Yes, fashion & the dollar store can be in same sentence!

My face is blown out in this shot but I did that on purpose, ha ha: I wanted you to focus on the scarf.

Designer? Vintage? Mega bucks?

Nah.

Found at the best dollar store ever in the basement of Empress Walk shopping centre (located just outside the North York Centre subway stop).

It was a couple bucks.

Generally I don't go looking for style in the dollar store, but lesson number one when you're a deal diva is to have an open mind.

It's summer weight but I used it to jazz up a pair of riding pants and a chunky sweater by west-coast designer Talula Babaton (the latter thrifted for a song at Goodwill).

Other apparel items I buy at the dollar store?

White sports socks. Can't beat the price.

And sometimes, blush, you can find really decent undies and thongs for a buck. Hey, why pay more at the department store?

Do you have any dollar store fashion secrets?

P.S. Thanks to Antonella for snapping the pic!

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And the winner is ...

Thank you to everyone who commented on the giveaway post - the post was a great way to connect with regular readers and followers, bring some quiet readers out of the woodwork, and introduce some new readers and followers to this here little bloggie.

And the winner of the Domino book is ....

Thrifted Treasure!

I couldn't believe it when I drew her name. Not only did we start our blogs the same week; we're also dedicated followers of one another ... and I stole the idea of the book giveaway and the rules from her as well!

Congrats Thrifted Treasure, I'll get your details and this book will soon be winging its way to Aussie Land!

The winner of the crystal-esque vintage necklace ....

Vintage Girl!

Congrats Vintage Girl, and thanks to everyone for participating. I think I'll look at doing giveaways and other fun interactive stuff more regularly - it's fun!

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Antitote to greyness

It's been nothing but grey skies in Toronto this January.

I've been stuffing clementines in my face - for the energy, for the vitamins, for the pop of colour.

Walking by my fave thrift shop window the other day, I spotted this torquoise pedestal bowl in the window - a bowl in which my clementines are now nestling.

The bottom revealed a "Made in Japan" stamp, and a $3.99 pricetag.

I've always wanted a bowl with a pedestal, and pottery and glass pieces Made in Japan always appeal to me for some reason - I think its their simplicity of design.

Natch I bagged the bowl. I love the contrasting jolts of colour, and the way the bowl pops against the black tablecloth. It helps ease the grey feelings.

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5 buck pick-me-up with G-Q reader pal

Happy Grunge Queen story: I met Doreen, a reader who found this blog and contacted me after the Toronto Star article Rita Zekas wrote on me and my pad came out in November.

Doreen and I have become friends, and recently we took a stroll along Mount Pleasant Rd., where there's a bunch of antique and decor shops.

At one shop specializing in refurbished lighting, we found bins of chandelier pieces selling for $3 to $6.

This big red piece, about 2 inches long, called out to me. The owner let me have it for $5 - luckily exactly what I had in my purse! It'll make a striking pendant necklace with a velvet or silky ribbon.

Doreen says all I have to do is buy a clasp at a bead shop to go through the hole on top. If I'm feeling really lazy and grunge-queenish, I can just string a ribbon through it.

Anyway I love it. It satisfies my constant need for bling, and will turn out to be a nifty statement piece necklace once I'm done with it.

The gent at the shop tells me red chandeliers were quite rare so these pieces aren't easy to come by. I thought the shape was really different too.

If you're ever on the Mount Pleasant strip in T.O. check it out; the shop has unique chandeliers and some very cool Art Deco wall sconces with icicle-like chandelier pieces dripping from them:



Akladios Antiques
558 Mount Pleasant Rd.,
416-544-1960 www.akladiosantiques.com

How do you get your bling bang on? Any creative ways you've found or put together inexpensive jewellery?

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Raise a glass ... or two, or three

I have some cheap IKEA wine glasses at home for when the gals and I slosh back the vino; they're cheap, and though unattractive, they're replaceable.

For more special occasions, I found these retro faceted multi-coloured glasses, in two sizes, at my local thrift shop for .99 cents each.

Aren't they nifty looking? I've never seen anything like 'em.

There are three big and three small - I'm guessing the weeny ones are for liqueurs, which I don't drink, but they were so pretty I had to nab the whole set.

Think it's time to donate the IKEA ones back to the thrift shop.

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Audrey Hepburn from the 1960s

Thanks to all who responded to my anniversary post, and welcome to new followers! I will be drawing for the book and necklace Friday and will make the announcement then!

Don't wear these shades when you have a hangover - I have a feeling the blue won't match a green face.

I don't have a hangover here; I'm just groovin' in my retro 1960s blue shades made in Italy, picked up at my fave vintage accessory store in Toronto, The Bead Goes On just off Mount Pleasant Rd.

They were $35.

This style of sunglasses always reminds me of Audrey Hepburn from the 1960s, when she had short hair that was a little poufy on top, and clad herself in swish pantuits and humongeous shades like these.

So many people see Audrey style as her Givenchy or Breakfast at Tiffany's look; but her mod look was just as fab, and my fave.

Here's me wearing my new shades yesterday while brunching with the man at the King Edward hotel in Toronto.

The shades exactly match my thrifted Butte Knit dress (found at Sally Ann for under $10). Though the style of the boots - Kenneth Cole Reaction thrifted at Value Village for $49! - may be inspired more by the 1970s, I think the whole ensemble is still pretty swish.

Maybe I look a wee bit Audrey from the '60s, yes?

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One Year Anniversary Giveaway!!!

"Da da da da da da da: They say it's Grunge Queen's blogs Birthday ... Happy Birthday to her!"

One year this week! I feel like a proud mommie. Love this blog; love that all you lovely readers follow and comment and encourage and compliment the way along.

Here's prize number one (yes there are two!):

Are you a decor junkie? Love glam, but not sure how to get it? Did you cry your heart out when you learned that one of your fave inspirational mags, Domino, went the way of the do-do bird last year?

This boo-tiful 250 page book, Domino, the Book of Decorating: a room by room guide to creating a home that makes you happy is very Grunge Queen in a way. It's not about thrift per se, though it may feature some rooms with thrifty items in them.

But it is about creativity, creating a happy space that reflects the essential YOU, and sharing helpful tips and ideas ... all Grunge Queen mantras.

I am frequently inspired to do thrifty little dcor re-dos by the likes of Elle Decor, Domino, and the recently funked up Canadian House and Home magazines.

I hope this book does the same for the lucky winner - this will go to the first name I draw!

How to enter in a sec. Here's second prize:

Ok, so you're not a decor nut. But you are a fashion freak, in the most glam of senses.

This vintage/retro 'crystal' necklace is a piece I thrifted while doing this blog, and I love it.

It's so simple, there's a totally retro clasp (that you have to make sure you close correctly) - and it's so old you can even see that the beads were strung with string!!

This will be yours if you are the second name I draw!!

How to Enter:

1). Leave a comment on this post = 1 entry.

2). If you are a follower or become a follower (by clicking "follow" button - you can create an Anonymous profile by the way), leave a comment and tell me = 1 entry (your second if you do above).

3). If you shout out this giveaway to other thrifty decor and fashion junkies (on your blog, on Twitter, on someone else's blog as a comment in the case you don't have a blog), and then post a comment here to tell me = 1 entry (your third if you do 1 and 2).

Three chances to win a prize, and two prizes to win ... and if you were born with a horseshoe and I draw your name twice you could actually win two prizes! I will ship the prizes to the winners!

I will do the draw and make an announcement next Friday January 22. The winners will have to email me back with their contact details.

Good luck and thank you for reading Grunge Queen, where chic is indeed cheap.
And thanks to Thrifted Treasure 'cos I copied the rules from her ....

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Something old, something new

My recent bedroom makeover was inspired by this lovely red bracelet that I received as a Christmas present.

It has an ethnic-elegant look to it, and the red seemed a colourful and warm antidote to the icky January greyness.

All I did was change the duvet cover, add in some curtains and some throws, but the final look is more exotic.

I've had this Navajo-inspired blanket since my early 20s, and haven't used it for years - in fact it was in my donate pile until I pulled it out.

It looks great over the brick red duvet cover I put on the bed as part of the makeover (I have several duvet covers on hand to change things up every once in a while).


I added some multi-coloured striped silky pillows....











Threw up some purple drapes that I relocated from the living room ....


















Added more purple ....




















And voila!

You see the kitties approve!

Tomorrow: my anniversary giveaway!

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Thrifted Treasure Giveaway

Ok folks, I'm put to shame by fellow thrifty blogger extrordinaire Thrifted Treasure , whose is also celebrating her year anniversary this week and who is doing a giveaway - please take a wander over there and leave a comment, become a follower and/or mention her giveaway on your blog for a chance to win this fab-o book called Fleamarket Style. If you do all three you get entered three times - draw is Monday so get a move on!

I read and follow Thrifted Treasure and she's one of my fave blogs on thrifting.

P.S. I will be copying Thrifted Treasure and doing a giveaway - perhaps a few different things? - on Friday to show my appreciation for all you fab readers out there. Please come back then!!!

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New year, new look, new apartment?

I'm a poster child for change when it comes to the spaces in which I live.

Not two weeks after completing my full-on apartment re-do, I'm contemplating moving - to smaller digs!

I live in the equivalent of social purgatory now - apartment land, basically - and I long for life on the busy Toronto shopping strip where I used to live.

That's exactly where this apartment is.

It's just been renovated, and the deal breaker for me are these gorgeous windows with south-eastern exposure, overlooking a church across the street with shops and restos in sight to the left - ideal!

I have first dibs if I want ... and if the numbers in my cheque book (and the stars) align!

The big thing: I'd have to get rid of a ton of stuff as the space is about a full room smaller than what I'm in now.



As hard as it is to think of this, divesting myself of all my STUFF sounds appealing. A simpler life. Could I do it???

I would consider doing it if it meant the windows in this apartment, and the hipper location.


Any thoughts out there on moving into smaller digs or downsizing??

P.S. It would mean moving slightly away from my fave thrift shop - which could mean I'd accumulate less stuff to refill my new pad!

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One Year Anniversary: decor then & now

My blog turns a year tomorrow, and I'd like to thank all you lovely readers for reading along, commenting or emailing me privately, or linking back to me - you make my day when I do!

Here's a pic of my living room Jan 18 last year. It's wide and open, and now that I look at it it does look cluttered, with all the stuff on the wall.

This is my NEW living room, the result of an agonizingly creative day-long apartment re-do after the holidays.

True, I essentially chopped the room in half by positioning the two love seats facing eachother, but I'm really liking the cozy vibe of the smaller space I created.

I also pared down some of the accessories to keep the look more streamlined.

I think style constantly evolves, and I'd like to think my design and decorating sense has refined itself this past year. It's been fun fun fun to play with my space!

Thanks for reading. Have a fab day!

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St. Lawrence costume jewellery find

I rarely go to St. Lawrence market in Toronto, but yesterday I met an old university pal for brunch in the area, and ended up checking it out.

Natch, I looked for what is always my big weakness: costume jewellery.

This piece took the cake.

It fits high on the neck and the multiple chains fall on the side just as you see it here. There's even a double clasp to make the necklace more of a choker.

I tend to be drawn to 1970s stuff but I'm not sure I can place this era - any one out there want to hazard a guess?

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Entry way re-do

My New Year's apartment makeover coverage continues ....

I've had this ratty old bookshelf since I was in my 20s, and I've carted it into every apartment I've ever had as it carries my overflow of books. It was a faded yellow when I first picked it up at some long ago garage sale; then I painted it a grotesque emerald green (hey I was in my 20s). It's been white for years now.

I decided to move it to my entry way area and use it as a bookshelf and accessories holder - one, to be different, and two, it made sense as I wanted something narrow in that space that I would not bump into or stub my toe on.

I threw an electric pink scarf over top as a runner (that I've also had since my 20s) and went to work.

On the lower shelves, I've stored scarves, a few vintage purses, and some boots (the latter from the thrift store - ooh I have a fabulous boot post coming soon!), along with some old books on dancing that I've hung onto since my dancing days in my 20s.

And do you see that green peacock fabric on the left-hand side of the third shelf from the bottom? Part of a skirt I've had since I was 15 - the skirt has long since fallen apart but I love the fabric so much I am going to get someone to make me a pillow.

I tried to make the top both practical and whimsical, like those "entry way makeovers" you see in the decor mags.

I love the glam little lamp I dug up at Goodwill for $4.99. I plopped a shade on it that I had around the house.

The clear glass ashtray (used here as a change holder) and paperweight were a few dollars each at thrift shops, and the brass bowl which holds my sunglasses was $3.99 at a thrift shop.

The painting, a work of folk art by well-known Nova Scotia folk artist Leo Naugler, is called "Skiing" and I love it. I bought it from a Toronto dealer for a good price.

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What in the world is it?

I love it when readers comment, send questions and otherwise interact with the Grunge Queen! Today I have a couple reader-related posts, both to do with silver!

The photos and the text below are courtesy of River-Rose, who has a wonderful "What in the world is it?" question re: a thrift find that I'm throwing out to all you savvy thrifters there!
Here it is:

Dear Grunge Queen,

I found this pretty piece at the local thrift store. It seems old and I just love the Acorn insignia at the top. "From small seeds do big trees grow", came to mind and thought it would make an interesting and lovely birthday present to my mother. My only question is- what in the world is it?

It has a wonderful design and separates in the center. The lower half has 4 oval openings.

The mystery deepens as I cannot find a similar image on the Internet. I have also taken the object to my county's museum and at the time they did not have a similar item, but guessed that is was, perhaps made in the 1920's and resembled an incense burner. There are no burn marks on the interior.

It was also taken to an antique shop and although the owner wasn't in at the time, a young employee guessed it is an ornate toothbrush holder. Finding this piece has been a fun experience! If anyone out there has any guesses, please let me know.

What a beautiful piece, River-Rose! I'm going with incense burner, but like your Mom I would use it as a pretty decoration.

Please post your response here if you want to guess what it is; you can also email River-Rose at snakeriver.rose@gmail.com.

Speaking of silver, my gal pal Sarah over at East End Pioneer dedicated yesterday's post to Grunge Queen, showing off her fab silver Value Village score and thanking yours truly for inspiring her in the thrift decor department!

Right on, Sarah, I love the silver and I love that Value Village too! Please check out Sarah's blog as she celebrates all the wonderful things in the community just east of Greektown - my 'hood too!

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Light my Fire

I'm not telling you how many lamps I have in my apartment. I love ambient lighting; it creates a wonderful mood.

This blue lantern was $4.99 at my local thrift store. For now it's sitting on my window sill and hangs out with my new blue sheer curtains, which I picked up at Fabricland in the discount bin.

These wicker lampshades are lined in satin and in fab condition. They were $5 for the pair, again at Stretch Thrift.

Again, I'm loving the symmetrical lamp look. It just adds a touch of class.

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Retro hutch redo

Part of my apartment re-do entailed jazzing up my teak hutch, which I love but quite frankly has never suited my style. I tend to like more curvy lines and though they tell you to mix styles, I'm not sure this piece mixes well with my other furniture.

My strategy: don't fight the modern lines.


In other words I decorated the hutch with retro modern objects, then added a dash of glam. Grouping similar items together (like the retro coloured glass pieces and stacks of bright-hued decorating books) can create a real impact, especially when they pop against the black of the velvet scarf (thrifted) that I'm using here as a runner.

Add some spray-painted lamps with classy black and silver shades - placed in a symmetrical arrangement for maximum glam appeal - and toss in a thrifted gold mirror, and the look is retro modern chic with a touch of elegance.


Some of my fave pieces here: the flat green Venetian dish on top of the books, given to me by my best friend after she went to Venice; the green and gold decanter that she also gave me, which used to belong to her parents; the black sculpture thrifted for a few bucks; the retro orange blown glass vase with a 'made in Canada' sticker still on it, thrifted for $10.

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Architectural Digest score

We interrupt regularly scheduled programming re: the apartment re-do to bring you this important thrift announcement:

Grunge Queen scored some more inspirational mags yesterday!

There must have been decades worth of Architectural Digest magazine at my local thrift shop.


I could hardly contain myself. I picked up this collector's edition containing pics of Greta Garbo's New York digs. Another had pics of Rita Hayworth's abdode, and Jimmy Stewart's too.

Goldmine.

I took home only five at .49 cents each (they were .99 cents each but the guy gave me a deal).

I also picked up a few from the late 1970s. The stack appeared to start there and go to present day.



Guess what I'm buying on my way home from work every night this week?

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Elle Decor inspired makeover: dining table area

Ok, so we left off yesterday at my little library vignette, the first part of my full-on apartment makeover inspired by an ELLE DECOR magazine my sis gave me over the holidays.

I'm so glad I relocated the bookcase to a smaller wall, and this fab blue chair from the corner of my room. With the chair in front of the bookcase, the bookcase becomes less of a focal point (as it should be), and the chair just stands out in all its blue velvet splendor - and it especially pops against the reversible carpet, whose pattern is reversed on the other side (great 'cos I can flip it any ole time I need a change).

Directly in front of the blue chair in the dining room is my dining room table, as you see here. Yup, I finally relocated the dining room table to the dining room! Remember how proud of myself I was for relocating my love seat to the dining room? (see post here http://grunge-queen.blogspot.com/2009/03/boho-sitting-room-in-dining-room.html). Well, I decided to put it back for reasons of practicality AND glamour.

See, once I extended the table by flipping up the leaf, and once I added a black silky tablecloth and positioned two matching lamps on either side (any good recipe for glamour entails a pair of lamps in symmetry, in my opinion), the look was so impossibly chic - especially with my new painting that I'm still paying off overhead - that I couldn't stand it!

The more practical part of me said this: eating is a good thing, and a vital task I sometimes forget, so if I can create a lovely nook with a comfy chair where I can savour my cereal in the morning instead of choking it down while standing over the kitchen sink, perhaps that may make the task of fueling and energizing my body more ... hallowed?


And since my desk is taken up with my computer and a few lamps, I figured this long table could also function as a work space, where I go over clippings and books and bills and work on other creative projects that entail pen and paper (I'm a tactile gal, if you haven't guessed, so I actually hand write notes to myself and others). This gilt mirror, picked up at a junk store for $3.99, was quickly transformed into an inspiration board with some of my fave clippings, photos and cards from over the years. I can look over at it while I'm working and it'll hopefully fire my creative juices.

And natch, when I have guests over, the whole thing can transform into a proper dining room table. I've positioned my two wrought iron (and silver spray-painted chairs) on either end of the table for easy access ... and more symmetry.

More to come!

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New Year's apartment makeover

Happy New Year! Today's post will be extra long as I missed yesterday ....

I've started the new year off on a high decorating note by completely redoing my apartment.

Pictured here: the work in progress.

It all began with a copy of Elle Decor that my sis gave me as I was boarding the train back to T.O. after the holidays.

Elle Decor is my absolute FAVE decorating mag - it's eclectic yet elegant and that's exactly my decorating philosophy.

The mag inspired me so much that all I could do on the train ride home was brainstorm what I would do to my apartment to make it more elegant looking.

All I had was a general idea: less cluttered and junky looking; more elegant, but functional too.

It took 10 hours for me to do the re-org. Boy did I get a workout.

The key to any re-org is clearing away all the knic-knacs and bric-a-brac from furniture and dumping it in piles in a room or area that you're not going to re-do. That way you can work with a clean slate. In my case it was the desk area, the hallway and the kitchen.

I started by moving the cheap IKEA bookshelf from one corner of the apartment to a small wall.

I had to take out all the books and drag the bookshelf across the room - don't do this on your own, please, as you could end up under a heavy bookshelf!

Problem: I didn't have enough bookshelf for all my books as I wanted to turn one small bookshelf into something else (more on that later), and I had a lot of ugly paperbacks that don't really display well.



My original solution: turn my linen closet into a bookshelf and take the door off. The idea is wonderful, but it is problematic as I don't have a place to put all my linens.

So for now, the linen closet is a combo linen closet/bookshelf.

Once I can figure out where to put my linens I'd like to make the entire thing a bookshelf and just take the door off. I think it would look really funky.





Here's a makeover preview, of the bookshelf relocated to a smaller wall. I moved the blue velvet chair from the bedroom - it's such a showpiece and wasn't getting much attention there - and put it in front of the books to create a cozy reading nook.

The tiny retro glam lamp on the side table was $4.99 and found during a recent Goodwill dig; it is part of a set so I can pair the two together when I'm feeling symmetrical.

By the way, this is in my dining room area. I have so much more to show you, and I'm thrilled with my new glam look! Stay tuned this week!!

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