flea market finds - smokin'

(a cautionary tale...)

I bought this gorgeous 70's Singer Sewing machine a couple of months ago at a church fete... it had one of those "not tested for electrical safety" stickers on it, but the nice man said that they do try out the electrical items and only sell ones that work, and it was really cheap...

I was so excited, but a bit nervous to try her out, because I really wanted her to work... so she sat safely in a corner of my room while I waited for a quiet time to test her out.

That time came a week ago - I cleared the dining table, found some fabric and thread, followed the threading info I'd downloaded, and plugged her in.

And she worked - with a lovely gentle purr... but the tension wasn't quite right, so I did a few more test runs...

and then she clunked...

and then I noticed smoke rising up from her base...

and then I quickly unplugged her and carried her outside before she burned the house down...

and now I'm trying to work out how to safely "retire" her, without anyone else risking electrical fire... any ideas?

For (probably safer) finds, visit Sophie.

luck

Frederick McCubbin, Down on His Luck, 1889 (NOT the original!! - a faded and scratched [but wonderfully large] copy, marked down to $1 at the local oppy and destined to become a blackboard).

Today I'm feeling lucky.

Lucky to have found a few nice things at the op shops (I only photographed one, though!).

Lucky that I could find support when I needed it, both online and in real life (thank you!).

Lucky to have spent a couple of hours today at Cathie's biggest morning tea (in the afternoon), eating amazingly delicious food, meeting and chatting with a bunch of great people... and then lucky enough to win a prize in the raffle.

Myrtle and Eunice tea towel (to go with our "T" tea towel!), CurlyPops brooch (now I feel like a real Melbourne blogger!), and super-cute Chantal Vincent stamp...

Hoping you're feeling lucky too.

(PS: joining in with Sophie's flea market finds ...)

flea market finds

You may or may not be surprised to know that I can barely walk past this little wooden telephone without picking up the receiver and putting it to my ear... even when my daughter's gone to bed. I think I need to accept that I buy toys as much for me as her!

For more finds visit Sophie...

flea market finds

I could pretend this was a selfless purchase bought entirely for my daughter's benefit...

but when she looked at it, she said "But Mum, we already have a cash register!"

She's right, we do have a plastic, battery operated, beeping thing (also thrifted) ... but now we also have a vintage metal one with pop up numbers, and a little knob on the side that you wind up to make a lovely "brrring" every time you open or close the drawer... I am a happy mum!

(Now if only I could actually get rid of the plastic one - that could take a while...)

Visit Sophie for lovely finds by the blogload!

PS: Happy Mother's Day!

PPS: I have a little giveaway over here!

Enough. (flea market finds)

I'm a bit early for Flea Market Finds this week (or really late, perhaps), but needed to write this post before I changed my mind.

You see, I've decided to take a break from op-shopping for a while - well, at least 2 weeks.

Yesterday, I had a little bit of child-free time, and thought it would be fun to go treasure hunting... and it was.


I found some great things - this suitcase at a tip shop (I didn't even know we had a tip shop nearby until a week or so ago!), four (yes, FOUR) gorgeous aprons, a bit of orange tupperware and a "matching" teatowel, and a couple of nice sheets.

I also found, and bought, some other things that I didn't love or need, and that I put back in the car and redonated straight away...

I realised that, while my love of op-shopping has many benefits, it has started to take more of my time, and more of my thoughts (and more space in our home), than I'd like.

So a break it is. It will be hard to maintain - especially with a daughter who actively encourages my habit - but necessary.

Wish me luck!

PS: I'll be joining in with Sophie's Flea Market Finds this Sunday.

flea market finds

Some treasures from a fete I went to last weekend...

A suitcase, found under the stall - I asked the surprised looking man manning the stall, who confirmed it was for sale (I think he thought I was a bit crazy, buying the old thing...)



and a little wooden bill / letter stand (currently holding some recently thrifted books).


They count as sensible, practical storage items, don't they?!

(let's not mention the STACK of books I collected today, on the other hand... well, maybe I'll show them to you next week!).

For more finds - including an envy-inducing sewing machine - visit Sophie.

falling off the wagon (flea market finds)

I started this year with the plan to give more to the op shops than I bought. For a while there, I was doing brilliantly, but somehow, op shops seem to pop up close to many of the places I visit, and, well, I've fallen off the wagon...

I even bought the wagon!

(this is NOT everything I've bought lately, just a representative sample...)

I guess I'd better start decluttering again!

Visit Sophie for some lovely finds...

how to be rich [flea market finds]

Wander through the house and find a big bagload of perfectly good things that we don't need, without even trying...


Listen with delight as a young child's mantra changes (at least temporarily) from "I want" to "I could give this away"...

After dropping off the bag, step into the op shop (well, we all knew that was going to happen... and in fact I visited more than one...), but for once, show restraint - putting back the lovely things that we just don't need and don't have space for.


Look admiring at the things that did make it home (well, we all knew that would happen too...), all useful, beautiful and well priced.


Enjoy converting the money saved into donations for people who need it - here, here, and places like here too, because people have endured natural disasters all over the world. Enjoy the fun of using many of those donations as entries in one of the amazing giveaways / auctions taking place right now thanks to the wonderful people in the blogging community.


Yep, feeling pretty rich today. Hope you're feeling rich in your own way too.

For more flea market finds, visit Sophie (who is most certainly among the wonderful people - all proceeds from her shop this January are being donated to the flood appeal, and she's also holding a Thrifting Love giveaway!).

flea market find

Some evidence that I am officially an op shop regular...



I spied this doll basket a bit over a week ago at one of the few op shops open between Christmas and New Year... but it was out the back in the staff only zone... I wasn't brave enough to ask the staff if / when it would be for sale, and instead went back a few hours later, when it was nowhere to be seen (you get a pretty good view of the staff only zone from the carpark).


Fast forward seven days, and to my surprise it was sitting there waiting for me. I carried it around on my hip while checking the rest of the store, then waited in line to buy it. The op shop manager saw me and said - "oh, that is SO you!"

OK, so I'm enough of a regular to be recognised not just by face but by buying habits. At least I now have her express permission to ask about items out the back!

For more finds, visit Sophie.

flea market find

While driving along the other day, I suddenly realised I was in hard waste collection territory. I tuned my antennae, and almost immediately noticed this...


It wasn't so functional when I found it, but after a few screws and washers, and a bit of a clean up, it works again - in a slightly hesitant way, but that's fine by me.



I even love its paint spatters...


For more finds, visit Her Library Adventures... there is talk of a challenge... not sure if my find will fit, but I'm too excited, and wanted to post about it straight away!

flea market finds

Last Sunday was Flea Market Find of the Year day... I showed my favourites, but these would have been up there if my family had a say...

Find one - daughter's choice...


there was a linen sale last week at one of our local op shops (her favourite, the one near the bakery...) and they had a collection of aprons for sale for 50c. She chose this one, and wore it, as a dress over her clothes, out of the shop and for most of the day. She loved announcing that she only cost 50c, and would only answer to the name "Absolute Bargain" when wearing it.

Find two - husband's choice...

we went to a market last weekend and left husband / dad at home for a break. On the way home, we found a second hand book sale and picked this up for him - it was given to us for free with the other books we got, because it was "a bit old"...


he loves it - Star Wars and Graphic Novel is a winning combination for him - and it might actually be worth a bit of money, if ebay is any guide...

I'll be back later to celebrate the end of Blogtober (and to get my post count for the month up to 31 since I missed a day earlier this week... obsessive? me?)

flea market finds

Sophie has made today Flea Market Find of the Year day!

I've cheated a bit, with more than one item - but Sophie showed a collection of her favourites, so I've decided that it must be OK!

I chose two things that go together, that in some ways represent how I've changed during the nearly six months since I started blogging - first, a sewing machine table I found a couple of months ago (that needs a little fixing). Soon it will be part of a dedicated sewing space to help me make making a regular part of life...


Next, a vintage quilt cover and sheet set I found this week. I never would have thought a year ago that I would find pleasure in packing up old plain sheets to donate to the op shop, and coming home with vintage floral sheets... or that I'd be willing to be photographed "wearing" a floral quilt cover and posting it on the internet...


I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's favourite finds over at Her Library Adventures...

flea market finds

In the interests of blog honesty, I went op-shopping last weekend - when I was supposed to be staying away... woolf - you noticed my admission last week, so here are some (yes, some - I forgot to photograph a couple of things) of the things that came home.


True story... when I saw this toy iron, and said "Oh look, it's an iron," my daughter loudly asked "Mum, what's an iron?" in front of a number of amused women... luckily one kind older woman turned to me and said "don't worry, nobody irons much these days..."


Once again the button drawers were opened (by the daughter who loves op shops as much as me) and these treasures were found - do you love the man with an eye patch too (you can click on the photo for a better look at him)?

More treasures to be uncovered at Sophie's.