STUDIO THRIFTY4
- Words by Peppermint
If you’re anything like us, nothing makes your heart sing more than a well-stocked retro rail at your local op shop. Whilst the standard racks give you the chance to rummage for gold, the retro area is like a pre-rifled, expertly curated selection of the coolest vintage pieces on offer. IMAGINE THEN, if you will, an ENTIRE OP SHOP FILLED ONLY WITH THE VERY BEST YE OLDE TREASURES. We know. It’s a lot. Maybe have a sit down before we continue. Because that place is not only a real thing, but everything’s $5, there are MULTIPLE free racks, an outstanding coffee shop is literally attached to the store, and all money raised goes directly towards a charity that helps vulnerable people living on the streets. The existence of Brisbane’s Studio Thrifty4 essentially proves Belinda Carlisle was right on the money – heaven really is a place on earth.
We wanted to bring back the old-school op shop, where everything is amazing quality at prices everyone can afford.
The brains behind this paradise (and its Melbourne twin sister St.Co) are Michael and Ryan, the legends who run Pay a Sack Forward (PASF) – an initiative that provides support to the homeless in the form of ‘survival sacks’ containing basic food and hygiene essentials. For Michael, the store’s a way to Make Things Better on a number of levels. “Studio Thrifty4 started because I believe op shop prices have gotten out of control. We wanted to bring back the old-school op shop, where everything is amazing quality at prices everyone can afford. The shop covers the running expenses of PASF, and the rest goes directly into PASF. A sack coasts $5, and that has all the basic survival items for someone living rough. We encourage our customers to head out to the packing station in the cafe and pack the sacks while they’re here, so they can really experience what the whole Pay a Sack Forward ‘thing’ is about.”
Customers at coffee shops across Brisbane and Melbourne have long been making donations to fund the creation of these sacks, which are packed communally and taken straight to those most in need. Now, with the advent of The Most Wonderful Op Shop That Ever There Was, thrift shoppers can snap up some awesome threads and then pack a sack (and maybe kick back with some amazing eggs and a celebratory flat white afterwards). We’d write more but we’ve got some shopping/packing/eating and drinking to do…
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Any New Year’s resolutions on your list? We love this from @OtterBeeStitching - “be brave enough to suck at something new”.
There’s no points for perfection, but you’ll get a trophy for trying. If nothing else this year, take the leap and try something new.
#OtterBeeStitching #Embroidery #BeBrave #TrySomethingNew #EmbroideryArt
Sunday serving suggestion ☀️
Gorgeous photos from @JolieFemmeStore - who make sweet garments from vintage bedsheets.
#PeppermintMagazine #SlowSunday #SwitchOff #Unplug #ReadAMagazine
A toast to the old you 🥂
We wholeheartedly love this post from the brilliant @EmilyOnLife:
“2026: Reinvent, burn it down, let it go (whatever it is). Year of the Snake it up. Exercise your boundaries, exercise your body, take one teeny step every day towards a life that feels better to be in.
But don’t you dare shit on your old self while you do it.
Hold yourself with reverence and tenderness and respect, because you got you this far. You did your very best with the information and tools you had at the time. You scraped yourself together, you made it work, you survived what felt impossible to survive: again and again and again.
You are perpetually in the process of becoming, whether you can feel it or not, whether or not you add it to your 2026 to-do list.“
Some very wise words from @Damon.Gameau to take us into 2026 🙌🏼
⭐️ We made it!!! ⭐️
Happy New Year, friends. To those who smashed their goals and achieved their dreams, and to those who are crawling over the finish line hoping to never speak of this year again (and everyone else in between): we made it. However you got here is enough. Be proud.
It’s been a tough year for many of us in small business, so here’s to a better year in 2026. We’re forever grateful for all your support and are jumping for joy to still be here bringing you creativity, kindness and community.
We’re also excited to be leaping into the NY with our special release sewing pattern – the Waratah Wrap Dress!
How great are our fabulous models: @Melt.Stitches, @KatieMakesADress and @Tricky.Pockets - and also our incredible Sewing Manager @Laura_The_Maker! 🙌🏼
Ok 2026: let’s do this. 💪🏼
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #MeMade #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
Putting together our annual Stitch Up brings on all the feels! We feel humbled that you’ve chosen to sew Peppermint patterns, we feel inspired by the versions you’ve created and we feel proud of you.
Where to begin?! As always, there has been a plethora of Peppermint patterns flooding our feeds this year, and we wish we could showcase more than just a handful of magnificent makes from you, our clever community. We encourage you to flip through the me-made items in your wardrobe or scroll through your grid and remind yourself of the beauty you’ve created with your own two hands (and maybe a seam ripper and some choice words). Congratulations to all of us for our creative achievements this year!
We’ve put together some (but absolutely not all) of our favourites from 2025 over on our website. We hope it inspires your next make!
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Pictured: @FrocksAndFrouFrou @MazzlesMakes @KatieMakesADress @_Marueli_ @IUsedToBeACurtain @Nanalevine.Couture @PiperInFullColour @MadeByMeJessieB @SarahMalkawi @Made.By.Little.Mama
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