My stuff & me

I had an emotional reunion with my clothing, jewellery and small bric-a-brac yesterday as my boxes arrived from Canada - yay!! I have been living without all my stuff for months now, and even though I got rid of 80 percent of my stash when I left Toronto, I still have a substantial bling collection, as you can see. And this pic represents only part of it! Maybe I should consider selling some, perhaps on Etsy, or having a big 'ole garage sale in the front yard (wouldn't hubby die). It's amazing how such baubles define us. I've been living sans music, sans cell phone, sans "my" fashion, with only a few sweaters and jeans, for months now, and memories of my former life in TO came flooding back as I sifted through everything ... in a way, I have ME back!

The sad thing is, because I'm not working, I don't really have much need to wear all these pretty dresses and bling-bling - that is, unless hubby takes me to dinner at The Grand Hotel in St Annes every night there's an idea! I bought some super sexy sandles at a local pop-up shop recently, which I will model with some of my new dresses (charity and from pop-up shop) once my toe heals and I can get hubby to snap some artful pics of moi. Alas, busted my foot for the umpteenth time the other day so I can't even really exert much effort unpacking my boxes. So I'll just sit on my butt for a while longer and let my man wait on me, hand and foot, tee hee.

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See ya later, Alligator

In spite of the tag inside that proclaims, or at the very least strongly suggests, that the clutch is "Alligator", it doesn't (thankfully) seem that it is. But I loved the simple, classic shape and it was in perfect condition.

I didn't really have a chance to wear it as I sold it before doing so. I have a lot of vintage clutches and such that I never really use, so it was ok to say goodbye to this one. May it find a happy home.

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Pop-up shop success

Well, it was a pop-up shop success. Here's my pal Nadia at the beginning of the day, yesterday, with all our vintage goodies for sale.

The traffic ebbed and flowed, but we met so many great peeps in the hood, and I had the chance to connect with a dedicated reader, Darlene, who made the trek to meet me and take a gander. Wish I had snapped a pic of her!

Daina from Continuum Moderin Vintage popped by too, and bagged two glorious purses, one a vintage Coach and the other a vintage clutch.

Dear readers, I tried not to shop, but I did walk away with this vintage Kangol beret made in England, and this fab carpet bag. J'adore!

Ok, by day's end I also had these designer jeans (tight!). I'm wearing the silk scarf as the sun was burning my ears.

This is how I will look when I'm 80, like some Babushka with her head scarf, hopefully still sipping some vino!

It was such a fine day - thanks to all who came out and Tweeted about the event. There will be more - I have piles more of goodies to get rid of - so stay tuned!

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This is an example of what I am selling today

At a pop-up shop sale I'm doing with my pal Nadia at 983 Pape Ave. (Pape just a few streets north of Mortimer, north of the Danforth/Greektown). Starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 or 6 but I may not be there after 2. Stop by and get great deals on clothing (some vintage), jewellery and accessories!

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Pop-up tomorrow with Nadia & Grunge Queen

ATTENTION GLAM QUEENS: My best gal pal Nadia and I are hosting a pop-up shop tomorrow, Saturday Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to end of day at 983 Pape Ave (near Floyd, practically across the street from Stretch Thrift).

Nadia has some great vintage/noveau pieces, dresses to coats (she's tiny, fyi, smaller than me and I'm a size six), and she also has great handbags and accessories. I'll be bringing jewellery, handbags and accessories and maybe some clothes.

The sale is inside so even if the weather's crap, we'll be there! Please drop in - we're cleaning out the style coffers and there will be good stuff!

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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!!

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I cannot tell a lie

Part of yesterday's holiday drop-in event for my gal pals entailed selling off some of my bling and accessories, as you can see from the above.

Don't hate me. I have explored the idea of having a public sales event for lovely readers like you, and even asked you, some time ago, to email me if you were interested in attending such a sale. A few people responded, but after not selling as much as I had hoped yesterday, I'm wondering if such a sale would be fruitful for me, and useful for you.

In truth, I have a lot - A LOT - of stuff that I will be selling off, either in one fell swoop or in little dribs and drabs (the latter isn't my most preferable mode) - everything from jewellery, clothes, fashion and decor accessories, and furniture. I had thought of having a personal sale in my pad, but in order to get rid of the volume I am intending to I'm not sure my place could support the masses of people - many strangers - I would need to attract to the sale.

Any ideas for getting rid of the lot, or have you tried a worthwhile technique? And as a fellow second-hand style lover, if you were interested in taking a gander at some of my goodies and buying for good deals, what sort of selling method or venture would appeal to you? (online, personal sale, etc?). Any feedback you have would be appreciated.

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Reorg and divesting urge

I feel a reorg coming on.

I haven't done much in my place for months, and I am getting sick of the mess and how things look.

I also feel the need to cut back on large portions of my stuff. That could eventually manifest itself in a major Grunge Queen stuff sale.

If you're in or around Toronto and are interested in possibly coming to a sale where I divest myself of large amounts of my stuff, please email me at grungequeen@yahoo.com and I will start a shortlist of peeps to email when I am finally ready.

It may take a few months, but it is coming, dear readers.

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