My Op Shop Treasures

I've had some magnificent Op Shop finds lately. Some, from one of the local shops in Our Town. Others from further afield...like the nearest and furtherest reaches of Gippsland. Because you know, you just can't go on holidays unless you scour every Op Shop within cooee of where you happen to be! Lucky for me, the families we camp with love a good Op Shop experience. And most fortunately we all look for different things!

The picture above are my most recent finds. The plates and cups on the right are from Our Town and the more retro vintage plates, cups, book and basket are what I discovered along our journey. The basket was mine for a mere 50c. I nearly died of shock and snapped it up before anyone else had the foresight to reach for it! As you can see, my mismatched collection of vintage plates is well on its way. I have been completely inspired by my local quilt shop owner. Every time someone brings something for morning tea at Sewing Circle she pulls out a pile of bread and butter plates. They are a stunning, beautiful, simple collection of retro and vintage plates...I love them. I could just go and sit in front of her cupboard and dream over her collection, really. So I decided to start my own.

'The Hostess Cookbook' is published in Australia in 1952. It is a charming glimpse into the insights required for lone-hand housewifery! I do believe I may just give sponge cake making a go. Mine never turned out as light and moist as my late mother-in-law's and so I gave up, never having had the foresight to have her show me how she did it before she died. This book has many little tips and tricks included for success.