Story Donated By Casey Orr

This jacket was in my dreams. I specifically wanted this exact jacket. Not a jacket a bit like it. No, it had to be this exact jacket. I came out of the dentist’s off Town Street and went into the charity shop round the corner. They had almost-this-jacket. It was very much like this jacket, but not exactly like this jacket.

Then I went to the charity shop across the street, opposite Somerfield’s. And there it was, this jacket. Just like I’d dreamed it. No, not ‘just like’ I dreamed it – exactly like I dreamed it.
Casey Orr

Story Donated By Jenny Hall

I collect antique textiles. I love table cloths, doylies, cushions and clothes but the one thing I have never found in a charity shop or flea market is a handmade quilt. One day I was browsing through the 20p basket in my Samaritans charity shop when I overheard the volunteers discussing an antique quilt that had been donated and sold that very morning, mere minutes before I had come in! I was heartbroken to discover that my dream charity shop buy had just passed me by.
Jenny Hall

Story Donated By Sarah Howells

Fancy going to the sort of tea party where plates are piled high with sandwiches, crusts cut off (naturally), with a marker is stuck in to help you with your choice. Tongue anyone? Egg ‘n’ cress? Ham? Cheese & Tomato?

Naah, I’m having Fish Paste. These are china, pure class, and cost 50p for the lot, Barnardos, Harehills, ages ago.
Sarah Howells

Story Donated By Ella Dee

In 2002 my family and I went to Switzerland on holiday. I visited several charity shops around my hometown of Headingley. In the arthritis charity shop I came accross a bright yellow beauty! It was big and comfy and my 9 year old self felt wrapped up and warm, engulfed in its massiveness.

In Switzerland the fleece travelled with me on our many visits. It kept me warm and survived many a snowball fight. It has now visited Luxembourg, Switzerland, Poland and North Yorkshire regularly and never fails to be a welcome asset to any journey.
Ella Dee

Story Donated By Sophie Gleisner

I bought Peggy The Panda from a fairtrade charity shop in town.

I called her Peggy because the lady in the shop was called Peggy.
Sophie Gleisner

Story Donated By Hayley Avron

The first time I laid eyes on this dress was during my first week working for St. Gemma’s Hospice. I was working at the Street Lane shop, learning the tricks of the trade. The dress was hanging up in the sorting room downstairs. It was destined for the next Retro Fair and I was nowhere near confident enough to stake my claim on it so I held it up against myself when no-one else was in the room and then bid it farewell… When the fair came around, our paths crossed again and I gingerly asked to try it on, not entirely sure that it would actually fit me. Turns out, it was a match made it heaven…

It’s by a London designer called Russell Stuart and although I’ve not been able to find out anything about him, I have managed to find one other Russell Stuart dress (on EBay). I’ll keep hunting…
Hayley Avron

Story Donated By Wendy Young

In the summer of 2007 whilst on holiday Canada my cousin and I visited an ‘Antique Barn’at Niagra-On-The Lake in Ontario. There was so much to look at but as soon as we went upstairs my eyes latched onto a large 1930’s-40’s quilt entirely made of Suffolk Puffs (in the US they call them Yo-Yos). As if this wasn’t enough excitement there was a 40% off sale on all textiles!

My intention was to take it apart and re-use the vintage puffs in other design work but the more I looked at it the more I grew to love and appreciate the love and history that had been involved in putting it together and as a result I couldn’t bear to dismantle it.

This year I decided to make my own version and, as an artist working primarily in denim, I themed my design around the influence of denim in society from its humble origins to its current designer status. My new quilt is made from over 300 puffs embellished with reclaimed buttons collected from charity shops.
Wendy Young

Story Donated By Boff Whalley

I got this fantastic safari suit from a Charity shop in Armley about fifteen years ago. I thought it would be perfect for that Morecambe & Wise ‘Riviera Touch’ look. I love it so much.

Unfortunately I have never found the perfect event at which to wear the suit. It sits in my clothes pile and waits to be worn. Sometimes I get it out and put it on, then decide it isn’t the right moment. One day I’ll wear it in public and people will say, “Hey, you’ve got The Riviera Touch”.
Boff Whalley

Story Donated By Abby Dix

I’ve been collecting these chintzy pictures of flowers for a while now. They’re kind of creepy - a bit like the porcelain dolls that my Nana collects - but they have (scuse the pun) grown on me. The two large roses I bought in the YMCA charity shop when we were doing a Hearts Content event, much to the annoyance of my friend Nomie who wished that she’d spotted them first.

The roses are a nod to the lady who used to own our house. She lived here for nearly forty years before she died and in lots of ways it still feels like her house. I’d like to think that she’d be happy with how we’re looking after it and I know she loved roses because she planted loads in the garden, so I think she’ll approve of these pictures.

I’d not really mentioned the increasing collection of chintz on the wall to my partner but I did think I was pushing it a bit with the bigger pictures. About a week after I put them up he said ‘Are those pictures new?’ but I told him they’d been there for ages.
Abby Dix

Story Donated By Gene And His Mum

We found a copy of Busy Busy World, a book by Richard Scarry. My Mummy liked this book when she was a little girl and she had been searching for the book for me to read as well. We looked everywhere and then we found what we were looking for right on our doorstep in Bramley!
Gene and his Mum

Story Donated By Jean

Jean bought a Ewbank Carpet Sweeper from the PDSA (Peoples Dispensary For Sick Animals) in Bramley. She prefers it to the hoover because its not so heavy. She does her excercises at the same time as cleaning the floor - but not the splits! She’s bought two in the past year and given one to her daughter and kept the other. She thinks her sweeper is a cracker!

Jean

Story Donated By Maisy Orr

I bought this painting from a Charity Shop in Pudsey. I picked it out because I like the dog and it’s a real painting, not a photograph, so you can tell someone has spent a long time painting it. They must be very good at painting. The dog looks a bit like my Mom-Mom’s dog in Delaware. She’s called Betty. The dog, not my Mom-Mom.
Maisy Orr

Story Donated By Al Dix

I have been playing backgammon for 30 years and in that time reckon I’ve won as much as I’ve lost (more or less). Backgammon is special in that you can be very skillful but you still have to rely upon an element of luck. I’ve had great times playing against some of my very best friends, and sometimes I’ve had the luck as well. The quality of the backgammon board is important to real enthusiasts, and the example here is one of the best. It was bought for me by one of my daughters and her mum about 15 years ago from a charity shop somewhere near Bradford - possibly Bingley or Keighley and it’s one of my favourite possessions. I’ve now taught my grandson to play, and look forward to playing him for money when he starts earning a decent living. Trouble is, he seems to keep winning…..
Al Dix

Story Donated by Andiee
@ Age Concern, Pudsey, Leeds

I bought a pair of black Converse high tops at a charity shop recently - it was magical timing as I had been reminiscing about my college days - the last time I had a pair! I used to wear them with miniskirts NOWADAYS the mini skirts are gone but the Converse still make me remember a particular Ramones concert in Philadelphia!

Andiee

Story Donated By Michelle Sykes
@ YMCA, Armley, Leeds

I bought a necklace for 10p in the YMCA in Armley. I took it for the jewellers for a new clasp - he told me the clasp would be about £30 becasue the necklace was 18 carat and he said it was worth between £3000 and £5000. I was shocked.

It was the best 10p I’ve ever spent. Now my Mam has the necklace as she said it looks better on her than me.

Michelle Sykes