grunge-queen1

  • Subscribe to our RSS feed.
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Digg
Showing posts with label Church Sales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Church Sales. Show all posts

Tuesday, 5 July 2011

A look at a nook

Posted on 18:29 by kumar

I still have to snap a pic of the vintage jewellery piece I bought in Notting Hill, but until then I'll show you a bit of the apartment re-org I did before I left on holidays.

I love this little corner nook that I refreshed by adding pops of orange: the paisley pillow found at a massive church sale for a buck; the Made in Canada retro glass vase on the top of the bookshelf (thrifted for about $10 if memory serves); the not so thrifty Anthropologie lampshade that I fell in love with when the store first opened in Toronto.


I found the beautiful framed mini picture hanging over the chair - handpainted flowers on black velvet - for 99 cents at a thrift shop. On the back there's a label that reads, "Mrs. D. M. Gowing, 77 Stubbington Avenue, Portsmouth, Hampshire" and then a postal code and phone number. Isn't it just wonderful that this little treasure made its way from England and across the pond to me and my grungy little home?

The silver glass lamp was $5 at a lamp sale; and the wrought iron chair was part of a set I thrifted at Sally Ann years ago, one of my first major thrift purchases in fact. I spray-painted them silver and covered the seats with a tablecloth I cut up, bought at the dollar store. There's grungy style for ya.
Read More
Posted in Accessories, Anthropologie, Church Sales, decorating, Display, DIY, Dollar Store, England, Furniture, Lamps, Made in Canada, Salvation Army, Thrift Style | No comments

Thursday, 2 June 2011

Can you really let go of nostalgiac stuff, even if you never wear it?

Posted on 19:45 by kumar

As you look at this rather freakish close-up, that is the question I'm pondering tonight. I bought this 1970s?-esque pendant at a church sale years ago for a couple bucks at most. I have worn it - once. It doesn't really fit into my life or style, but I still love it.


I love it because it reminds me of those 1970s Christmas Tree ornaments we used to hang on the tree while growing up - you know, the cut-out balls with the foiled concave insides. It is just special, even though I never wear it.

But the agony sets in as I'm in the process of saying goodbye to some material things in my life, and this baby has gone in the sell pile, then out, then in, and is now in limbo. So the question is, do you get rid of pieces that rank high on the emotional resonance scale, or do you favour practicality, and pass it on to someone else? That, dear readers, is the existential question for tonight!
Read More
Posted in 1970s, Church Sales, Costume, Decluttering, Jewellery, Nostalgia, Reader help, Vintage Jewellery | No comments

Sunday, 1 May 2011

Church rummage sale booty

Posted on 10:52 by kumar

I'm writing an article on rummage sales in midtown Toronto for one of the magazines I write for, so my gal pal Marsha and I set off bright and early yesterday to hit the hallowed halls.

Marsha got some pretty good booty. Thank God I was too busy interviewing and snapping pics of people; you and I know I don't really need anything.


Of course, even while working I simply could not not check out the jewellery table. I hit the bling table immediately, along with piles of others. People always go for the bling straight off and the jewellery table is typically a madhouse. I didn't find any real loves, but this carved sandalwood piece with green stone won my heart for a whopping 50 cents. I strung it on a leather cord to max out the boho effect.



Another bohemian type necklace pendant for a few bucks. Marsha picked this one up for me and she was right about it being my style.



This chunky modernist ring: a buck.



A pendant of Queen Elizabeth I: only a twoonie ($2). People may be going ga-ga over Kate, but I'm a fan of this daughter of Henry VIII.

Jewellery tables at rummage sales are pretty brutal. You need to decide which type of shopper you're going to be: the pushy elbowing type, or the stealthy type with long arms and fingers that can slide in between gaps and and pick up what you want. Guess which type I am?



This silver-tone pendant (which I strung on a long box link sterling chain I've had forever) is a bit odd, but sometimes it's the oddballs I'm attracted to the most. It actually looks good worn low on a long chain. Would rock with jeans and a simple white tee.

All in all, not bad for $7.50.
Read More
Posted in Church Sales, Costume, Friends, Jewellery, Thrift Shopping Midtown, Toronto | No comments

Thursday, 10 February 2011

Vintage costume brooches I've had for 20 (or so) years

Posted on 19:59 by kumar

Finding that old-style pendant at VV the other day made me think of the older-style brooches I have that I never really wear as they aren't quite my style. But just because they sit in a drawer doesn't make them any less special.

I remember picking up this cameo brooch when I was about 19 - can't recall exactly where but I used to do a lot of church sales with my fam around this time (thanks to my Dad), so I have a feeling a church was the source. It's not an expensive cameo that I can tell. I have seen more intricate and ornate ones, with finer detailing, that are more collectible - plus the cameo part looks plastic and the really valuable ones are made of shell and sometimes even coral, if memory serves. Still, I'm sentimental about this gal - reminds me of my youth, tee hee.


Vintage can sometimes be a nebulous term, with no hard and fast dates (I consider the 1980s vintage but not the 1990s, but perhaps it depends on your vantage point in time!). Still, I would hazard a guess this shell stick pin is antique, meaning over 100 years old.

My Mom gave it to me for my 19th Birthday. I love it, but in truth I am not certain how to wear it (back in the day it would have been worn in the yoke of a high collared dress, I suspect), and it is a wee old-fashioned. And the back clasp is so crude I am scared it will fall off and be lost forever if I wear it. But of course, I love it and will never let it go.


This must surely qualify as antique too. It was another gift I received when a teen, from an aunt. It was apparently from a collection she had amassed in LA. I have worn it only a couple of times - many, many moons ago -  but have a renewed appreciation for it. The style is a wee bit old fashioned, true (I can just picture some prim Victorian lady in it). But I love the black lacy effect and the polished glass piece - purple to boot! - how could I not dig that?

I'm a little out of my element in describing these last two pieces as I'm not familiar with the styles and conventions of eras before the 1940s, maybe 1930s. Regardless, maybe I'll see if I can integrate them into my wardrobe. Even if I don't they make me happy sitting in my little drawer for special things.
Read More
Posted in Antiques, Church Sales, Collections, Gifts, Jewellery, Nostalgia, Value Village, Vintage Jewellery | No comments

Monday, 19 April 2010

Church sale pals & booty

Posted on 03:52 by kumar
This is my garage sale bud and general friend Matthew. He's sitting in the foyer of a church in Riverdale on Saturday, anticipating the opening of its semi-annual rummage sale.

Matt and I go back a few years. We've trolled garage sales together. We've hauled a Kroehler loveseat down the sidewalk together, booty from a garage sale a few years ago. We're bosom junking buds, and we always have a hoot when we garage sale together.

Vital: we don't compete. He's an electronics man; I'm a jewellery and accessories gal.

While we were waiting for the doors to open, in walks my pal Diana (left) of A Touch of Vintage. I wrote about Diana recently (for the article, click here) after discovering her online Etsy shop and that she also sold locally from a small studio. We became pals. Another thrifting and vintage kindred spirit.

She's standing next to Sue, another Riverdaler who just happens to be a fellow jewellery junkie and fellow member of the Toronto Vintage Costume Jewellery Club I recently joined.

Alas, there was hardly any bling. I was pretty disappointed as two years ago there was a huge table of the stuff.

I did buy this granny locket for three bucks, after Sue graciously gave it up - Sue, you sure you don't want it??

It's a pretty big locket on a long gold-tone chain. Love it.

I also found this pendant and chain for three dollars. I thought initially that it was a perfume bottle but then noticed the hinge at the bottom.

Open it up - and it's a watch! Tres granny chic!

It says Caravelle on the top of the watch face - and from what I can tell Caravelle was an affordable line of jewellery and jewelled watches created by Bulova in the 1960s.

It doesn't work but I still have to look into getting a battery.


So for six bucks, I was pretty happy, though I was prepared to battle pushy ladies at the jewellery table and walk home with a pile of retro baubles.



Diana (below) totally scored by finding this retro metal wall hanging.

I can't tell you how much she paid for it 'cos then she'll have to kill me - oops just got a news flash from Diana, she's not selling it so I can divulge the deal: a fiver! Quelle deal. I've almost had cat fights in thrift shops over these things. Not easy to find.

This week:


An exciting trip to a vintage bottle show & sale with veteran collector Rob Campbell of Dump Diggers

More vintage bling from a weekend sale

More pics of moi wearing vintage costume jewellery - if you're local remember that the Toronto Vintage Costume Jewellery Club Show & Sale is this Saturday, April 24 a Leaside Memorial Community Gardens!
Read More
Posted in Church Sales, Etsy, Garage sales, Jewellery, Thrift Pals, Toronto Vintage Costume Jewellery Club, Vintage | No comments
Older Posts Home
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Popular Posts

  • Around the house, mostly thrifted
    New tablecloth, made in Jodhpur. Yesterday was the annual street market in Annecy, which was full of over-priced tat: I can't tell you h...
  • All the way from Texas
    Sante Fe style denim and tapestry jacket, made by MoonFeather USA, Etsy. It's finally starting to chill off in Annecy, which means I get...
  • Airport bling
    Every time I fly to West Palm I go through the Charlotte airport in North Carolina. There's this shop there where pretty much all the co...
  • Yvoire, Evian & 70s coat
    1970s coat: Etsy Second-hand granny boots: Etsy Vintage French Lancel handbag: Annecy thrift shop Fuzzy wool beret: Annecy consignment shop ...
  • Score: vintage carpet bag made in the UK by a still-existing company
    Though I am holding out hope, I appear to have lost a few treasured vintage bags and carpet bags in the move from Toronto to Ottawa and then...
  • Skeleton chairs & ribbon dispensers
    This chair was in my local thrift shop, Stretch Thrift, before I left for West Palm, and when I returned to do a little dig after my vacay i...
  • Monday morning no brainer
    It's a simple thing, but sometimes it's the simplest of things that can bring the most satisfaction. A shopkeeper gave me this rose ...
  • What I'm wearing: second-hand Annecy style
    Comptoir des Cotonniers dress: Annecy consignment shop 1990s? grannt booties: Ebay 1980s? necklace: Annecy consignment shop Ray Ban sunnies:...
  • Winter attire & 5-Euros-and-under finds
    YET ANOTHER PAIR OF LACE-UP BOOTS? (is she off her rocker?) Second-hand Michael Kors suede lace-up wedge booties with rubber sole: Etsy. I h...
  • Latest greatest second-hand accessory
    Thrifted Thierry Mugler blazer: four euros, Annecy thrift shop Bally bag: 25 euros, consignment shop Turtleneck: thrifted in Canada Levis: n...

Categories

  • $2 Clothing Sale
  • 1960s
  • 1970s
  • 1980s
  • 1990s
  • 69 Vintage Buy the Pound
  • 7 for All Mankind
  • Accessories
  • Addiction
  • adventure
  • Adventures
  • Aix Les Bains
  • Alkemie
  • All That Jazz
  • Anne Klein
  • Annecy
  • Anthropologie
  • Antique Market
  • Antiques
  • Architectural salvage
  • Art
  • Artisans
  • Asos
  • Auction House
  • Autumn
  • Avon
  • Baby
  • Balenciaga
  • Bally
  • Barnardos
  • Bathroom
  • Beading
  • Beauty
  • Bedroom
  • Benetton
  • Bibi
  • Bionic
  • Birthdays
  • Blackpool
  • Blogging Buds
  • Bloglovin
  • Blue
  • Bohemian
  • Boho
  • Books
  • Boots
  • Bridal
  • British Heart Foundation
  • Brooches
  • Brooks Brothers
  • Cadoro
  • Canada
  • Canadian Bottle Collectors
  • Canadian Thrift
  • Cape
  • Capezio
  • Cards
  • Carpet Bags
  • Carpet Bags company
  • Cartier
  • Cats
  • Changes
  • Charity shops
  • charlie perfume
  • Chick stuff
  • Chinese Laundry
  • Christmas
  • Church Sales
  • Cleaning
  • Clements Ribeiro Portobello
  • Closet
  • Clothing Swap
  • Clutter
  • Coats
  • Collections
  • Coloratura
  • Colour
  • Comments
  • Consignment
  • Cooking
  • Cookware
  • cork
  • Coro
  • Costume
  • Country Living
  • Courcheval
  • Creativity
  • Critical Mass
  • CTS
  • Custom made
  • Dauplaise
  • Deals
  • Decluttering
  • Decor Book
  • decorating
  • Denim
  • Designers
  • Diane von Fürstenberg
  • Diane von Furstenberg
  • Dinky
  • Dinny Hall
  • Discount Store
  • Display
  • Ditzy Dress
  • DIY
  • Dollar Store
  • Dress
  • Dumpdiggers
  • Ebay
  • Elle Decor
  • Ellen Tracy
  • Emotional decorating
  • England
  • Entertaining
  • ethnic
  • Etienne Aigner
  • Etsy
  • Events
  • Fair Trade
  • Fakes
  • Family
  • Fashion
  • Fast Fashion
  • Flea Markets
  • Flowers
  • France
  • Franco Mirabelli
  • French
  • French designers
  • French Style
  • Friends
  • Fun
  • Fur
  • Furniture
  • Galas
  • Garage sales
  • Garbage picking
  • Geneva
  • Gerrards Auction House
  • Giant Tiger
  • Gifts
  • Giving
  • Goodwill
  • Granny chic
  • Great design
  • green
  • Grunge
  • Grunge Philosophy
  • Grunge Queen Stuff Sale
  • Hair
  • Halloween
  • halston
  • Halston Heritage
  • Hand-painted
  • Handbags
  • Handmade
  • Handy
  • Hanpainted
  • harmony ball
  • Harrods
  • Hats
  • Heritage
  • Hermes
  • hi-low
  • History
  • Home
  • Hot
  • How I Wear My
  • How to thrift shop
  • Hudson's Bay Company
  • Imperfection
  • Inspiration
  • James Bay
  • James Bay Coat and Blanket Corporation
  • Japanese Stoneware
  • Jeanne Lottie
  • Jeans
  • Jewellery
  • Jimmy Hourihan
  • Jimmy Hourihan of Dublin
  • Joe Browns
  • John Hort
  • Kangol
  • Karina Dresses
  • Kelly Bag
  • Kelly Gadzala
  • Kelly Makeover
  • Kelly Makeover.
  • Kenneth Cole Reaction
  • Kenzo
  • Label Love
  • Lacuzzo
  • Lamps
  • Lancel
  • Lanvin
  • Laura Ashley
  • lauren hutton
  • Lavishy
  • Leslieville
  • Liberty of London
  • Lighting
  • Lilley and Skinner
  • Linen
  • Lolita Lempicka
  • Lytham
  • macrame
  • Made in Canada
  • Made in France
  • Magic
  • Makeup
  • Marilyn Monroe
  • Mark Foreman
  • Mass market
  • Maternity wear
  • Men
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • MEXX
  • Michael Kors
  • Miscellaneous
  • Modernist jewellery
  • Mood Ring
  • Natural
  • New
  • Nostalgia
  • Online Selling
  • Ontario Thrift
  • Ottawa
  • Outdoor decorating
  • Outer-Wear
  • Oxfam
  • Parkdale
  • Personal style
  • Philosophy by Alberta Ferretti
  • Politically Correct
  • polyvore
  • Pop-up shop
  • Portobello Road
  • Prabal Gurung
  • Preppy
  • Pretty
  • Purses
  • Quality
  • Rafael Alfandary
  • Reader help
  • Reader Questions
  • Readers
  • Recipes
  • Recycling
  • Regrets
  • Retro
  • Revlon
  • Rob Campbell
  • Rodier
  • Roman Ruins
  • Romance
  • Room Makeover
  • Royal Ontario Museum
  • Sale
  • Salvation Army
  • Sample Sale
  • Sarah Coventry
  • SAS
  • Scary Thrift
  • Scooter
  • Scooter Paris
  • Second Hand
  • Second-hand
  • Shoe Shine
  • Shoes
  • Shopping
  • Shopping Column
  • Shopping North Toronto
  • Shopping West Toronto
  • Shops at Don Mills
  • Show and Tell
  • Simplicity
  • Sister
  • Sonia Rykiel
  • Sorrow
  • Splurge
  • St. John's Thrift
  • Steampunk
  • Stockings
  • Storage
  • Stretch Thrift
  • Stripes
  • Stuart Weitzman
  • Studio sale
  • style
  • Style blogger
  • Sugar Street Weavers
  • Superhero Costumes
  • Swaps
  • Ta-Dah Tuesday
  • Tableware
  • Tapestry Bags
  • Tara Jarmon
  • Teenflo
  • Telephones
  • Thank you
  • That 70s Show
  • Thayer
  • The Junction
  • The Queen
  • Then and Now
  • Theory
  • Thierry Mugler
  • Third World Bazaar
  • Thrift
  • Thrift blogger
  • thrift ideas
  • Thrift Pals
  • thrift shopping
  • Thrift Shopping East Toronto
  • Thrift Shopping Midtown
  • Thrift Shopping West Toronto
  • Thrift store decorating
  • Thrift Style
  • Tips
  • to
  • Tom Ford
  • Toronto
  • Toronto Bead Society
  • Toronto bloggers
  • Toronto Bottle Show
  • Toronto Designers
  • Toronto Shopping
  • Toronto Vintage Costume Jewellery Club
  • Toronto Vintage Costume Jewellery Club Show and Sale
  • Tory Burch
  • Town Crier newspapers
  • Toys
  • Tradition
  • Trash
  • Trendy
  • Tribal
  • Trifari
  • Ugg
  • UK
  • United Nude
  • Updates
  • Vakko
  • Value Village
  • Velvet
  • Versace
  • Victoria Beckham
  • Victorian
  • Vide Grenier
  • Vintage
  • Vintage Dealers
  • Vintage Jewellery
  • Vintage sizing
  • Vintage Toys
  • Visible Monday
  • Walls
  • Wardrobing
  • Water
  • Wedding
  • Weill
  • What would you do?
  • Where to thrift shop in Toronto
  • Which is Thrift?
  • white ruffle blouse
  • Windows
  • Wine Country Tour
  • Wonder Woman
  • Wunderkind
  • Yves Saint Laurent

Blog Archive

  • ▼  2013 (37)
    • ▼  December (1)
      • Around the house, mostly thrifted
    • ►  November (3)
    • ►  October (3)
    • ►  September (2)
    • ►  August (1)
    • ►  June (1)
    • ►  May (7)
    • ►  April (3)
    • ►  March (7)
    • ►  February (4)
    • ►  January (5)
  • ►  2012 (83)
    • ►  December (9)
    • ►  November (3)
    • ►  October (2)
    • ►  September (6)
    • ►  August (3)
    • ►  July (4)
    • ►  June (7)
    • ►  May (17)
    • ►  April (23)
    • ►  March (5)
    • ►  February (3)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2011 (166)
    • ►  December (2)
    • ►  November (3)
    • ►  October (3)
    • ►  September (11)
    • ►  August (16)
    • ►  July (17)
    • ►  June (15)
    • ►  May (21)
    • ►  April (20)
    • ►  March (19)
    • ►  February (17)
    • ►  January (22)
  • ►  2010 (214)
    • ►  December (20)
    • ►  November (18)
    • ►  October (19)
    • ►  September (16)
    • ►  August (19)
    • ►  July (17)
    • ►  June (18)
    • ►  May (22)
    • ►  April (20)
    • ►  March (22)
    • ►  February (19)
    • ►  January (4)
Powered by Blogger.

About Me

kumar
View my complete profile