Opshoppery

First week of September, Oppshop haul from earlier this week.

2 Books, & 4 wooden bowls/trays, all under $20.

The first book is,

The Bamboo Handbook, A Farmers, Growers & Product Developers Guide. 1999 Nemea Pty Ltd. $2.

I think I've stumbled upon a real gem here!!

First stand out is the content page listing with many chapters as questions and FAQ as the 3rd Chapter. Lots of facts and figures throughout, at a glance it feels like it lives up to its title, a one stop shop to setting up production growing.

 

The second book is,

Herb & Vegetable Gardening, The definitive guide to growing and harvesting Herbs and Vegetables.

Murdoch books 2000. 

Instantly know I'm going to use this book a lot! Easy to read format, heaps of added tid bits, and extras, plant profiles at back, even has a lil bit on weeds and shrooms! Love the ID style spread images through out the book.

Wooden items are so lovely! I'm always shocked when I find things like this, great condition, so well made. They all could do with a good wax, apart from the leaf tray, that ones going to be for dresser droppings and pebbling. These first two have great depth and sheen.

Fin.

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Opshop run #3. 

There is a #1 & #2, but run 3 was today, and I've just now decided that sharing this brings me joy so Ima start here

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So since moving to our new rental, I've been actively trying to leave the house more often, kick myself in my agoraphobic ass, ward off the depression sessions. 

One carrot I've been dangerously dangling to lure myself out more, is the reward of opshopping BEFORE running errands/obligations. If I have to go to one particular shop, I'll do a quick search and see what opshop near by.
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I struggled a lot at our place. It was hard to leave the house. There was always so much 'work' or chores to do, low funds, fukd car, then no car, I'd have to put a bra on.

Errands were always 30min drive away, supermarket (coles /woolies) were close, and Westfield (mall) 20min away. And as a location to be at, go for the experience of eating out, or movies, etc, but shopping like that just doesn't do it for me, y'know. They are th opposite of sparking joy. There's no soul to it. They're autistic kryptonite to me! Especially supermarket. Sensory overload. 

And then, the last year we were there, basically everything was about appeasing the realestate unrealistic demands, and then getting ready to move.  

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Opshopping is something I've always loved. There's no prescribed way to live, to consume, to look, to style. I've got this almost Murphy's Law like approach to it.

If I'm looking for something in particular, especially if it's something I need, I will never find it, so I never ever go in with anything in mind.  And if I'm low on funds, I'll find the most randomly amazing things, or that thing I've been needing for a while. 

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Today, I had luck! Almost straight up, I had an armful, then grabbed a basket to make carrying easier, then, oh dear, the baskets full.

 

First up was a Wooden Buffalo Bowl W lid and spoon! This matches my tied lazy suzan. I was shocked to find it in the wild. Wooden bowls are always one my radar. I regularly check ebay and market place for wooden bowls, monkey pod, etc. And this one is in great condition.

Not exactly something I need. No idea where I'm going to put it. And I'm desperately trying to down size right now, but fuk it, give me that dopamine.

 

Beside that was a small square bowl with wooden serving forks, and a wooden tray with tile insert like a trivet. Thinking fondue stand type deal or maybe tea and cookies tray. Either way it's supa cute and useful.

Next up were books. When ever I can I will give the Art, Craft, and Gardening, a proper rummage.

Found two great art books for the kaotic gremlin that is my offspring. And they found a few stashes of cloth, and art inspo. 

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It gives me such a kick to be able to share opshopping trips with them. They've had a pretty shit run over the last few years and it's not easy to know if I'm ever really helping but I'm still trying, their still here, and I'm beyond proud of them.

They found their own anchor and compass, they know what they want, and they are slowly chipping away, sculpting a life that serves them. And even if they don't have the wind behind their sails rn, their life, for the most part, is truely theirs.

Their not just jumping through other people's hoops, just bc it's what they 'should' be doin, what society dictates to them that this is what 'normal' 'happy' people look like.

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Anyway back to the books, I found four bangers! All are inspiration and information. The text in each is formated in smaller chunks with heaps of pictures that works well with my brain. Aaaand all these book feel like they belong together. I've given up on ever being in a position to own property, but I still dream, and design. These books are a direct link to what I like designing. 

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'The Small Garden Handbook'.

Pub2000.

Chokers with so many aspects around design, and elements to consider. Very comprehensive. It's even has a few pages on 'with elderly in mind'. 

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'A growers guide to Perennials'. (Better Homes and Gardens. I'm not a fan of the brand as they've always pushed a very 'this is what normal should look like, this is what is socially acceptable' kinda vibe, but its good as a easy reference point telling me it's Australian, plants will be relatively suitable ).

Pub1997. 

 Looks like it's mainly flowering ornamentals, but th profiles are easy to digest and a great way for me to get to know these plants. Within garden designs there is always gaps that need to be filled, perennials that function pollinators, habitat and support, and biomass are the next best thing to edibles. 

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'The Practical Rock & Water Garden. A step by Step Guide from Planning and Construction to Plants and Planting'.

Pub 2001

It's just what the title says. Design, implementation, trouble-shooting, etc. Huge section for Plant Directory (mostly aquatics). And Fish and other Fauna section, touching on ecosystem balance but not very substantial.

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'The Complete Practical Guide to Mosaics'. 

Pub2004.

Again it's what it says it is. Entry level which is great. Ive never done Mosaicking, tiling a bathroom, yes, but not mosaics. It goes through all th basics of different materials and techniques. And there's 60 step by step projects in the second half of the book.