Yesterday's steal: lamp & shade

So I ended up going into work to an empty office yesterday, forgetting it was a Stat holiday.

With nothing better to do, I left work and - what else? - shopped. On my way home, I found this festive red lampshade at my fave lamp and lighting store, Consumers Lighting, on Dufferin St. Then I popped into a Salvation Army Thrift Store on the way home, only to find it was 50 percent off day. I picked up a Ports vest for $1.50 and a sassy green Nygard trench coat for $3.50. I also found a pretty mauve Louben blazer for $3.50 that will be perfect for my Mom, and a pretty silk boho pillow for $1.50.

But this lamp, $12.99 regular price, was the keeper.

I had to fight to get it.

First I waited in line to get to the cash, only to be told it was final sale. When a lightbulb couldn't be found for me to test it, I found an employee in the back room who procured one, tested the lamp, then waited in the line all over again - only to be told the lamp wasn't part of the sale.

The cashier let me have it for 50 off in the end.

I just love it. What a statement piece. What texture. What a steal! The shade and base were made for eachother.

Read More

Top 10 Toronto Thrift Shops, Finale!

Ok fellow grungers, so these last two listings aren't thrift shops per se, but they're pretty fab place to pick up some thrifty-type finds, and I haven't really covered the midtown area in Toronto (there are a couple thrift shops here, like Sally Ann and Goodwill on St. Clair Ave. West, but since I've already covered those I'm not writing them up.). Here's 9 and 10:

Midtown:

9). Bead Goes On
256 Soudan Ave. (just off Mt. Pleasant Rd).
416-481-7622

This is one of the teeniest shops I've ever seen but every time I hit Mt. Pleasant I check it out. Owner Cyndi is a blast and her collection of vintage and retro handbags, jewellery and some clothing and accessories is to die for. You can find every style and era from Victorian to Art Deco, everything from vintage croc bags for a couple hundred bucks to Hermes scarves for $150. Natch, I eke out the inexpensive costume jewellery, like the Sarah Coventry ring pictured here, bagged for $15, or the 1970s carpet clutch also pictured here, about $40.

10). Around the Block
1903 Avenue Rd.,
416-546-1760
www.aroundtheblock.com

I hit Avenue Rd.north of Lawrence Ave. West every few months and always find something in this fab decor and accessory consignment shop - the prices have been around the block too! There's everything from original art to Persian carpets and dining room sets, and the bonus is the decorative accessories like vases and lamps are super well-priced. There's also some good costume jewellery with more expensive baubles under glass. You can see a full review I did as a shopping columnist if you go to their website ....

Recent finds: Uber worn Persian style runner rug, in rare blue tones, for $95 (pictured here: can you spot the kitty?). My cats can scratch away on it all they like! Just the other day I found a WONDERFUL boho Victorian pillow here ... that I'm saving to show you in tomorrow's post!

Night night!

Read More

Outside comes in

This is how part of my apartment looks from my balcony.

Kinda cozy, yes?

I admit it: I love looking in front living room windows while walking along the street at dusk - not to see people but rather to look at their decor!

But it would seem kinda creepy if one of my apartment neighbors was looking across the way into my pad ... unless of course they happened to be editors of decor mags!

Yesterday's post in which I showed some worn chairs my Mom found in the trash and decorated her patio with has inspired me to bring in my balcony chairs - it's getting colder and the wicker and rattan will get damaged in the rain and snow that will inevitably come, alas....

Outside, these chairs took on a Shabby Chic look, with flowery pillows and such. Inside, though, that frilly dilly look won't go with my decor. Here I created a little nook with empty picture frames and a suede multi-coloured pillow. Cozy wozy.

The faded striped pillow was found used at Goodwill for a couple bucks and the blue wicker chair was from the trash.

With this rattan chair, found at the Sally Ann for $10, all it took was tossing a faux fur rug over top - a look I've seen in decor mags on chrome chairs. The effect is cozy with a modern twist.

I finished off the look with a plush brown pillow found at Value Village for a couple bucks.

Who says you have to store outdoor summer furniture?

For a peep at my balcony with these chairs in the summer, and other outdoor decorating projects, head here.

Read More

My new fall statement piece blazer

I was going to continue yesterday's post but I had to interrupt regularly scheduled programming to tell you how happy I am (can't you tell?) about the blazer I found in Parkdale, Toronto yesterday afternoon at the Sally Ann there.

My heart started beating a little faster when I saw it as it's got a boho look to it. It's a Tara Jarmon blazer, made in France, and it fits me perfectly.

I'm wearing it here with a Neiman Marcus cashmere sweater my honey gave me; a pashmina scarf I snagged on major sale; a pair of thrifted Bongo jeans for less than $20; and a red faux croc tote I got years ago as a gift-with-purchase at the Elizabeth Arden counter.


I have a definite thing for statement piece blazers. This one would go with everything from jeans, as you see here, to a long wool skirt with boots and perhaps a chunky sweater.

Statement piece jackets, especially in the fall, have been a theme of mine the past few years. Come to think of it the man I'm dating is wild for them as well (though his aren't of the thrifted kind), and when I met him I was wearing the second blazer you see here - gee I wonder if that's partly the reason for his asking me out???? Thrift and romance: it's happened before.

I also picked up a black stretch A.X.L blazer, again with a perfect fit, for $9.99.

Have more to show from one of T.O.'s best and well-priced vintage stores - stay tuned!

Read More

Matt and Nat bag a la Sally Ann

The cooler weather has arrived this morning, and it's time to change my sassy yellow bag that I bought on sale last month and have been wearing ever since.

(I wore it last night to a cocktail party and several eyebrows were raised by my colour combination. I thought it was quite jazzy).


This can be one of my fall bags - a Matt and Nat red bag picked up at the Sally Ann for - wait for it - $4.99!

It still had the tissue inside!

I've always wanted a handbag by Matt and Nat but could never afford one - they run at a few hundred bucks.

The company is known for its vegan handbags and socially responsible ethic.

Come to think of it I have red Mary Jane shoes that'll match it!

Read More

Statement piece blazers a la thrift

Yesterday was the first day of school for most kiddies in Toronto and it got me thinking about fall fashion (wah, summer just arrived in the city too!).

I love fall fashion - the patterned tights, the scarves, the accessories - so many cheap and chic ways to jazz up your closet.

Every fall I pick up a few statement piece blazers at the thrift shop, usually for under $10 each.

I found this thick green one for $4.99 at the Sally Ann. It's made in Japan and says size 15 - likely a plus size there as it's slightly big on me! - but it's thick, well tailored and looks expensive.

A gal pal from work gave me the silk scarf from Morocco that you see with it only days after I bought the blazer - talk about fashion karma!

This is my absolute fave statement piece blazer that never fails to elicit oohs and ahhs - picked up last year at Value Village for $7.99 if memory serves.

It's a velvet (you know my penchant for velvet couches and pillows? Sometimes it applies to what I wear too) patchwork paisley blazer - tres retro 1970s but when worn open with jeans and a cashmere turtleneck underneath, or belted here with my new vintage velvet belt, the look is tres glam.



It's got these crazy long floppy lapels that I need to pin down, but otherwise the lines are just fab.

Here's a back view.

Don't you just love it?

I've never worn it with the belt as I just purchased it but I am so giving it a whirl once it gets cooler.

The statement piece jacket a la thrift: a perfectly wonderful way to add some vroom to your fall and winter outfits!

Read More

Thermos flask from Sally Ann dig

Ever gone back to the thrift shop over a month later and seen the thing you really wish you picked up the first time?

That happened to me yesterday when shopping along St. Clair West on my way to work.

This is a Thermos Bottle Co Ltd made in Toronto Canada (so it's etched on the bottom). It also reads "Thermos Stronglas, registered trademark, Made in Canada."

What a wonderful Canadian-made relic!

It's glass lined and has a hinged top and I just love it.

The thermos technology was created by a Brit but sold to various companies. The Thermos brand has a fascinating history; check it out if you're so inclined.

I think it was $6.99 when I was there the first time, but the price tag had fallen off so the powers that be at the Salvation Army Thrift Store gave it to me for $2.99.

I call that thrifting karma.

Read More

Decorating identity questioned

I junk; therefore I am ... a good decorator?

There's nothing like seeing someone else's beautifully decorated apartment. It can cause tremendous joy, seeing art and Persian rugs and books so artfully arranged - but it can also inspire neuroses.

A few weeks ago I visited the apartment of a pal in the building, and let me just say it threw into question my very grunger's existence:

One look at my pad after and I could see what I never saw before: the clutter, the papers, the mis-matched furniture, the junky look.

It wasn't a good feeling.

Since then I've been cleaning out the papers and rearranging and editing furniture, objects and art in an effort to streamline my space.

Some furniture has been tossed. Other bric-a-brac has been shoved in the closet and may make its way to a sale of some sort, or even a thrift shop.

I'm not sure if my new look is going to work out - I think when we question and compare ourselves in negative ways that creativity can be stifled. And after all, once a junker, always a junker, no?


Still I like what I did above with the big white (new) lampshade found at the Salvation Army Thrift Store for $7.99. It had a funny base that wouldn't allow me to attach it to the lamp the correct way, so I flipped it over and voila: I have a funky Art Deco-inspired look with an upside-down lampshade!

Maybe the Grunge Queen has a tad of spunk left in her.

Stay tuned. The overhaul - and identity crises - is still in progress.

Read More

Trash couch re-do

This is my couch re-do, my Barrymore loveseat found in the dumpster, slipcovered by Lisa Buckland and her crew at Potato Skins in Toronto!

Note: any scrunchy bits you see are the fault of the couch's owner, not the slipcover Gods at Potato Skins.


The fabric is a suede-like microfibre that wears well and doesn't pick up as much kitty hair - it also makes it more difficult for the little critters to scratch. I love the deep blue.




This is how it used to look before, with a shapeless velvety cover I bought from some department store over it.

You can see how scrunchy-bunchy it was.

And the cat hair - don't get me started.

Slipcovers can look just like reupholstered pieces, especially if you get the uber custom kind that zip on. My kind is the less expensive version where they measure the couch and make a piece of fabric that you drape and fold and then pin into place. I even had the cushion covered!



Speaking of cushions, don't you just love the gold lame circular pin-cushion pillow I picked up at the Sally Ann Thrift Store for $1.99?

Read More

The $2.99 factor

I swear to the Thrifting Gods, every thing I like at the Salvation Army Thrift Store is $2.99 or $3.99.

Last week I did a Sally Ann dig on the way home - it had been too long, alas - and found two costume jewellery rings in the case for $2.99 each.

How could I leave them there?
They're not valuable per se - not like the other piece of jewellery I'll show you this week sometime as promised - but I just love the look of a big costume cocktail or dinner ring - so dramatic, for just pennies a finger!


Click on my Jewellery label link to the right to see more great thrift store jewellery finds and how to find the good stuff.

Read More

True blue thrifty patio

I'm still on my patio kick. Since I haven't had time to work on my current patio re-do project, here's a little look I put together four years ago in Ottawa - along the Rideau River - using thrift store and dollar store finds.

The tablecloth was $14 at a dollar store and I ended up giving it to the person who owned the house and let me do the photo shoot there.

The rest of the items you can see listed in the article I wrote for the Ottawa Citizen newspaper; simply click on the image to the left to make it larger.






Some of my fave things:
I turned this wrought iron telephone table - picked up for $5 at a garage sale! - into a serving nook.

I threw tiny carnations into old glass sugar containers.



I think these dollar store wine flutes look perfectly elegant on an old silver tray.







Speaking of old silver I love putting flowers in old silver water jugs - the look would just get better as the silver tarnished over time.


I cheated a bit by putting old pillowcases over the bright purple vinyl seatcovers on the wrought iron chairs bought at the Sally Ann - that's the grunge-queen way: fake it!




Here's the look from afar, overlooking the river. It was the end of May and not quite full-on green-ess.


Hopefully this will inspire you in your weekend entertaining!
Have a good one!!

Read More

Patio project, part 1

I'm a closet Shabby Chic-er, I discovered after a $22 dig at Goodwill yesterday, on my way home from doing a shopping column.

If you're a regular visitor to this blog you'll know the look in my pad is slightly funky - not very country or feminine.

But when I saw these faded blue pillows, $2.99 each, I was inspired to do something with my icky looking balcony and give it a Shabby Chic redo!

Shabby Chic was popularized by Rachel Ashwell http://www.shabbychic.com/ who has built an empire on white slip-covered furniture and contemporary country-esque decor. It's characterized also by pale faded blues and pinks and greens.

I threw the pillows on the chair I bought at the Sally Ann for $10.

I had the tablecloth already - I got the faded pink look by accidentally washing it with a red towel (very grunge queen of me) - and I bought two chunky green wine glasses during my Goodwill dig for $1.99 each - I asked for a better price as I could likely find them at the dollar store for a buck, but no go.

I had a glass of wine to celebrate the beginning of my patio project. I still have more to show you from my $22 patio project redo shop at Goodwill and will be posting more as the look evolves ....

More to come!

P.S. One day later: I'm re-posting the story of how I got the chair you see here for Frugalchick - it was found almost a year ago for $10 during a Sally Ann auction that was truly fun - the Salvation Army has even posted the article on its website! Just click on the link below:

How grunge queen got her $10 rattan chair at the Sally Ann

Read More

Which ring is thrift?

These are games I like playing when I shop.

It goes like this [in thrift store]: Cripes, I just paid $[insert price that's 6-10 x more than item; I'm just going throwing that figure out there and it could vary] for a [fill in the blank] just like that!

Or like this [in a regular store]: Hee hee, I just bought a [fill in the blank]just like that for 5 bucks at the Sally Ann.

Needless to say the feeling is always more euphoric when the latter has happened.

So can you tell which ring was thrifted and which was purchased regular price at the department store?

Both silver; both big cocktail rings; both light in hue.

I honestly don't know how you could.

So take a guess and post a comment and tell me what you think!

Read More

Get a leg up: fishnets and ruling the world

Want to have men fall at your feet and women you don't know give you the evil eye on the subway?






















Wear a pair of fishnet stockings.

I picked up these brown honeycomb stockings at a warehouse sale in Toronto - six pair of Hue for $20!!

I've been wearing fishnets for years. They're comfy as hell, last way longer than regular nylons, and offer a different take on a sheer stocking.

NOTE: I rarely wear black ones - they tend towards trashy. I lean towards nude shades or fun hues like purple.






















Plus they're cheeky little guys, and the reactions you get are crazy. Women I know who are pals shower me with compliments.

Women I don't know eye them and me suspiciously, sometimes downright nastily: Who the hell do I think I am, a pin-up girl hussy?

A manager at work kept staring at them the other day with raised eyebrows. I asked her if she liked them. No comment.

Men tend to turn into little boys. Their brains melt to mush and if they do know you they start blathering on about your legs or some other meaningless topic.

If they don't know you they just stare, stare, stare.






















Ladies, if we want to rule the world now we know what to do: don a pair of fishnets!

At the sale I also bought some beautiful patterned nylons.

Fancy stockings purchased at warehouse sales are a cheap way to zoot up your wardrobe, and they're perfect for this time of year when it's still a touch too cool to wear bear legs.

It helps if you wear them with fancy shoes. I found these patent strappy point shoes at the Sally Ann for $6.99, and they inspire a similar reaction as the tights when I wear them together!

Read More

Clutch Crutch

I don't know if I've shared one of my latest thrift obsessions: retro purses.

They're just so darn easy to buy - normally less than a fiver - and the 1950s and 60s ones are so dandy design-wise.



This silver lace one was only $3.99 at Sally Ann.


This pretty quilted silvery one, made in England, was about the same price at another thrift store (short metal strap not shown here).

Sadly I don't lead a glam enough life to warrant the purchase of all these purses, though you can bet I try to get as much mileage out of them as possible when invited to press events and cocktail parties.

I've had particular luck finding clutches with tags that read "Handmade in Canada by John Hort."

This spanky little red number, again with short strap hidden, was $14 at a shop in Kensington Market in Toronto - it's in mint condition too.

You can tell this one is handmade - love how it's not symmetrical - and the circle detail clasp is just darling.

Once I decided I loved these bags I was able to pick them out of a dusty thrift store case three feet away. This is another John Hort (slightly out of focus, sorry), found at Goodwill for $3.99. It has a long chain link strap, and you can see it has the same clasp detail.

By the way if anyone has information on John Hort I'd love to hear it - all I know is he was based in Vancouver in the 1950s and 60s and won something called the Judy Award for design. His bags aren't too hard to find in thrift stores or the Internet so he must have been pretty prolific.

Later this week I'll show you how I display all these purses.

TIPS: I always open the bag and smell it to make sure it's not to offensive, and I always look for tags inside. If the tag indicates it's handmade I always pick it up. I also look for purses made in Canada and England - have one gorgeous one from Belgium I'll share soon ....

Read More

Thrift Shopping Faves, West Toronto

I've been promising to share some of my thrift shopping faves for a while now and will make an effort to post thrift shop reviews once weekly.

As I've said in a previous post, integrating thrift shopping into your daily life is a good strategy is it helps you keep on top of constantly rotating stock in the thrift stores AND has the added bonus of honing your thrift shopping eye!

I have a fave suite of shops I try my best to check out regularly on my way home from work, all on Bloor St. West in Toronto in between the Dufferin and Landsdowne subway stations.

FLORAL MAXI DRESS FOR $7.50 AT 69 VINTAGE BY-THE-POUND

Needless to say, the Salvation Army Thrift Store (1219 Bloor St. West, 416 533-9553 www.tstores.ca) is a regular stop and a hidden gem in Toronto - pretty much anything you see on this website that's tagged Salvation Army is from this location. Dresses for $3.99, rings for the same price, capris for $5.99 and tees for a few bucks - you can find it all here. There's a housewares and furniture section as well, and some electronics and more valued items under glass (though I only look at the jewellery under glass). For some reason there's hardly been any jewellery of late but I always keep my eyes peeled. The goods at this location aren't as junky as other locations.

BLACK COTTON 'MARILYN MONROE' DRESS DESIGNED IN FRANCE, $3.99 AT SALVATION ARMY (worn with 99 cent thrift store belt by Simon Chang and chunky gold choker for $1.99 found at same Sally Ann).

MADE IN ENGLAND BY PERSAUD OF LONDON RETRO PURSE, AROUND $10 AT 69 VINTAGE-BY-THE-POUND

I try to do my best to regularly visit 69 Vintage by-the-Pound across the street, though it closes at 6 p.m. and I'm often still at work (1234 Bloor St. West, 416-516-1234 69vintage.com and 69vintage.blogspot.com ). This is the sister store of 69 Vintage on Queen St. West place and it sells its (mostly ladieswear) castoffs by the pound, mainly 1960s-80s polyester ensembles more suitable for hip 20-somethings than 'lil 'ole 30-something me. Still I've found a few great purses, and this fab polyester maxi dress with collar ruffle for $7.50 that fits me like a glove and garners compliments wherever I go. Shoes, boots and jewellery have set prices instead of by the pound. If you're a DIYer you'll love this place, and if you want to become one the shop has recently started sewing classes.

Further west on Bloor St. there's Vintage Depot (1271 Bloor. St. West), sister store to the Kensington Ave. shop that's chock-a-bloc full of men's and ladies' fashions and accessories. Everything here is sorted by type and there appears to be some new stuff like shoes and hats. I don't go here as often but the deal breakers on a quick glance appear to be the sweaters (current and fab fluffy 1980s ones), leather jackets and (seasonal) fur coats. I picked up a classic retro mink coat here for under $60, part of its 30 percent off fur sale in February.

Further west still there's a humungous Value Village (1319 Bloor St. West, (416) 539-0585

MOOD RING BRACELET, $5.99 AT VALUE VILLAGE

www.valuevillage.com I haven't fully infiltrated, it's so big. More to come on this, but I did fine a wholly original mood ring bracelet there for $5.99 (a bit over-priced, I thought, but it was different enough to warrant paying more).

Read More

Blue Room, Green Room

Yesterday I showed you how I moved part of the living room into the dining room by creating a cozy little sitting and reading nook where I used to have the dining room table.

Today I realized that room, with all its lush blue pieces, is "The Blue Room" - the exact name my family and I used to call the sitting room in the house we grew up in because it had a fabulous blue Persian rug on the floor.
The other room in my grow-up house, funnily enough, was called "The Green Room" because it had all green furniture in it. After my room makeover the other day, all I had left in my living room area was mainly green velvet furniture! It is now "The Green Room."

I moved the dining table into the living room area, in front of the window. I like that it's somewhat functional as it holds my decorating books. I also like that it's not as obtrusive and clunky as it was before - again the table isn't something I use often so all I need to do is move the white armchair and pull it out when I have guests.

While I took advantage of a small space with "The Blue Room" by mushing a lot of items together, I wanted to create a feeling of airiness in the main living area as I had to combine a sitting and TV area with a desk/working area AND a dining area. I like the simplicity of having one lone painting over the loveseat. I deliberately tried to make the colours more Spring and Summer-like; the palette of green and white with a dash of orange really works, I think, as do the pared-down accessories.

The black table (from the trash) on the right and the black lamp and lacquer mirror on the left add some weight and ground the floaty vignette.

I kept the work area across from the loveseat the same, except I added the dark mirror that used to be in the dining room to create a bit more contrast, and I cut down even more on the clutter on the desk. I like keeping some areas more crisp and clean for the warmer months. I love the pop of colour in the orange made in Canada vase picked up at the thrift shop for $10.

The chair is from the trash and the lamps are thrift store and garage sale relics. The desk was on old table from Sally Ann that I Mac Tac'd.


I also love the fact that the big painting over the couch (a thrift store find for $39.99) is still a focal point when reflected in the mirror propped on the desk.Speaking of mirrors, it may be hard to tell but I hid the cords under the desk and created an illusion of light and depth by lining the wall under the desk with panes of mirrors dug out of the trash, intact.

See? Even Dinky loves it ....

Read More