My favourite op-shop in town (in all of Western Australia really) did not let me down yesterday...look at all the lovely loot I found

pretty Japanese tea trios

eight dollars all up

perfect for afternoon tea

hmmm, not sure if I like the green or mustardy yellow one best...

I found some very nice speckled ramikens (these are for you Anth)

Wrapped with love in pink tissue paper by the gorgeous ladies at the op-shop.

They are signed Raynham and I have discovered via the rameking's excellent blog that the Ray in Raynham was an accountant not a potter. His workshop in Victoria made thousands of ramekins like these in the 50's and 60's so they are not worth very much, but I still like them and they will be perfect for hot chocolate pudding!

This ceramic swan planter also made it home

(a project from someones ceramic class?)

As did this little pottery vase, given to me by the ladies in the op-shop for being a good customer (!)

love its little gum blossoms

I found more kitschy souvenirs to love...

Swan Art Pottery

I also found more Big Eye art to add to my collection

cute, especially for one dollar!

The op-shop ladies also gave their favourite customer (my words. NOT theirs!) this wonderful book of dress making patterns for children...

Forget children! I would SO wear these clothes! Have a look

love the coat on the left

And I'm showing you this pic purely for the fabulously loud wallpaper in the background...

one outfit I would not wear!

That's more than enough from me today, thank you for looking at my loot. It's a good little op-shop isn't it...

Here is Thursday's t towel

pretty carnations...I've had a few mangled bunches of these over the years!

Look what a little ____________ (insert your own expletive!) did to the front wall of our house on Monday night...

I'm trying not to take it personally BUT it's not easy and let's just say I'm NOT in a happy place right now!

Now that I've got that off my chest I'm going to attempt to cheer myself up with some more kitschy loveliness...

By now you know how much I love tea towels, and other slightly "tacky" souvenirs of holidays past... well one thing I've never really had much love for is the good old souvenir teaspoon.

teaspoons a-plenty at the local op-shop

In fact we own the grand sum of two vintage souvenir teaspoons...one of them belonged to Lucy Violet and the other caught my attention because it has a little koala curled round its handle. Here they are...

sweet.

BUT I'm beginning to change my mind about teaspoons and if you're not particularly fond of them either I think you might change your mind too after looking at these...

is that a little pouch made from a vintage tea towel I spy?

What do you think? Aren't these lovely? I don't wear alot of jewellery but I would definetely wear these.

They are made by Byron Bay artists Tony Bauer and Claire Snel, and this is how they describe their work: "vintage teaspoons lovingly created into a tribute to the wanderer" Love it! You can see more of their amazing creations and a lot more interesting stuff besides here 

how about these for teaspoons? Wow!

I wouldn't think twice about buying these if I found them in an op-shop!

(from Tony and Claire's collection as are all pics

http://www.thespooningsociety.com/)

Suzie Stanford (of tea towel fame) also does interesting things with souvenir teaspoons like...

pretty special don't you think?

Have I converted you? Perhaps you've always had teaspoon love? Let me know. As for me I still don't think I'm going to start collecting teaspoons but I do appreciate them more now and would love a piece of the Spooning Society's jewellery! Hint Hint!

Now for souvenirs I do have plenty of...

Here are a few pics from the Trunk Art Street Exhibition which was held this weekend in the Town of Bassendean...trees were trimmed (some with vintage bits and pieces) and it isn't even Christmas! Have a look and see what you think...

a pretty tree to celebrate Autumn

an Autumn most of us are still waiting for...

I love the illustrations from an old story book that were used to decorate this tree... 

This tree was called "Gone Fishin"

I'm not sure what he's doing up there...but what do I know? Nothing about fishing that's for sure!

Annabel's favourite...

This one could be scary if you stumbled past it late at night on your way home from the Pub...

This tree is all dressed up with no place to go...

There were trees with granny blankets

AND even trees with tea towels!!!

just for me?

And that's a fitting place to end, of course! Here's today's tea towel...

Monday morning...time to show you the rest of the treasure I found on Thursday's faith restoring trip to the op-shops...

Just as my faith in ever finding anything decent was beginning to waver I found lovely things like these...

gorgeous vintage apron worn by the even more gorgeous Annabel

lovely lovely barkcloth



my collection of vintage tablecloths easily rivals my collection of tea towels...

see. here's another one

I can't get enough of this groovy retro print!

 These were my find of the day...

I collect old felt pennants (I know, more kitschy souvenirs!) so I was thrilled to find these and to pay only one dollar for the lot!

 Sydney Opera House 1973. Wow!

Here's a pic of my other pennants which I've made into bunting to hang in our new family room/kitchen (WHEN it's finished!)

And, because it's not always about girly stuff...

(scored this lovely mustard tablecloth too btw)

brrm brrm

I think these would look wonderful in a little boy's bedroom OR in a big boy's study...

Too much testosterone for you?  Then have a look at this... 

Here Comes the Bride... it's a wardrobe full of wedding dresses!

 This was my favourite

my photo doesn't do it justice...it's made in France and very, very beautiful. Simple and stylish AND only fifty five dollars! A cute, vintage bride could really rock this dress! If you'd like details just contact me...I'd really love this dress to find a home...I wore a 1930's wedding dress when I got married and have never regretted it.

twenty cents

So can you can see why I'm feeling positive about op-shopping again? I think I found some pretty good stuff don't you? Fingers crossed it continues...

Here Here!

Tea towel next, then fin!

Linked to: Thrift Share Monday