What is your charity-shop weakness?

Alison_Funnell

jackyann wrote: »

I once stayed in a beautiful B&B in Provence - all wonderfully French with beautiful linen.
The owner told me that she worked part-time accompanying students to language schools in places like Margate, and sourced all her linen in the charity shops along the English south coast! Then I realised that the curtains I thought so "typique" were Laura Ashley!

When we are in France (happens MUCH less due to price) we try and fine Brocage. I love the really old junk yardy type ones (found a great one in Normandy) and love old french jam jars.:o

Have to agree with everyone about the pricing and 'perfect' items policies. I used to love buying less than perfect items, I don't like destroying anything that is still good for use, but cracked china, and tatty clothes can be used for mosaic and patchwork. Shame.

ninnoodle

I go straight for the pottery! I have a weakness for pretty jugs, but also like to pick up cups and bowls. As long as it is both pretty and useful I'll have it! I also love browsing the books and the clothes (athough I'm on a 'no buying clothes unless absolutely necessary' challenge this year). I also like to check out the stuff that might have been overlooked by others - the boxes of tat at the back, pictures, boxes on the counter of jewellery. Love charity shops!

katieowl_2

Another one with a penchant for vintage textiles here...love a bit of hand embroidery or a really camp tea-towel (think 60's flamenco dancers)

Also very fond of sets of glasses...I like the ones with pictures on best. I have Fruit...and Welsh ladies, and some AWESOME scottish ones!

I browse the China usually too, and the jewellery, I've picked up some nice ethnic beads recently.

Don't seem to find much in clothes these days - the days of the Kenzo jacket and dress in the 'dressing up box' for a couple of quid have passed I think (true tale - about £2 each) I find the really reduced stuff in TKMaxx more exciting and promising these days.

Books...of course are my vice. Although the charity shop chains here are so expensive, Amazon S/H is often cheaper. We have one shop locally that is a cheap source...but her stock is a bit 'dated' not much recent in there.

Kate

skintmum2012

I go straight for the Clothes all my clothes are from Charity shops or table top sales. At the momment I am wearing a 25p pair of jeans from marks and Spencer and a shirt sleeved body for 25p. I have also just got 5 pairs per una jeans 25p each. It makes me so sad that people spend so much money in the designer name shops when they really dont need to. My MIL is awfull last time she came she was wearing a Per Una jumper I said I liked it and she thanked me and said it's per una in a really snotty voice as in we could never afford that. I said I know and asked if she would like to see the one I have got upstairs which was the same for £2 rofl

thriftwizard

Skintmum2012, you are very lucky - I use jeans to make something that sells well on my stall, but I know I won't get them in a charity shop round here for less than £4 a pair, usually more! And we don't seem to "do" jumble sales any more. I rely on car boots for my "stock" fabric now.

skintmum2012

Can we ask what you make? there are a few people round here that buy up all the Jeans at carboots to I have always wondered why they would want that many.

P.S If it's a secret sorry for asking just wondering why people want all the Jeans lol.

Horace

Oh I forgot to mention vintage pickle jars and pickle forks - I just love 'em. My grandma started me off by giving me her old pickle jar which I keep in my cupboard and use it every time I have a stew because it contains my pearl barley.

I gave a whole load of designer stuff to my local shop last year - a pure wool jacket from Zara (bought in Spain), a silk Zara dress bought in UK, an Edina Ronay suit that no longer fitted (it had been bought cheaply at work), various tops and other stuff that no longer fitted. Some of it had been bought by an ex boyfriend so I knew that I would never wear them again so got rid.

When I first moved into my flat I was mooching on the second hand stall in the market and found an old wooden shoe cupboard made of old pine boards and it has a rail for a curtain. It looked really tatty - so once again the trusty sandpaper came out and it was sanded and varnished. It fits neatly into the alcove in the hall - I don't see the boards at the back and the top is covered with one of my antique tray cloths.

There are lots of charity shops of varying types near me - on a mile long street in the village there are 7 charity shops and a second hand junk shop and in town there is a large Heart Foundation Furniture shop where I got my mahogany drawers from as well as the trolley that converts into a table. They sell electricals too that have been tested - I have my eye on a flat screen tv for £35:cool: but there is nothing wrong with my current tv which is large and heavy and old fashioned.

Leatherhead has some nice charity shops - I used to go when I used to go and stay with a chum in Epsom.

BitterAndTwisted

My sister lives in Maidenhead and there are some fabby charity shops and a very nice hospice shop there. Lots of rather wealthy people live there by all appearances. Whenever I visit I always find some treasure or other. This Christmas it was some very nice kitchen scales for £2.75

dianasnan

kiwimama wrote: »

Hee Hee I live in Reading and often plan a morning out to Henley Upon Thames as their charity shops often have lovely bargains!!! Kids clothes and books are my biggest drawcard, have scored a few amazing toys at silly prices - best ever was two medium snap lock bags full of Schleich plastic animals that retail for about £5 each animal, £6 for the two bags :):) they were the best toilet training incentives ever!!!!

Reading used to have some good reasonable charity shops along the Oxford Road, some have gone but the remaining ones have definitely increased their prices and still sell tat. Will definitely try Henley.

Bronnie

Coats and pressed glass (amongst other things!)

Of the former, this year acquired my funeral coat :sad:, a Coast, as new, black wool and leather trim coat for £12. An Oasis, cream wool -mix go-anywhere coat for £8 and a Whistles wool-mix black and white check everyday coat to slim in to, else ebay) for £3.

I love pressed glass. Wash in hot soapy water and rinse in white vinegar to restore sparkle. I currently use it to store make-up brushes, as candle holders, for salad, fruit or trifle dishes to justify the (totally unnecessary ) purchase.

Also can never resist a rummage in the cutlery box ;-)