Friday, December 31, 2010
Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Christmas Thrifts
On Boxing Day, we went to the Value Village in Niagara Falls. There wasn't much there for me, but I did clean up on vintage tins. They were .99 each.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas Pogues Style
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Isabella Blow
Oh, on a totally different note, my scarf is looking a little better. I pulled out my seriously wonky stitching and started again. It's still not perfectly straight at the sides, but it's not looking like Krusty the Clown's tie anymore. I figure, it's my first project and I can stretch it out to make it look more even if necessary. I'm sure Martha Stewart would scold me if she heard of such poor craftsmanship.
My D-List Life As A D-List Canadian Celebrity Spotter
D-List Canadian Celebrity Sightings
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Oh Dear
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Two Tiered System
The bottom plate is essentially a larger version of the top, but includes a few extra details, such as a broom. How charming. I feel this uncontrollable urge to make little sandwiches with the crusts cut off. I also found what I thought was one plastic Made in Hong Kong Christmas chip bowl. I loved the vivid colours. The world's most miserable cashier was there again to ring me up. Despite her hang-dog customer service, I stayed chipper and thanked her. When we got home, I saw that she charged me .49 for the bowl. Duncan quickly discovered that it was stacked on an identical bowl. How two adults missed this and a five-year-old figured it out is so typical. Well, I'm slowly recouping all the money I've spent on over-priced goods at VV, forty-nine cents at a time. At least someone's smiling. Cheeeeeese!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Finally, Pyrex and the Quaids
The cover price is worth it just to have this fine portrait of Johnny Depp. There's also a huge story on Jackie O's life as a book editor. But the real guilty pleasure is the feature on Randy and Evi Quaid. Talk about a car crash of a couple. The interviewer met up with Randy and Evi, who were on the lam, hiding out in Vancouver last month. The Quaids are clearly pathological liars who don't know how to manage the money Randy gets in royalties probably because he's smitten with his control freak wife who spends every last penny on designer clothes and shoes. Somehow, they've concocted this whole crazy story about how there are people in Hollywood who are trying to "whack" them. Truth is, they don't make their mortgage payments on time like us hard working folks have to. Their theory about being targeted makes no sense whatsoever. They seem way too "Life on the D-list" to even warrant a celebrity whack. Do read this piece.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
People Who Got Into Heaps of Trouble or Were Annoying
- Julian Assange. He's all over the news these days. I'm mildly fascinated by him. Just when I think "Rah, rah. Stick it to the man!" I read something unsavoury about him and I'm not sure if I should be ordering a Free Julian t-shirt just yet. Regardless, I'm glad I'm not him because he had to spend a few days in a dank English slammer in isolation all because of his wedding tackle - OR WAS IT?
- Next up is Adam Giambrone. I know, I know. For those not living in Toronto or Southern Ontario, you must be thinking, "Who's he?" To save my typing fingers, I've copied and pasted his Wikipedia blurb. It's my "Wiki leak" of another no good man with plumbing control issues. I don't even want to repeat what he did that destroyed his career in politics. I'll just say that I hope the sofa at City Hall was Scotch Guarded. Read these few paragraphs and you'll wonder how unintelligent someone as smart as Giambrone could be.
Adam Giambrone (born March 8, 1977) is a Canadian politician who was a Toronto City Councillor, representing the southern of two Davenport wards. Elected at 26, he remained the youngest member of Toronto council after re-election. He is also a former president of the federal New Democratic Party. He is the 2008 recipient of NOW Magazine's "Best City Politician" award.[1]
An archaeologist by training, Giambrone has participated in excavations in Sudan, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, and Guatemala.[2] He speaks English, French, and Arabic fluently.[3] He is of Italian-American ancestry, and his father moved to Canada to avoid the Vietnam War.[2]
As Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission, Giambrone has led the largest-ever expansion of bus service in Toronto, and seen record transit ridership. Giambrone secured over $8 billion in new funding to build light rail into areas of the city currently not served by rapid transit.[4] An expansion of two subway lines also forms part of an overall $18 billion long-term expansion plan driven by Giambrone.[3]
On February 1, 2010 Giambrone announced his candidacy to succeed David Miller as Mayor of Toronto in the 2010 election,[5] as the leading progressive candidate, showing second place in early polls.[6][7] Giambrone exited the mayoral race on February 10, 2010 amidst a sex scandal and he did not run for re-election for his council seat.[8][9]
- I guess the next group would be the stars of pointless reality shows, famous for being tacky or over-breeding. I can't even bring myself to watch these shows, but these "everyday" folk are so overexposed that you can't even make it through the checkout line at Shopper's Drug Mart without having them stare you in the face from the cover of tabloids. So be gone Snooki & company, teen mothers, Kate and 8, and that family with 18 or 19 kids.
- Miley Ray Cyrus, Lindsay Lohan, and Taylor Swift. Alright, the last one stayed out of trouble, but is it possible for celebrities to date people who aren't celebrities? As for Lindsay Lohan and Miley Ray, why don't they take up a craft instead of drugs? Think of the beautiful sweaters they could make if they put the bongs away. Miley Ray must be in so much trouble with her parents right now. Just be glad you're not her. Totally grounded.
- Lady Gaga has become really boring due to overexposure. When she gets into trouble, it seems more like old-style Madonna manufactured controversy, rather than loose cannon stuff. If you watch her in interview, she comes across as utterly humourless and she has a major diva complex. Go away for awhile and make a new record.
Value Village?
I also found this cardinal cross stitch kit, still in the package. You can see the price. I think it was fair enough. Birds are one of my many loves in life.
Now I just have to have someone teach me how to cross stitch. Ha ha!
I also bought a $3.99 vintage Hot Wheels car garage (by vintage, I mean late-eighties) for Duncan. He'll get it with his Christmas gifts. It occurred to me that he won't care if it was thrifted or not. Why not give thrifted gifts at Christmas? I also bought three books, including the classic seen above, The Little Red Hen. Most children's books are .99 each or buy 4 and get the fifth free. That's a good deal.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
A Frame-a-Rama
Duncan stuck the mailman in it to test it out. Dig the braided rug.
Here's the side. It features "glass" sliding doors, patio and Alpine-style balcony.
The sliding door actually slides. I'm moving in.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Best Commercial of 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Victorian Christmas
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Candle Question & More Flair
Homemade Home Book and One Gerbil Left
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Who Should Play Julian Assange?
There were two stories about Assange in today's Toronto Star. I must admit, I've been following this story closely for a few months now. Here are my reasons why I'm intrigued by Assange:
This got me thinking: Who should play Assange? He's pasty-faced and almost cool looking. He looks like he could be a bass player with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
Well, in support of Assange, I gave myself a squirt of Julian For Women and put on Julian Cope's 1987 masterpiece Saint Julian. Julian Assange: good cop or bad seed? You decide.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Kathie Winkle Plates, Vintage Cups and More Gerbil Pups
The back stamp says "Flair A Louis Gordon Production Made in England." If anyone knows anything before I go Googling, that would be most helpful.
I also found genuine Kathie Winkle plates. I was only able to get two of the large plates, but I found four of the small ones (below). The lady charged me .99 a plate for the big ones and $2.99 for the four small plates.
I forgot to take a picture of the back of the plate, but it says "Broadhurst Made in England Ironstone a Kathie Winkle Design Handpainted Underglaze Detergent Proof Complies With Safety Standards Capri. I guess this pattern is Capri. It's so whimsical.
A Kate Bush interlude...
These two milky glass Fire King mugs were .49 each. Someone had used them as candle holders and I spent a bit of time scraping the wax out of them.
About Me
- Toronto Yardsaler
- I'm a slightly off-beat Toronto-area teacher who enjoys writing and photography. I come from a family of collectors and now I'm dragging my own family around to yard sales. It's just a bit of fun. Enjoy the scenes.