Raw Denim & Other Things

Today was the first day I found some decent coin purses at Life Line; and I didn't hesitate in purchasing them either.  I saw a nice little collection in the cabinet and asked to look at them immediately.

The first was a Glo-Mesh purse, but it had a stain in it so I put it back.  I'm becoming picky about which of these I buy now I have a nice little collection to call my own.  Then, I spotted a lovely little purse and the lady pulled it out and when I opened it, it turned out to be notebook made from Raw Denim.  It was so cute, I thought to keep that one and look at another one and kept that one too.

I asked her to old those two things for me behind the counter until I was finished with looking around.  Well!  I found another three or four purses which came home with me.  They were all lovely little purses and I'm so pleased I picked them up.  One of them is a glasses case and it had a matching coin purse; and a larger purse, but I didn't like it so put it back.  It's great when you score great finds at a charity shop.  And I'm glad to have found the raw denim notebook; as it's something I've never picked up before.  And from what I've read about Raw Denim, you gotta be careful with it as it hasn't been washed after the final dye and it will rub off on lighter materials.  So, the little notebook will have to be put into one of my book bags for a while until it settles.  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting!

I've had problems with my computer and it won't let me upload photos onto my blogs.  So, I'll be uploading them as link for the time being until everything's fixed up.  

Raw Denim Notebook 

Your Favourite Collectables!

Okay, now, you in on my side about my little collections.  I love to collect all kinds of things - from handbags to vinyls to coin purses - and it's your turn now.  I'd like to know what you love to collect.

It's been a few years since I started this blog about what I collect; and there's not that many blogs about coin purses - let alone what wickedly beautiful things you can find in charity stores - so what do you collect?  Be it sea shells?  Things that are a certain colour, beer cans, remote controls, sewing machines, picture frames, calendars... I don't how big or small, come and leave a comment on what you collect.  

We'd all like to know. 

And if you have a blog about it, give us the link so we can see your collection too.  I'd love to network with you. 

I'm asking you all this because I'm taking part in an exhibition on 21st July with 9 other collectors around Brisbane at the Home Festival about collections.  My exhibition is going to be about my book collection and how I got into reading, collecting my books and why I love to collect and how it lead to me being a writer.  So, please do come and comment on your collection here.  I'd love to know all about your collections.  And until my next post, happy bargain hunting.

Three Little Coin Purses

Today, I vowed to myself that I wouldn't buy anything too big at Life Line; and you know?  I didn't.  I found three coin purses and bought them... and that was it.  Well, okay, a coin purse and two wallets, but then, who's being specific?  It turned out to be a good day just to look around anyway and not buy anything in the place and I would have been happy with nothing.

Anyway, I did spot this Paul Frank coin purse in the window of the cabinet and absolutely had to have it.  It's the cutest colour and is just lovely.  However, the monkey really isn't the most attractive thing on it, is it?  But being a designer piece makes it the most collectable thing around and that's why I bought it for $2.

Then,I spotted the 'Wonka' wallet!  And what a find!  I'm all for Willy Wonka things and chocolate (it's lovely to eat Wonka chocolate when I do get to buy it once in a while), but this wallet is just the best!  It reminds me of the movie that Gene Wilder was in - you know, the first one? - I love that one.  It was so much fun.

Then, there was this wallet.  I found it interesting, but I don't know much about it.  So, I bought it.  The design on the front isn't DC Comics, but it looks very animated; and thus the reason for my purchase of it.  But it's a solid little wallet.  So, there you go, the three little things I found at Life Line.  What have you found for a bargain lately?  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting.

Great Finds

This week, I wasn't feeling great.  I had the worst headache in the world dogging me all day while I went out to do the shopping; and so I had to popped some painkillers to skim the edge off it in a big way... and that was only the edge of it.

However, I did find a great find at Life Line of a Trent Nathan handbag; which was at a huge price of $25!  But when one of the ladies took a closer look at the handles, she said they were ready to give way; and brought the price down to $10... with great relief I bought it with the intent to get the handles fixed up, because it's a great bag.  It's two-tone, had red interior and hardly any wear, but the vinyl handles are its downfall.  The last owner had put too much weight into the bag and destroyed them; and so gave it away.  Personally, what a waste!  So, yesterday, I took it into the boot repair man at Arndale at Springwood and asked if he repaired handbags as well; and to my relief he did.  He took one look at those handles and recommended for me to have them replaced with leather and not vinyl again.  It would cost me $50 and it'd be ready next week.  So, I left it with him.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo of the bag as yet.  So, I'll upload one when I pick it up.  

Another great thing I found was a little manicure/pedicure set.  It's unused and has everything with it.  It's also in great condition with a little zip to keep it all together.  I'll be taking this one with me when I travel to the coast or overnight somewhere... it will come in use; and it's quite pretty as well.  I actually thought it was a purse to start with, but was pleasantly surprised of its real function.

What have you picked up lately?  A great bargain?  Or something you haven't seen since you were young in almost new condition?  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting.

Big Spend-Up!

Today, I found a lot of money in my account from the government.  So, I thought it would be a good day to get exactly what I've been eying off in the stores over the last few months.  I shifted over $100 more than usual and out the door I went with a few more shopping bags than usual as well.

My first stop was Life Line; a great charity store a Logan Central.  I get a great deal of my handbags, coin purses and clothing there.  Over the last two years, I've been looking for a great pair of jeans; and I found one pair (which I'm wearing now and they're comfortable, but wearing thin around the outer leg seams).  So, I went in search for another pair.  But!  I didn't just find one pair, I found two! How's that for luck!  They both fit like gloves and are so, so, so comfy!  One pair still have their tags attached to them from the store they originally came from!  Wow!

While I was walking around Life Line, I found myself a nice bag hanging off a high hook.  It was the very first thing I spotted when I walked into the place; it just seemed to scream out to me from its high position up there.  I got a hold of it and knew it would be perfect to take with me to volunteer work to hold my knitting; instead of Grandma's yarn bag (I don't want to get that damaged or dirty).  The best thing is that this bag I found is from the Sydney Art Gallery and is made from twill cotton!  Oh My God!  I couldn't believe it was an art gallery souvenir!  Another bit of luck!  I found a cute little coin purse in the store as well.  It was the first one I've found in around 6 months.

So, there you go, I spent $21.00 at Life Line and bought some lovely things!  What have you scored lately that's worth letting people know about?  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting.

Huge Rockaway Sale!

Over the last two weeks, there's a been a sale going on at Rockaway at Springwood where they had 30% off everything!  I kid you not!  So, last Thursday was the day I thought to get myself into gear and shuffle my butt over to the place and see what was left for me to pick over.  Okay, so I left it until the second-last day to go, but I found some great bargains!  There were still some bags on sale lining the walls, t-shirts, plenty of vinyls, key-chains and other things - all things - were all on sale for me nab!

I search for - and found - a Joni Mitchell album 'The World of Joni Mitchell' which was $25.00 and had been brought down to $15.00.  Then, there was a New Zealand pressing of The Beatles 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band' that was $45.00 (but I put it back) and went looking for some Queen instead and didn't find anything that I could afford.  So, I grabbed a bag off the wall of The Beatles 'Abbey Road' for $39.99 and took it and the Joni Mitchell vinyl to the counter.  Scott - the owner of the store surprised me with the total - and I went and nabbed The Beatles album after all!  What should have been $99.99 came down to $69.99!  How cool was that???  I walked away a happy customer and vowing to never leave one of their sales to the last minute ever again!  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting!

Tested:  The afternoon I bought the bag, I tested it out and found it worked a lot better when the strap was pulled up short as the bag itself rested comfortably against my hip, no matter what was inside it.  And seeing it has a zip-up section and two front open sections, it's nice and easy to put your purse or wallet into a deeper pocket and your ipod into the shallower pocket and still know it's safe; as the whole front section flaps over it all and seals down with velcroe.  All in all, a nice bag to carry.  I'll use it again soon.

Retro Beauty

I love it when I find a handbag that oozes a personality of its own with an attitude to match... and this one was one I just had to have the moment I clapped my eyes on it.  The lime green is very much the Asian influence along with the bright pinks and lots of metal that clash; and yet, it all mixes in well!  I loved it and yet hated it too, and that's what makes me buy a complete original handbag just like this one here.

Then the next day - Thursday - I had my big chance to test it out!  I took Mum out to lunch.  We spent most of the day out and about around Brisbane.  First at the doctors, then at Garden City where it was was the best little handbag to carry all my cards and purse and everything I needed; and it clipped up well with its versatile little - yet strong - clip.  My mobile was safely stored in its own little pouch, there was plenty of room for everything.  However, I did find it rather squishy if I was in a hurry to find something; and that was its downfall.  

This gorgeous little number is a great little bag to take out, but not for whole days out as it really did become frustrating to dig around in its dark recesses every time I needed something.  So, a great, artsy bag for an art opening perhaps or a dinner out somewhere interestingly chick, but not for a day out somewhere; as it's just not built for rummaging around in.

Thrift Store Bargains

I love going into thrift stores.  You know the ones that are run by the churches and smaller charities; yeah, they sell just about anything and everything.  Well, there's one down the road from me that sells everything from books to televisions, small, portable organs, to clothes, old handbag and shoes upon shoes to kitchenware to beer bongs (yeah, I saw that walk out the door today - a glass one!).  

Today, I thought to take a walk from the post office down to the thrift store to see if it was open; and it was, so I walked inside and took a look around.  The first place I normally go to is the bookcases.  I noticed they had added on another two bookcases - more people are getting rid of their books and opting for Kindles; well, that's okay, more real books for me to read! I knew I was wrong in looking at the cases, but I just had to find out what people were throwing out so I knew what I had to read.  And I found myself three books:  'Liza of Lambeth' and 'On A Chinese Screen' which were two books in one by W. Somerset Maughem; and author I've never heard of.  Then there was 'Hugh Lunn's Head Over Heels' and 'Under the Tuscan Sun' by Frances Mayes.  

On the way out the door - and before I found anymore books I thought looked nice - I almost past a great little bag that was very originally-made.  It was something I thought about toying with but never made a move on because I didn't know how to go about it: a bag made from a pair of shorts or old jeans.  I loved it and found it looked pretty good!  So, once I found the zip worked well and the pockets were deep enough, I knew it was something I wanted to have and added that to my things of purchase.  All up, I spent $3.50... a good bargain!  

On the way home, I stopped outside a place and chatted to a couple of ladies who were sitting outside an old shopfront.  And soon the doors of it opened and it ended up being a food co-op!  What a find!  I went in and asked how it worked - as I've never been to one before - and they explained the whole thing to me.  I ended up buying some Grainwave Chips for $1.50 and coming home.  So, do tell us what bargains you've come across lately?  Did you know the stores or markets were there, or did you stumble upon them like I did with the food co-op?  Leave a comment and let us know about your finds.  Until my next post, happy shopping!

Two Great Bargains

Today was the first time I found something worthwhile to buy at the Life Line store in a while.  And it wasn't just one thing, it was two lovely bags!  

The first is a purple bag which is originally for kids, but I loved the colours and the feel of it.  It also is big enough to pack some of my stuff in and very much the type of thing I'd carry with me around the place.  And it's brand new as well; seeing its tag is still attached!  For $8.00, it was an absolute steal!  

Then, there was the National Geographic Briefcase.  It's small, versatile and very well-made.  I love it as I'll be able to take it around the city with me and still be able to store what I need in it without it feeling bulky.  It's got a nice long, adjustable strap, the body of it has a zip where I can open it out or make it smaller and it's got room for a mobile phone.  However, this bag is an older-style National Geographic Briefcase as the phone holder is much larger than the ones you'd normally find on them.  This means all the clips and zips are metal on this bag; not plastic!  What a great find for $6.00!  

So, these were my two great finds today at Life Line.  I did see a make-up mirror, but something about it didn't feel right, so I left it.  I'm so happy with my purchases.  Until next time, happy shopping!

Today's Bargain Buys

Today, I was out and about on my own after being off my feet with a broken toe for the last month.  Now, that's not the best way to kick back; not in my opinion anyway.  Last shopping day, it was dreary and wet and I did want to go to Life Line, but decided that my folks getting me around in one of those shops in a wheelchair wasn't the best of ideas.

So, that brings us to today.  I had a great time being out on my own again - even if my left toe did begin to hurt a little halfway through my shopping day.  I just took my time and didn't push myself; not until it's completely healed anyway.

I found two great items at Life Life that I bought and do love very much.  The first one was a pair of jeans.  They were a size 10, but very stretchy; stripy and purple and I fitted into them beautifully!  And for $12.00, I thought they were great!  There was another pair of jeans - bright red ones - made by Thomas Cook - that were a size 12 (a small make though) and I decided against getting them as they just didn't feel all that comfortable.

Just when I thought I had done all my shopping, I spotted a bag that looked very cool.  On picking it up, I found it was made from New Zealand Lamb's Wool!  How beautiful!  It's a decent-sized bag too!  So, I bought that for $20!  It still had the cleaning instructions attached to it as well.  What a lovely thing it is... so cuddly and warm too.

Well, that's all I bought at the Life Line today.  What bargains have you come across - do share!  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting! 

Tested:  Lambs-Wool bag.
I went out to Garden City with my bag today.  I packed it with the bare essentials; however, when it came to finding them, I found it difficult to just find them as this bag has no interior pockets.  So, I often found myself digging around when I needed to find my purse or iTouch or anything else; and this became annoying within the first hour.
Also, the little tie that was around it broke.   I was trying to undo the knot when I pulled on it and it snapped... fortunately, I could tie it back up again with a similar knot on the other side (which is what I was trying to do in the first place).  Otherwise, this bag is lovely.  I have to remember to try not to get it wet, sit it in any dirt or anything sticky and make sure that if I want to have it cleaned that it's a dry clean only bag; which makes it a very expensive bag to own.  I think I'll use this bag on special occasions only... and not every day.