My purple 1970s sunnies, on request, and thrifted New York look

I'm posting a close-up of the 70s sunnies I featured the other day, found in a Canadian hardware store for three dollars, on the request of Joni from Walking Colors - whose 1970s style, and sense of colour, I totally admire.

This photo was taken two years ago exactly, when I helped do the PR for the Toronto Vintage Costume Jewellery Club's semi-annual show & sale. The 1950s necklace belonged to a seller, but the rest of the look was created by me comprising some of my vintage thrifty finds.

At the time I called this my New York look. The crowning achievement is the hot pink vintage brocade jacket I found at Goodwill for $6.99, if memory serves. I'm wearing it over a thrifted Teenflo little black dress, accessorized with a 1970s gold belt and my beloved Paragon of Toronto vintage handbag that I found for just a few bucks in a thrift shop and stupidly gave away when I moved overseas. The shoes were new, but inexpensive.

The necklace was a beaut too, 1950s glass or crystals. The earrings were borrowed from the same owner as the necklace, 1980s I'm guessing. I had fun playing model for the show and we took some great snaps, which I featured here two years ago.

Head on over to Visible Monday and check out other fab thrifty stylistas.

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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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Vintage costume jewellery sale - tomorrow in Toronto

It's time for the annual pilgrimage to the Leaside Memorial Gardens for the Toronto Vintage Costume Jewellery Club show & Sale. It's tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1073 Millwood Rd.

Am I selling any of my fab vintage costume bling? No. Will I be shopping there? Likely.

Maybe I'll see you there.

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I've been MIA, but I've been vintage stylish!

I've been MIA as I started a new job last week! Happy and excited but tired. Here I am (wearing the vintage 1070s dress my hunny bought me in West Palm Beach) at the send-off party my former colleagues gave me late last week. It was a fab, fun night and I wanted to look the part.

I finally get to show you the wonderful piece of vintage bling I picked up in Portobello Market in Notting Hill, London on my holiday. It's a 1960s-70s Trifari gold-tone necklace with this indescribable pendant - it's a real style zinger in my humble opin, a super-dooper statement piece!

I'll tell and show you more about where I bought it tomorrow ....

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This little vintage piggy went to the antique market

But she didn't cry wee wee wee all the way home - that's 'cos she had such a fun time with her gal pal, Marsha, at the Sunday Antique Market at the St. Lawrence Market downtown!!

It was a fab day for so many reasons - and not just because I got to eyeball goodies such as this modish plastic purse with boho embellishments (a bit of a contradiction in terms for me, but still it caught my eye).

I also got to meet 'in the flesh' some amazing folk that I have only known in the Twitter or blogosphere - like Yank Azman, who shares a booth at the market with his wife (he does guy vintage stuff like cufflinks and she does bling and handbags - the bag above is hers, and it was selling for only $40).

Yank is an antiques dealer, actor and so much more (check out the link I've provided; he's a true Renaissance Man), and he was one of my first Twitter pals; then we became Facebook friends, and then I SAW him at a bunch of Toronto Vintage Costume Jewellery Club sales but I didn't introduce myself as he was so busy selling (NOTE: next TVCJC sale is Sunday, April 17 at Leaside Gardens, 10am-4pm, free admission and really good vintage bling!). Then today, at market, we finally met - and the crazy thing is, we both recognized each other in an instant! (This retro plastic crochet-like purse: only $30).

I also saw tons of my pals from the TVCJC who are dealers at the market. One dealer, "Robbie", is a relation of a lovely lady who I met through the club. I've only ever corresponded with Robbie via email, so again, it was great to put the face to the name. It looks as though he just may well be the King of the Sunday Antique Market. He occupies one of the best tables (at the southern end, on a corner, in between the washrooms and the snackbar) and it looks as though every one knows him.

I also had the pleasure of meeting - finally - Kelly Stapleton of BlackRose Vintage, who I 'met' through this blog. Kelly and a few other vintage dealers have the only standalone shop in the same building as the Sunday Antique Market, called Antiques at the St Lawrence (no website but check out 92 Front St. E; 416-350-8865 and open Thursdays - Sundays).

Kelly and I were having so much fun chatting that I can't give you the full low down on what she carries, but suffice it to say the shop is full of Shabby Chic linens, English china and assorted tableware, and a range of vintage accessories, clothing and bling.

Meanwhile outside, I found this pendant and chain from dealer Larry Noble. I was generally disappointed with the vintage bling at the market as a whole - there are a few good dealers, and the rest sell junky contemporary stuff. This piece was inexpensive and I just loved its rough hewn look - such a contradiction when you look at the style of the piece.

Larry has some neat jewellery items - some vintage, some contemporary, some handmade. His crystal-like necklaces that you can see behind him are outfitted with glimmering chandelier pieces as pendants, and let me tell you, they catch my eye every time I go to the market. Think I will have to buy one the next time I go back

Especially since I am now in possession of an Anti Haggle coupon Larry gave me, which entitles me to 25% off my next purchase. What a sweetheart.

Larry also gave me a Happiness and Good Fortune coupon, which invites me to Keep my Sunnyside Up, Be Thankful, and Keep Smiling, and Think Positive. Words to live by.

It was an apt message to take home from the market, because today was a very good Karma day. All of the people I have written about here I like and would buy from - in fact would deliberately seek them out. Buying from peeps you like keeps the good Karma churning, in my opin.

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