The best birthday present I ever ruined.

So since some time last spring I have been coveting this fabulous oil painting at TEG. But that was when I had just lost my job, so I couldn't really afford to spend $125 on a painting. It dropped to $75 over the summer, but still on my limited budget I could not afford it.

Though it's fantastic and unique and kind of creepy, to my shock and awe no one bought it. Seriously, I don't quite know what's wrong with people, that no one snatched this picture up. For months it sat there, looking for a home. But no one took it. I take that as a sign that this guy was waiting for me. Maybe other people looked at it, but he made angry faces and chased them away, saving himself for me. That's how I like to think of it, at least.

So with my second paycheque (he was supposed to be bought with the first, but that got spent on other things) I went down to TEG and finally took him home with me. Turns out, though, that Kris had actually planned to buy it for my birthday (which is at the end of the month). He was going to buy it and then take me to the store and watch as I cried over the fact that someone had stolen my painting from me. But unfortunately I beat him to it!

That's a shame, because it would have been the best birthday present ever. Now the poor boy has to figure something else out. ;)

It kind of makes me think of two people standing together, watching the end of the world. It has a very apocalyptic feel to it. The world has taken on a putrid yellow tinge, and the peach sun is setting for the last time, and the trees have all withered and lost their leaves. The couple knows this is the end, and they watch on in fascination. At least the world is going out with style.

Enough melodrama! Let's move on to happier topics, like birds! Friday was a gorgeous day, and it being a holiday and all, the only thing I really wanted to do was take Kris out for lunch somewhere on a patio. The weather was amazing (it was more summer than spring) and after some shopping we settled down to eat at my favourite Japanese restaurant, Tokyo Sushi. After a fantastic meal (I had the yummiest teriyaki beef sushi roll in the world) we walked a few steps to TEG and as soon as I walked in the door what greeted me but these boys!

For $25 for the pair of them, how could I say no? Kris doesn't like them - finds them creepy. We argued amicably about them and the lady working the register laughed at us, especially when Kris said "Fine, you get them, but they're staying on your side!" and I replied "He doesn't yet realize that every side is my side!"Good times. :)


They need names, but I haven't decided on any yet. And I wish I could tae better pictures, but my camera was having a bad day. I totally need a new one. :(

Now earlier in the day that Friday I took advantage of an 11am meeting Kris had with Alfons, a friend/mentor of his who publishes Inside Soccer magazine, and I drove myself down the road from his meeting spot to Pacific Mall, one of the few shopping centres open on Good Friday. The place doesn't open until 11, so it was good to get there early before the mad crowds arrived.

I love Chinese fashion. They have the funkiest clothes there! I bought myself two new shirts ($25 each, a bit steep for my liking, but they're worth it), a cute cardigan, and some hair accessories (headbands and hair clips). Here are some pictures!


I love this shade of blue! And the girl and her pet are felt outlines, and look, it sparkles! It's a lovely piece, I think.


My new favourite tank top! It even has pockets! I love this shade of yellow, as I've mentioned before with a cardigan. It really suits my skin tone, I think. I definitely need more Col. Mustard yellow. :)


And at $10, who could say no to a cute little pink lace-trimmed zip-up sweater? It's adorable! I am trying to expand my colour palette and do have a few pink cardigans already, but the lace on this one just made me unable to pass it up.

And now for good measure, have a few shots of the bird!

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!

Lunch & Some Antiquated Ladies

So today I met up with my brother and his girlfriend, and we strolled down Bayview to finally decide upon Fukui Sushi for some lunch. I had the Grilled Chicken Bento Box, and it was amazing. Seriously so freaking good! I really like the place, they just add little touches to make it special. For instance instead of the same old typical tempura vegetables, this place served tempura skewered mushrooms! Fab.

After that I took them to my favourite store in the city that was conveniently steps away, The Elegant Garage Sale. Half of my apartment is from that store (not counting furniture, though I wish it counted furniture!). We browsed for a while and for $20 I walked away with two gorgeous framed pictures - "The Sunflower" and "The Cottage Maid".


I am in love with the younger girl, honestly it was love at first sight. I saw them, thought about them, then walked away and told myself if my interview went well I'd come back for them. I finished browsing the store, only to come back to see them off and noticed someone else looking at them! My heart nearly leapt out of my chest, and that's when I knew I had to buy them on the spot. No waiting around.

The framing on the prints was done quite a while ago, back when no one had a phone number of their own! I'm saving the advertising tags for the framing company, since they're old and they make me smile. I'll likely reframe them though (I did take them out of their frames, which involved pulling nails out of the frame!) or at least paint the frames a different colour. We'll see.

Just a close up of the girl, since she's so gorgeous and deserves to be shown off. Despite its age, the print is in good condition! The other lady must have had a leaky roof in her cottage, because she has a nice water stain (not that I mind, I actually quite like water stains). I love her expression, and her lips! And those ringlets! Lovely.













And a shot to show off the gorgeous detailing around the portrait. This one was definitely fancier than the other one, and I think it fits the subjects, since she appears to be of a much higher class than the Cottage Maid.


The only thing that's left now is a name! I think I might end up calling her Ophelia. She definitely looks like an Ophelia.