#op shops

An Elsa with interesting makeup, four Frozen dolls who need some therapy, an awesome cat cane, a teddy bear from an unfortunately-named advertisement campaign, a $20 pet urn with NO ASHES (I checked!!! It was empty!!!), a guide to craft sad child dolls, eyeless Michael ‘Mickey’ Mouse, and the happy bride and groom.

Dangerfield is NOT punk, or alt or anything nice. they abuse their workers, they dropship accessories that support child labor. they're a big fast fashion brand, they sell clothes with ai on them, all their clothes are low quality with super high price tags.

!!fast fashion is not and never will be punk.!!

I do own Dangerfield clothes, yes, but I found them in op shops, YOU CAN FIND ALT CLOTHES IN OP SHOPS!!! or just make your own!!

If you claim you HAVE to buy accessories from Temu/shein, you're LYING, no one is forcing you to buy "alternative" accessories, you don't have to buy a two dollar ring off Temu to "look punk" if anything you just look like a dick head.

Punk has never been about just wearing spiky necklaces, it's about music and politics.

I buy most of my things from op shops, I have found VERY cute things there too, I went op shopping today and found some really comfy clothes and old belts and some really good comfy work boots. I even found a good gym bag. In my country most op shops also donate to suicide hotlines and veterans so it's more than just avoiding fast fashion.

If you do not have any local op shops or other stores are expensive for you, try eBay, Gumtree, there are so many more options than Temu and shein!!

If you can afford "normal" clothes easily, it's not too hard to make them punk, if you're disabled or can't do certain things, ask for help, I always offer to mend my friends clothes or send them free punk patches I make myself!

Also when you go looking for clothes at op shops, when you pick something up, think if you will ACTUALLY wear it or use it for something, if not, put it back!!

If you have old clothes you don't wear or don't want anyone, try making them into something, use them for fabric, whatever, if you can't, donate them, I personally use seam rippers to cut brand tags off to stop over pricing and reselling in op shops! It helps people with not as much money still stay comfy in clothes they like, unbranded clothing in op shops is more likely to be less expensive and less likely to be resold!

I think that's enough been said, stay woke!

Today I got all this at the op shop for $35:

2x pairs of socks (new)

1x pair of shoes (unworn)

2x pairs of black trousers

1x t-shirt

This is what $82 at my local op shops got me:

2 jackets, 2 tops, 1 evening dress, 1 pair of leather gloves, 2 pairs of shoes (both unworn, boots are leather), 2 flat sheets, 2 pillow cases (50c each).

My local op shops are bursting with great finds at the moment. I suspect all that Coronavirus isolation decluttering is to thank for the riches on offer!

I’m very happy with my haul, to be supporting charity shops, reducing waste and saving $$$$.

I was thinking about second hand Discworld books and the belief that they don’t really exist, in the sense that you don’t typically find them in op shops, used books stores, garage sales etc.

And that it is both cute and sad to find books with writing in them in the above mentioned places.

These thoughts combined so I have now stamped my Discworld collection, while small it now included all books from The Colour of Magic to Men at Arms, and Wintersmith (because it was the first on I ever read).

I'm a crazy doll lady. I collect many kinds of dolls, I sleep with a hand-knitted doll, I've made rag dolls and tried my hand at reborning and Asian resin bjd faceups, I'm currently researching and beginning to acquire parts for a long-term project of embodying (book) Crowley, Aziraphale and my In Nomine demon Jesse.

I also have a hobby of buying unhappy op shop (charity shop) dolls, cleaning, hair styling, dressing and (mostly) re-donating them in much better condition. Occasionally I attach too much and they live at home. Most dolls I rescue are Barbie and similar size (easy to dress cheaply, and you can buy big bundles of generic Barbie shoes cheap), 18 inch and Disney Toddler dolls (also easy to source clothes for, but often still left shoeless for budget reasons.) It's relaxing, it feels nurturing even though they are obviously mass produced, it saves plastic from landfill, and I think kids who get their toys from op shops deserve for them to be pretty and clean and cared-for. If you're looking for an inexpensive, fun hobby that actually does some small good in the world, I recommend toy rescue.

This blog is pretty inspirational My kid is also an op shop fiend (his specialties are Nerf guns, Hot Wheels and his beloved family of hand knitted teddies) so after his therapy this morning we visited two nearby op shops as a reward. This is my latest rescue, from today, a Positively Perfect Mira for $2:

She's going to be so pretty when she is cleaned up and that tangled matted mess of hair fixed. Tip: wash doll clothes in tights or bra bags,

Before and after of the last doll to stay with me, an unbranded vintage doll I named Dulcie:

I am tempted to cut her huge fringe shorter and blush her cheeks, but I am incredibly happy with how her filthy matted hair became soft and shiny with a bit (okay, a couple of hours) of care. Didn't take a photo of her back hair, but it is long and curls very nicely at the bottom once set in curlers and heat set, barely needed trimming. Her outfit is from a lovely lady who sells handmade dolls clothes for IMO way less then they are worth at Goolwa Market, if you're ever there. (I actually love the print of the also handmade dress Dulcie came wearing , but it fits her less well and the scratchy cheap lace trim is awful and would need replacing. Maybe a more mod looking doll will get a fixed version eventually. It's washed and kept, anyway)

I figured Dulcie's style of doll, although it was "this is what generic dolls looked like" for a very long time, is out of fashion now. Even cleaned up, Dulcie might be headed for landfill. So she's mine. Predictably, my Mum, who hates my bjds for instance, appreciated her beauty, which is similar to her (still loved) childhood doll. I think Dulcie was also very loved once--an unbranded doll with hand-made clothes was very possibly its owner's only doll and beloved friend. We forget sometimes, with so many cheap imported toys, how expensive they used to be, and if someone could only afford a generic doll with handmade clothes, she probably represented a lot of money to her owners' parents. I kind of hope that on some level her previous owner knows she is cherished again.

A lot of my favourite possessions are from op shops, and I really like ones like pens and bags that have inscribed names and initials on them, things that say "I was a cherished possession." I am sentimental about "This thing you cared about is loved again", just as much as I am indifferent to brand names.

I also picked up a fabulous Ken, who also might stay with me, or at least his head. He deserves a posable body and a hot outfit. His body can be donated to a Ken with a broken body or chewed hands. Actually... I can see Jesse with a pink-tipped mohawk.

I forgot to take a picture, so here is one I stole off Ebay, although my boy is nekkid like most op shop dolls.