New Fashions and Matching Bag

Today was the first fine day since it started raining over the weekend.  So, I was up early and doing a load of laundry - towels - and they were out before I ate breakfast and went out to do my grocery shop.

I walked into Life Line at Logan Central and found plenty of Summer stock on the shelves.  Skirts and dresses all in lovely colours were up on the racks waiting to be bought.  And there were handbags that were also out there and pretty too.  I saw a gorgeous skirt that caught my eye; which was similar to a black one I had spotted a few months back but this one was brown for $8.50.  So, I picked it up and tried it on.  It fitted well, and I loved the style and so I decided to take it.  

As I walked out of the fitting room, I looked up along the walls - where there were other bags hanging up - saw one that had caught my eye the moment I walked in.  It was green and very pretty.  After I decided to purchase the skirt, I asked for the green bag.  It looked better up close than it did up on the wall!  And for $8.00 is was a great buy!  So, I bought both of these items and knew I had a great bargain!  The best thing is:  they match!  Now who woulda thought they'd go so well together?  I may wear them to the Gallery during my next shift this week.  Now... what top to put with the skirt!

Welcome Back To A New Year of Charity Shopping!

Happy New Year to you all!  I went out to do my usual shopping today and dropped into Life Line at Logan Central for the first time in about a month or so; and was greeted with a few lovely things that I thought would be lovely to own.  

First, though, I found I was in great need of a new handbag; a handbag that would be taken everywhere and would fit everything in it.  So, I picked up the first on off the top shelf and found a 'Tosca' bag... a leather one!  It was in a great condition and at a great price of $20.  So, I tucked that under my arm.  

I rummaged through some of the boxes and found a pink Lipstick Purse and it was in good condition.  I always love finding these as I can find uses for them over the time I have them.  It was the most gorgeous colour with green and blue flowers all over it.

I looked through the glass cases and found a keyring/locket with a very familiar face on it:  The Elegant Lady - the very same one I have as a coin purse - came as a keyring/locket as well!  So, I nabbed that out of the case.  So, with my three collectables in hand, I handed over my keycard and purchased them all.  It was great to have them in my bag.

Once outside, I went to a nearby seat, swapped over all my stuff from the old Pinelands bag to the new Tosca bag and then took the old handbag inside to be resold.  I would rather somebody else have my preloved bag; as I have taken care of it as well as I can and it will have looked just as good when I hand it back.  Well, I hope you have found some goodies over the holiday period... if you have, leave a comment and let us know about it.  Otherwise, I hope you enjoyed your Christmas and NYE time with your family.

Taking A Break

For the next month or so, I'll be taking a well-earned break from charity shopping.  I am trying to save a little money so I can travel around Brisbane and have a bit of a holiday and be a tourist in my hometown.

However, if I do stumble upon something, I will drop in here and note it down for you guys; so please do drop in here and see if I've found something by chance.  But in case I haven't, I'll see you all on at the beginning of February... have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year.

Guess Who...

It's been a good while since I scored a lovely bag from Life Line.  Sometimes I just hit a dry spell and it seems that all the handbags and purses run away from the places.  Oh well, today was the day that finished as I perused the shelves of handbags and my eyes fell upon this gorgeous little beauty.  I thought it was a knock-off and it looked just beautiful sitting there on its own.  So, I purchased it for $10 and took it home.  

It wasn't until I wiped the dirt off it with a damp wash cloth and looked inside it for a maker's mark (or not) and found it was made in Italy!  I then jumped online and found out what it took for my little creme beauty to be a fake.  However, this beautiful little bag is no fake... it's the real deal!  How's that for being at the right place at the right time?  Now, to find the right occasion to use this lovely one at.

Knitted Beauty From the US

Over the time I've been collecting coin purses, I've come across only one other coin purse like this; however, it wasn't in very good condition.  This coin purse arrived in the mail today and it's lovely, knitted and had a magnetic bookmark from Florida inside it.  

I also love the postcard from the 1970's of Niagara Falls pumpkinpussycat put in with it.  What a very retro card!  Thank you again for sending me this, I can't wait to try it out.

From Thailand

This week, I had a great time at my local charity store. However, I didn't find any handbags or coin purses worthwhile bringing home.  There were a lot of the same ones there from last week; so I didn't buy anything from that section of the store.  And the clothes didn't interest me either; they weren't in my style or size. 

But, it wasn't until I walked around the homewares area that I found what I thought was real gem.  A lovely large teapot - a white one - with beautiful fruit and flowers painted on it.  I turned it over and found it was made in Thailand.  Now, a lot of teapots are made in China and the UK; but I haven't come across one made in Thailand.  This one was a very big one; and I didn't know until I returned home and used it that it was a six-cup one.  How wonderful!  The only drawback is that it drips; but I can fix that with a bit of plastic hose fitted to lip which I borrow off my late-Grandma's old teapot until I find a permanent piece for it.

A Notice of Change

This blog has undergone a few little changes in the recent past.  The template has changed, the background as well.  However, now, I'm going to change it's content.  Now, don't worry, it's not going to be a massive change, it's going to be a change to what will be here.  I will be adding to it - not subtracting.  

Recently, I've been finding more things I love at Life Line and other charity stores - more than just coin purses and handbags.  I've been finding some great bargains that I can use in my home and wonderful things that - if you look close enough at them - can be yours as well.  And as I say on the side bar, it's quality not quantity you look for.

The title will be staying the same - as yes, I'm still obsessed with coin purses, however, you'll be seeing clothes, art works and house hold items I have picked up from the charity stores I frequent each pay packet, so you know what I find each time and what I pay for them.

Seventies Florish

While I was out shopping yesterday, I thought a quick look into Life Line would do me some good.  I wasn't planning on buying anything - as Halloween is just around the corner and I didn't wish to break the budget on anything big.  So, I looked at the handbags; and nothing really caught my eye.  I found a nice green dress that tied up at the back and had a zip too; and was made in Australia with its tags still attached!  So, I tried that on and it fitted me well, so I thought to buy that.  Then, I found this lovely little purse.  It has a 1970's kinda feel to it; however it's where it's made that caught my eye.  I looked inside to see the wear and tear on it and found it's brand new and made in Finland.  How cool is that? 

Favourites

I've been collecting coin purse and handbags for some years now and I have found that with each occasion, there's always a particular bag and coin purse to go with it - just like there's a certain pair of shoes, ear-rings and type of jewelery to wear.  

However, I do have my favourites amongst my collection that I use on a daily basis; and I thought to let you guys know which bags I use for when I'm not going out somewhere special.  These bags are for when I'm just in the need for something to take with me to store the stuff for everyday use.

Blue Dragon Bag is used for most trips into the city, Garden City and to Mum and Dad's place.  It's got a gorgeous long strap that's nice and wide and it can carry a book, my mobile, cards, purse, another carry-all fold-up bag and notebook too.  It was bought last year around March or so for around $8.00 at Life Line and it's made of cotton put out by Esprite. 

Pinelands is a new purchase.  I have handbag exchanges ever year or so at Life Line and this was one of them; my third in fact.  I like to change my shopping handbags to keep up with the changing feel of my wardrobe, life and anything else that may change in my life as well.  This one was a move into a more stable bag from the last one.  It's got a lovely long strap, plenty of room in it, a small double ended zip pocket on the side closest to my body and it's got feet on the bottom of it; so it's good and sturdy.  This handbag cost only $10; which a common price for a handbag for me, as I try not to pay more than that.  It's quality I look for in something like this, not quantity.

Bookcrossing Briefcase.  Now, I bought this one online through the Bookcrossing Supply Store.  It cost me $29.99US and the exchange in that was almost $50AUST; making it all the more expensive.  But once I received it, I found about a year later, they stopped making them.  So, this particular one - in Forrest Green especially - is very hard to get a hold of now.  I'm happy I bought it as it's got all the bits and pieces I'd ever want to take anything and everything to the Gallery to volunteer.  It holds my phone, cards, purse and pens, notebooks, at least three books, any knitting and craft gear I'd want it to; and the best thing is that it has a double-ended expander zip which doubles the size of the brief case if you need the extra room.  The long strap on this puppy has a padded shoulder pad and that can be removed if you don't like it there either... pretty convenient.  I do love this bag as it's so comfy and wonderful to use.

Little Beige Bag.  I bought this one at Life Line a few months back and is one I take with me if I'm going out for a few hours and don't need anything much with me.  It will carry the bare necessities and is very comfortable with its long strap and I love how cute it is.  I have taken this one on the bus all over the city and it's not a burden and has never weighed me down.  A brilliant little bag; could use it overseas with me - most definitely. 

Brown Check Bag is used mainly to collect the mail.  I don't remember where I bought this bag; I think I purchased it from Target for around $15 brand new when I was working, and it's still going.  The straps are wearing away and the colour is fading and it's filthy, but - like I said - it's only to collect the mail with, so it doesn't go anywhere all that fancy.

So, you know which bags I use on a regular basis, which ones are your all-time favourites; the ones you use all the time?  Where did you buy them from?  How long have you had them for?  Did you buy them on an impulse buy, or did you spot it and know exactly what it was going to be used for?  Leave a comment and let us all know.

New Bag Change-over Time

Every now and then, I'll change over my handbag at Life Line.  This is where I'll find a better bag than the one I currently have, buy it, and swap everything from my old one into the new one outside and then hand the old one back to be resold by Life Line.  

This one was a lovely little bag that I picked out.  It's a Pinelands and I do like how good it is.  It's got a lot of space inside it and an outside zipper pocket where I can put other things inside that - like my bus pass and my phone - right where I can lay my hands on them, and right where it can't be touched by other people but me seeing it's right up against my body.

It's got a lot of room inside it and an inside zip pocket.  I like the three-tone colouring and the feet on the bottom makes it very sturdy as well; very solid when I put it down, instead of it falling over like other bags I've had.

Yes, I'm happy with this new one I've gotten.  What do you think?