Second Hand Saturday - confession time

Not one but two confessions:

1. I spent waaaaay more than my frugalling budget yet again this week: I figured that since my tax return came in I could give myself $100 to play with and decided I'd prefer to spend it frugalling rather than at the mall. Pity I'm too late for the $99 Thrift Challenge.

2. I managed to do a couple of lunchtime frugalling runs during the course of the week which is when I picked up most of this. But since Second Hand Saturday is now somewhat of a tradition round here I thought I'd save sharing my haul until today. Picture One (Stuff for the flat):
(left to right)

- Black filing tray: $1.00. This matches the other three I have including the one I picked up here.
- Tin Brabantia container: $2.00. OK, I admit it, I have a bit of a container fetish going on. I bought this not knowing if it'll replace my existing Sesame Street biscuit tin (doubtful) of end up holding more craft supplies (much more likely)
- White plastic rubbish bin: $1.00. Which matches the other two I have in the bathroom and my bedroom. This will possibly end up in the craft room but not necessarily used for what it was originally intended.
- Small wire basket: 60 cents. See comments above about the container fetish!
- CD holder: $3.00. Because I keep running out of room in the ones I have and refuse to pay full price for a new one.
- Brand new Freedom Vintage teapot (with original barcode sticker on bottom): $6 (originally $24.95.) Major impulse purchase. I couldn't just leave it there and I had sort of been toying with the idea that I need a white teapot.
- Biscuit tin: $1.00. OK, you have to ignore the naff dog picture on the top of this. I bought it because it is in good nick and has plain white sides. I rather fancy printing picture 5 from here out and sticking it to the lid and using it to keep reels of cotton in.

Picture Two (Craft stuff):
(left to right)
- 13 x 25g balls of purple boucle wool: $6.00. This needs to mature a bit and then tell me what it wants to become.
- 1959 Good Housekeeping's complete book of needlecraft: $2.00. Full of lovely instructions and patterns.
- 150g ball white wool plus ball of pink wool: $3.00. I'm suspecting the white may become a cricket vest for E. The pink, I have no idea about.
- Small ball black and silver wool: 50 cents. Knitted flowers or pouches, when I get to it.
- 2 pairs knitting needles: $4.00 total. Because you can never have too many knitting needles, right? (unless they're size 11. I've banned myself from buying any more size 11s no matter how cheap they are)
- 3 baby knitting pattern magazines: $4.50 total. Lots of lovely patterns for future E projects.
- Stitch holder: $1.00. See comments on knitting needles above.
- Green fabric: $1.00. I bought this on the off chance that it would go with some flowery fabric I salvaged from a pair of $1 trousers. Then I could make cushions (or a bag) for Christmas gifties. I haven't checked if I was right yet.
Picture Three (Stuff to keep me entertained and some lovely bias binding which I forgot to put in picture two!):
(top to bottom)
- 2 books: $3 total. Nothing really to say, is there?!
- Princess Diaries video: $2.00. Candyfloss for the mind. Gotta love it.
- 3 lots of patterned bias binding: $7.50 total. Bought while on the hunt for the ever elusive red double fold bias binding to finish off the scooter bib. I'd prefer not to use such gloriously wonderful binding to finish it but since I can only find single fold bias binding in Lyncraft, Spotlight and Hot Dollar I might have to. It's either that or buy some from the States off eBay which seems a little extreme somehow for something which was supposed to be frugally recycled...

WARNING - POSSIBLE CHRISTMAS SPOILER ALERT!
And, finally, Picture Four (Stuff for other people):
(left to right)
- The Pixies' Kettle House: 20 cents. A perfect dolls house related gift for a small person. To be added to a swap parcel due to go out to Sew Thrifty very very soon.
- Marble run: $5.00. I picked this up for E but he's only 7 months old and the suggested age range for this is 3+. So I have to face the truth that I love marble runs and will keep it for myself. I will no doubt pretend I have it to entertain visiting small people. Even though I'll be dragging it out to play with by myself. And, even more sadly, probably picking up extra sets when I see them to add to it.
- 10 video set of Thunderbirds: $35.00 total. Saw these at Dickson Vinnies last Friday and decided it was just too much money to spend when I couldn't think of anyone who might like them. Mentioned to Sis on Sunday that I'd seen them and she got rather excited. So I went back to Vinnies on Monday not believing they'd still be there but they were (!) and so Sis is getting them for Christmas.
- Peanuts tin money box: $2.50. For my Peanuts loving mother's Christmas stocking.
- Looking for Mr Right: $1.00. Joke present for a friend.
- Anya Hindmarsh British Airways First Class toiletry bag: $5.00. I've been lusting after the London Bridge version of this bag for a while now so snapped this up when I spotted it even though it was a little more than I was prepared to pay. But once I got it home it whispered to me "I want to go live in New Zealand with Tracy" and who am I to argue. I suppose if Tracy hates it she can always post it back to me!
- Brand new braces, still in box: $8.00. Another pair of MIP braces for Dad's Christmas stocking.
- Teal Melamine platter and divided dish: $7.50 for both. More goodies for Sew Thrifty.
- Black and white houndstooth woolen scarf: 50 cents. For my Black and White swap partner.

Which makes a grand total of $106.60.

An ode to our newly opened Borders Bookstore

Three little Librarians were eating their tea
When TSS brought out a catalogue for them to see
Borders had opened that day! They all danced with glee!

Books were much better than cake they decided, and so
Halfway through tea they were ready to go
Out the door, in the car, to the mall. But blow!Borders were closed! Librarians pouted and cried
While peering through the grill to see the inside:
"Borders are bastards! Their catalogue lied!"So back to cheesecake and wine (with money not spent)
The Librarians rechecked the catalogue and started to vent
With frustration at misinformation (and thus ends my lament!)

Corners of my World - Quirky Canberra

1. Just in case you didn't believe me last week when I said we had a city centre sign, here's proof. Gotta love a city that has to have a sign telling you where it is...2. Speaking of signs, this one's great. Yep, you have to watch out for those skiing kangaroos on the Parkway down to Tuggeranong.
3. I was intrigued last year when a number of previously boring traffic signal boxes started looking a lot more colourful. At first I thought it was guerilla graffiti but eventually I worked out that they were part of the Colour in Canberra competition. This is one of my favorites.
4. I love the madness of the Base Camp in the Geoscience Australia Library.

I believe this space was originally designed to be a rainforest until the Librarian of the time suggested that a rainforest in the middle of a large amount of paper was probably not such a good idea. And so they got a desert with a couple of palm trees instead.

And very soon the desert got inhabitants. Priscilla (our flying friend below) is a new arrival since I was last out there. I wonder if they feed scientists with overdue library books to her?5. I originally planned to add photos of the Narnia-like toilets at Pangea in Manuka. Enter one side and you're in a cafe. Keep on going and you pop out in the foyer of Greater Union Manuka - a very useful thing to know in midwinter when you don't fancy going back outside.

The reason you don't have a photo is because the night I went the toilets were closed for maintenance. Sorry.

Kinda blue

I seem to be going through a blue patch craft-wise which is a bit perturbing.

On the left is the baby hoodie I started for E on Saturday (based on the pattern in Zoe Mellor's Nursery Knits). The wool cost $6 in total and I have a suspicion the zip will cost about the same. Still, it's a cheap jumper and I made it big enough to be able to be worn next winter.

On the right is the knitted (but not finished) cardigan I started a couple of weeks ago. I'm taking a wee breather from before starting the sewing up and front band phase of the project.

And in the background is the $3 piece of blanket I bought in New Zealand. I'll be turning it into Christmas stockings for The Parental Units. Hopefully tonight.

Ruined, I tell you. I'm ruined

Princess B texted me asking if I'd seen the PJs at Target. Since I was in town anyway I trotted off to see what she was on about and there, shining at the end of the aisle, was not one, not two, but three different sorts of black and white pyjamas. Plus a dressing gown!

I almost hyperventilated with excitement, especially when I spotted the 15% off everything in store sign attached to the top of the rack. It was a subconscious Pavlovian reaction which was quickly replaced by the oddest thing.

A (horribly wise) little voice piped up in my head.

"Do you actually need new pyjamas?" it asked.

To which I replied "Of course! They're black and white, which I hardly ever find, so I MUST BUY THEM IMMEDIATELY! In fact, maybe I should buy spares for the top cupboard!"

"Really?" continued The Voice of Frugal Reason. "What about those paisley PJs you made, the black and white spotty ones you found in Goulburn and that pirate night shirt and silky dressing gown? Plus the fact you have at least two pairs of black plaid elastic waist shorts you wear to bed in summer with old black T shirts. Not to mention the two brand new white waffle weave bath robes you have in the top cupboard from the DJs sale two years ago"

I scowled. But The Voice of Frugal Reason was not done yet. "And did you notice that while the pants of that pair of PJs are cotton the top is polyester which means you'll never wear it? Do you really want to pay $34 for a pair of (yes, I admit, rather cute) pants when you know you could make some IF YOU ACTUALLY NEEDED THEM out of your stash? And isn't that fabric thin? Aren't you worried it'll be a little see through (for one) and not very long wearing (for two)?"

"Oh piss off" I said and marched back out of Target with arms empty of shopping bags, wondering how this came to pass and if The Voice of Frugal Reason was going to be a permanent fixture in my life from now on.

Second hand Saturday - budget, what budget?

SPOILER ALERT: If you happen to be my mother, read with eyes closed!

Well I seem to have blown the budget two weeks running. And I don't even have a good justification so I'll just shut up and tell you what I found, shall I?- Five old black and white Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers videos: $3.50 each. A little more than I really wanted to pay but they're classics and educational and compared to the cost of a cup of coffee and the entertainment value you get out of that they're bargains.
- A box of Lego Quatro (the next size up from Duplo) for E. $4.00.
- 3 balls of Sirdar Alpaca Classique (90% wool, 10% Alpaca) plus a random ball of white wool. (I'm planning to use the blue and the grey I got here to knit a stripy hoodie for E) $4.00 the lot.
- Another pair of knitting needles for my collection plus a crochet hook. $2.00 for both.
- And another white cotton cot sheet for crafting purposes. $1.00.
- A cool plastic chicken thing which originally had a bottom piece (I think it's for microwaving eggs?) I just like the top for my slowly growing bird collection: 50 cents.

Total cost picture one: $29.00

But wait, there's more!- Ronald Searle's Something in the cellar for my mother who collects Ronald Searle books: $3.00. She may already have this one but until she sends me a list of what she already has she'll have to cope with the occasional double up.
- Red lamp to replace the one I broke at Princess B's last time I was visiting: $4.00.
- Pink sparkly wool for a certain pink someone. 96% wool, 4% sparkle, $1.00.
- A labeling machine to tide me over until Office Works has the P-touch I want at a price I'm prepared to pay. $3.00.
- A book. $5.00

Total cost, picture two: $16.

And the excitement of the week is I was told about a frugalling haunt I wasn't aware of: Aussie Junk in Mitchell.Much cleaner and neater than Revolve but alas nothing wanted to come home with me. Although some of these Robin Day chairs tried very hard (especially the swivel one on wheels)...And the bad taste award this week goes to this unusual Pania of the Reef candle, left where I found it at Salvos Tuggeranong.

How to break a drought

Buy gumboots.

In which Miss Daisy gets mail and the mystery of the missing parcel is solved...

I found this in my post box yesterday morning courtesy of Taph:Just what I need to finish the cardigan I started last week (and what I was heading to buy when we had our bingle.) Now if that isn't the nicest and sweetest thing to do for someone, I don't know what is.

Do you think she chose a Made in NZ one with black packaging on purpose?

Also in the mail this week from another Librarian (the note attached was written on a catalogue card. Remember those?!) was this picture which she'd picked up on a frugalling jaunt in the Southern Highlands:
Rooruu had posted it over 2 weeks ago and we were trying to work out how come a parcel from almost just up the road could take 2 weeks to arrive and yet one from The States could arrive in less than a week.

The girls at the post office were getting very sick of me asking if there was anything else for me every time I went in. The mystery was finally solved as they realised another box number had been carded for my package and it had been sitting out the back all along...

Corners of my World - Braddon

Yesterday lunchtime I took Miss Daisy down to the cosmetic surgeon for an insurance quote on a bum lift.While I was waiting for them to do their thang I took a stroll round the neighbourhood with my camera. I really like Braddon as a suburb. Tucked right in next to Civic I used to find it quite removed until they built a one-block extension on the road from Civic and suddenly it all seemed connected.

It's an interesting mix of car yards and repairers, camping shops and other small businesses (plumbing supplies, Fed Ex, car hire, bike shop), restaurants and bars and, towards the top of Lonsdale Street, funky designer shops and art galleries (ie: three of the former and maybe one of the latter!)

One block behind the smash repairers is an op shop I don't go to very often. But I had time to waste, it was close and I've not taken any pictures of it yet.It's right next to that big tree. If you peer really hard you can see an "op shop" sign to the right of the tree trunk...They've rearranged things since I was in last, probably to fit the sofas in. The only thing I liked was the blue table next to the chrome stool but (of course) that had a large piece of masking tape on it with NOT FOR SALE written across it.There was some Maxwell Williams spotted - at a decent price, even, but I'm not collecting the coffee cans so I left them there, tempting as it was to buy the lot for the saucers and instantly redonate the cups (I've done that before!)Anyway, with a few minutes to kill before I was due to collect poor Miss Daisy, I walked back past the Smash Repairers and onto the block on the other side where I took a picture of my favourite flats in the whole city. I love that they've survived not more than one block from the city centre (you know it's the city centre as there's a big sign in the middle of the road telling you so!) and are so green (if you ignore the already brown grass)Look at this entranceway, isn't it just magical?

Happy 1st of November

And we're back onto level 2 water restrictions. Just brilliant. At least I have a good excuse not to wash my windows...

I ended up watching an old Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers video (Follow the Fleet) last night. I've not really got into old black and white movies before but was quite engrosed and clicking away on my knitting needles in time to the dancing. What's not to like? Cute men in uniforms, dancing, singing and lovely frocks (not on the cute men, in case you were wondering). Sort of crazy to think it's now 70 years old!

And stuck in my head at the moment? The Sugarcubes' Motorcrash. Good to see my subconscious has good taste.

Tonight is the launch of The Canberra Theatre subscription season and the official opening of the new link. (Which means the new Civic Library opening can't be too far away.)

I can't wait to see what goodies Canberra Theatre have up their sleeves for us next year...

Bears, boots and a bingle

Well the boys have pretty much all gone to new homes and in return I now have a brand new pair of black and white spotty gumboots (just what you need in a drought-stricken city, right?) They arrived this morning marking the beginning of an interesting day...

At lunchtime I went to The National Library to hear a talk on Old Parliament House’s collecting interests and how they use eBay to buy stuff for their collection. Which was pretty cool.

Since I was already on that side of the lake I thought I'd continue south and check out the Yarralumla YMCA op shop I've had on my list for a while but it turns out they're just a collection centre which has a huge garage sale every so often. The next one's due for November 25th, if anyone's interested.

Southwards again, I was heading for Mawson where I'd been told I'd find the bamboo circular needle needed to complete my current knitting project. But alas, as I was heading into Mawson Miss Daisy had a bit of a whoopsie and a bingle ensued. Which meant instead of checking out the wool shop in Mawson I got to check out the new Police Station at Woden (very nice it is too).

When I rang NRMA they tried to tell me I had a $900 excess (err... I don't THINK so thank you very much!) but we got that sorted out, thankfully.

And in a stroke of luck the accountant called just after we'd limped home to say my tax return is done and the amount I'm getting back will nicely cover the cost of the excess on the repairs. Phew! Tonight I think I need a bucket of wine, a Super Sebzeli Turkish pizza and a trashy movie.

Must.... knit....

I had a good reason to have wanted to stay on the sofa all day yesterday and knit like a woman possessed - the record player is still out. So while I sat and knitted and read I was also listening to stuff I hadn't heard in probably a decade (if not longer).

The Icicle Works. Sideways Look. World Party. Classix Nouveau. The Mission. Trasch (whatever happened to them? Any Wellingtonians know?). Ultravox's Lament. The Mockers (*blush*).

Hang the DJ, hang the DJ!

I made a new friend recently who has a similar background of 1980s alternative/ student radio and thus we "shared" a lot of memories and experiences from different sides of the Tasman.

After a few drinks I mentioned I still had my turntable tucked away in the top cupboard in the study and so last night she came over with a bag of records under one arm, we opened some wine (and I, sad to say, dragged out my knitting - oh so rock and roll) and rediscovered some gems (and clunkers) from our past. While dressed appropriately, of course!

We stayed up far too late (not helped by the start of daylight saving) and had a ball. I think this will be the start of many such evenings as we barely scratched (hardy har) the surface of what we wanted to hear.

Now I have that lovely 80s feeling of I didn't get enough sleep and the house is in chaos because we rearranged the furniture to fit in the record crates and the mattress for her to sleep on plus there's a pile of dishes to be done so can I go back to bed now?

Luckily maturity has meant I don't have the And oooh my head hurts and the place stinks and who exactly is that passed out on the sofa? part of the experience. Instead I have the Wasn't that a lovely breakfast of fruit toast, yoghurt and fresh mango and strawberries outside under the tree? feeling (which is much better).

It was a good night.
(Listening to: Julian Cope, Saint Julian)

That would be another week of tuna and pasta specials at The Staff Cafeteria, then

This little $40 beauty followed me home from Vinnies Mitchell, blowing my frugalling budget for the week right out of the water. The Staff Cafeteria came to the rescue and made up the rest of the money so watch out for a week of creative cooking!

it'll be worth it, though, in order to have all my general craft supplies (as opposed to my mini craft supplies which have a cupboard all of their own) organised and accessible and waiting for inspiration to hit.

A full tour (with notes) of each section can be found here if you're interested.

(Listening to: Rogue Traders, We know what you're up to)

The aftermath

Thought I'd share a picture of the same scene 5 hours later... (yes, I was knitting at the dinner table again. But only during the final drink tea and chat bit.)I even got to use my new cheese signs, though not quite in the way they were originally intended I suspect! (5 for $2 from Vinnies Belconnen).

Friday's WIP

Dinner party for six to mark the sixth anniversary of my becoming an Australian citizen. Starts in one hour exactly. I'm still trying to decide what I'm serving for pudding (and procrastinating by blogging instead of facing the horror that is the supermarket at this time of night.)

But at least the table is set. With the $1 table cloth I found at Salvos Mitchell the other day. Perfect for the occasion, I thought.

(Listening to: Pop will Eat Itself, This is the day...this is the hour... this is this)

Just what I need - another project to add to the ever-growing list!

Jo Sharp Knit Issue 2 turned up at the Newsagents* this week. And I can buy it without guilt (which is actually a rather nice feeling). Good thing I bought it too, as it has the perfect pattern for an idea that's been bouncing round in the back on my head for this wool.

What do you think? I thought I could get super-carried-away and try and make a skirt out of this to go with it:I originally thought tulip but I suspect by the time I get to it they'll be back into their 20 year cycle of so daggy you wouldn't want to wear them. So maybe a pencil skirt.

I'm sure the whole endeavour will end in certain disaster (I've always been very good at over-extending myself) but it'll be fun while the dream lasts, and I if all else fails I can be proudly frugal that both items cost a mere $35.

(And yes, I'm well aware there's colour in there. Thank you!)

*Just in case you thought I forgot it's Thursday, here's a picture of the Newsagents for my Corners of my World series...

(LIstening to: Hotel Costes Vol 9)

The girl can't help herself...

I went to a Neutrimetics "Spa Experience" Monday night (since when did they stop being parties and become Spa Experiences?)

I can tell you now, if you ever plan to invite me to a Neutrimetics, Avon, or any other sort of girly smelly selling party, don't bother. I'll simply show up, drink your wine, eat your food, make smart comments (even though I try so hard not to) and not buy a thing.

The problem, you see, is packaging.

This is how I chose my beauty products:

1. They've got to be packaged in black and white. Or black. Or white. Or sometimes even silver. Light cream or fawn sometimes can slip through... but only if I'm really desperate.

This somewhat limits my options but luckily I rather like those options: Mac, Aesop, Natio, Philosophy and Olay all fit the bill. Oh - and I noticed last time I was in New Zealand that Living Nature have repackaged and now are not only black and white but very very droolworthy...

2. I'd prefer it if they didn't smell. I spend a large amount on a bottle of perfume each year (L'eau d'Issey if you must know) so don't want to complicate things. If they must smell sea is nice. I miss the sea (not that I was ever much of a swimmer...) I love Simple soap (once it's out of the package!) It's plain white and it doesn't smell.

3. My moisturiser has to have SPF 15 at least in it. And, if all this wasn't difficult enough, I'd prefer if it was in a pump pack. David Jones' repackaging of their home brand moisturiser a few years ago into a blue bottle threw me into a total tizzy which was only sorted when I discovered Olay Total Effects. At about quadruple the price (of course!)

Luckily my friend hosting the party last night knew me well enough to say to the consultant "Oh, she won't buy anything - your packaging has colour in it."

I just sat in the corner and continued to much on the carrot sticks and dip while breathing a small sigh of relief...

(Listening to: Loop Select 007: We are here)

A typical Tuesday in the office

I was actually in the office all day today which makes a nice change after a couple of days of racing round. I pulled all the scrappy bits of paper I'd amassed with stuff to do on them into one pile and pretty much just started at the top and worked my way down so I'm feeling much more in control and the office is looking much less like a bomb exploded in a paper factory.

Had another famous (and delicious) Staff Cafeteria 10 minute meal for lunch: Zucchini, sun dried tomato and olive pasta (serves 1)

60g shell pasta (or penne, or fettucine depending on what you've got in the cupboard)
1 zucchini
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes in oil, chopped (plus 1 Tbspn of the oil)
1/4 cup chopped black olives
Freshly ground black pepper
Parmesan cheese

1. Put the pasta on to cook.

2. Meanwhile, slice the ends off the zucchini. Cut in quarters lengthwise, then in half crosswise. Take each section and thinly slice lengthwise into ribbons.

3. Spray a non stick fry pan with oil. Fry zucchini (with lid on) until tender and slightly browned. Add chopped sun dried tomatoes, olives and the tomato oil. Stir to combine and cook till heated through.

4. Drain pasta and combine with the zucchini mixture. Season with black pepper and serve with curls of parmesan cheese.

And, finally, here's a mid afternoon picture of my office mascot who doesn't quite understand why I can be at home but ignoring him completely...So how was your day?

(Listening to: Madonna, Confessions on a dance floor)

Feeling all arty farty

Got a bit stuck with the bib as I couldn't decide if it would work better sewn together right sides facing then turned and top-stitched (which I thought might be a bit too bulky with the toweling backing, or maybe left right sides out and edged with coloured bias binding to go with the scooter (I'm thinking red as it would work for either a girl or a boy). Leaning towards the later but, oddly enough, I don't actually have any red bias binding so the whole thing was put aside.

Instead I finally got round to playing with the bleach pen I brought home from The States with me (I did warn you I buy odd souvenirs, didn't I?) It had been sitting in my craft cupboard waiting for the right time to come out and play and after I saw knit-o-rama's bleached dishcloth I had to finally do some experimenting.

The last of the black denim I used for Taph's knitting bag seemed perfect for the job. First try I left the bleach on for about 10 minutes then rinsed. That resulted in the brown designs. So then I reapplied the pen to the two smallest, added the spots and left it overnight. Et voila!

Feeling an arty wank coming on, I can say this piece was created on the approach to the celebration of my 6th anniversary of becoming an Australian citizen so was majorly influenced by this event. You can see the duality of citizenship in this piece with the koru motif representing my New Zealand heritage and the influence of the native Aboriginal dot painting coming through as well. (Do you think I'd get a job as an art critic?)

Or I can just say what was originally just going to be a sample piece may well now become a placemat. Or a cushion.

Oh God, another decision to make.

And a warning if you plan to play with bleach pens. They're strong little suckers. Probably best to wear a white shirt when dealing with them. Definitely not a good idea to wear your favorite old Esprit cotton knitted hoodie...