Thrift Finds Vol. 2

Today's post focuses more on artwork! Let's get right down to it, then, shall wee?
First up is one of my two favourite finds ever. Once again, I snagged this guy at The Elegant Garage Sale down on Bayview. I actually let him stay there a few weeks, while I looked at him longingly every time. I didn't end up buying him until one day when I went in and he wasn't in his usual spot on the wall! I thought someone had bought him, and I felt really sad. But then I went downstairs and found him in a new spot! I practically ran over to him and snatched him off the wall so he could come home with me. He's not in the best of shape, since there's no glass in his frame. He's got some water marks, and a tear on the corner. I like to think of them as battle scars, though. He's had a long life, and has finally come home to rest!
A little about the work: it's a piece by Hubert Hilscher, a prominent artist from the acclaimed Polish School of Posters.

Next up is my second favourite piece ever, which I also purchased at TEG! It's a vintage mirrored advertisement for soap. I have no clue as to its history - no idea how old it actually is (if it's even old at all) but to be honest I really don't care.
It's a fabulous piece. I love everything about it - how the lady seems too preoccupied with her beauty routine to give a damn about the poor kid holding the basin of water for her. I love the girl's dress. I also love that it's framed in wood. This was actually the very first piece I ever purchased for my new apartment, and I daresay it set the tone for all future purchases.
Before this piece, I'd been drawn to the modern, to sleek and sophisticated and computer generated. But after I bought this, I totally changed and started hunting vintage.




So I kind of cheated with this one - I didn't thrift it, I got it from my parents! When I left home and moved to Toronto, they let me (forced me) to take some stuff. They originally bought this piece when we lived in Germany (and made frequent trips to France) so I'd always known that it would one day be coming with me. I love it, the style is gorgeous, and it reminds me of my childhood in Germany.
Also down on the floor next to it is a Snow White satchel bag that I did get at a thrift store! I believe I bought it at Public Butter, which is in downtown Toronto.
I have no idea what language is used on the bag, it reads "Xionath kai 7 nanoi" (or at least that's what it looks like). It doesn't really matter, of course, but I've always been curious.

And last we have a lovely little mirror I found, from Seventeen magazine, that says "Pretty Is In!" With a tag line like that, it must be a little old, right? ;)
I'm a big fan of printed mirrors, so any time I happen to see one, I snap it up! I sadly only have two, but I'm sure that will change. I keep this one on the ledge near my door, so I can check myself out every time I leave, haha. My bird (who you'll see there!) has taken quite a liking to the mirror. About 60% of the time I come home, he'll be on that ledge, french kissing himself in the mirror (seriously, there are little birdie tongue marks all over the corner of it right at his level!).
I guess he agrees that pretty is in!

Thrift Store Finds: Vol. 1

I have a lot to write about, as over the past few years I've collected a lot of interesting little things. I don't want to burden myself with documenting everything right away, so I'll document everything I already have by bits and pieces, here and there. If I tried to do everything right away, I probably just wouldn't do it at all. :)

A group of random thrift store finds, including two bracelets, an antique belt ring, two hooks, a lion's head, and a mobster button I actually got for free. I'm quite fond of it, though I have no idea what a "Bruce Booster" is, exactly. I just hope it's something that won't get me in trouble. ;)

A close up of the belt ring.

My favourite shelf of my entertainment unit. Left to right: Hand molded clay candle holder, certificate of authenticity for my Alivan's wand, my favourite picture frame holding a vintage photograph of a particularly fierce looking young guy, a replica Time Turner (from Harry Potter), and a lovely red vase.

A pair of hand made masks from southern Germany. They are two characters from the region's annual Fasching parade (Carnival to the rest of the country).

A few close ups of some items. I really love that pirate ship hook, and the molded hand is beyond wonderful. I also have to mention that I do not actually drink tea. I just fell in love with that particular tea cup, and had to buy it. It makes me want to drink tea, actually.