Charity shop wins

British Heart Foundation on Western Road, Brighton has become far and beyond my favourite local charity shop recently. Since picking up a Marni top for £4.99 (not even H&M X Marni either) I've found Cos bargains and an authentic Scandinavian jumper - always with plenty of change from a tenner, and often a fiver.

This weekend it didn't fail to disappoint and I returned from my trip to 'Waitrose' with a Paul & Joe Sister smock for £4.99 and a brand new Warehouse peasant embroidered top for just £2.99. Both to be packed away to be rediscovered with joy come spring/summer 2013.

On my Sunday charity shop round I also spotted a House of Wilde padded tie-dye gilet in Oxfam. Recognising the label, a quick mobile Google search confirmed that it was that of the bohemian Australian brand, whose pieces regularly reside in the three-figure bracket. Unlike Oxfam - one of the more expensive charity shops - to have missed the value of this piece, which I snapped up for just £5.99.

No delayed gratification with this beauty - it was straight on my, now very warm, back.

Other top spots of the trip - Ralph Lauren powder pink chunky knit jumper in Spiral (£4) and ceramic Hornsea coffee and sugar jars in Marlets priced at £5 and £3 respectively.

I love Brighton.

Spring fling

Today's charity shop find - H&M floral shirt, £3 from Spiral - is easing me into spring fashion, and is the perfect match for my Models Own pastel nails. The daffodils have also started to peek their heads out from under their protective green hoods - the change must be upon us!

Vintage Paris painting

The latest edition to our walls - a vintage Paris tourist painting, picked up for £4 at the brilliant Spiral charity shop on Bedford Place. Shhh, don't tell too many people it's there...

Bargains - a/w10

A selection of bargain buys from recent months, along with some old favourites and retro homewares.

Dress: £20 Topshop sale
Boots: £16 Traid
Bar: £30 Spiral charity shop
Cat: £1.50 Spiral charity shop
Couple figure: £2 Spiral charity shop
Ice bucket: £4 North Laine flea market
Roberts radio: £6 BHASVIC car boot sale
Lamp: £4 Shelter charity shopAs above
J letter necklace: £10 Tatty Devine at Clothes Show London
D&G little black velvet dress: £40 Oxfam charity shop, Western Road
Lou Shabner framed print: £25 Oxfam charity shop, Western Road
Long gold bird charm necklace: Handmade
Faux fur coat: £20 Upper Gardner Street Market
Red Formica table: £30 Spiral charity shop
Fur coat: As above
Purple court shoes: £15 H&M
Telephone table: £10 BHASVIC car boot sale
Joker painting: Commission Vicky Roberts
Floral H&M jacket: £5 charity shop in Crouch End
Black Topshop jeans: £6 Traid
Bird print shirt: £15 River Island sale
Small leather satchel: £10 Ebay
Typewriter: £15 Age Concern George Street
Mui Mui glasses: £175 Specs opticians
White coat: £5 BHASVIC car boot sale
Russell & Bromley boots: £30 Vintage @ Goodwood
Chair: £15 Spiral chairty shop

Fabulous finds

As it was my hen do last weekend, I spent two days in a drunken stupor and two days in a zombie-like state, unable to speak, eat or even face daylight without experiencing pain. Clever, I am.

So, when I finally felt like a human being again, I thought I'd make up for these somewhat wasted days and throw myself back into my magpie habit.

It goes without saying that I picked up a flowery dress. I'd seen this lovely lilac and white Topshop number with bow-back detail reaching over £30 on Ebay on many an occasion, so was very pleased to spot it in Oxfam for £9.99, and in a size 12 too. How could I say no?


I'm not sure if I've mentioned on the blog before - I've banged on about it off-line enough - but my next project involves making candles in old tea and coffee cups. I've got a cupboard-full of odds and sods I've picked up from car boot sales, wax from a charity shop candle-making kit and wicks and a glue-gun from the net. So I'm all set.

I fear, however, that this may become another obsession, as although I can't fit any more cups in the cupboard, and I don't really drink tea or coffee, I now can't stop myself buying them. Hence, the arrival of the below in our flat this afternoon. Bought from Spiral charity shop around the corner for £3.


It's not just great clothes and homewares that can be found in charity shops. Ooooh no, then I may only spend one-third of my life in them rather than half. If you want named and quality hair and beauty products, it's well worth rooting around.

I found a new Toni and Guy straightening product set for £1 after Christmas (a great time to pick up unwanted presents) and today picked up an unused pot of No7 Lift and Luminate Day Cream (£20.50 new) for just £3.99. Result.


The last in my lists of finds I didn't buy - I very much doubt I'd be able to afford it. Bit I spotted this amazing HMV gramophone in the window of an odd little on the street adjacent to mine.

Oliver's Clock Shop on Cross Street never seems open and looks like someone's front room, yet it's full of amazing old clocks and, more recently, weird and wonderful antiques. I suspect it's a real treasure trove and really must bite the bullet and step inside. This beauty may be the item to make me do just that over the weekend, if only to take a better photo.