We all have them. Those items that make our heart beat just a little bit faster when we see them on a shelf in a charity shop.
We’re currently in Devon which for me is charity shop heaven. Although we’re only here for a weekend, over the summer we went glamping for a week (which made me long for electricity and hot running water!). We visit my father in law so I have a few old favourites where I know I’m likely to pick up some special items. I like to refer to it as the charity shop triangle – Exeter, Newton Abbott and Totnes. On our last visit I was ‘allowed’ to visit all three towns and their lovely charity shops:
Exeter has a good spread of charity shops towards the unglamorous 1960s-end of the High Street. I’m not always lucky but on this visit I found a vintage Fisher-Price record player in the British Heart Foundation which had been on my wish list for years. It was a rather pricey £24.99 but it was in great condition and complete with all its records so I grabbed it as soon as I walked in!
I just adore Totnes as it has a great mix of independent and vintage shops. I was a tiny bit disappointed that my favourite Oxfam shop at the top of the High Street had been given a makeover. It’s always full of treasures but this time round it was difficult to differentiate between what was for sale and what was shop dressing. I’m glad I checked one item which caught my eye, a 1967 Robert Carrier Cook Box complete with recipe cards. I initially picked it up because I love vintage tins and hardly ever see anything from the 1960s. I love the fact it contains recipe cards for Appetisers, Seafood, Meat, Poultry and Game as well as Cakes, Sweets and Puddings. I can’t wait to try some vintage recipes on my poor family!
I’ve written previously about Newton Abbott which is bursting with charity shops. As usual I worked my way around my favourites and picked up some vintage Thomas the Tank Engine games which I’m itching to steal from the toddler and re-use to make vintage cards! I managed to accumulate a great little collection, including vintage hand embroidered handkerchiefs at 10p each. I can’t decide between using them for bunting or sewing the embroidered flowers on to onesies for Little Sis. I can’t forget the packs of vintage Kan U Go cards either, another purchase which will be used to make note cards. Charity shop heaven for me!
