Sunday

 An assortment of things found at the op shop;

The tag had $7 on this 'must have' sweater, but I got it down to $5 simply because I showed the lady at the counter a couple of pulled threads.  When I got it home, I pulled in the threads with a fine crochet hook - looks as good as new!  Remember this tip when you are looking at sweaters.  ;)

This is one of those things that left me stumped as to why I bought it.  Possibly because it came in it's own cute metal tin?  Maybe because the husbeast is into everything that has to do with car racing??  Maybe it was both.  I snapped it up for $4.  I rarely see metal toy cars at the op shop... they are usually all plastic and almost destroyed by its previous (child) owner.

 

I did some research on this gold spoon some time ago, and I did find some on eBay going for some astronomical price, and some cheaper.  I'm guessing the cheaper ones are/were replicas, but I really don't know what category my falls under.  I like to think that I scored one worth a mint.  LOL.  I paid 50 cents for this elegant spoon.

A vintage Gerber baby silver plated spoon for 50 cents. 

Silver can be so difficult to photograph sometimes! 

And finally, I just had to have these very sweet marble ducks.  At least I think they are marble... and if not, they are polished rock.  Found these for $1 each.  They measure about 2 inches across.  :)

Friday

Two postings in one week.  That, my dear friends is a rarity these days for me!

Yesterday I showed you a sweet little ceramic canister which I thought read 'peace onion' underneath.  Well!  After some investigating, I learned that it actually reads 'blue onion', a pottery name from the 1950/60's.  I found a bunch of them and other items here at Ebay.

Anyway seeing that I'm here, I may as well show you this darling little old Avon bottle.  It was $5, but I think it was worth every penny.  

Thursday

 E.T.A.
After some investigating, the writing at the bottom says 'Blue Onion', a 50's/60's pottery label.  
 

Somebody was actually tossing this away!
How cute is it?  I know it's old, but just how old?  It has a little crazing and it's not terribly noticable.  But not a chip, and not a crack.  How kitsch!

So what's the mark at the bottom?  Peace Onion?  LOL!

Friday

Too many bunnies in our house!!  Not only do we have a real one that follows me around like a little puppy dog just about wherever I go, but I NEED to collect fake ones as well.

This kitschy and cute set of ceramic rabbits was a real find.  They look vintage to me, so I love them even more for that.  Not a crack, not a chip found on any of them.  

I scored the bigger ones for $1 each and the smaller one for 50 cents.  They look so yummy and edible like chocolate, right?

 

And how precious is this bunny egg cup, I ask you?  Scored it for $1.

 

Now, I can't remember what I paid for this one, but I'm sure it wasn't more than $1.50 because that's my spending limit when it comes to 'most' egg cups. 

 

A set of 4 bunny egg cups, but found at 4 separate op shops!

Some were 50 cents, some were $1.

Thursday

I'm such a sucker for many things, including mini perfume bottles.  I don't care whether they are full or empty.  I just love them.  Here is a classic blast from the past;

I remember Sea Jade by Yardley, but I never wore it.  The smell is fresh, but I'm not really able to describe that well.  It's not a horrible smell and it doesn't even smell old... but it's something I'd probably never wear unless I was desperate for perfume.  

And here I am in possession of Sea Jade and it only cost me $1.99.  Now, when I found the bottle at the op shop it wasn't actually in the box.  Something made me vigorously rummage through the basket of knick-knacks that it was in, and I miraculously found the box.  I'm so glad I did!  Do you know how rare it is to find something vintage like this WITH a box?

3 more mini's found at a different op shop for $2 each;

Perfume unknown - it has such a cute little top;

The lovely Ysatis by Givenchy.  I remember buying this once in the 80's and I adored it, so I must buy it again some day.

Another unknown perfume, but gosh the bottle is a vintage-y kind of lover-ly;

Thursday

There must be a way out, I thought to myself many months ago.  Out of where exactly?  Out of the mess I'm in, the stuff I have to tip-toe over, the mess that I dread looking at every time I come home, the 'crap' that is accumulating in my life... (in more ways than one).  It was only the other day when I said to my mother while I was looking through other peoples discarded stuff, 'it's a sickness now'.  You see, I know it but I choose to ignore it.  And just for the record, I can tell my mother enjoys it too, or at least enjoys watching me and also gets a little useful something herself once in a while.

I used to have visions of becoming a minimalist well before I started the accumulation, but now I see it's almost too late for me.  But if I can help one person see the light, then I'd have done my job and be thankful that I could help you, your friend or a family member.  Simply speaking, don't start collecting too much stuff.  Easy, right?

Well not for some.  There are different types of hoarders, take me for example.  I don't need stuff, but I like to see stuff around me.  It comforts me, I'm not alone when stuff is around me.  The truth is that I could give it all away tomorrow if I really needed to, but because I don't have to in my own mind (there's the problem!), I won't.  Something major would need to happen in my life for me to discard everything I have.   If only the husbeast would tell me to clean up my act, then I probably would make a big effort.  He won't help me with my problem because he's got a problem of his own, and that's collecting his own junk!

I have to change my ways and quickly because it's getting out of hand.  Thank goodness I can say that I haven't become a full on hoarder - but I do have that tendency if I'm not careful.  Maybe if the husbeast sees that I'm making a big effort, then he'll follow suit.  One would hope and wish anyway.

And just when I think it's almost too late, there is a light bulb moment.  For me it was Ebay as I mentioned recently.  Did I say recently?  It feels like days ago, but in fact it was many weeks ago.  Oh time, where on earth do you go in such a hurry?

Anyway, Ebay has been my saviour when it comes to my accumulation.  

Now, I don't have to be the brightest star to know what your thinking.

" DO YOU MEAN WHEN I BUY SOMETHING FROM EBAY, IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WAS IN SOMEONES PILE OF JUNK READY TO BE DISPOSED OF??? "  Was that what you were thinking more or less?  I know if I were you, that's exactly what I'd be thinking and with GREAT SHOCK AND HORROR.

But let me ask you... (and before I ask the question):

Senario No.1

Somebody has had an item in their home for many years from when it was new or second hand, but they decide to sell it on Ebay.  It sells, the purchaser receives it and is satisfied with their purchase.

Senario No.2

Somebody discards an item from within their home which they had for many years from when it was new or second hand, somebody else find this discarded item and cleans it up and hey presto, you have an item to sell on Ebay.  It sells, the purchaser receives it and is satisfied with their purchase.

What's the difference?  Something very simple; it was placed outside exposed to the elements for a short while.  Whoopy-do.  So who really cares?  As long as the item is in clean and in excellent condition, who does really care?  Germaphobes?  Get over it!  Snobs that need everything new from the store?

Get over yourself!

And so, I've justified my actions and they make sense and I'm very happy.

I have absolutely no shame it tell you all this, because I really can't see what the big deal is anyway.  It's just another way of recycling and we all love that, don't we?

I love selling on Ebay and it does help me with my problem somewhat.  Funnily enough, most of what I've sold has been my personal stuff and not much from someones trash pile.  If I did tell you about the very few things I've sold that weren't mine, your jaw would probably hit the ground because mine nearly did.  But let it be known that I will only sell things that are well and truly worthy of selling.  I will only sell it if I had pleasure from having it in my home.  Isn't that comforting, Ebay buyers out there? 

Some miscellaneous stuff found;

All that was wrong with this sweet little necklace was the broken clasps and chain - it was so easy to fix.  Looks cute on too!

Whilst on a rummage with a very missed person, I scored these vintage pots.  The bottom had 'Made in England' and the very missed person begged me for them, so we did a swap.  I got a nice cane and iron plant stand for them.

I can't remember if I had already shown this glass.  It's a Luigi Bormioli 'Light & Music' martini glass in perfect condition.  When I found it, it was next to a broken one - shame!  Not too long ago I found another nice LB item, but I will show that one another day.  :)

E.T.A:
A few minutes later... I found that I did already blog about the glass above.
I hope repetitiveness isn't going to be a new problem for me??

Friday

My how time goes by so very, very quickly.  That's why I make the best of everyday, doing things I love and are important to me is all that counts.  What doesn't count is what others think of us (usually negativity) or say about us (gossipers) or do to us (nobody can hurt you emotionally if you don't want them to).   Such a waste of time and energy, right?

I have to keep reminding myself that this is no dress rehearsal - this is it.  We live now, not later.  Later may not even be on the horizon.... and then what?  What did we waste all that time for?  For whom and why?  Tomorrow certainly isn't promised to us SO ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN.  Yes, I need to shout it out loud!

A lot of us don't understand until it's much too late.  But God uses crackpots like me, to make you see that NOW is the time to enjoy yourself.  Stop being so serious, so angry, so regretful, so proud and so very sad.

I've said enough.  If this doesn't wake you up, then what will?  So remember to use your favourite perfume, jeans, jewelry, silver cutlery, bone china dishes, crystal glasses, whatever you love, today and everyday because we need to enjoy these beautiful things now.

A little something I've been enjoying lately is this ;

As you can clearly see, it's a vintage cup and saucer in a fascinating shape.  The photos don't do it much justice... but it's absolutely gorgeous!

Check it out! ; 

'Vi Tayloy' did a stunning job all those years ago, did she not?  And how much for this little lovely?  A WHOLE $1.50.  I nearly fainted, I nearly did.  I love op shops.

Saturday

Found for free...

80's Aussie Nostalgia

Some inside pages have come out, but at 

least it's a clean separation

Large piece of fabric, and there's 

plenty to make a dress

These metal squares are magnetic - heaps of fun designing stuff on the fridge! lol.