Here comes the bride and groom

I was married to my dear hubby two weeks ago today - here's an artsy shot of me reflected in the window, with the sparkly relfection from my brooch dancing on my neck. Pretty artsy isn't it?

The entire day was just so beautiful. The wedding was small and intimate, not one of those billion dollar weddings, and just the way we wanted it. Perfect for the Grunge Queen! Though there was nothing grungy about it, more like pure elegance.

We weren't near a mistletoe, but we did get married in front of the Christmas Tree!

He's wearing Hugo Boss; I'm wearing a fab (and reasonably-priced) convertable dress by Henkaa, a Toronto business.

A Brit, my man wanted to get a snap of us out in the snow, to show his pals back in Jolly Old! They don't get snow like we do here in Ottawa ....

I look a little dumpy here, but doesn't my husband look hunky? I love saying "my husband." Does that thrill ever wear off, I wonder? Hope not.

So I am now, happily, Mrs. Jackson. Kelly Jackson. Has quite a good ring to it, doesn't it?

It was just such a magical day, and I wasn't at all a Bridezilla (do all brides say that, regardless of whether or not it's true?). I will always cherish it as the most special memory. Here's to more good ones!

PHOTOS BY SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY

Jontue perfume necklace - so cool!

I bought this necklace a few weeks ago at the Toronto Vintage Costume Jewellery Club Sale - for a mere eight bucks. A friend from the club pointed it out and thought it would be good for me, and she was right. It's not just the simplicity of it that attracted me.

The petal disc is quite thick - that's because when you pop the top off, you'll find a thick solid circular slab of perfume - in perfect unused condition - called Jontue, a real 1970s classic. It may have gone off a bit but I won't actually wear the stuff - I just loved the retroness of it all. As you can see from the back, it looks like it was even made in my hometown, Ottawa. Perhaps this was meant as some cosmic welcome home pressie as I prepare for my wedding!!

A new chapter begins, my thrifting friends

Dah-lings, it's been ages. Here I am at a party pour moi, with my dear pal Nadia, wearing my M. Kors booties (look how big my feet are compared to hers!), a 1970s vintage skirt, my vintage fur coat (it's the warmest thing I have), thrifted 1970s shades and vintage beret made in England that I nabbed off Nadia when we had our pop-up shop. Nadia in turn is wearing thrifted booties and I coat I have her, which I had thrifted.

We're celebrating. As you may have guessed from my lack of posts these past few months (and my sincerest apologies for those of you who visit regularly to find nothing new), things have been rather crazy for me. It will be a sad moment, yet for the happiest of occasions, that will see me leaving Toronto tomorrow after starting a wonderful new life here 6.5 years ago: I have left the new dream job I started a few months ago, I have left my apartment, I have gotten rid of all my stuff, and as of tomorrow, I will leave Toronto behind, to marry my dear British man and move to be with him in the UK! (The vintage Danish pewter pendant I am wearing here is a wedding gift from a dear person at the Toronto Vintage Costume Jewellery Club).

Here's my gorg Brit mannnie - dear reader, he is truly the most wonderful of men, and I look forward to starting a new life with him, in Jolly Old England!! I am not sure what this blog will turn into, or even if I will keep it up; I'm afraid I won't know until my journey in England begins. I have a feeling there are good vintage deals to be had at the car boot sales! Please check in from time to time. I appreciate your readership over the years. All the best to you in the meantime!!

Vintage costume jewellery sale - tomorrow in Toronto

It's time for the annual pilgrimage to the Leaside Memorial Gardens for the Toronto Vintage Costume Jewellery Club show & Sale. It's tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1073 Millwood Rd.

Am I selling any of my fab vintage costume bling? No. Will I be shopping there? Likely.

Maybe I'll see you there.

Fall chair, among the leaves

It was an absolutely gorg day here in Toronto, more like September than November, wonderfully warm, with lots of leaves still on the trees. One of those days when you're happy to just stroll around and frolic. On my way to meet a pal, I came across tios chair right on the corner of someone's lot. It looked as though there was an open house going on, and I guess this velvety wonder was deemed inappropriate for the function.

But I thought it looked like a work of art nestled there among the leaves, it matched them so perfectly. If I didn't already have a kajillion chairs at home I may have tried to get it home somehow. Wonder if it's still sitting there or if some passerby admired it as much as I did?

Hello, my blogging friends

I apologize if you've been visiting regularly and finding no new posts here. I have been MIA as life has hit me with a huge change - all good, really good, but it's left no time or gumption to blog, my dear blogger pals. Not sure how long GQ will continue. Bear with me for now.

Here is a lovely bracelet I picked up recently for a song. Can't place its era, but I just love it.

Bling that makes me think Brit

Well, maybe that's a bit misleading. I bought this ring with my English man in Canadian Thrift the day he flew home in September after a lovely visit. It was only a few bucks and has this foil under the facets that appears to shift in colour depending how you angle the ring. Now it reminds me of him! (Though he's in no way shifty).

Remember this? Another Brit bling connection. It's the 1970s Avon pendant and chain I saw in Portobello Market in London but didn't buy as I got my mega statement piece Trifari instead. Well I found this baby at my new fave vintage bling shop, Used House of Vintage on Queen - and let's say it was waaaay less pricier than its London counterpart! Anyway, I call that vintage synery, don't you? It's a bit anachronistic but now it reminds me of my trip to England this past summer!!

See ya later, Alligator

In spite of the tag inside that proclaims, or at the very least strongly suggests, that the clutch is "Alligator", it doesn't (thankfully) seem that it is. But I loved the simple, classic shape and it was in perfect condition.

I didn't really have a chance to wear it as I sold it before doing so. I have a lot of vintage clutches and such that I never really use, so it was ok to say goodbye to this one. May it find a happy home.

Turtle love

Aren't they cute? Wee turtles kissing (or hugging?) eachother, wrapped around this 1970s bracelet.

I've been meaning to show you this for some time - my dear gal pal Nadia bought it for me at Stretch Thrift as she knew I loved it. What a sweeatheart. I do love it.

Golden rose a la 1980s

I have to restrain myself from going into a new shop close to where I work, the Used House of Vintage at 489 Queen St. W (just west of Spadina).

The vintage bling pickings are so good that I could easily get me a little pick-me-up every day!

This 1980s-esque choker with big rose detailing stopped me in my tracks. Prices aren't bad - this baby was $28.

Who woulda thought mustard silk would look so good?

Maybe I have a wee cat-that-ate-the-canary look here (ew, what an awful expression!) - but how was I to know this thrifted silk dress ($4.99) would work out so well for me?

It was 'new' - ie: never worn, still with a Winners tag on it - and I thought I'd give it a whirl as it was so feminine. It totally worked with my Michael Kors boots (NOT thrifted but purchased years ago), vintage carpet bag and vintage belt.

I accessorized with crochet tights, a thrifted wool J Crew blazer and a thrifted designer scarf.

Voila! I am so in love with this outfit - love how the flowers in the bag complement the dress, and love how the bag is large enough to accommodate all kinds of stuff - most of the vintage carpet bags I've found are small and old-fashioned in size.

Pop-up shop success

Well, it was a pop-up shop success. Here's my pal Nadia at the beginning of the day, yesterday, with all our vintage goodies for sale.

The traffic ebbed and flowed, but we met so many great peeps in the hood, and I had the chance to connect with a dedicated reader, Darlene, who made the trek to meet me and take a gander. Wish I had snapped a pic of her!

Daina from Continuum Moderin Vintage popped by too, and bagged two glorious purses, one a vintage Coach and the other a vintage clutch.

Dear readers, I tried not to shop, but I did walk away with this vintage Kangol beret made in England, and this fab carpet bag. J'adore!

Ok, by day's end I also had these designer jeans (tight!). I'm wearing the silk scarf as the sun was burning my ears.

This is how I will look when I'm 80, like some Babushka with her head scarf, hopefully still sipping some vino!

It was such a fine day - thanks to all who came out and Tweeted about the event. There will be more - I have piles more of goodies to get rid of - so stay tuned!