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I’ve recently begun reading Rosemary McCabe’s fashion blog and lately she has featured a series of posts about affordable fashion – where to find inexpensive clothing, and how best to mix and match different styles. She also mentioned the best second hand shops in her area and asked for submissions of additional information.
I can’t help with info on second hand shops over there, but I can show off a recent little purchase from my local second hand shop. It’s a vintage red canvas bag with a cute 1930’s inspired decal on the front. And it cost four Aussie dollars. It’s never been used and you tell it has lived at the back of someone’s wardrobe, all folded up. I bet it was once given as a gift.
The lady in the shop didn’t like it, and it kept falling off the rack, but I took that as a sign it wanted to come home with me. The wooden handles are sturdy and easy to use. The bag is roomy and very durable. I often wear red and so I think it will really come in handy.
And, it’s from the best local second hand shop in my area. We have quite a few of these shops but I’ve only been to them once or twice over the last few years because, to me they’ve lost their soul.
That may sound odd. But I use to go to second hand shops with my Mum all the time when I was little. And it was such an adventure. The shops were literally bursting with clothing and items. Everything was cheap, and I could pick out anything I liked – because usually you could get a whole bag full of items for a dollar or two. The ladies at the desks really got into the spirit of the endevour and would throw items in for free, and everyone came out a winner.
Most importantly, the people who shopped there, needed to. They couldn’t afford to buy things at retail prices, and so the items donated, went to the people who would benefit most, from those donations. Nowadays, everyone is expected to buy used items at full price (and be thankful for it). And the people in the shops talk about the need to make money to help ‘the needy’… when they can’t see that ‘the needy’ are standing in front of them trying to buy, things, they, need.
So I say, the soul has gone from these shops.
Well, not quite all the shops. There is one local one tucked quitely away from the busy streets and noisy crowds, where a tiny bit of what I remember, remains. It’s the only second hand shop my family knows I’m interested in venturing into, because … the prices aren’t too steep, the ladies are still friendly though a little cautious, and the shop isn’t too tidy. Which means you can still rummage around a little and you just might discover something interesting.
Like a groovy bright red canvas bag, and four baby tomato plants for a dollar, that I found on the same day - bargin!
Some people are greeted with nuzzling kisses as they wake from sleep. Or a cup of tea if a bed partner is an early riser. Or perhaps a sleepy/energetic/frightened child climbing in beside them. Or an alarm clock that keeps the day in regular order. Perhaps even noisy country chickens, lets the neighbourhood know the day has begun.
But I, I am confronted by this mouth and this creature…..
pawing at my legs, yawning and barking at me, telling me I’ve been away sleeping for forever!
He bursts through the front door each day and searches my room for me. His expression reminds me of children on an Easter egg hunt. And even though we go through this every day, he makes each morning feel unique and special.
WordPress very rarely tells me how a visitor finds my blog. But yesterday I was surprised to learn someone found me by looking for:
australian coast blob
I hope they found what they were looking for.
But I can only assume that as I write, somewhere nearby a large blob of red gooey-ness is on it’s way.
Let me see… indescribable, indestructible, nothing can stop it!
Oh dear. We’re in for a doosy. Tune your transitors in here for the latest breaking bulletin.
Remember when I said the rain they all said was coming, wasn’t. And that I believed it had all blown over, and away. Well, nature has proved me a liar. Shortly after I posted those words to you, and as I was gently drifting to sleep, I heard the beginnings of a faint pitter-pat of the sky’s tears, falling against the roof.
But I didn’t hear the heavy, heavy rain and lashing wind; strong enough to give us a few hours of power failure. No, I wasn’t aware of any of this, because, the wolf of sleep had covered my ears.*
When I awoke, the was no trace of it. The parched earth had soaked up every drop, leaving only a faint trace of rain on the air. Who knew that rain had it’s own scent? You did? It’s been so long that I had forgotten. I wonder what tonight’s sleep will bring.
Etsy details and credit for the photos can be found here: raincatcher, fallen umbrella, pink boots, green dress, sleep wolf , * or is that a donkey.
I had my second stained glass window class today, and while I am still enjoying the process, the weather was so hot today that both I and the teacher felt faint and dizzy. At one point, all of a sudden I just had to get outside and sit down. It was a close call, but I quickly recovered.
This week I finished my design and I have now begun to cut out my many pieces of glass. This action has an interesting knack to it, you place your glass cutter down on the glass, which is positioned over your design, and as you apply pressure and start to score the surface, there’s a cool sucky-scratchy noise and then a ‘pop!’ as you reach the edge of the glass. If you make that sound, you know you’re doing the right thing. Oh, but it’s difficult. However you get the sense, that once you get the technique down, it could become second-nature to you; I just wonder how long that’d take.
My teacher told me not to have too high expectations for myself, but if I’m enjoying something I really give it my best effort. My teacher also told me that if she had a spare glass cutter she’d have sent it, and some glass, home with me for extra practice. And that means I really am going quite well. I only have next week to cut out my many pieces of glass, so I can start ‘leading them up’ the following week. My goodness, but it’s a cracking pace!
Because the feeling hasn’t properly returned to the tip of my finger yet, I looked up stained glass pictures on Etsy this evening and found the picture above. It was the nice bit of extra inspiration that I needed. I’ve also added two pretty pictures. Peonies are the Kings and Queens of roses, in my mind. And that French castle looks too perfect to be real – surely it could only exist in fairytales? Apparently it is real and you can go along to a photography workshop there.
