This post is the start of my new series of Blog Posts sharing some of my "Op Shop Adventures" around Sydney. People always ask me "Where do you find everything?" and the answer is "I go in Op Shops... a lot!" I can often visit 2-3 Charity Shops a week and it's part of our daily life - we visit a park, go to the shops, nip in an Op Shop...The thing is with these secondhand stores is they turn over a lot of clothing and accessories - you can visit the same one regularly and see something new - or sometimes you just don't - it's something of a lottery!These days Op Shops have to make a decent profit for themselves too - not...
I received a blast from the past this week - it's five years since I got a little bit of publicity for being an "Op Shop Tour Leader" - the perfect job for me - leading tours of thrifters around Sydney Inner West suburbs of Dulwich Hill and Marrickville.I had to laugh at the photoshoot and syndicated story in the Daily Telegraph - I've been in a few newspapers and magazines over the years and they always get you to do the funniest things! Read the full article hereI'd not long been in Australia and was looking for additional ways to supplement my income and discovered this amazing 'situation vacant'. I got to write my own tour plan around my local...
Next Saturday is the awesome Round She Goes vintage market at Marrickville Town Hall, Sydney. These days I don't get to do many markets and events - 10 years of rain and snow in Manchester made me quite picky about the ones I choose, valuing sewing or family time over than a day sitting on a market stall and just about covering the cost of the stall (which happens more than you think). Round She Goes is one of the few events I am a regular stallholder at - even if it's just 3 events a year!Preparing for an event is a lot of hard work. Even without having to make (or remake garments) which I also do, just the amount of steaming...
I'm holding a Refashion Workshop tomorrow at my studio in Marrickville. This is the first workshop I've presented in Sydney and the first workshop I've done for a long time. I've got to admit I'm a little nervous!I had the idea to run a Refashion Workshop as part of the Creative Edge Open Studio Trails as interest in sustainable fashion, upcycling and repurposing is becoming so much more talked about in the media. Refashioning is something I've been doing for years and I find quite natural but some people are just scared or just simply don't know where to start and often ask me for tips. We all have unworn items in our wardrobe that for some reason we just don’t wear. With...
We all love a snuggly wool jumper or cardigan in the winter. I have a bit of a weakness for Vintage Mohair Cardigans - I have one in almost every colour (my stash above!). When I lived in the cold and rainy North of England my mohair collection got a lot more wear than it does in 'Sunny Sydney' and one of the things I've found is the moisture and humidity in the air can be something of a challenge with keeping your clothes stored over a season or two.I've been taking advantage of this glorious autumn weather to give my knits a little tlc. To get rid of the musty storage smell you can't beat fresh air and sunshine...
