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 Lax was an industrial designer who was big in the 1960s, who died over a decade ago in 1999. Born in New York but trained in Finland, he was known for bringing a Scandinavian sensibility to American-made products and was apparently also responsible for introducing enamel to cast iron. Looks like I may have a collectible piece here - btw, it looks like it's never been used!

Happy New Year!! kxo

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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! I love the chrome-covered tops on the brush, toothpaste and soap holders. So sleek. So retro!

Just look at this brush. I mean, isn't it the absolute top banana?

And this razor and brush? How absolutely darling!

There was a second case, also made in Germany, that looked as though it was used, but I bought it and cleaned it up and gave it to my sweetie pie with the other one. Both were found at a thrift shop.

I just loved the sense of history and the quality, and the fact that the kits tied in however loosely to my man's life. He could use them or not - and if it appears that he's not getting any value out of them, well, I'll take 'em back!!

My little thrifting ways, btw, inspired my mannie to buy ME a little thrift gift for x-mas - his first ever!! It was a second-hand book. I think he was pretty pleased with himself. As was I!

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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, I won't wear this dress again - unless I can figure out how to get the black dye from wearing off on my hands when I'm in the dress. When I washed it for the first time, I noticed there was tons of dye run-off, but I thought a good wash would be the end of it. Alas, my pals around the Christmas table thought I had rather serious bruising on my hands and had a good laugh when I told them it was dye from my dress. Eeps.

Any solutions or tips out there? I hand-washed the dress again, and again, the dye just ran and ran. Is this dress destined for the chuck pile??

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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 was chic yet practical - no cumbersome centrepieces to impede viewing pleasure - and added a personal touch to an already pretty table. Remember that you can always use the pieces you love from around your home, perhaps from a collection, to inject your own personality into your decorating!

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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 one is here so I can get away with blogging!).

Happy holidays to you whatever your tradition!! K xo

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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 quiet.

This patent clutch - which almost looks like real leather if you look at the crinkles on the thin little flap that goes through the hardware - was only $3.99. I bought it as I loved the shape and the hardware - which is super heavy.

Just look at the screws on the inside of the purse!! Four of 'em to hold the gold hardware that runs along the bottom flap of the upper part of the clutch.

Another purse to add to my collection.

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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 eh?

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