ONE of the first blogs I was introduced to was Hyena in Petticoats. Blog author Leah is also responsible for the Thrifted Tuesday Flickr group where other mad keen op shoppers share their finds. Check it out. I’ve posted a good deal of my finds there but there are other finds there that I’ve lusted after.

Surely one of the joys of op shopping is that the pieces you come home with are somewhat individual. I love when someone comments on a new-to-me pair of boots, or jacket and I tell them the bargain price I paid for it. Work colleagues, friends and family ask where I “op shop”, claiming they never find items they like when they venture in.

So, here’s my op shop challenge tip of the day.

TIP #1: Become a frequent op shopper. If you have an op shop in our neighbourhood, duck into it and take a look at what’s on the shelves at least once a fortnight. Op shoppers are like social archaeologists; we dig and dig and dig and dig, and every so often turn over a little gem.