90's Style - My Style!

I just love finding something unusual to wear and so when I went shopping yesterday, I dropped into my usual haunt of Life Line and found that I had missed out on a really cool red jacket from last time!  Darn!  Oh well... I found something that made up for it not too far away:  this lovely leopard cuffed jacket.  Isn't it lovely?  I took it off the rack, tried it on and found it was a large size 10!  It's got padded shoulders and is just lovely and comfy to wear, and for $8.50, I just had to have it!
Then, at another rack, I found this gorgeous jacket.  Now, it's been an absolute dream of mine to own a jacket like this... and now, I do!  It's a size 8 and when I saw that, I thought that it wouldn't fit, but I pulled it on and did!  OMG!  I love these things!  It's because I've seen this kind of jacket worn by Allyson Hannigan in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and have always wanted one... it's very cool, has lacy sleeves and is just beautiful to wear.  I love it.  

A couple of weeks ago, I found a real jem of a candle which was a 'Dusk' candle in Life Line.  It was still in its box and the candle and its beads were still in their wrappings.  It was obviously a gift that wasn't liked much and so was never used.  I bought it for $2.00 and brought it home, took it out and it's been sitting on a shelf looking gorgeous waiting to be used.  personally, I'll probably won't use it either, but I'll most likely get in and put a different candle in the glass so the wax doesn't destroy the beads.  So, what bargains have you found yourself lately?  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting!   

Sent Packing Vintage Style

Today, I went out on my last outing until I leave to go home from Brighton.  So, I walked back to the cool vintage coffee and tea place on the corner of Queens Parade called Eclectea and took in the morning for an hour or so.
I also went back to have a look at a suitcase I had spotted while I was there with Mum and Dad on Saturday.  But they were in a hurry and needed to hit the road before the traffic blocked up the highways between here and Logan City.  Not wanting to hold them up, I didn't want to make them late and let the suitcase I had my eye on go.  
Usually I hate doing this - and this was no exception.  I hated letting the suitcase go; in case somebody else snapped it up.  So, I went back today and found it there tucked away on top of the change room with other suitcases and old bags waiting for me to buy it.  However, there was no price tag on it.  So, the guy at there photographed it and sent it off to the owner and we got a great price of $30 for it!  What a wonderful price for such a lovely suitcase.  I snapped it up straight away and am so happy I did.  
Isn't it a lovely piece?  I'm not going to travel with it as it's would never survive the abuse of travelling around places or going through customs anywhere... so I'm going to use it as a storage container in my house.  So, if I have it out, and somebody comes over, I just need to close the lid and it looks cool and funky as it is without looking like it's storing anything; and you can't see through it, so you can't really know what's in there.  And while this is true, I'll put a tag on it - sort of like a travel tag - to list what's inside it, so it looks like it's about to go travelling.  The more there is, the more tags I'll attach... cool eh?  Well, until my next post, happy bargain hunting!

Eclectea Collections... and Coffee

Today, I went for a walk.  I have found that around here, places are a little further away than they are at Logan and so, it pays to plan ahead and make sure to get to where you want to go early. 
I wanted to go to this place called Eclectea Vintage Tea Shop on the corner of Queens Parade, not 10 minutes walk from my brother's house.  Now, I thought that all it served was tea and coffee - and may be the odd home-made baked munchies - but I was wrong.  This place is an antiques store full of goodies of the non-food varieties.  It surprised me to the point that I thought it was two separate stores at first; well, until I saw the doorway through to the coffee area.
I found all kinds of things in Eclectea I haven't seen anywhere in a long time.  There were complete collections of matching canisters for flour, tea, coffee and sugar.  I found biscuit jars and cake tins, bread bins, clothes, old books, vinyls from the 1970's and some great Glo-Mesh bags that were not over-priced as they are in great condition, without a tile out of place and some were in their original boxes.
I picked up a double-vinyl set of 'History of British Pop'  and a gorgeous two-tone teapot.  The vinyl was $5.00 and the teapot was $10.  There were other teapots but they were much more expensive; but when I found this teapot, I found it much more appealing as it was just the most lovely colours.  
This place is well worth a visit on most any day.  But do keep an eye on your budget, as it's easy to let it run away on you; it's not a charity store... it's a proper antiques store where things have been valued and cared for.  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting!

Sandgate Life Line Scores!

Yep!  I'm on holidays again, and there's a Life Line Charity store here in Sandgate/Brighton.  Today being my shopping day, I thought it would be nasty of me not to have a good look at the place and see what they have in their store.  So, I took off early on the 312 WIZ bus and arrived just after the place opened.
From the outside, it looks small, but it's like a Tardis on the inside... much bigger!  However, like the area, I found this bargain store is anything but full of bargains.  I was looking for a dress to wear, and didn't find anything that was under $20 that was worth it.  The dresses were either too big, too small or too trashy; and they weren't worth the price tag.  They had plenty of shoes, scarves, hats and other items; and yet were lacking in coin purses and handbags.  I saw some but they were hung about the place on all kinds of hooks and not in their own little area where people could look at them on their own.  I found no Glo-mesh purses or bags (it's as though they don't exist) and a lot of the jewellery is just cheap, crappy stuff as well.

However, amongst all the things I didn't like, I found two things that were diamonds in the rough.  There was a bag that was up high on a shelf where nobody could get to it; and I had to ask to look at it.  And then, there was a large Paua Shell from New Zealand which I loved straight away at the bottom bargain price of $4.00.  The bag was going for $8.00... and it was worth it too.  As with any bag, it was a little worn, but the handles were in great shape; as were the insides.  So, I bought it for the condition of those two things as well as it being able to be used when I go to volunteer work next time.  Well, until my next post, happy bargain hunting!

I just found this site about the Bean Pole bag!  I'm stoked!  This bag is a big hit in Asia; and so I thought to share this with you guys. :D

Bean Pole Bag Review

Cybermen, Clothes & Handbags

Wednesday was my shopping day, and I haven't been to a Life Line in a while.  Well, okay I have, but I didn't buy anything.  So, I've been frugal.  Anyway, this week, I found myself a nice denim skirt which was almost brand new and a Dr Who mug from 2006 with Cybermen on it!  The mug only cost me $2.00 and was an original from the ABC shop.  I love it.  Then, I came across a lovely little handbag which was a designer bag with a detachable handle.  It was designed on the Gold Coast and is just lovely.

Well, they were my scores this week.  What have you found around your area and charity stores that are worth sharing with us?  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting.

Two Scores in One Day

I haven't been to Life Line in almost a month; and that's been a good break for me.  Anyway, today was my first day back into the swing of things.  I had spent the last week cleaning up my living room and kitchen table; and now they look great.
Today, I had to do my shopping.  So, I didn't see much harm in looking in on my usual hang-out just to see what had come in over the New Year.  And some great stuff had been donated.  
The first thing I saw was a purple handbag; and it was beautiful and soft!  I've been looking for something like this for a while now, but just can't find one which is lovely and soft.  And the inside is all sectioned out with velcroe and is a lilac colour.  Then, on the sides there's buttons so I can open up the bag a little or close it up; depending on how much I have inside it.  Very cool for $10.
The next bag I saw was a green cotton bag with long shoulder handles with little bells and beads hanging off it.  As soon as I saw it, I loved it.  It's got a double bit of cardboard in the bottom and a button on the top to close it up, but it's also got plenty of room for everything I need.  I thought I could use it for volunteer work to store a book, my knitting and a sketch book and some pencils.  A very nice piece for $8.00.  
So, have you found anything lately in a charity store, marketplace or a thrift store which has caught your eye and budget?  If so, share it with us as a comment below.  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting.   

Back From a Well-Earned Break!

Hey there!  It's been a little over a month and I'm back from my break; and yes, I've been scoring very well at the charity stores and other sources too.  Christmas has been great to me as well!

For Christmas I received a wonderful little bag from my Aunty Helen who saw it and thought I'd love it.  Inside it, she also put a cute little make-up mirror.  How lovely is that?
A few weeks before that, I found the most gorgeously interesting bag.  It's one shaped like a radio.  The knobs turn and everything; and it looks like a 1950's radio.  Very cute!  I've tested it out already and have found that the only thing that bothers me about it is that the knobs can get in the way and make a loud clacking noise when they bump against things which scare the life out of me; making me thing they might break.  So, I have to be careful of them when I'm using the bag.  Otherwise, it's cute as a button!

Then, on my holiday down at Brunswick heads, I just couldn't resist buying something.  I purchased for myself a lovely little black bag with a long strap for evening.  It doesn't look it, but it worked really well with my NYE dress; both of which I bought at Target Country.  I also scored for myself a cool Christmas shirt as well for next year. 
I also wandered around Brunswick Heads taking in the vibe of the place and enjoying myself totally.  It was fun and I took plenty of photos.  I also bought a few souvenirs too.  One of those was a money box in the shape of an old Kombi Van.  It's blue and has been kept by my bed for any small change I find in my pockets at the end of the day.  I love it.  It cost me $14.95 at the newsagents and came with its own box; which I kept it in until I got home by bus.
There's this great little place at Brunswick Heads called 'Whatever' where they stock all these imported goodies.  From clothes, books, handbags, notebooks handbags, wallets and coin purses and shoes, saris and anything else you'd like to furnish your house, it's there.  Well, I bought a couple of tops and a notebook or two and four coin purses as well.  It's a cool little shop I always buy stuff from when I'm in town.

And I have been scoring great deals while here at home too; and I've only been home 2 days.  Yesterday, I had been given a Smart Phone by my brother - as he upgraded to a better one and didn't want to throw out his old one - and so I was figuring out the bits and pieces on this one; and having fun with it.  While I was, the battery almost died on me.  So, I plugged it into the computer and the internet up and died on me.... bummer!  So, I was off to Target to buy an adapter to plug this puppy into the wall.  It only cost me $15.75; and the best thing is that I can work my iPod off it too!  
While I was a Centro Mall, I saw the Rockaway still hadn't closed down its old store; so I took a wander in there too.  And I scored 3 disco vinyls - all from radio stations - and a Mozart Idomeneo 3 vinyl set all for $18!  Very cool!  So, I spent an hour or so cleaning the dirt and old nicotine stains off the vinyls and then wishing I could play them; but unable to because the turntable wasn't working.  Now I'm home, I'm going to have an afternoon of new vinyls being played that I have never heard the music of... not a bad idea. 

So, what great scores have you come across during the Christmas/NYE period?  Great ones?  Or have you missed out altogether?  Do share.  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting!        

Break-Time!

Yep, it's that time of the year again!  Christmas has come around and it's time to leave the charity stores alone due to the Christmas crowds.  I am going to pick up this blog just after NYE and let you guys in on what I've been doing, what I've found, what I bought and where and how much I spent on each saved item in 2013!

So, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.  Be safe, go safe and enjoy your time with your family.  And remember, happy bargain hunting!

Found What I Wasn't Looking For

I was in Life Line today when I got talking to another customer there.  She was lovely and we began chatting about overseas travel.  Our conversation changed and moved over various subject as we walked around and I spotted a few things where there were only single glasses from entire sets on the shelves.  I told her that my Mum had set of the single glass that was sitting on the shelves; and she smiled saying her Mum does too and it's such a pity they don't make glass with gold around the rim or pretty patterns or pictures on them anymore; and it's all found in charity stores like this one.

Well, I got into looking at the books and the lady found she had no money and had to go to the bank. So we said our farewells and I continued to browse the store where I found two books.  The first one was 'At Home With The Templetons' by Monica McInerney and which looked brand new only read a few times.  This book was published only two years ago.  Then I came across this gorgeous little book called 'The Naughty Book for Girls' by Candice Hill

and I thought it would be an interesting read about what kind of girl - naughty or not - I am.  These two books came to around $9.00.  As I was about to pay for them, I turned around the looked up at the bags hanging from the ceiling and found a bag that looked amazing!  It's a backpack

that I thought would do well down the coast or as a carry-all into the city.  So, I asked to look at it; and found it was perfect for what I wanted; at just the right price too!  So, what have you found over the last week or so that's well worth the hunt?  Let us all know and leave a comment, I would love to hear from you.  Until my next post, happy bargain hunting! 

 

Retro Feel

I love the retro handbags of all kinds.  And so, when I walked into Life Line Logan Central, and I found the handbag area full of bags from the 1980's I was totally into it; looking and feeling them to my heart's content!  
Then I found this one!  Isn't it lovely?  I just love the stitching and the handles - which I will get fixed as they've aged badly.  And to give an old handbag a new life, that's often all it needs... new handles.  However, not everyone wants to get those fixed up and would much rather throw out an old favourite than go to the expense of getting it fixed.  For me, wonderful retro handbags are just as good - if not better - as modern handbags.  They have their own stories to tell and - even though they're rough around the edges and a little worn - I'd rather use them again for a few more years then toss them out.  And this wonderful one is no exception.  And just look at the way the handles are attached... I just love it!

Along with the handbag, I found this cute little coin purse.  There were others, but it seemed to just jump out at me as I walked past and it was only about $1.00 or so.  And so, with the handbag setting me back $10.00, I got two great deals for the day.


I did get to use the retro handbag on Saturday afternoon.  It's got a ton of room in it.  I was able to find a little pouch for my mobile phone (so it's a little more modern than I gave it credit for) and there's and external pocket on the other side of the design.  Then, on the inside, there's a zipper pocket and an open pocket next to the phone pouch... plenty of room for all the essentials.  But the bag itself is so roomy!  I could fit in my iPod, glasses, 2 small books and purse and still has room for something small.  And even with it unzipped, nobody would have been able to get into it with it over my shoulder... so it has withstood the test.  Now, just to get those straps fixed up and it'll be able to stand more wear and tear while I'm out and about.