Trashfreechallenge - 8. Re-style

When I talk to people about opshopping or similar ventures, it often conjures up images of scruffy old tshirts with flower motifs and weird stains, moth ball scented sweaters, and outdated old dresses... But what surprises most people is just how many current brands and styles are hiding amongst the aforementioned trash, and just how current you can look! To prove my point, here are my four most recent finds.

1. Mika & Gala dress $4 from Suitcase Rummage and leopard print boots, from the Swap. 

- It's funny, I had my eye on this dress a few years ago. It's a beautiful, thick, woven fabric, in the most vibrant blues and greens ($145 in store at the time) So when I saw this at the Rummage, I snapped it up fast!

2. Yellow print dress $4, Suitcase Rummage. 

- The perfect summer dress to throw on for a trip to the markets, or to dress up for dinner with the girls.

 

3. 4 & 5. Topshop silk skirt $4, Suitcase Rummage. Black brogue boots $8, Suitcase Rummage. 

Leopard print boots $swap, Suitcase Rummage. 

- I couldn't choose which boots - clashing patterns or matching black boots. They're both my new favourites! And the skirt is such a pretty pattern and the softest, slinkiest fabric. Love!

 

Do you opshop, rummage, swap or thrift? What's the best piece you've found?! I'd love to hear.

x

#trashfreechallenge - 7. Roadside treasures

One man's trash is another man's treasure...

Throughout the year, Brisbane City Council offers a roadside collection service, where residence can leave large items on the roadside for free collection/removal. Each suburb is allocated a date, until all of the areas of Brisbane have had their chance to spring clean their homes and throw out their junk... What this means for pickers, thrifters and gatherers is a virtual treasure trove of goodies to drive by and find - but you have to get in quick! All of the great items disappear virtually as soon as they are put out on the roadside. (Note: This does require you to leave your pride at home. Dragging a beaten up old vintage piano stool into your car on a main road at peak hour is not the classiest look, but totally worth it!)

These two chairs were a roadside collection find. I almost drove right past them but I'm so glad I didn't! The lady who previously owned them was just putting them out when I spotted them (yay!) I made a new little cushion for this piano stool. The Bentwood chair was a little beyond my DIY skills so I cleaned it up and found it a new home via gumtree.

 

About: The vintage piano stool, before and after

Below: The bentwood chair. A DIYers dream!

     

 

Have you ever rummaged in the roadside collections?! What's the best thing you've found?

x

February 13 - Happy Galentines Day!

Some lovely friends recently organised a Galentines date, for all the girls to get together and shower some love on each other (and eat pancakes and bacon - that's a form of love right?!) Great company, good conversation, LOTS of food and some gifts thrown in for good measure!

 

On a #trashfree note, our gifts were wrapped in recycled papers and tissues (yay us!) My gift, the felt heart hand warmers, were handmade from scrap fabric and materials that I had in my craft box - no trash there! We also had gifts that were baked or edible (Trash free and tasty! And the jar is perfect for kitchen or bathroom storage), vintage (tea set), and beautiful soap from a store that is very deliberate about recycling and being green... And let me tell you, there was no wastage of food, on my part at least!    

 

(Pippa posted about these on her blog, The Active Attic)

A good night with some great girls (Thanks girls!) x

#trashfreechallenge - 6. Thrifting, the grown up treasure hunt

I love a good thrift session. Whether it's gumtree, garages sales, clothes swaps, recycle centres, or the local roadside collection, it's so much fun to hunt for treasures! Over the years I've sourced many great finds, most of my favourite pieces of furniture are second hand pieces. So, today I thought I'd share some of my favourite opshop found treasures.
Opshops

1.

I scored this pretty little peach tea dress (second from left) for my friends hens party (and recently on-sold it at the Suitcase Rummage!) It was in beautiful condition and perfect for the occasion. That's the great thing about opshopping - if you need to, you can have a high turnover of clothes in your closet with low impact. Just keep recycling! 

2.

The little clock in my former studio (above) and the luxo swing arm lamp were both opshop finds. The lamp is so sturdy and timeless (the story from the shop attendant was, it was from a hotel that had recently renovated and donated their old furnishings to the opshop. How cool!) and the clock weirdly reminds me of my primary school classroom clocks from back in the day (not sure why this appeals to me, but it does) 

3.

Finally, my lovely bedside stand (above) that holds all my treasures. This was an opshop find from years ago, at a time when I didn't have a car. I wanted this so much that I walked 5 blocks home with it, ha! It was originally a drab brown colour, so I slapped on a fresh coat of white paint and voila! It's one of my favourite pieces of furniture that has travelled with me over many year and 7 house moves! 

Do you opshop? What has been your favourite piece you've found?!

x