Wednesday Wishlist: Ultimate Thriftlist Edition!

I really want to get back to writing more vintage-related posts on the blog, so I thought that for today's wishlist it might be a nice idea to show you all the vintage items I am always looking out for in op shops and secondhand stores. A lot of these item are really popular at the moment and, as with most good quality vintage, rarely grace my local op shop's shelves but they certainly would be a dream-come-true to own! 

Vintage Canisters

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 Vintage Suitcases

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Mid-Century Furniture

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Vintage dresses

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A Queen-Sized Chenille Bedspread

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All of these items have been on my wishlist for a very long time now and are what I look out for most when thrifting. I recently picked up a double-seized chenille bedspread at a garage sale, but it is just plain yellow and I would love something a little more ornate. I also found the cutest vintage rice canister at my local op shop along with the first reasonably priced vintage suitcase that I've seen, but it was in really bad condition and I didn't have the cash on me for the suitcase when I popped in, as I was only there to fill in time before an appointment. Oh well, I will tick these babies off the list someday! 

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! 

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: Burleigh Haul

Yesterday I took the bus up to my Uni for a meeting with the student success adviser. It was my first time catching the bus all that way and the first time I'd had to make a transfer (in a suburb I didn't know, to top it off). I was extremely nervous about making that cross over and getting to the meeting on time. As my first engagement with the University, I thought it was incredibly important that I be there on time. Fortunately, my plan to get there 15 minutes early was the best forward-thinking I have ever done, because it saved my butt when my first bus was running late and made me miss my second bus and have to wait around for a further 10 minutes for another. 

The meeting was incredibly helpful, and I feel much more confident about starting this new chapter of study now I have met with the success adviser and learned more about what my first year in the School of Humanities is going to be like, what resources are available to me and where I can go if I ever need help with anything. 

I was much more relaxed on the trip back, having made my deadline and learned a lot of helpful stuff, and so I decided to take the bus I was on all the way to Burleigh Heads before changing, rather than changing at the designated stop. Boy am I glad of this little brainwave, because opposite the bus stop is a great Salvos store, and look what I found!

My first ever pieces of vintage Pyrex! Ooh, it is a happy day for this little blogger where I could tick "Pyrex" of my "to find" list at $2 a piece!

These books are what the TV series Bones is loosely based around. The writer is a forensic anthropologist and all the science is real, as in the show (which she produces). The books are basically a reflection of Kathy's life, and I can't wait to read them! If you're a Bones nut like me, you will be interested to note that the author's name "Kathy Reichs" is the name of the character in Brennan's book on the show! How is that for a cool Bones nerd fact?

I just love the chipper patterns on my pyrex! They're very "me".

I almost didn't buy this dress, because it was $6 and not something I would usually wear, but I kinda love the tie up front and am starting to crush on the khaki trend wayyy much lately, so bought it anyway. I think it would look great with a cute, lacy cami peeking through the ties, and will layer great for autumn and winter here in Australia. 

Have you had any simply amazing thrift store finds recently? I'm so glad I stopped at Burleigh on my way home. The fact that I now own vintage Pyrex has me absolutely bouncing with joy!

(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?