Happy New Year a la retro Michael Lax fondue pot

It may be almost 10 degrees C out but who cares? It's New Year's Eve and tonight my fam and I are having a retro-esque dinner by celebrating with a winter-like cheese and a meat fondue. I'm supplying one fondue pot, a truly retro enamel fondue set given to me by an old school chum. It was in turn given to her my her folks, who received the set for a wedding pressie!The bottom says Michael Lax Design, Holland and the make is Copco cookware. Michal...

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My Thirft Gift to him

So you must be bursting with anticipation: what on earth did I get my mannie for Christmas? Several things, among them this 'gift of thrift' that I felt sure applied to his life as a pilot who travels around all the time.It's a retro leather traveling case. Looks like it's never been used!The case, and all the utensils in it, have "Made in Western Germany" stamped or engraved on them.I think I may have been more thrilled about the gift than my man!...

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1980s dress a la thrift for Christmas dinner

Cheers! I was a teen in the late 1980s when these sweater dresses were so big, but I never ever owned or wore one! I found this long wool beaded dress at a thrift shop months and  months ago and had it in the giveaway pile until I realized it would make for a lovely holiday frock to wear for Christmas dinner. I think it cost me $6.99.Isn't the beadwork lovely? The dress weighs a ton. I'm wearing it here with a vintage velvet elasticized belt.Unforch,...

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Grungy chic Christmas table

Hope every one has had a fab holiday so far. Yesterday's Christmas table was fit for a Queen - make that a Grunge Queen! Our lovely hostess for the day dressed her table in a way the Grunge Queen entirely approves of - by using pieces from around the home. Think practical, yet creative and pretty - and inexpensive!!A host of darling teacups from our hostess' personal collection adorned the table and held wee Christmas-y floral arrangements.The look...

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Goodwill jumper

 This isn't a very Christmas-y post but I wanted to show you my other Goodwill find, a retro-esque (though the label is contemporary) wool boucle jumper with gold buttons at the pocket, $6.99.It's a wee bit short and I think next time I'll wear it with black thick leggings so I don't look too leggy. I'm wearing a vintage gold chain, signed, over the top for a simple retro look.Now I'm going home to wrap pressies (oops I'm at work, but hey, no...

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This is the time to hit thrift shops

A few days ago I featured a lovely patent purse I found at Goodwill for about $4.99. Last night, as I was running around looking for gifties for my mannie, I happened upon a Goodwill shop.You could almost hear the crickets in there. It was, needless to say, super quiet, save for some dealer types who were rummaging through things with the subtlety of charging rhinos.Everyone is so preoccupied with the holiday mall shop that the thrift shops are blissfully...

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Thrift Gift a la VV

So I was in Value Village yesterday and resisted the urge to shop pour moi, because I was on a mission to find some books for my nieces and nephew.This set of Disney classics came in a baggie marked $2.99, and they're brand new! Cute ...

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Mon 'new' jacket

Of course, when I should be shopping for others, here I am buying something for me - namely this 'new' coat thrifted at Stretch Thrift in my 'hood.Reader, it was a 50 percent off sale and this vintage James Bay Made in Montreal Jacket was only $10! Ten dollars! And it sat there for almost two whole days at 50 percent off - that means it was made for me!!Now, the Google Gods could tell me nothing of James Bay Fashions in Montreal, but let's just say...

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Little retro Christmas

The tree is up!! A tiny three-footer and my first REAL tree ever. Also my first tree I've set up in my apartment for years!This is one of my fave ornaments, given to me by an auntie years ago.This little guy was from my Mom a few years ago .... This is a makeshift retro ornament, a red crystal bauble that used to hang on a chandelier, which I picked up for a few dollars at an antiques shop on Mount Pleasant Rd. Apparently the red pieces aren't...

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Patently gorgeous

I've been meaning to show you this patent (not sure if it's real) purse I thrifted at Goodwill for $4.99 a while ago. I just love it. It's in mint condition and is just the greatest shape, with the coolest detailing.What I love about retro purses is that they are so sculptural. And check out the hardware on this baby - don't you just love it? This is my new fave purse. Maybe I'll wear it to a holiday-ish eve...

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Holiday ornaments from Mom

Here are all my Christmas ornaments, tucked away in the drawer of a solid wood dresser I found in the trash.I haven't yet put up a Christmas tree - in fact I haven't put up a tree of my own since I've been in Toronto as I've always gone home for Christmas.This year I'm probably not going home for the first time ever (wah), but on a happy note, I have someone dear coming to me - which means that I finally get to buy a tree and dress it for the holidays!These...

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Carpet bags: my wee collection

As you may know, I have a definite thing for retro and vintage handbags and purses, invariably picked up at the thrift shop.One subcategory within this group: vintage carpet bags.We're not talking old-fashioned Victorian carpetbags - but rather ones from the 1950s to 70s. This was my first purchase and if memory serves it was $40. I'm guessing the era is 1970s (bought at The Bead Goes on in Toronto - a great place to pick up a vintage croc bag in...

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Brown Christmas

Ever slept with your latest thrift find on your bedside table?I almost did the other night, though in reality my bedside table served as a cute backdrop for showcasing my 'new' Nine West Studio heels I found at Value Village the other day for a whopping $14.99.I wear a size 9.5-10, which somehow translates into there being nothing but super ugly shoes on the VV shoe racks. I found these (in the size 6 shoe rack - pays to go through 'em all) just...

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Flyball Bags and A Touch of Vintage studio sale tomorrow in Riverdale!

My gal pal and fellow vintage lover/creative soul Diana is having a studio sale tomorrow in her Riverdale digs, so if you get a chance, email her for deets and pop by.Diana makes clutches, messenger bags, totes, hobo bags and other accessories like journals out of vintage and re-purposed fabric under her Flyball Bags label - tomorrow these will be 50-75 percent off! They're not pictured here, but the latest arrivals - which look super chic cool -...

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Shops Girls in Parkdale

It's not a thrift shop, but last week when Parkdale Village store Shop Girls was celebrating its third B-day, I popped in to take a gander.Owned and curated by Michelle Germain, the shop specializes in work by up-and-coming Canadian artists and manufacturers.There's everything from jewellery and scarves to hats, clothing, and, very lately, home decor accents. The place is also known for its extensive selection of YOGA JEANS, and let me tell you,...

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Canadian Thrift open in my 'hood!

This was the scene in Pape Village a few weeks ago: the former Bed, Bath & More had a sign in the window. Canadian Thrift Coming Soon.Then a few days later: the sign went up.Then the Open sign!I popped in the other night and discovered I knew the owners - go figure! They used to have a shop on Danforth Ave. at Woodbine, across from the Value Village I frequent. Then they sold the biz and moved out to Scarborough, and decided recently to move...

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