My thrifty balcony

It's the long-weekend in Canada so today's post is going to be about thrifty leisure spaces - namely my wee patio. You know my penchant for orange these days. I found this gorg linen tablecloth (plus nappies) for $5.99 at my local thrift shop, Stretch Thrift.

The big handpainted, slightly cracked pot that's holding the lavender was found curbside, while the white pot was thrifted for a few bucks. The English jug was a gift from my best pal, and the wee glass tea light holder was also a present, from a family friend. The rose glass tea light holder was thrifted for $1.99.

I found the retro wrought iron patio set for $40 at a garage sale a few years ago; ditto for the seat cushions. I've had the stripy pillows for years, bought new at The Bay department store when I worked there eons ago.

The flower box was a gift (found by an ex in the trash - nice to know I inspire this kind of gifting!), as was the lovely cut-out ball (given to me by a friend - it used to be a lamp but it wasn't functioning so I cut off the cord - I could put a tea light in this if I wanted to but the piece can stand on its own). The stool is pretty ugly - I thrifted it for a few bucks and always meant to jazz it up - but one of my kitties loves sitting on it while outside, so I leave it like that for her.

Happy weekend!

Read More

Vintage lovers have garage sale

My gal pal Marsha and I had a blast this weekend. We decided, practically at the last minute, to have a garage sale. Here she is showing off some of the vintage 1980s bling she was selling that day.

Here I am with an odd lamp that someone gave me, which ended up going in the donate pile at the end of the day.

My $5 jewellery table was a huge success - and there's still heaps left so stay tuned and I will tell you about the next sale!

I REALLY wanted to shop Marsha's table with my proceeds. This leather handbag made in Spain was so gorg (and not $5!), and it was calling to me, bigtime. But Marsha, a true friend, refused to let me buy it! She knew I needed my cash for other things!

The one thing I bought: this mod serving tray, $2. I thought it would be a cool way to display and organize my thrift store and vintage jewellery - what do you think?

I really love this idea. It's almost as though it IS a food tray, and every morning I get to pluck out some yummy delicacy to go with my outfit, as though the glinting pieces are luscious gum drops!

I must confess: I traded one of my $5 necklaces with Marsha for this pretty pin (signed, but I can't make it out). Marsha knows me well as she had a feeling I'd like this one.

See? Here are all my pretty vintage rings, all in one place.

More garage sale wisdom: I didn't have time to price every thing, so pretty much everything was $5. Easy peasy. I also kept my mind open to possibilities: someone wanted to buy the pink hard shell suitcase that I used to transport my dresses in and had no intention of selling. Sold, for 10 bucks!!

Read More

Ring rethink

I picked up this Mexican silver purple cut glass ring a few springs ago at a local garage sale. I had it in my 'get rid of' pile up until this morning, when I yanked it out. I really love this ring. My rule: toss what you are so-so about (give away, sell, whatever) but hang on to the lovers.

It shows off my manicure too - which I gave myself, of course!

Read More

Past rooms I have loved

Mmmm, last night's post was on lazy decorating and I'll continue the theme tonight as I've been too tired and too busy to rejig my digs of late, sigh. Which is a shame as doing so always invigorates me and alleviates stress.

I like the little tableau on the coffee table (garage sale special) that I created here - I plopped a thrifted velvet scarf on top as a runner and a lamp thrifted at a junk shop. The acidy green colours here are appealing to me too. The bookcase angled in the corner creates a nice wee nook too.

I love the colourful jumble of silky and velvet pillows tossed on my Barrymore loveseat. May need to recreate that look.

My little Dinky doo liked it too ....

Can't leave Dag out. And speaking of nooks, this blue velvet chair (found in the trash) is the perfect lounging chair for a certain feline friend. Love the string curtains and the angled bookshelf again (the latter of which I've lugged around since my 20s); very cozy.

I'm patting myself on the back for the low-slung print over the table (thrifted for $4.99, framed at Simpsons, I swear to God). Sometimes lower is better.

Read More

New Year, new look a la easy peasy bohemia

I've been a wee tired and bored with myself of late - a line I snatched from a Bruce Spingsteen song that perfectly encapsulates my feelings. And when I start feeling that way only one thing can help: an apartment re-org.

I was in the mood for a new look, but not in the mood for lugging big pieces of furniture around. So all I did was shift a couple of Persian rugs around and reposition one love seat so that the two love seats are facing one another - an easy way to create a cozy nook - and then moved the blue chair where the blue loveseat used to be.

I put good old Uncle Ugly (the 'family heirloom' table that my folks picked up 35 or so years ago at a garage sale, which I spray painted silver a few years ago) back in commission as a coffee table, and piled colourful decor and coffee table books on him to add to the clutter-cozy effect.

It's amazing what moving around a few pillows, lamps and paintings can do - see the low hung Paris scene over the large wood dresser to the right of the white mirror? That just happened that way as I had another painting there and didn't even bother to move the nail. Easy peasy bohemian style is what I'm all about, remember.

Before my little re-org I was questioning my boho look, characterized by clutter, lotsa velvet, and colour and texture. Now I'm in love with it again. Just goes to show that a little re-jig can work wonders on your psyche.

Happy New Year!

Read More

Swap Meet this weekend

I can't make this one, alas, but if a garage and swap meet appeals to you, check out Swap Sity's annual event in Toronto:

Date: August 28th, Saturday

Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm (Vendors can set up tables at 10:00am)

Location: Walmer Road Baptist Church, Lower Hall, Ground floor, enter from south side
188 Lowther Avenue (Spadina & Bloor)

Garage Sale Admission: $2 (The first 50 garage sale attendees get in for FREE!)

Swap Meet Admission: $5

Garage Sale and Swap Meet Admission: $6

Table Rental: $20 (Please book in advance)

For more info check out

Garage Sale Info: http://www.swapsity.ca/swap_meet

Swap Meet Info: http://www.swapsity.ca/book_swap_meet

Read More

Thrifty past; thrifty news

This pic was taken of me three years ago by Town Crier newspaper photographer Francis Crescia, just when I was getting in vintage bling.

I look so different now. Let's just say I would NEVER wear an outfit like that now, even though that one was 100% thrift.

Speaking of bling, I have some little gems of information to dispense today: thrifter's news let's call it!

COMMON SORT 50% off sale TODAY
If you're a Torontontonian, get thee thrifty butt over to Nicole Babin's second-hand and vintage shop NOW (the line ups have probably abated) as she's having her famous 50% off sale today until 7 p.m. in her Queen St. E/Riverside shop.

Check out her fab new website Common Sort

AND look out for her NEW west-end Parkdale store at 1414 Queen West, opening in a couple weeks!!

TORONTO SWAP MEET & GARAGE SALE BY SWAPSITY AUGUST 28 in THE ANNEX

I had a reader recently ask about local swap events, and the timing for that question was perfect as I just joined a group known as Swap Sity.

It's on Saturday, August 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and you can rent a table by the hour or two-hour period to sell and/or swap.

From what I understand you have to pay to get in as a shopper, but I'm not sure how much.

To rent a table or get more info you have to go to the site and then email them.

Read More

R & R in my apartment

It's been super busy the past month, and I've done zip in my pad in terms of decorating. The really hot and humid weather hasn't been much of an inspiration either.

So here's the view from my couch, a place I'm going to try to spend some time this week as I attempt to relax and take care of myself after a busy whirlwind month.

I've never really sat on my couch long enough to ponder this view.

The mirror on the far wall reflects the light from the opposite window, thereby lighting up a dark space. My beloved green velvet Kroehler loveseat: dug up for $50 at a garage sale a few years ago.

Like my cat, I'm also going to try to spend more time sleeping in my bed, a lovely brass frame I picked up at a junk store in Ottawa a decade ago for $150.

The brass lamps on the bedside tables were $5 at a mega sale at my fave Toronto lighting store, Consumers Lighting on Dufferin St.

The painting above the bed is by local artist Julie Glick.

Read More

Vintage Stars Wars booty & meeting Roger Christian

Check this out.

Vintage R2-D2 from the flic Star Wars. I found him last weekend at a garage sale for a twoonie ($2).

I snatched it up as I knew my seven-year old nephew, who is currently obsessed with all things Star Wars, would go wild over it.

I always liked Artoo - he's pretty spunky for a droid.

The lady I bought him from was selling off her entire collection - some were a couple bucks like this one but others were $10.

I also picked up C-3PO for three bucks (ok I can't really remember which one was 2 and which was 3).

I always liked these two characters together - they're like the futuristic version of The Odd Couple.

I gave them to my nephew yesterday and he did indeed go wild.

These vintage figurines are collectible but I'm not sure how much they're worth or sell for.

I do know, from several important sources, that the vintage Yoda is hard to find.

And apparently Artoo's head was initially made with and inspired by an old lamp.

How do I know? At the LG Innovators' Ball
the other night I met Roger Christian, pal of my date and Academy Award winner for set decorating for the original Star Wars movie (1977) .... and art director for numerous flics thereafter.

I told Roger about my garage sale finds and he said I shoulda bought the whole lot.

Sigh. If it were vintage bling the story would be different.

Read More

Garage Sale Score No. 1: Wrought Iron

Let the garage sales begin.

This is my pal Brenda on Saturday at a local garage sale.

Brenda, Matthew and I all got up early Saturday morning to go to this neighbourhood garage sale.

We had pretty high hopes as we all went last year and stayed for hours.

Alas the booty at this year's sale was a bit disappointing.


Here's a pic of us last year on the patio of the Second Cup, rejoicing over our booty.

But that's the thing with garage sales: they tend to breed and attract others.

Across the street from the disappointing sale was a small sale on a woman's lawn.

I saw the wrought iron fold-up chairs first. The table wasn't readily apparent.

Ask and ye shall receive. The matching table was for sale as a set with the chairs, only it was holding all her glassware that was part of the sale - a lucky thing pour moi as I'm sure the set would have gone long before I got there if it actually looked like a set.

So here I am on my balcony with my new wrought iron patio set.

Cost: 40 bucks.

Major score!

I just want to spend all my time on my balcony now.

At the disappointing garage sale, I did find these sage green cushions, two for $5, that fit on the chairs exactly!

The covers zip off so all I have to do is wash 'em.




I still need to spruce the table up with flowers and potted plants and all, but doesn't it look good out there?

I'm so pleased. After my patio makeover last summer, I was thinking that I really did need a decent wrought iron set ... but knew I'd have to have major junking Karma to get such a set for a decent price.

I'd like to think the Garage Sale Gods were watching over me Saturday when I found this.

Read More

Church sale pals & booty

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

Seeing red

My most heartfelt thanks for the many kind comments from dearly beloved readers and followers on yesterday's post. I salute you all!

Speaking of hearts, I'm still seeing red over my V-day breakup.

Seeing a trend here? I decided to group all my red elements in one area, to pack a real wallop.

There is something to be said for having a certain amount of drama in one's adode. I'm a frenetic mass of energy - mostly productive - at the moment so why not have that reflected in my digs? It inspires me to tackle multiple projects with ferocity.

Offset that red with bright punches of primary green and orange and we're off to the decorating races.

When I'm feeling more calm, more serene, I'll evenly distribute the red throughout my space, to spread out its raunchier effects.

For now I'm content to revel in the red. This is truly what I call emotional decorating: having your digs reflect your state of mind, or mirror a desired state of mind.

A postscript to yesterday's post: this reorg wasn't really the redo of the century in terms of moving furniture around, but you can see if you've been following GQ for a while how changing up the accessories can create a wholly new look in your pad.

The Grunge part: of course you know everything here was either thrifted or found in the trash, don't you?

Big floral print: $4.99 at thrift shop

Green Krohler loveseat, $50 at garage sale

Floral lamp with chunky base: $6.99 less 50 percent at Sally Ann (red shade was new but on mega sale)

Every single pillow you see here: thrift, consignment or junk shop, various prices but nothing under $10 each

Orange April Cornell blanket found for under $10 at Value Village

Chrome chair and big wood dresser: trash finds

Orange blown glass vase, Made in Canada, thrifted for $9.99, and retro green decanter, a gift from my best pal

Painting of lady: $9.99 in framing shop that was closing down

Oh, and the console that has all the coloured glass on it? Got it from the same jerk who gave me the bowl I broke yesterday. Thrift and love, it happens.

Read More

View to my couch

This is the view to my couch, a place I am trying to spend some more time on these days as I unwind at night.

On the other side of the console table is another loveseat, which you can't see.

I love the idea of creating a cozy nook with two loveseats facing eachother. I find I tend to cozify my decor in the winter months, when nesting takes place - don't you?

I traded this console with a nasty ex beau; in return he got a (hopefully termite ridden) chest of drawers another ex brought me from the trash - talk about trash romance Karma!
Mt stinker of an ex said he bought this at auction and it belonged to Canadian parliamentarian Stanley Knowles. Who knows if that was the truth?

But I dig the table anyway - think it's actually a vanity as there's a ridge at the back where a mirror should attach. I like using as a divider in my living room. And generally, I like a clean look with no clutter under tables, but an old wicker chest piled up with decor mags and a worn handpainted wood bowl (and with a gorgeous thrifted purse hanging from the handle - I get off using fashion accessories in my decorative vignettes), made the look a bit more sloppy boho.

A smattering of beloved hardcover books - from ballerina Karen Kain to thrifty decor - are piled on top.

Another purse: the silk Banana Republic clutch bought at a consignment shop therefore found a home on top of a book.

The crystal tea light holder under the thrift shop lamp and garage sale shade was also thrifted. My sis received two exactly like that as a gift from a person who loves buying expensive gifts, so I know it's worth something (but that's not why I bought it reader: of course I love it!).

Read More