The Pleasure of Pyrex

I love that thrifty bloggers all think it's perfectly normal to mail crockery to people they've never met. Perhaps if all the feuding countries and evil dictators embraced the beauty of Pyrex, we'd all be living in perfect harmony. At least our meals would be served in stylish dishes. My pal Vonlipi (I know her real name now, but I won't Pyrex dish and tell - shhh!), received her adopted baby in the mail this week. Go to Vonlipi's Favourites (linked to the right) to see how the little casserole that could, made it from who knows where, to a Value Village in Scarborough, to a suburb of Montreal. We're living out our own version of the film Amelie. Life is sweet.

Amelie is required viewing for all dreamers - especially us thrifty vintage dreamers. I LOVE THIS MOVIE!

Vonlipi, here's your man Bryan singing just for you. Man, Bryan's looking fine in this video. He looks like he just rolled out of bed in a remarkably unrumpled Italian suit. Chin chin, Toots!

Leilani's Dia de los Muertos Photo Essay

My buddy Leilani over at Thriftaholic is not only one stylish, vintage-loving woman, but she's also an accomplished photographer. After seeing my snaps from the Toronto Dia de los Muertos celebration, she sent me a link to a photo essay of Mexican Day of the Dead treasures in L.A. Here is the link. P.S. Go to Thriftaholic to see Leilani in Mad Men mode for Halloween. She seriously rocks the cocktail dress. http://laist.com/2005/11/05/laist_featured_photo_essay_searching_for_the_elusive_sugar_skull.php

Give Dime Some Time

Hello there,

If you've had a rotten day and you need a bit of enchantment, I've got a story for you. A few posts ago, I wrote about dragging my son out to Goodwill by the Pound on a grey, miserable Saturday afternoon. GBTP is a funny place. Like most thrift stores, you can't predict what you'll find, but unlike most thrift stores, there are no neat, tidy shelves. They just keep dragging out clothing and junk in these big bins. I didn't find much and I was just about to leave, when I saw a woman holding some vintage Christmas ornaments. Right away, I thought, "Those are so Dime Store Thrift Sonya." I kept my eye on the woman long enough to notice her put the decorations back down again. I was forced to make a decision: ask her if she still wanted them and risk the chance of making her think she should keep them, or waiting a few seconds and nonchalantly picking them up. I opted for the later and she didn't say anything.

When I got to the cash, the ornaments were put on the scale. Because they were so light, the decorations ended up costing less than $1.00. That's good vintage value. And it made the voyage to Scarborough worthwhile. If you read the banter back and forth in my comments, you've probably heard me mention that the lady at the postal outlet at Shopper's Drug Mart dropped the darn package after putting the "fragile" sticker on them. To cut a long story short, the package arrived safely and put a smile on Sonya's face. She posted about the experience, so go check out Dime Store Thrift (linked in my favourite thrift blogs), to see for yourself. These warm, fuzzy thrifty connections are further proof that simple pleasures mean more than big, fancy things.

I was tickled that two (make that three!) new people became followers of this here blog. Thank you Carol at Old Glory Cottage, Linda, and Sandy. In Sandy's picture, she's either holding a wicked cup of coffee topped with whipped cream, or a mug of Guinness. I like both, so we already have something in common.

I hope I don't disappoint with this blog. More adventures to come. Sally said it best...

My Mexican Heart

This past Sunday we went to a Mexican Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) festival at Harbourfront. It was something else.

This display is called ofrendas - a shrine set up to pay tribute to a deceased loved one.
I couldn't get over the work that had gone into it. Every inch was covered with something beautiful.

Sugar skulls, tequila, and flowers surround a skeleton figure.

I can't help but want to know more about the man in the black and white portrait.

Gorgeous bean art.

Toronto's Mariachi Fuego. They played lively, traditional mariachi music.
There were lot's of goodies for sale. I could have bought one of everything. Believe it or now, this little guy was left over on a crafter's table. He's made entirely of sugar, with some embellishments of leaves and moss.
His little 'boat' had cracked, so nobody wanted it. The vendor was selling these in good condition for only $4.00. She sold me the cracked one for $2.00. I can't believe the work that went into it. I now feel guilty that I didn't give her more money.

He's so cute.

He's even wearing a poncho and 'Viva Mexico' sombrero. Love it.
I think these are called Catarinas, but don't quote me on that. She looks radiant in indigo.
This paper art is called papel picado. I bought six in black and six in purple. I'm going to try to string them across my classroom.

I collect Dia de los Muertos shadow boxes. This one was made by Sarnia-based artist Eduardo Espindola. His business card is two pictures below http://www.folkartmexicano.com . I love his work. Sadly, most of the pieces on his website have been sold. I'll have to just be patient while he replenishes his stock.

I couldn't resist this Tim Burton-esque fridge magnet. She now guards our fridge door.

Songs of the Week #19 - Siouxsie Songbook

Before I start blabbering about one of the coolest bands ever, I'd like to say "hi" to Darla from Retro Ways (I hope I'm right). Thanks for becoming a follower. Hello also to Tom. Thanks as well to everyone who posted comments recently. I get such a kick out of reading them.

Now, onto the music!

I LOVED Siouxsie and the Banshees when I was a teenager. The band grew out of the punk scene and went on to make some of the most innovative pop music around. Siouxsie was also a major fashion icon as far as I'm concerned. She had her own style and whatever she wore, she wore it well. Here's an early video for the song "Christine." I actually bought a Bud visor in New Orleans thinking I could somehow replicate her look in this video. Needless to say, it didn't work.

"Dazzle" - Dig it!

Here's a later song, which is almost a little too slick for my liking. I love how Siouxsie looks in the video. Classic Hollywood glam from the forties.

Best Bazaar Ever

Last year I hit the lucky jackpot at the fall bazaar hosted by the Japanese congregation of St. Andrew's Anglican Church (Donlands/Danforth). I almost shrieked when I saw the listing for this year's bazaar while flipping through a community paper yesterday. I was not disappointed. The tagline for this blog is, "Join me as I rummage for vintage treasures and unusual bits and pieces." I found both at this wonderful sale on a perfect fall Saturday.

I got everything you see on this table and more, for only $2.00. A kindly man was selling things on the front lawn. He was helpful and even asked if I wanted to check inside the Clue game (circa 1972) to check if all of the pieces were in it. I didn't bother. Turns out it was in perfect condition after all. I also got some vintage s&p shakers, sand toys and Dora plate and bowl, Tupperware container w/lid and divided section, measuring canister, Japanese tea tin, and foam craft flowers for kids.

Duncan chose these cool Japanese cartoon cups.

We followed the scent of sushi (there was a sushi sale in the basement), and went into the church for more rummage sale items.
When thrifting, or antiquing in another city, I like to bring back something local. It was a bit like that today. There were numerous Japanese books and decorations that made me happy. These vintage wooden Japanese figures were the most expensive thing I bought. They were two for $5.00, but I loved them and just had to have them.
The heads wobble a bit. I'm enchanted by the colours and craftmanship.
Here is a tiny carved cork decoration of a Japanese house on a hill. Ken thinks it may have had a glass dome on it at one point. It's tiny and perfect. Cost? Only ten cents!
Duncan liked this small, rustic single drawer set with aging mirror. Someone painted a little red fish on the drawer. I'm not sure what this was used for. Perhaps it was part of a doll's set.

I guess it can be used to put paperclips or buttons in now.

Here is another amazing find. This plate is dated 1954. It appears to be a plate commemorating the ball scene in Dickens' Christmas Carol. I found it buried under a pile of beads. It had a $1.00 sticker on it. I grabbed it as fast as I could. I know it's not good to covet objects, but this is something to treasure.
The story behind the scene on the plate is lovingly explained on the back, using a Medieval-esque font.
I'm not much of a clothes person and I don't usually have the patience to sift through clothes at rummage sales. They had a few items hanging by the baptism bowl, so I had a shuffle and hit gold. This shirt is big on Duncan now, but he wanted it. It cost .25!
This is a terrible picture of a very cool hoodie. It's in new condition and is covered in cassette tapes. It too was a lousy quarter.
If you wear it inside-out, it's a black hoodie, with this cool embellishment.
Duncan liked this Marcia Brady scarf. It so reminds me of the seventies when my sisters were seriously into crochet. It was .25.
I'm not sure if this is cool, hideous, or so bad it's good. Since I couldn't decide, I bought it for a quarter and told myself I'd wear it out on yard duty.