Op-shopping. I have the habit deep! It’s a hobby that clothes my family, furnishes and decorates my home, fills up my gift-suitcase (I stow interesting items in a suitcase so I always have something on hand when gifts are needed…) and combines simple/thrifty living with re- and upcycling plus the joy of a treasure hunt.
I often call into an op-shop after dropping M at school, or before picking him up. Here are some things I found in April/May. (Excuse the fuzzy photographs. I’m on instagram courtesy of a very old iPod touch that used to belong to my son (I don’t have a smartphone) and the photo quality on it is not great.) These photographs only represent about a third of what I’ve found recently, but not everything is photo-worthy (books, clothes that are useful but not exciting, etc)
Gorgeous vintage frock. Way too small for me, alas, so I bought it for a friend who loves things folky…
GIANT patchwork bag with wooden handles, which for some reason really reminds me of the Little House on the Prairie books… 
Hilarious 70s notepad of love letter writing paper – each page features a vaseline-lens picture of a different couple with schmaltzy love-messages…
The sweetest tiny tea-set ever…
A great Nana-painting – an original! I love flowers on black backgrounds…
& the best 1980s wool jersey! Warm, comfortable and ridiculous in the best way…
Helen Lehndorf 