Wednesday

Back in the early 1980's, I did something a little naughty.  I didn't think it was naughty then because I was young and silly, but I knew it all too well that it certainly was as the years rolled by.


A particular magazine had an advert - it stated that I could order some little brass goodies, and if I wasn't completely satisfied I could send them back and get a full refund.


So I ordered them.  After I received the items, I 'forgot' to pay for them.  By that I'm sure you know fully what I mean.  I put the whole thing out of my head, expecting another invoice to arrive saying 'PAY UP OR ELSE!'  That invoice never came, and the years flew by.  

These are the little brass items that I 'stole' (with dust): 

 

 

Is it really stealing, I ask myself?  Was it wrong?  Yes to both questions.
Isn't it also their own fault for forgetting to send me that second 'firmly worded' invoice?  I say yes.  We are both at fault.  

Never mind.... I put it all down to learning the complexities of life, and more.  Needless to say that I never did anything like that every again and never will.

Saturday

Apart from the fact that I find some interesting things being thrown out by people, it never ceases to amaze me that fragile things are thrown out.  

You couldn't have passed it onto a family member, a friend, the next door neighbour, an enemy even?? No.  Straight onto the the rubbish heap!  

And what's more surprising is the fact that I find a lot of un-smashed glass.  I can picture it;  They walk out the front door holding something unwanted and fragile.  They place it lovingly onto their trash heap.  The trash collectors (usually men, because I've never in my whole life seen a woman trash collector) come along and throw everything in the rubbish truck.  Do you think they are going to lovingly pick it up and place every fragile item they find in a special 'fragile box' inside the truck?  I highly doubt it.   They don't care as long as they get the job done and then go home already!

Having said all that... I am grateful to the people out there that gently place their unwanted fragile things onto their trash piles... for people like me to enjoy.  :)

Free 'Music & Light' martini glass (by Luigi Bormioli of Italy glassware), intact with absolutely no chips or cracks - perfect.  A set of four will set you back $35 and possibly more.

Free belt attachments etc.... from a a belt that was being thrown away.  I nearly tossed the whole thing in the trash bin after I bought this home - but something stopped me.  I'm guessing you can see what that was.  I'm sure I can use these for something!  I'm pretty sure these all all brass.  Too bad if I'm wrong.  ;)

How cute.  These Diamantes were attached to the back of a shoe that was being trashed (surprise, surprise!), but it was a big pity that I couldn't find the second shoe.  Yes, I did wash my hands after handling the shoe!

Monday

 3 new spoons found for $1 each;

Love-er-ly brass frame with a love-er-lier lady inside for only $4;

And a nice little vintage crochet / knitting booklet for 50 cents;

All about brass

Just because it doesn't look nice when you find it, doesn't mean it won't clean up with a bit of brass cleaner.  I found each of these brass beauties in different op shops, but I never intended on specifically looking out for these sorts of whimsies.  I really love how they look elegant and vintage at the same time!

Brass vase, $1 and made in Italy.  Before cleaning....

 

After cleaning.

 

 

Brass napkin (or serviette) holder, $2.

Brass candle holder $3

Brass frames, $1 for the round, $2 each for the square ones.. and made in Italy.