A solution to the Yashica GX battery problem!

I've noticed I get a bunch of hits from people looking for batteries for the Yashica Electro 35 GX. As you know from my previous post, they are hard to find, so you will need some kind of adapter or hack to use current batteries. Tonight I found one on ebay that I'm thinking of picking up. It looks pretty cool

I stole this pic from the auction, but seeing as I am giving them free advertising, I can't see them complaining! The fix i have now is fine. But these are a nice solution to a common problem with these older yashica rangefinders.

Sneaky Sneaky

Today I decided to head out to some op shops I don't get to check out during the week. There is one little one in belmont that I think most people don't know is there. It's old school and the prices are really cheap. they usually have some cool clothes for low prices, and the prices are set instead of jumping up and down for how "valuable" the people working there think something is. Plus all the paperbacks are around 50c each, which is getting rarer now. I had a look around and found these Nikes in pretty much new condition. They look like they have been worn about once. I don't usually buy shoes if they look too worn in.

They didn't have a tag on them so I went and asked one of the women in the store. She looked at them and said "for those? $5." This is why little op shops can be good! These would have been $15-20 at least at a big salvos store. Yet another pair of shoes. The way I'm going, I wont have to buy shoes new at full price for a loooong time.

RUBBISH!

I was having a read of this article about op shops and people leaving rubbish. I notice it a lot at the op shops I go to, and i think the reason people do it might be because they have the mindset the op shop just sells rubbish anyway. People who don't go to op shops always seem to have this view! Or it might be they just think their crappy pine furniture is actually nice!

There was an op shop bin near the train station where I used to live. I used to look at what people had left there from time to time and sometimes steal things (gasp!) like stray cards and bits of rubbish to use in collages.

One night I was heading off to a party when I saw a some open suitcases with paperwork in them. I knew this wouldn't be stuff the op shop would take, so I had a look. There were old letter, birthday cards and photo albums. I don't know why someone would throw this stuff away? It was all very 80s. There were also some random mix tapes, I took a few to the party and we danced around to them. I think I took a few photos and things too, I don't know if I still have them. In a way I wish the op shop would sell that type of stuff, even old photos. It would be awesome to use for art projects!

Buy Nothing New!!

I am participating in Buy Nothing New Month. I already love op shopping and all things second hand, so it shouldn't be too much of a stretch. but I do still buy new things quite often, especially online! So I will have to watch what I buy.

I should use it as an excuse to post to this blog more, shouldn't I? I am currently cleaning my place up at home, so here is a pic of my lounge.The only "bought new" things in this picture are the vacuum, the laptop, the bookcase and the xbox (oh, and the set top box!). The couch is second hand, the tv is second hand (ex store tv, those ones you see in clothing shops playing music videos) the cameras the books, the cushions, the coffee table and shag rug. The speakers under the tv were free. even the coasters on the coffee table. I would guess at least 80% of the stuff in my house has been found at op shops or given to me. This blog was meant to be to show everything I find. But as you can see, its a big job!

Yesterday I bought one of those little hooks that can fit over the top of doors, so I decided to put some of my bag collection on it so they arent just hanging off door handles or lying on the ground!

I realised after I took the photo that everything in the pic is from the op shop. I love the op shop for finding bags. I love all things aztec/tribal and I like real leather, too. I know leather is dead cows and that's bad, but vintage leather to me is ok, because if a cow ided to make something nice then we should try to get as much use out of it as possible! PU bags feel so throw away and cheap to me. The leather satchel in the photo is really thick and sturdy, i think I'll be able to keep it for life. The shirt is a levis shirt I found for $5.

The other interesting thing about this pic is all this stuff came from the same few shops in the same area (Geelong) just over the last few years. You don't have to go nuts and travel across the state or country to be a good op shopper (but you can if you want!). I think its just about going out every week. I'm probably lucky in that I can see a trend coming, because I need to know what's in fashion for my job. So I know what stuff to look out for. But this is really my taste anyway. I don't buy to sell (though I do want to one day) but I think even if you do, it makes sense to buy what you like and what interests you. Its harder to know if something's a dud if its something you aren't passionate about already.

If you're jealous of my stuff, go out there and get shopping! I'm going to try to post my finds more during this month, so stay tuned.