Friday's Finds: The Pyrex Gods are kind!

Last week saw me with a lot of doctors appointments, blood tests and other such goings-on relating to my illness. There was a lot of running around town associated with this and so to break things up a bit, I decided to call into the op shops that are located around my specialist's office. Lately, I haven't had a lot of luck at the op shops as my local ones have inflated their prices a ridiculous amount for anything they think even might be vintage or collectible, but I was lucky on this day to find not one, but three things that caught my eye and were actually cheap enough for me to justify bringing them home.

First was the large Pyrex dish - I don't own any rectangular pyrex and so I had to bring it home with me! It's a little scratched up, but still in pretty good shape for something that  don't doubt was very well used! Then I found the gorgeous little orange and brown, retro Pyrex ramekins for just $1.50 each. There were only three which is a shame because I'm sure they come in sets of four and I would have loved a complete set, but they are cute nonetheless and so I had to have them! Just as I was about to walk out the door, I found that little retro saucepan hidden down on the bottom shelf and I just had to have it! I think I'll use it as a planter on my verandah. Perfect with the floral pattern, right?

Have you had any luck in the op shops lately? Have the Pyrex gods been as kind to you as they have ben to me? I'd love to hear about your finds!

Friday's Finds: Ticking something off the wish list

Remember back in October when I wrote about my ultimate thrift wish list? Well, I recently was able to tick one of those very special items off the list as I came into possession of a set of vintage Nally Ware canisters!

I bought them off ebay for a pretty reasonable price, and they are in good but well used vintage condition. The set is missing the flour canister, but I'm confident I can pick a lonely one up some place or another. I'm convinced they are the perfect addition to my future kitchen, and I can't wait to get my own place again so I can get into decorating mode!

Friday's Finds: My favourite recently thrifted goods

Well, it has been absolutely ages since I have done a Friday's Finds post but now that I'm back into the swing of weekly op shopping jaunts, I thought I'd post a little catch up of my favourite thrifty finds of the last few months before I start with the (almost) weekly feature again.

First off, I finally found some cute vintage linen! Yay! I think I'm going to turn both sheets into clothes of some sort, but the pillowcases will probably make it onto the bed.

I am now determined to find purple stripey fabric like this after seeing this dress pattern. Probably not for use on this actual dress, but I still like both the fabric and the pattern.

This little glass bottle is so cute! I'm actually thinking of putting some kind of liquid in it before I put it on display. Perhaps some kind of oil or something? I really want to actually use it!

Pyrex! I don't love this piece (not a fan of the brown) but I have never seen this farm scene on Pyrex before, so I nabbed it.

Fabric! I'm not sure what I'll turn it into yet, but it is a massive piece and I couldn't pass it up for $2

 Last but not least, my absolute favourite find and a steal at only $5, this Corningware teapot!

Isn't it cute? I'm absolutely in love with it and it's in as new condition. I think it might replace my Willow one as my everyday teapot. It seems much more sturdy and I love that it has a little hanging cage for your tea leaves that hooks into the lid and that the lid locks into place so you don't have to keep one hand on it as you pour. 

Have you had any brilliant finds lately? I love having a sticky at the things people pick up from op shops and garage sales, don't you?

Fridays Finds: I Heart Garage Sales

A few weeks ago, I went home to spend time with my family for the Mother's Day weekend. Well, since my car broke down while I was there, the weekend soon turned into the week, which was a little too long for my liking, but nonetheless I had a great time catching up with my family, and Jake's as well, and particularly enjoyed spending quality time with my mum. 

While I was home, mum, my Aunty Bridget, Jake and I set off to enjoy one of mine and mum's favourite past-times together - garage sale hunting! There were quite a few good garage sales around that weekend, and all had items priced to go, so mum spoiled me a little and spent up big! We got quite a lot for our money, with most items only costing a dollar. I was absolutely stoked with what we found!

This tea cup was just begging me to take it home, as it sat lifeless on top of the one dollar box! It was a little dirty when I first picked it up, but I knew it would come up a treat. I'm not familiar with the brand Lucent, but for a dollar I was more than eager to add this little gem to my much loved and used collection!

Who can resist a hanging bottle? I mean, seriously? I can't! I dunno why I wanted this little thing so bad, but I did and I brought it home with me for another dollar and am planning to hang it on my verandah, as soon as I figure out how!

This cherry blossom plate is so cute! It is unmarked, but for only three dollars, I couldn't pass it up! Cherry Blossoms are a little bit of an obsession of mine, and I think serving my guests bikkies on this plate would go down mighty well! Not to mention save my clumsy hands from potentially breaking my good ones!

I wasn't that sure about this cane spice rack, but mum insisted it would be a good buy at two dollars, and boy was she right! I have such limited cupboard space in my kitchen, and love to use a variety of spices in my meals every day, so having this next to the stove is an absolute treat! I'd love to pretty it up a little, but we will jus have to wait and see!

Last but not least is this little set of bowls which I picked up for a dollar for the three. They're not in the best condition, but since I collect this pattern (the name of which just will not come to me right now, but I'm sure the brand has something to do with King and it could possibly be called Harvest Lustre Ware if that isn't just a name I made up in my head) I just had to have them! Below you can see my collection so far in full. I got the rest of it from an op shop for $2.50 for the lot and I have to say, those are my most used tea cups, I think! They are just so pretty and shiny, I love them! Nan has more of the collection and has promised it will be mine one day, but for now I love the pieces that I have and will definitely be keeping on the look out for more reasonably priced bits to add to my collection!

Have you had any great finds lately? I always love to hear about people's garage sale and thrift shop adventures. It seems that cheap second hand goods are becoming a bit of a thing of the past lately, and these certainly are the best finds I have had since moving up the coast. I was pleasantly surprised at how cheap they were. If you have any recent finds posts, I would love for you to link them below! 

Fridays Finds: The Dress That Stole My Heart

There it was, peeking a pale pink, cotton lace sleeve out from between two other gowns on the rack. 

"I like this one" I remarked, as I pulled it and it's bejewelled satin petticoat out from the rack and held it to my body. 

"Try it on!" the shop attended urged. I cringed internally for a moment - I knew this dress wouldn't be cheap, and I was already starting to become attached. "Go on, I've never seen it on before. Give us a little fashion show!" 

I gave in, and snatching other dresses from the hanger as I went, made my way to the change room. Slipping the petticoat over my head, the tiny waist of the dress caught on my breasts for a moment. Easing the heavy satin into place, I began to do the little eyelets up. Somewhere around the middle of my rib cage, the eyelets would close no more. The top and bottom few had snapped into place, but there was one stubborn one in the middle that simply would not do up! I started to panic a little. What if the dress wouldn't fit either? Well at least I wouldn't be tempted to buy it, but what if I got stuck in it? It had happened to me before, after all - but never with a dress as exquisite as this one. Taking a deep breath, I sucked in my breath and pulled the crisp cotton over my head. A cascade of fabric fell below my waist, and I gave a little twirl - it fit! Emerging from the change room, I felt like a princess. The shop attendant gasped.

"Oh, isn't it beautiful!" She exclaimed. I simply couldn't get the smile off my face. "Now darling, I hope you know it is quite expensive - I don't want you getting too attached!" It was too late. This fabulous dress, made in the traditional early 1950's style and entirely out of pale pink cotton lace, had already stole my heart!

None of the other dresses I tried on that day fit as perfectly as that first one (petticoat aside), nor were they quite as beautiful. I couldn't get my mind off the perfect shade of pink, the way it fitted my chest and waist like it was sewn especially for my body, the beautiful, full and classic skirt which fell to just below my knees. I loved it. I loved every little bit of that dress, right down to the shiny satin petticoat which I was sure I could make fit me if I just let the side seams out a little. It didn't matter anyway, really, that the petticoat didn't do up - the little patch of flesh peeking through the side was lost in all the splendour of the lace overlay.  All day I have been thinking of that dress. Dreaming up excuses to buy it and occasions to wear it on. I know there is no way I can afford it's $250 price tag, and that makes me sad. Oh, but to dream, is it ever really enough?

******

Well, this week I was too broke to even op shop thanks to some clever timing on various different companies' behalves. I swear that all my service providers all got together and said "Lets all send Sunae her bills on this date! That will be fun!" No, companies, not fun! Not fun at all thank you very much!

Anyway, as you can imagine going a fortnight without shopping is not easy! So I decided that today I would go downtown and have a little look in the Coolangatta Antique Centre and the vintage clothing shop a few doors down to pass the time and satisfy the urge. Since both these shops have quite pricey things in them, I knew I wouldn't be tempted with the "oh, just one dollar here, two dollars there" approach that seems to dwindle away my money in the op shops. I was (sort of) right - nothing in that price bracket but there were some really cheap tea cups that might just make their way into my cupboard come payday, as well as some more expensive items which have made it onto my mile-long wish list. 

I went to the vintage clothing store first. I didn't take any pictures in there because I was too busy chatting to the shop attendant and trying on gorgeous dresses, but let me tell you now - before I walked out of that shop I fell in love. That is where the little anecdote above come from - true to life, I tell you! That dress really is the most beautiful dress I have ever tried on!  I'm contemplating selling a kidney so I can afford it. Anyway, moving on!

These pictures are from the Coolangatta Antiques and Collectables Centre. These are just a few of the many, many things which caught my eye and made me realise how much of a hoarder I would become if I actually had the money to buy all this stuff!

The clothes in here, if you're ever in the area are actually really reasonably priced! 

This tea cup totally belongs in my cupboard! Pity it's $95. 

This display had me yearning for a big, old Victorian-style mansion. Or even a cute little cottage to put this chair in the corner of the bedroom or tucked into a little reading nook!

This is a terrible picture of a beautiful fruit bowl which caught my eye because it is pink. 

Just a few little tea cups for me to lust over. I'm starting to realise that I'm a little bit obsessed!

Last but not least, the vintage phones! There were about 5 other shelves of these, but I took a picture of this one because it's the one that had all the pink ones on it. I really, really, really want the pink and black one in the top right corner! The black on in front of it, I could also take!

Anyway, I had a lovely time browsing the shops this afternoon! I'm thinking of going back there tomorrow with mum, since she is coming up for a visit. Maybe on payday I will sneak a few of the cheaper tea cups into my budget. Or maybe I can do myself a deal where for every assessment I have coming up which I get a distinction or higher in, I can buy myself a present? In that case, with my first two assessments coming back as HD's (did I tell you guys about that??? So exciting!) I guess I already owe myself two tea cups! Or one pretty vintage dress?

Have you ever tried on a dress which felt like it was made for you? I want to hear all about it :)

Friday's Finds: It's a big one, and it was free!

Today's find is a pretty big one. In fact, it is so big that we had to take our front door off it's hinges last night to get it into the house! It's a beautiful, tan leather lounge:

Okay, so maybe it's not that beautiful, but compared to the bright blue monstrosity of a futon which previously occupied this space it is a massive improvement! Plus, it was free!

Jake and I have been looking for a lounge ever since we moved in, but since we don't have the money to buy one new and lifeline seems to think that an old, stained couch is worth $200 (yeah, right!) we have so far just had to stick to our terribly uncomfortable and ugly futon. That's why when Jake's mum called us on Tuesday afternoon to say she had just seen a leather lounge on the side of the road for free, Jake and I jumped right into the car and headed for Ballina. 

When we got there, we realised it wasn't just a lounge, it was a lounge suite with two arm chairs as well. We also realised it was incredibly dirty, but it didn't have any tears or anything, so we took it anyway! The ladies giving it away told us it was their dad's and he had recently passed away. They were incredibly kind and had given away every single possession in his home other than what was sentimental to them, wanting their dad's stuff to have a second life and help someone in need. We were incredibly lucky to get this lounge, because it was basically the only thing they had left! The op shop ladies hadn't taken it because it wouldn't fit into their truck. We did offer them some money for it, but they flatly refused. Then they gave us a beautiful painting as well, in a hand carved Balinese frame! Seriously lovely people, I tell you! 

I'm so happy to finally have a comfortable and neutral lounge! It makes our whole living room look so much more put together and once it's clean (which is proving a mission) I'm going to love flopping down into it at the end of the day! 

Have you ever scored something brilliant for free? It's a great feeling, isn't it? Just to know there are still kind and giving people in this world. 

Friday's Finds: Tugun Vinnies and a Little Question

I FINALLY got a decent op-shopping adventure done this week! Seriously, I thought the day would never come when the Gold Coast op-shop fairies gave me a decent haul! I have been here two months with nothing but the slimmest of pickings at the op-shops I was able to visit on my way home from uni on the bus, but this week, with the help of my new car, I was finally able to try somewhere new and boy did it pay off!

I was amazed at how clean and beautiful the displays at Tugun Vinnies were when I walked in the door. A lot of effort goes into the presentation of their wares - that much is for sure! There was quite a lot of good stuff in there, including some mid-century furniture, a big pine dresser and a heap of good quality clothes and homewares. The only downside I could find to this beautiful Vinnies was the prices. 

Absolute rip-off central.

One of the things I hate about op shops these days is how much they are able to charge for anything they think hipsters, or stupid people as I like to call them, will pay for anything old. And half the time they get it wrong anyway and the stuff they think is crap is actually the stuff I would pay good money for. And that drives me mad! It drives me so mad, in fact, that I started making a vlog about it today. I obviously haven't posted it though because a) I hate seeing/hearing myself on screen and b) I am a total pussy and have no idea whether you guys would actually like to see my mug on your screen talking crap about op shops and how hipsters are taking over the world. Although my video isn't nearly as exciting as I just made out it was. Crap. Back to the stuff I bought?

Okay, so the belt and books were just little tie bits I paid way too much for and didn't really need, but this sewing pattern is absolutely to. die. for. and was only $1. I haven't checked all the pieces yet, but even if they aren't all there,  love the picture on the front and am sure I can find a use for it anyway ;)

The "Dolly Dolly" jacket is absolutely gorgeous! I'm about 90% sure that it's vintage and I love the way it fits, with the shoulder pads and the flared peplum-like waist! It's going to look amazing with jeans this winter :)

The darling Katies blouse is almost definitely 80's, judging by the ginormous shoulder pads and the fit of the sleeves! I love the detail on the collar and shoulders and wil definitely be wearing this a lot tucked into skirts, high waisted pants and untucked with jeans.

Have you had any op shop buys lately?
And would you be interested in seeing me do a vlog? I'd love to hear your opinions and ideas of what I could post about!

Friday's Finds: Do you like... cheese?

Okay, so I might be a little too obsessed with Channing Tatum right now, eagerly awaiting GI Joe 2 to hit the screens in Australia, so everything is turning into a quote from one of his movies for me right now, including the title of this post!

Anyway, how great is this cheese platter I found at the Salvos yesterday?

It's been slim pickings for the last few weeks at the two op shops I am able to visit at the bus changeover on my way home from uni, so I was stoked to walk in there yesterday and see this little beaut. He will look great out on the table if I ever make enough friends to invite them round for fondue/dinner/anything-but-wine and cheese.

I also saw some great pieces of furniture which I would have taken home in a heart beat if I wasn't catching the bus home to my tiny little apartment. One particular thing which caught my eye was an antique bar cart with fold down table top which opened up to a really nice size. It was gorgeous, but I had to just settle on the cheese platter for now, since there are other pieces of furniture that I need to put in the limited space in our house. 

Another thing that caught my eye was a set of blue willow mugs which I would have loved to add to my collection, but they weren't vintage and Lifeline had them priced at $5 each! My whole damn teapot was only $14! I kindly let the man behind the counter know that those pieces were overpriced, but I doubt the problem will be rectified. Lifeline seem to like overcharging for anything remotely decent, in my opinion. 

Have you had any luck thrifting lately? Any pieces like my bar cart which you had to leave behind? It's a total heart-breaker when that happens, isn't it?

Friday's Finds - A Digital Find

Well, since I haven't had any luck with op shopping this week, I thought I would share with you all a vintage find I came across on Facebook. If you know me at all, then you will know that I am fascinated with anthropological studies and I think this advertisement is a great reflection of how society has changed over time. It was found in a 1950's newspaper and I'm sorry that I don't have a source, but as I came across it in Facebook, that can't really be helped!

It really gives us something to think about, doesn't it? Oh how the world of fashion has changed!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have you entered my 100 follower giveaway yet? 

Go here for more details!

PLUS, 20% off advertisement on Little Foal with the code ifollow20

Friday's Finds

I spent this week staying at mum and dad's place to get my back fixed, and while I was there I took a trip to Lismore with my good friend Alisha and her mum to hit up the op shops and have a little catch up. I must say, I am impressed with this haul, and equally impressed with the whopping $17 total that these items (including the double bedspread which I used as a backdrop) came to.

The floral mugs are bone china and were only 50c each, as were the Noritake tea cups. Anyone who knows me will know I am a total tea snob - very particular about the tea I drink, the way it's made and what it's served in. I won't drink tea out of anything that isn't bone china and these mugs are the perfect, pretty way to consume large amounts of tea in the winter months (which I am starting to sorely anticipate). The bed spread is currently covering my ugly lounge, until I either find a chenille spread for it, or get a new one. It brightens the room up nicely, having cream on the lounge. I love it. 

The divided dish was a practical find which will get tonnes of use, and the other dish is marked "Fire King" and I absolutely love it! Not sure if it will stay in the kitchen or find it's way as storage in the sewing room yet, but the pattern in beautiful. I realised today that none of my "pyrex" is actually pyrex, but I totally don't care because they're so pretty and practical. 

While I was at my parents' place, mum cleaned out her cupboards and gave me a tonne of antique serving ware and other tidbits that she doesn't want anymore. I swear it was better than Christmas, and I'll post a bit about it when it's all unpacked, because it's just so awesome! So many beautiful things which were totally off-limits when I was a little girl are finally mine, and I'm so excited to have visitors over and pull it all out. She even gave me two small Doulton plates, which is a big deal for mum, because she collects it and my dad bought her these plates when they lived in Toowoomba, which basically kick-started her collection. I feel so lucky to have grown up in a house which was filled with antiques, because it has really fostered my love for it all. I think it can go either way when you grow up in a house like ours - you either love and embrace it, or hate and shun it. I'm so glad that I fell in love with it, and I attribute my passion for history to this antique-filled upbringing. I always loved hearing the stories behind the things mum and dad found and collected, and I think that was my first real exposure to "history". 

Have you had any recent thrifty finds that blew your mind? Or perhaps some exciting hand-me-downs, like I received from mum?

(Late) Friday's Finds

Okay guys, I know it is now Sunday, but sometimes lif gets in the way of things, and this little blogger has to take a random trip to Coolangatta to inspect potential apartments (keep your fingers and toes crossed for me that we get one of them, please?) instead of writing posts. I promise once we have moved, I will be all set up to get to a regular and more consitent blogging pattern, but for now you'll all just have to grin and bear it the way it is :)

I had a great week at the op shops this week! Jake and I scored this dining table for $65. It's solid pine and needs a lot of work done to it (total sandback and recoat plus reupholstering) but I should get out of it for about $90 total, and that is wayyyy cheaper than what you'd buy such a well built, solid table for new!

 

 

This little pine hall table also needs some TLC, but mum bought it for me for $20, so I'm not complaining :) Besides, it will match the dining table!

 

And finally, my present to Chrissy of My Dear Watson for the Very Thrifty Christmas Gift Exchange which Lara's Vintage hosted! I was unfortunate enough to never recieve my e-mail giving me Chrissy's detail's, so I'm sending off her pressie a tad late, but I hope she understands! I think the email went to junk mail, and because I didn't check my e-mails on the computer for about a week, it was automatically deleted. Oh well, Chrissy will get her little package eventually and I sure hope she likes what I picked out for her!

Chrissy and I have slightly different vintage styles, but after scrolling through her blog for hours on end, I think I made a wise choice by buying this Noritake cup and saucer set when I saw it! The pattern on it is s beautiful! I'm more of a floral person myself, but I can see the beauty in this piece and am kind of sad to not be keeping it for myself ;)

Chrissy commented on my last Friday's Finds post that she liked these pink and gold beads I picked up, so I threw that in for her too. I did originally want to keep them to start my own vintage jewellery collection, but I don't think I'd wear it much anyway, so I'm glad it see it go to a good home. Chrissy also mentioned she would like something which represents where her gift giver is from, and due to my obsession with these souvenier spoons, I couldn't walk past this Airlie Beach one! The Great Barrier Reef, while not actually local to me, is an Australian icon, and the spoon itself is quite gorgeous! (sorry for the terrible photo though!)

Friday's finds...

Finally I have gotten off my lazy butt and gone op shopping and here is what I have to share with all of you:

A good haul, I must say. I'm especially stoked about the sewing pattern. It's in great condition, has all the pieces and I am already looking for the perfect fabric to make myself a dress :)

No, I'm not pregnant, nor am I planning to be just yet - the knitted baby cardigan is for Jake's sister who will be having her baby in March :) They decided not to find out the gender of the baby and it's absolutely killing me having to shop gender-neutral for it! We think it's a boy, but no guarantees there, just combined intuition!

I also bought some picture frames, but they're not quite ready for you to see yet ;)
What have you found on your recent op shopping expeditions? Anything special?


Disclaimer: This post is a day late because I accidentally scheduled it for today instead of yesterday (duh, Sunae!)

New Series: Friday Finds

Today I am introducing you all to a brand new series here on Little foal which I call:

I absolutely love going op-shopping in my spare time and find this a great way to get my hands on beautiful antiques, cute little homewares, second hand clothes for wearing or refashioning, as well as books, movies and vintage sewing notions. There are heaps of great op-shops in my area and I am constantly popping in to various ones to see what's new.

My Friday Finds:
Today I found some great things at a few of my local op shops. Here they are: 

I fell in love with the white biscuit tin the moment I saw it! There is nothing I like better than a hot cup of tea and a biscuit on a cold day and there is this gorgeous white tea box which I want so badly that would look great with this lil' porcelain bikky tin next to it on the kitchen counter! The doily I will use for craft, more than likely. I bought the sewing pattern because it looked in awesome condition and i wouldn't mind making a few of those breezy summer dresses and comfy looking pants (out of muslin maybe?). The fabric is a huge piece - a steal at $2.50! The scarf is for a project that I am thinking of doing soon - keep your eyes peeled, and I just could not walk away from the BBC series of Pride and Prejudice, even though it is a video version! I will be a Lit student next year, so you can imagine how excited I egt over Pride and Prejudice, my second favourite classic book (behind Wuthering Heights of course).

All in all, I think I scored well! Have you scored any great op shop finds this week?