing, do we?
I know how much you like op shopping, from personal experience. II must say I wasn't really expecting to be rugby tackled by you in that shop when I was reaching for the pretty sheets. I hope your mum is ok?
I wish op shopping was as fun here, it's much more expensive and difficult to find good bargains. You have found some wonderful things, I love the chair.
I op shopped last week haven't done it for ages but thought I would pop down to local church and have a look. picked up 5 skirts 3 of which were fletcher jones pure wool classics which I am still deciding if I am going to wear or felt them to death and dye the wool. Another skirt which in my head I was sure would fit... no way in hell it was going to get over my bum at the moment. But the fabric is a lovely texture and I think it is going to be a bag. And I only payed $15 for the lot.
Might have mooch some more when the kids go back to school.
Yep LOVE a ramble around an op shop.
Although we don't have op shops here we do have thrift stores .. I'm not patient enough to go to the shops that might have the bargains. Lately I've been going to estate sales for my bargains. I confess thought that it makes me feel a little like a vulture ..
Haven't been bargaining hunting in awhile, because I was trying to get rid of all the bargins I had found in the past 20 years. Too much stuff. But I do love a good find on the side of the road.......my husband hates it when I throw it in the back of my truck. Good stuff though sometimes.
I occasionally hit a "garage sale", but I used to collect so many 'treasures' that only needed a screw or a coat of paint, etc. that it go out of hand, so now I generally sleep in on Saturday mornings and leave the bargain hunting to people with a less full house than I...
no OP shopping for me -- I'm spending saturday at the Mall of America with 30,000 other idiots trying to beat the heat humidity -- I must be nuts!
there are treasures to be found there -- if you can stand roving batches of teenagers!
Here we call it thrift store shopping or "going to Sal's" (Salvation Army). I haven't been in awhile (already have too much stuff!) but love to find pottery and rustic items, buttons and spools, etc. I have not seen a lot of fabric locally, though I always look. There seems to be lots of clothing and books and ugly couches at our op shops! My sister hunts for "shiny things", mostly silver or silverplate, Mom likes linens and jewelry.
Great finds you made there, love that orange printed sheet.
I don't go Op shopping regularly as I have a supplier in the Mother, as she volunteers in one she often gets to unpack the donations and snaffles things for me to look at in the comfort of her home. She usually washes them first too so I don't even have to put up with that musty smell.
You sure have gathered some lovely treasures.
Hi Shay
Not only do I op shop, I work in one! It's the best fun ever. I never cease to be amazed at the stuff that comes in. I find it a great source for quilt backs. Did you know old wool blankets make amazing quilt inners? Sure makes a cosy quilt.
Cheers
Linda
I shop for vintage sheets (not called old by me) all the time. I love the look of them, the designs that are so very retro. I don't hoard them though....like some people...I use them for the backs of quilts. In fact the first orange quilt I made was from vintage. Value Village to be exact. It's something to look forward to this winter in Florida where there are many outlets.
You know I love to shop the thrift stores! I call ours "Salvation Armani" because I never know what goodies I'll find. ☺ My best find was 2 antique dough bowls at the Church Charity Shop...50¢ for both! Happy Friday night! ☺
We call them charity shops over here and there are some good ones. I never go clothes shopping but that's just because I avoid clothes shopping full-stop. But I have been known to pick up sheets in my time, though none are as pretty as yours. It's normally curtains in ours and yep, I've incorporated some in sewing projects. Loving your op-shop finds.
LOVE the line about opening your vintage sheet shop! HA HA!
I wish I could do this - so many people do and are good at it! I get all creeped out like everything has fleas. Isn't that horrible of me? The good thing is, I don't go out and buy much brand new, wasting money on things I could find used, because I don't buy much of ANYTHING! Ha ha!
I think people that can see past the state something is in, and see what they can make of it, are true artists. Go you!
Does 27 pairs of jeans count? Sometimes I think I need to go to the salvos more often, but most of the time I can tell myself that, no, I do not need another pair of low rise bootcuts, even if they're only $7. And especially if I donated them two weeks ago. It's a dangerous habit. Be careful.
Hi - I've just found your Favourite thing Friday and thought it would be fun to join in.
We don't have Op shops, but have found a Bazaar today for the first time, which was full of some truly wonderful rubbish, but not much worth buying!
I think I need to find better op shops....I've never found anything that lovely in any of the ones I've looked in! I have been frequenting them more recently as I'm furnishing a holiday house, so have been mainly looking at kitchenwares - salad bowls, platters, etc. Of course, if you are looking for something in particular, you never find it, but I did pick up a great pair of (new) shoes!
I occasionally browse our architectural warehouse....hoping in vain for an old table to double as an island in my kitchen and not dwarf the extra three inches I can currently spare!
I love your finds....love the butter dish the most - is it Fostoria (sp?)
cute chair, too!
Most of my shopping is done at the GW. I have wanted to find a soup tureen in grest shape but haven't yet..I'm being a little envyous right now....It may take me a while to find one as I'm a bit cheap...or should I say I'm thrifty. I like the chair too. Trish
Op shopping is my favourite past time too! Love the thrill of the hunt!! You have some fabulous finds there, could never resist a chenille bedspread, pile of doilys or vintage sheeting!
I love chenille quilts and I have dreamed I've having a beautiful green one with love pink & lemon flowers etc on it in the centre and the pillow foldover(you'll know the type I mean)I loved all your finds and isn't it GOOD to recycle....that's my excuse anyway.
Great FTF.
Some really great finds! I especially love the chair and the fabric. I have to say the op shopping with my 2 small children is not nearly so fun or rewarding. Any rugby tackling would fully be reserved for them- tackling them away from them knocking down a wall of China. LOL!
Love your op shop finds! I am glad to be in good company with you and others in shopping the thrifts for our favorite obsessions. That orange vintage sheet is begging to become a quilt back...or part of the front.
Op shopping is a talent and you have it!
Here's a suggestion for your vintage sheets: cut them into FQ's, bundle them in coordinating bunches and sell them on Etsy.
Love your soup tureen (have seen it before, but it is still just as beautiful -- it is a very classic piece) and I can't wait to see what you're going to do with all the doilies. Please tell me you're not going to cover every horizontal surface in your house and get 15 more cats. Because I would have to arrange an intervention if that were the case.
Fun post! Love seeing all your op shop treasures.
xo -E
Love all your Op treasures. The vintage sheets are so cool and I'm in love with your lace finds. Wish I lived closer, then you could teach me how to find such treasures.
Kind of like a treasure hunt, isn't it? :-) I haven't really learned to shop as entertainment ~ except for fabric. I'm usually focused on what I need to get in and out. That said, my cousin is trying to teach me. Maybe there's hope for me yet.
I do way too much of this type of shopping! I don't have a place to put the things I have now, but certain things I just can't resist, especially if they are a bargain! I have only two chenille spreads, but lots of vintage sheets. I used to have plans for them, but I simply can't bring myself to cut into them! This weekend my score was a milk glass banana dish, children's sized, and a precious little angel for my sister-in-law. I did very well to limit my purchases to just two items!
I am so far behind....where did last week go??
You seem to have the knack for finding great things at the op shops, i can go in and hardly ever see anything but I have a friend up here who also has the knack. Its a gift :-)
oh brother... I just linked to the wrong party. Meant to be linking to Pyjama Party Sunday HA! Must have hit the back arrow (was reading this post last) and clearly wasn't paying enough attention... Sorry!!
I used to go all the time, but my time seems to be eaten up by other things (children) these days. I don't go with a plan, just to see what's there. If something follows me home, so be it, but I am also happy to come home empty-handed (as is my hubby). He is strictly a "buy it new" kind of guy. He doesn't even use the library - only new books for him! Oh well, he supports the economy, and I keep our family out of the poorhouse. We make a great team!
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