Welcome

You've found the blog for Sandlewood Op Shop.
We are a small not-for-profit shop in Moorooka (Brisbane) run by volunteers.
Profits from the shop go towards our work with disadvantaged and less fortunate members of the community to help make their lives brighter.
We look forward to seeing you at the shop!


Saturday, January 30, 2010

** vintage crystal necklace with matching earrings **

SOLD

This beautiful Genuine vintage (1030s?) 3 Strand Crystal Necklace has matching earrings, the longest of the strands measures 43cm (17 inches).


This stunning necklace is in immaculate order. These Aurora borealis crystals sparkle brilliantly, and are very GOOD quality (vintage swarovski?).

The necklace fastens with a silver tone hook and silvertone links.

The clip on earrings are also in great condition and are in the form of a flower (7 crystals), both silver tone clips are in good working condition. There is very little wear to the aurora borealis finish on any of the pieces. I cannot see any wear to the silver tone clasp. All hardware works.

** vintage dressing table stool **


SOLD

Look at this beautiful old dressing table stool which is a well made and heavy piece of furniture. It has an upholstered top which could do with a clean or replacement and is in pretty good condition for its age - the timber does have some bumps and bruises but nothing major.


I cannot be sure of its age - but it has the clean lines of an art deco piece. Unfortunately I cannot offer postage for this item as it is much too heavy.

The stool measures approx: 46cm tall x 53cm wide x 38cm deep

Currently listed on ebay - auction # 230430908000

** vintage cast iron Spong No 2 coffee grinder **



SOLD

This is a rare old piece of cast iron. The company name and country are embossed on the piece, along with the no. 2.


The design of this mill has remained the virtually unchanged since they were first made around 1860. This particular mill was made earlier in the century. It features a wooden handle and can be mounted on a table, shelf or mounted on the wall.

It is in excellent original condition.

Spong made five coffee mills, based on the famous spice mincer and numbered them according to size from 0 through to 4 (0 being the smallest and 4 being the largest). Each mill works in the same way; the whole beans enter in the hopper, are ground by the spindle and blades as handle turns and the powder falls and is collected in the bottom of the machine.

$85 ONO

** New Arrivals - Saturday 30/1/2010 **

Wow the donations kept pouring in today.  We received loads of vintage glassware; clothing; vintage light shade and lots more.  Please keep an eye out for new items.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

** SWAROVSKI Crystal Swan ** SOLD

SOLD
This stunning swan was among a number of crystal pieces which were donated this week.  RRP $210, you can purchase this one for a modest $50.

** wedgwood pink jasper ware bowl **

This delicate pink Wedgewood Bowl arrived this week.  It is in beautiful condition and would make a great addition to any Wedgewood collection.

** Mills & Boon - near new & half price **


If you are a Mills and Boon reader, we received a box of near new novels in the store yesterday.  They are all now half price and range in reduced prices of $1 to $4 each.

** vintage childs tea set - made in Japan ** SOLD

SOLD

How rare is it to find a complete vintage childs tea set in near mint condition?  Made in Japan, age unknown, probably manufactured between early to mid 20th Century.  This lovely set was donated this week along with crystal glasses; crystal bowls; a large European rug and many other goodies.

If you are interesting in any of these items please do not hesitate to contact us - unusual items are usually snapped up quickly.

Friday, January 22, 2010

** Cyclone ! **

Usually I try not to bring my toddler into the shop! 

As cute as she is, she's also very destructive!
Anything that's not pinned down gets pulled out of the shelves, price stickers are ripped off things, and although she does act as the welcoming committee for the shop, she just generally gets in the way.

Today, since my babysitter is unavailable, I have had to bring her to the shop.  When I hadn't heard a peep from her for a few minutes, I thought I had better check on what path of destruction she was on....

This is what I found!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

** SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER Rare Silver Vinyl 2LP Bee Gees **




                                                                            SOLD

This fab 2 record set just arrived and will not last long.  The rare 2 silver vinyls are in excellent condition and can be posted to you anywhere in the world.  There is one set now listed on ebay for BIN$95 - but we are open to offers.  Please contact us if you are interested in making an offer.

** New Arrivals **

SOLD   - Vintage Formal Gown

Arrivals this morning include a beautiful vintage formal dress.  I will post pics as soon as possible.  It is a beautiful pale pink halter dress with a three layered skirt comprising of pink chiffon, fine white tulle and cream taffeta.  The bodice is chiffon over taffeta and features a pleated band of cream taffeta across the bustline.  Although it has no label it is size 12 and was worn by its previous owner as a ballroom dancing gown.  Priced at $65, it would be beautiful for any formal event.

** bookshelf for sale ** SOLD


Sandlewood Op Shop  also has a grey office bookshelf for sale.  It has 1 fixed and 3 adjustable shelves.   The bookcase measures 180cm tall x 91cm wide x 30cm deep and is available for pick up from our shop in Moorooka.  Please contact us with an offer over $25.

** ex music shop CD DVD stand for sale ** SOLD


SOLD

ue to a reorg of the shop, we have a CD DVD stand surplus to requirements.  It would be suitable for a retail shop or a serious CD DVD collector.  Please excuse the photo as our inhouse photographer didn't think to dust the stand before she took the photo!!!  The stand measures 1500 tall x 1125 wide and 760 deep.  Please contact us with offers over $60.

Monday, January 18, 2010

** new stock arriving daily! **

This week we've already got some new and interesting things into the shop.

For those vinyl collectors, a huge selection of vintage vinyl has arrived in store. 
If there's something specific you're looking for, please let us know and we'll add you to our wishlist.

Also, for those of you who come into the store this week, you may notice some changes - we have new shelving units along the right hand side of the shop, making it look a little less cluttered {I did say a little}.

It will however, make it a LOT easier for all the readers to find books - since the books are now mostly put into order by genre.   I've also tried to group together multiples of books by the same author, so if you're looking at a particular author, Robin Cook for example, you'll find a stack of her books all together. 

One last thing for tonight - I want to send a huge thank you to Desley and Grace.  While I was away today they worked like troopers to tidy up our back room, which looked very much like a disaster zone for some time.  With customers constantly coming in and out of the shop, it made it very difficult for us to keep up with this ever-growing pile of clothes and other items and it seems that today they got it largely under control! YAY!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

** Stunning Indigenous Artwork now in Store! **

Yellowbelly Dreaming - M.Mcguane


We currently have in the shop a range of original Indigenous Artworks, by a young Indigenous Artist from Queensland.

Tomorrow we're having the local newspaper in, and they will be doing a feature article on us! {Well, more the fact that we have the Artworks in the shop!}

They are reasonably priced at $120 each - in fact, the artist does them especially for us at this size as usually his work is larger and obviously more expensive... he also does stunning pieces on Kangaroo Skins, and Didgeridoos - if you're interested, please contact us and we can let you know prices etc.

Keep your eyes peeled for our newspaper article :)

Monday, January 11, 2010

** we're now on facebook **

Yep, trying to get the word out about the shop, so I've started up a Page for Sandlewood Op Shop on Facebook !!

Now, if only I could work out how to link it to here LOL!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

** BOOKS 1/2 PRICE **

All books in store are half the marked price!

I just took another 3 full boxes of books down to the shop today, which will hopefully be priced and put out this week.

We've got a great selection of books including
  • Fiction
  • Biographies
  • Science fiction
  • Chic-lit
  • Mills & Boon {an assortment of vintage and newer titles}
  • Cooking
  • Craft {a great selection of vintage crochet & knitting patterns, smocking, sewing, Topkids)
  • Childrens titles
In the boxes of books yet to be put out there are books on gardening, assorted books on birds and fish, several novels, and a selection of classic literature.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

** WELCOME **

Sandlewood Op Shop opened it's doors in August 2009.

There was a lengthy process involved in opening up the shop. It took over four months for Sandlewood to receive the Sanction from the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney General (under the Collections Act 1966) before we could open and trade as an Op Shop.

During these four months we viewed several premises, and finally, once the Sanction was obtained, we began fitting out the shop.

While we were setting up the shop, we would frequently get knocks on the door by locals welcoming us to the community and wishing us well. The Newsagents, Gerda, Trevor and Steve, were constantly being bombarded by their regulars, asking when we were going to open!

Initially, the shop was stocked solely by donations from friends and family. We raided our wardrobes, linen cupboards, bookshelves and kitchens in search of anything that we didn't need.

The shop looked complete, but a little sparse by comparison to how the shop looks today, when we first opened.


My how things have changed in such a short time !!

Our loyal customers and the greater community are constantly donating goods to us. {Keep 'em coming!}

Since the photo was taken above (in our first week) we now have 3 extra freestanding clothing racks in the centre of the store!

Sadly, we are running out of room, and fast !! We are lucky to have a vacant shop beside us, and we are currently looking at the possibility of leasing it for expanding the shop, and housing the parent company's CEO's office. {keep your fingers crossed for us!}

** About Sandlewood Op Shop **

Sandlewood Op Shop is a community based not for profit shop currently run by volunteers.

Profits from this shop benefit disadvantaged members of our community.

Sandlewood Op Shop operates with a Certificate of Sanction issued by the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney General under the Collections Act 1966.

The overarching organisation (Sandlewood Aboriginal Projects) currently supports the following :
· Mater Childrens Hospital
· Royal Childrens Hospital
· Princess Alexandra Hospital
· RSPCA
· Sporting grants for disadvantaged community members
· Educational grants for disadvantaged community members
· Individual help for disadvantaged individuals/families (referred by Agencies and assessed on a case by case basis)