A Toy a Day...

 ... "Keeps Sadness Away." ~ Unboxingtoys

      Tariffs are causing so much chaos these days. Sadly, many countries that have tariffs with the United States, have decided to stop mailing to buyers in the U.S. Ugh. I've watched the past few days on IG of other collectors and creators outside of the United States, post about this very situation. They are not sure how buyers will be expected to pay for the 10 - 50 percent tariffs depending on their country. Mind you this is just on items that cost about Eight Hundred dollars or less!! 

I've prepared myself since my last box from Japan back on August 13th. Because I knew that if I bought any other items in Japan, and when I'd be ready to ship, there might be problems arising on how the tariffs will be collected and how much that might be. Luckily, I prepared myself and stopped buying for my shop via Japan since that date. Because now, I got notices from my friend in Japan. She first told me there was going to be about forty-two dollars and fifty cent customs and clearance fees for items being shipped to the U.S. from Japan.

Than the next day, she was told that shipments to the U.S. will be temporarily suspended for now. Oh my gosh! What?! Trust me, I knew it would be crazy, but suspended?! I was not expecting that!  Today, she told me that now, a Duty Prepay will be done prior to shipments to the USA. So basically, depending on how you are shipping your items to your place in the states, there will be a twenty percent tariff rate based on the total invoice amount. So for example, you bought about a Twenty-five dollar total amount, you will pay an extra five dollars or if your total invoice is five hundred dollars, than the DDP or Duty Prepay will be one hundred dollars more! Ugh!

It will have to be the new norm. I foresee more Japanese, Korean, and Chinese items we use here on Guam costing more for all of us, and people will buy less and less except for what is needed versus what might be wanted. WELP! Thanks for listening to my rant on this chaos.

On to more positive things I guess...

Alice3 on the left and Alice1 in matching dresses.

 

Alice3 is on her way to her new Mommy! She has been the most fun to create and I love how she turned out. Below, some Story Book Nancy Ann dolls, that I will add to my shop soon! Lovely little bisque dolls. 

 Next, this adorable Pink coin purse with a Meyercord bunny on it. Just like the decal!! She was just too cute too I had to have it! Can you remember which decal it is of? 

I also bought some doll fashions for Alice1 and for some other dolls in my collection. Alice can fit the pink gingham bloomers. the striped dress and romper I have added to my shop!
 

Below, this adorable Bunka bunny! I've already added to my shop. I actually got this cutie back in early August with my last box. I just needed time to work on photos and listings. I've been sick with a cold and cough the past week and so has my grandchild. So a lot of the items you see were also from around that time frame. Haha! 

Bento box above is just too adorable as well. I also have this item available for adoption in my shop! Below, I had originally found this for my shop, but this vintage musical sewing machine is just too cute and I have some great items that I can set up with it to display in my room!! Haha! So it will stay with me for now!!

It's a rattle toy and when you turn the handle the colored balls inside the center turn and make sounds. Just too funny and cute!! Love it! Below, my last item for this post, a composition Patsy type or wood dolly just like my first Japan jointed doll in this post here. She was up for auction and I won her. She has a missing arm, but I was able to fix her and give her a somewhat temporary arm. Added the pink dress and she's ready to be adopted!!

She is a sweetheart for sure! Well, I hope you all have a lovely rest of your August and thread lightly on your thrift finds should they be from outside of the USA! See you next month!

Thank you for listening! ~ ggsdolls 

Some People Want it to Happen, Some People Wish it Would Happen...

 ..."Others make it happen." ~ by Michael Jordan

     This week was a full week of classes for Sara. It is her Senior Year! I am both excited and anxious for her. Mostly, because she will have completed a milestone in life... Graduation. But it is bittersweet to know that my last child will go out into the world and hopefully make it a better place. 

Speaking of children...  

I was able to find another vintage Puppet Alice loose on the Bay! She sadly, took a month to get to me. Gotta love Ground Advantage, ugh! My plan was to get her a body and than clean her up and make her into a hybrid doll just like my other Alice...

Alice Puppet Before.

 

I have been asked by several doll collectors if they could buy my Alice. But of course at the moment she is not for sale. I love my Alice. So I decided to make another hybrid and I will offer her up for sale soon. This will be my 3rd Alice hybrid to date. The 2nd Alice was done for another fellow collector in New York and I believe she still has her. So, I ordered a body and cleaned up Alice3 to have her ready. When the body came, I transferred her and dressed her up. But when I put both Alices together, I noticed something wrong immediately?!!

Alice3 and Alice1 side by side after Alice3 cleanup.

 

The body was the smaller version, ugh!! I forgot that the bodies of this vintage doll I use comes in twenty or twenty-four inches tall. Shoot!! So back to the drawing board. I found and ordered a taller bod. It took another month. So yup, two months in, this venture would take me a bit longer to do. Darn! Notice above side by side, Alice3 is more tan than my Alice1. That's okay, she is still in lovely condition and she reminds me of "Momo" from "Peach Girl" manga series, and she has a lot more fuller hair than Alice1. Also, her eyelashes don't have holes in them! Alice1 does and I just repainted them. I may touch up Alice3's eyelashes.

By early August I got the 2nd body in. So off to work I began on my free days from babysitting. I dressed Alice3 up in a pink adorable lace and stripe number and added socks and gave her Chatty Cathy blue saddle shoes. She is just as lovely as Alice1 and Alice2!! 

Alice3 on the left and Alice1 on the right.

Sweet gals for sure! She will come with her original puppet dress washed, a pair of pajamas from the original doll body I used, the pink dress, socks and shoes she is currently wearing. I am definitely pleased with the way she turned out! I hope she will go to a good home and be loved by her new Mommy!!

I am so tempted to keep her!!

Next, this adorable 3D lenticular coin purse wallet of a Liddle Kiddle sleeping beauty and on the other side two plush bears posing with a ball. I found this in a lot overseas and of all places in South Africa!! I thought it was cool to mention, but it also took some time to get to me. Haha! 

My favorite side with the bears!

Than, while doing my usual searches, I found this book!! Just look closely... Do you see anyone familiar?! This book version of Alice in Wonderland has an Alice on the cover that resembles, the Eegee Alice!!! You can see why I chose to buy it. This book I got in from a seller in Canada! I will keep for now, especially since I can't find another so easily.

Alice w the book.

Below, I found this adorable Stuffed animal sleeping kitty in pink. She is in great condition and is already listed in my shop. Her bow is original to her. Sadly, no tag, but she is similar to Rushton kitties with out the rubber face. She's so sweet for sure!

Next, two lots of vintage goodies from Japan! Many of the items you see in the lot below are already listed in my shop. There's even a CD of Pink Lady's single, some Snoopy tin plates, and Halloween ornaments!! Most ready for adoption in my Etsy shop! Even the Sanrio Glico toy lot in the next photo! Some I kept, but most have been listed even a cool cube with Hello Kitty Christmas scenery that doubles as a marble game!!

Lastly, this adorable Pink and Black striped Peggy-ann dolly dress mip!! It says it can fit a 20 to 22 inch doll! Sadly, it does not, instead maybe an 18 inch doll. I was hoping it would fit Alice3. Ugh! Oh well, I have other dolls that may fit it. So far, it has been a good start to August, whew!

May you have good thrift finds as well my fellow collectors! Until next post! 

Thank you for stopping by! ~ ggsdolls

"To Bring About Change..."

 "...You must not be afraid to make the first step." ~ Rosa Parks

It's February!! I am just excited for life and most especially for this month! Life has been really busy caring for a 4 month old grandchild, but I don't mind it. He helps me change and grow. Gosh how time flies! I notice more things around me, like the feel of a January cool breeze, the trees, and the sounds in the village. I see his wonder at the world around him and the love in his eyes for his mother and father.

Life seems a bit sweeter having him in it for sure. So here's what I found late January thrifting online...

I found another set of Lotte Pretty Lady cards, and sold 2 recently and the ones you see above, I kept for my collection. I now have 3 types of paper dolls. I am trying to remember as a kid how many types of paper dolls were represented. Always a treat to find them when I do. Below, Sara and I went to Donki to get our snack fix and look what I saw?!

These Doraemon Chocolates shaped in an umbrella, I remember the style of chocolates we used to buy as kids in the last 80s. Nice to see them on Guam and easily accessible. Though I didn't buy any. Haha! Still nice to see them here.

We also went to the Daiso store. I needed a few things and got these cute bag charms from Sanrio, and key chains with Boba tea cups that you can put things in! Love Hello Kitty and My Melody. I caved and even got myself one of the Moonlight Wand's! There was a Heartlight wand as well. But the moonlight one is just very Sailormoon style and one could not resist!

Very simple design, you just need to add 2 AAA batteries. It has four sounds when you press the gold heart just below the gem. Great for cosplay too!! Below, this adorable Konpeito with Dust Bunnies coin purse. While searching for a coin purse, that's how I came across this one. Definitely a keeper for sure!

These retro Tulip Lamps are gatchas of the vintage versions, and they light up too!! There are 5 in total. But I only want the blue and pink ones of course!! Haha! You just push down to turn off or turn on the lamp.

Lastly, this adorable plastic head bunny I won from an auction. I just added his pink satin bow and he is already listed in my shop. Love his cute face!! A great addition to any Easter decor display too!

I'm ready to enjoy my birthday month! Happy Hunting!

Thank you for looking! ~ ggsdolls

Adorable Finds!

Here's what came in... I was able to snag this lovely Jennyeveryday yellow bunny wall plaque! Just too cute and will go with my blue one I already have. Next, I won this lovely Toei Animation Little Mermaid book! I have been wanting the book for some time now. I was very surprised that I even won!! Usually I'm outbidded. Now, I have the art print photos and this book in my collection. Yay!

This lovely vintage set of unopened and mint beaded wallets are already listed in my shop! Just too cute and did I say mint!! Yup, mint! I had a few commissions the past few days and worked on each of them. The vtg Gund Thumper red bunny plush, had disintegrated foam stuffing inside. It was like sand as I removed it. Luckily, I had a lot of stuffing in my arsenal to replace it with. He just needed a touch up on his facepaint and some simple fixes on his collar and he was done. This version is one of my favorites of the Thumper series of plush characters.

 

Then, I found this lovely vtg My Toy kitty from a vtg shop and was able to adopt her. She just needed some minor fixes, touch up of face paint and a good wash and she is now adorable again! I love these sad faces too much! LOL Adorable coloring too! Below, a fellow collector's plush Rushton Panda. James of seafoodpasta on IG was at a loss, because this cutie needed fur fixing. He had patches of fur missing. Poor baby! His issues kicked my butt too! I had to fix his felt paws and feet, which were quite easy to do. But, it was the missing fur... I had to find some. Luckily, I was able to get some from a source via California. As soon as it arrived, I was able to begin the tedious job of figuring out how to do this... In the end, I was able too. Whew! I spent at least 4 to 5 hours on his fur alone.

And I think he turned out nicely. Whew! Just touched up his rosey cheeks and he is now on his way back home to James! It was definitely a challenge and I am in no way always an expert at this whole restoration thang, but it is definitely bitter sweet when it does work out in the end. 

Well, Happy Friday where ever you are in the world!

Thank you for reading! ~ ggsdolls

March is on its way out!

 My how time flies... It's been a busy month. Sam and I got our first dose of the vaccine, been doing some commissions, some decent finds online, and had my annual mammogram done, whew!! Here's what I found online...

This lovely Mizpah vtg Easter bunny plush, I was able to adopt from on Ebay. I don't own any yellow plush bunnies, so this will be a nice one in my Easter bunny collection. Filled with foam, she is a sweet googly eyed cutie. Washed and ready to be displayed. I also found a vtg blue Easter plush, cleaned him up, and added him to my shop last week. He was immediately adopted by a woman, in UK. A sweet nurse who decided to treat herself. I truly appreciated her sharing her story with me. I made sure to add a little gift!

I also, found two items via an online shop in Japan. This lovely plastic pencil case, with an adorable bunka pose doll and her baby dolly. Made by Eagle brand. I have already listed it in my Etsy shop! In lovely used condition. In the same shop, I found this lovely wind up green smoking robot. Though he doesn't let out any smoke, but he does walk towards you and that is just too cute! I don't believe he's that old, probably a repro about early 2000s. I got him for a friend in Germany!!

Next, these lovely items from one shop! I have been searching for these lovely vtg beaded coin purses for years! I had the very same ones as a kid growing up. They are nice and minty too. I don't believe they are vtg, but rather repros perhaps. Still, they look just like the ones I had as a kid. And, I wouldn't have found them if I hadn't been searching for these adorable musical bell crib toys! I have seen them in an ad for a Japanese manga, back in early 2000s, and have never found any similar until now!! They often have Meyercord decal animals on them and are just too cute!! You hang them on a crib or your bed post and pull the ring and they play music. The blue has a fox on it and it plays, "It's a Small World." The pink has a lamb on it and it plays, "Rockabye Baby." I've also added the Japanese manga ad below them so you can see! Almost similar too!

Then, I was able to use Buy It Now, on  Ebay for this lovely Gund plush chick. She is so festive in her bonnet and not a full rubber face plush. So, it's nice to have something different! I also was able to purchase three adorable handmade needle felted creations by the lovely Alvina of Lepetitcherie shop on Etsy. She started making these truly adorable needle felted bunnies, similar to the vtg Easter plush ones with long ears. I just had to snag three in my fave colors. They arrived super fast from Canada too!! Just look at her packaging, with little gifts! I was swooning over everything! Thank you Alvina!! Each bunny came with a tag, miniature sweet treats for their travel to me, and their boxes make great storage for them too! Alvina, even gave me the cutest stand up mirror!! Oh my goodness, it has cute fawns too on it!

Next, these amazing Mamzelle de Paris dresses by the lovely Diane of MatildaPink on Etsy!! I saw her IG post that she was going to list some dresses and I made sure to get some. They sold fast too! But, I was able to snag this lovely Cyan mod dress and a Gingham style dress. I don't own a Mamzelle doll, but that's okay cuz my Francine doll fits them!! Teehee! A bit snug, but I don't care!! LOL Diane's work is simply amazing!! I love them!! Last, is my newly adopted Amanitarium Lamb in blue!! I had Anna custom make me this lamb, similar to one she shared on IG. But, this time I asked her to not add horns. Oh my goodness, her amazing plushies, are just the Bees Knees!! So soft and adorable, I now own three of her creations!! She even added this amazing gift... A pink tote with the lamb I spoke of earlier, with horns!! Oh my gawd, I am so using this tote!! Thank you dearest Anna!

I try to support many of my dear fellow collector friends and their beautiful creations. Supporting a small business makes me happy and I hope that I can help them flourish, just as they've helped me and my small business flourish.

Have a wonderful and safe weekend Y'all!

Thank you for looking! ~ ggsdolls