My auction adventure

It began outside the sliding doors of Gerrard's Auction House.

I had found a vintage bracelet in the open market area there a week before for a mere pound ninety-nine, so I went back to scout for more cheap goodies.

The place was pretty quiet downstairs as there was an auction in progress on the second level.

Then a blur of vintage purses on a counter caught my eye. I asked at the front desk and turns out they were part of the auction upstairs. I had never been to an auction before (save one at a charity shop that I failed miserably at). Before I knew what was happening, I was registering at the desk and climbing the stairs to the auction. I had taken a closer look at those purses, and there was one in particular that I wanted.

This is THE purse that caught my eye. I LOVE the green. It's obviously handmade, but I have no idea how old it is. No stinkiness whatsoever. Just exquisite.

I stood waiting for the lot of my purses (I was already thinking of them as MINE) with an ever-quickening heartbeat. It wasn't very busy upstairs so most of the lots weren't being bid on and could have gone for ten pounds. I was hoping the same would happen for me. By the time the lot came up, I was so pumped I felt like I was about to have a heart attack. The auctioneer started talking and up shot my arm - we were off to the bidding races. There was no way those purses were getting away.

Alas, there was an online bidder and we went back and to for a bit. But I won, paying just $2 under my cut-off figure.

Here's the inside of the green purse, an obviously handmade job. MY insides were pretty jelly-like as I waited at the counter to pay and claim my purses.

This was the second purse in the lot, not as special as the first but still an interesting - and obviously handmade - piece. I like that, like the green one (which is admittedly a bit squished and will look better when I flatten it out to reshape it), it's a wee asymmetrical. Beautiful, imperfect. That's my cup of tea!

And so went my second ever real live auction adventure. Maybe auctioning will soon become old hat -- or old purses again??

Sharing my finds for Ta-dah Tuesday!

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Strategically placed (vintage) jewellery

Eeks. You're always catching me at the end of the day, when I'm tired looking and have missed my chance to have some photog snap me in all my vintage thrifty glory.

So I snapped this pic of myself alone on my balcony tonight after I got home. I'm wearing this darling linen peplum-style blazer with crochet detail that I picked up at a consignment shop a couple years ago.

The issue is, it's a wee bit too low-cut for the office, and added to that I have a rather unsightly scar on my chest that interferes, shall we say, with the aesthetics of a low cut top (and in normal circumstances, I have no problems showing said scar, really, but I tend towards the conservative approach when in the workplace).

My catch-all solution these days: hide whatever "cleavage" I have plus said scar with, well, a bit o' bling.

I found this 1970s piece at Toronto's Sunday Antique Market for about $35 a year or so ago - expensive by Grunge Queen standards, but it was so different (I have only ever seen one other piece like it, in a fellow vintage maven's collection) that it warrented the investment. You can't see the entire piece here as it's hidden in the folds of my jacket, but it extends way down to cover my scar.

It's not an every-day piece, by any means, so I haul it out when the occasion warrants it. And, because it is so long, it serves the very practical function of letting me show more, and less, at the same time!

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My parents are trash pickers too!

I feel like a proud mommie. Except I'm really a proud daughter!! When I was home for Thanksgiving last weekend, I saw this wicker set on my Mom and Dad's bricked in area outside their front door. (I added the pumpkin to make it look more festive).

Readers, they trash picked it.

Well you can imagine - I couldn't have felt more proud. Sure it's a wee bit rough around the edges, fraying a bit on the legs, but good enough for outside for the kitties to languish on as they sun themselves these glorious fall afternoons.

There's even a table.

Don't get me wrong: it's not like Mom and Dad haven't trashed picked before. I year ago, methinks, I did a little post after coming home from a Thanksgiving trip showcasing the worn chairs my Mom had plucked from the trash and used as ledges for her potted flowers out on the back deck. And another time Mom took home a teak desk found curbside.

But let's just say they wouldn't have trash picked a few years ago. Granted it IS becoming more fashionable/acceptable nowadays, but well, I'd like to think I had just a wee bit of influence here - a daughter's prerogative, perhaps!

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Third World Bazaar feel-good shopping rove

You know me: I will shop at every opportunity, especially when the shopping fare is unique and somewhat heartfelt. So when I was home for Thanksgiving this past weekend, my fam and I made a number of retail pilgrimages, if you will, one of which was to the Third World Bazaar close to Ottawa, Ontario. It just happens to have its opening weekend the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend every year - but don't worry, it runs every Fri-Sun until the weekend of November 19-21st, so if you're thinking of making your own little pilgrimage you still have time!

As you can see, we're at the bazaar bright and early, our shopping engines revved.

The Third World Bazaar is a different shopping experience and has become incredibly well known in the five years that it's been operating. First of all, it's in a refurbished barn in the wee town of Manotick Station. It's a family-owned biz and owners Peggy and Dick Bakker travel to developing countries buying jewellery, accessories, home decor, clothing and other items directly from the artisans working in those countries.

Then they open their barn for seven consecutive weekends a year for the masses to comb through the displays for great holiday gifts and more (my Mom always picks up handmade Christmas ornaments for the kids and grandkids here). The feel-good part is that they offer fair trade prices to the artisans and craftspeople they buy from, but they're able to pass on what they call warehouse prices to peeps like us who love beautifully-made pieces as they ship the items themselves and save on costs on other ways.

Needless to say, I could have bought a swack of stuff if my budget permitted. These wood chain-like neck pieces caught my eye - can't remember where they're from - as they suit the rocker-glam look I've been cultivating of late.

And I haven't admitted it til now, but I heart hearts, especially when they're big and chunky and not so perfect looking ....

As you may know from reading this blog, I'm an accessories statement piece junkie because I find that one funky, different accessory costs way less than an entire outfit and can be used to fashion multiple looks. I lingered over these beaded belts with wood clasps for a long time and couldn't decide which one to buy.

There were thinner ones but this thick black beaded belt caught my eye - only $22! But I ended up leaving it there as it was a wee bit big for my waist.

The cool thing about the place is that, even though the prices rock, you can find hi/low versions of particular items. These cuff bracelets were made of recycled pots and pans by youth living in the slums of Mathare Valley in Nairobi, Kenya.They were under $20 each, $15 if memory serves.

Meanwhile these more substantial cuffs from Morocco were around $60.

I gotta admit it: I was like a sugar-deprived kid in a candy shop. First I picked up a belt and walked around with it. Then I saw a gorgeous purple mohair scarf for $42, picked that up and put the belt back. But wait: this handbeaded bag from India was just too adorable!

I saw these gorgeous metal lamps with designs punched in them, from Egypt, last year and vowed to get one this year. They range from about $50 for a small one to $125 for a larger one. Aren't they beauts? Alas, I wasn't sure how I would cart one home on the train, and as you may know, my lamp and lighting obsession is reaching new heights of late ....

After picking up and putting down about a half dozen items I finally decided on this sheer woven top from Indonesia with gold threading in it, $32. I have so many lovely scarves, pendants, lamps, boxes and rugs that I just couldn't justify buying more. But one always needs tops, and I thought the multi-layers and ruffling too cute for words. Plus it can be glammed up or worn with jeans and boots.

My fellow shoppers picked up handmade pillows, mugs, bowls and Christmas ornaments. All in all a successful shopping sojourn! If you check it out, go early and wear your woolies as it can get cold in that barn. There's also hot cider and foodie fare outside to warm you in case you get chilled.

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Putting the pieces back together

Happy Thanksgiving to those in Canada. I'm thankful I went home and was able to see my fam this weekend. Coming back to the city to my little apartment is always a bit bittersweet. I feel like calling back home right away and talking with Mom and Dad.

There's always tons of fodder for nostalgic feelings at home. My Mom has hung on to all sorts of things from our childhood, like these darling little 3-piece puzzles. I remember loving and playing with these when I was a wee thing. Now my nieces play with them when they visit Grandma and Grandpa.

Some, as you can see, are a little worse for wear, with rips and such, and others have a piece missing. But oh, the happiness of seeing these long-forgotten toys again!

So on that note, excuse me - I'm going to call my Mom.

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Trash rehash: magazine rack turned purse holder

I plucked this from the curb a few weeks ago as I was waiting for a friend to pick me up for an event.

I really had no intention of using it as a magazine rack, but I didn't know what I would use it for until I was looking around for a place to store it.

Necessity is the mother of invention: the only space I had for it was my bedroom, where several vintage purses have been scattered about on the floor and on a chair, poor bags without a home.

Well looky looky, now they have a place to hang out!

Effortless projects like these are at the core of my Grunge Philosophy - guess I'm too lazy and not crafty enough for the projects that require uber talent and zeal. But I do have an ability to see, rather on the fly, how certain items can be re-purposed. I'd like to think that approximates a certain kind of creativity - at the very least I sure hope it inspires others to get their creative ya-yas out without feeling they have to be Martha Stewart perfect!

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El Toro leather tote, $2.99

I love bags. Big bags. The bigger, the better.

I couldn't get over it when I saw this red leather tote in my local thrift store, Stretch Thrift, for a whopping $2.99.

Sure it was beat up as hell - that was exactly the point.

I could just see some hunky Demi-God of a mannie lugging this baby all over the world. What scents and remnants of stories must be lurking in its semi-musty depths?

I couldn't believe it was $2.99.

The leather tag says "El Toro S.A. " and then "Cuero Genuino", Spanish?, I think, for "genuine leather." I couldn't find any info on the internet, but no matter: I know the bag is steeped in history.

I can truly fit all my junk in it, and best part is I can strap it over my shoulder when the going gets tough.

Just look at that. Ain't she a beauty??

It'll match my thrifted burgundy booties from Value Village, yah!

Thanks to my pal Chris Reynolds for snapping pics of moi.

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Boudoir shots & ripped jeans

I'm feeling cheeky today, hee hee.

In truth I have been going nuts buying jeans from the thrift store. Now is the perfect time to wear jeans and blazers and scarves and do the whole layering thing.

I picked up these Parasuco jeans for under $10 at my local thrift shop, Stretch Thrift. They have these splotches of dark denim that make 'em look tres rock n' roll.

The rip you see here just happened when I pulled them up one day - I was going to get it repaired but figured I would tap into the whole ripped jean trend that's so hot now. Hopefully my pants won't split the next time I sit down.

Alas, I didn't have any one in my 'boudoir' to take shots of me in my jeans so I had to do the 'ole shoot into the mirror shot - hope you get the idea.

I kinda like the whole slips hanging from the mirror thing - they help to create that boudoir look that was partly the inspiration for this post.

I have more jeans shots to show you and have enlisted my photographer pal Chris to take some decent ones of me.

Tomorrow: thrifted jeans that are too short and too big - they work!

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How I rationalized thrifting 2 bowls in a week

"Do I need another bowl?"

This thought raced through my head as I stood falling in love with this blown glass bowl in front of my friendly neighborhood thrift store, Stretch Thrift on Pape Ave. in Toronto.


Same store I bought the turquoise bowl only days before.

Talk about bowl guilt.

Reader, dear reader: would you have left it there?

Here's how it looks on my console.

Ok here's the rationalization:

I didn't need another bowl.

But I'm a lover of beauty - cheap beauty.

It met both criteria, being beautiful and only $5.99.

A bonus: the bowl was signed.

Did a Google search yield anything about the name on it?

No, not a whit. But hey, it's signed!

Some talented person but his or her name to a beautiful creation.

I'm getting all teary-eyed thinking about it.

What a feeling that must be to leave something like that behind for someone to find and treasure.

I also really dig the fact that it's asymmetrical.

As you may know, Grunge Queen has a thing about imperfection.

Plus its most predominant colours match the purply hue Grunge Queen is fond of! It was, afterall, the colours of royalty (that's another story).


So reader, the bowl is most emphatically and rejoicingly mine.

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