Interview with Cutthroat_cuddle!

  Interview with a Collector - A ggsdolls blog Series

A monthly series on my blog where I feature some of the most amazing collectors, sellers, and content creators that have become really good friends of mine and what they collect and why? Read on to learn more...

    For the month of November, my blog interview is with an awesome collector, seller, and fellow restorer, Jillian or cutthroat_cuddle on Instagram and shop shheathhshop and on Etsy an IG!!

Jillian and her Rushtons.

    Jillian is from Los Angeles, California and worked in the film industry in LA doing a variety of things. But mainly props and production design on the side. She sells vintage toys and housewares and has worked at a vintage store. Where she designed and hand made custom upholstery and drapery. She is definitely a busy lady!!

Giga Pets

Jillian's Living Room.

     Now onto the fun stuff!! When and under what circumstances did you encounter vintage rubber face stuff animals or Rushtons and do you collect anything else?

    Jillian:  I have honestly been collecting toys since childhood. In elementary school I was essentially "army building" digital pets and Polly Pockets. I still have my original collection of this massive wad of 30 something Tomagotchis and Giga Pets I'd carry around with me everywhere. I meticulously organized my Polly Pocket compacts in what I thought were their most ideal configurations along the floor of my bedroom. I would get hyper focused on one type of toy and for years any time I could get a new toy I'd just pick a variant version of something I already had to "complete the collection."

Living room display.

    Similarly, I've been into vintage for as long as I can remember. I have early memories of going to thrift stores with my mom. As I moved in high school I got more and more wild with my fashion. I've always been really tiny and struggled to find clothes off the rack that fit me so I got really into shopping for clothes at the thrift store and taught myself how to sew by tailoring them to fit me. Eventually when I was in college I was able to support myself by selling clothing I found at the thrift on eBay. Needless to say I was also finding a ton of vintage toys in all my thrift adventures! And let me tell you the abundance at the thrift stores in those days was absolutely GLORIOUS. Even in the middle of San Francisco where I was living at the time. I collected then and I still do collect vintage clothing, housewares, furniture, appliances, you name it. So naturally the toys fit right in. I tend to gravitate toward whatever catches my eye as unique or interesting so my toy collection is pretty varied but is all vintage, primarily 1950s-1980s.

A closer look, left side.

A closer look, center.

A closer look, right side.

    So one day on my vintage journey I was shopping around at an antique mall and this little stuffed animal with a rubber face that I could only describe as a human-animal hybrid caught my eye. It was the Rushton baby Maizie cow and I was literally floored by the design of this toy. I had never seen anything like it! I wasn't super into girls toys at the time but the unique strangeness of this toy coupled with how undeniably cute and well crafted it was completely stole my heart and the rest is history!

    How do you describe your relationship to your collection; what is the magical thing that attracts you and keep you interested?

     Jillian:  Definitely overall  design integrity. I've always been an arts and design person, as a kid and throughout high school the only classes I ever felt engaged in and excelled at were art classes. I got a degree in History of Art, and a minor in Art Practice while doing my vintage hustling on the side. One of my early jobs was as a toy buyer for a designer toy store/art gallery. I had my own clothing line for several years, and to this day the work I do is very design focused whether that be for commercial product, film, display or literally designing and fabricating abstract upholstery.

    Unique, deliberate, thoughtful design sensibility is very important to me and I think that is very much reflected throughout my collection as a whole. It feels like the outward expression of who I am as a person, and at the end of the day I just collect and surround myself with what I like! In my collection you'll see a super cute 1950s doll next to a 1980s bootleg devil action figure, displayed over a designer Mid Century accent table and Space Age lamp, next to my antique sofa with my custom handmade abstract upholstery. For me the through line for all of this is the intriguing, creative, quality design and I absolutely love it. My collection is my happy place.

Another look at display.

Jillian's Sewing Area display.

A closer view of left side lower shelf display from right...

... to left side.

    Tell me a bit about your collection, how it started, what your first items were, and how it has evolved?

    Jillian:  Over the years vintage collecting has grown to encapsulate every aspect of my life. Every piece in my house is either second hand or handmade by me. For me vintage is something I am extremely passionate about not just from an aesthetic point of view, but and ethical one as well. It literally keeps me up at night thinking of all the perfectly good vintage sitting in landfills right now, entombed there forever because landfills never biodegrade. So vintage shopping and resale has become a really important part of my life because I want to save as many things from the landfill as possible, and in the process maybe help shift the culture away from fast, planned obsolescence, to the importance of vintage and sustainability. For me vintage represents design that was not only aesthetic but quality and built to last.

    I think that's a big part of what attracts me so much to the Rushtons. These pieces perfectly represent everything I was just talking about. All the mid century design principles applied to toys! They're over 70 years old and many of them are still in exquisite condition. The pieces from the 1950s and 1960s are extremely well made, are all hand painted, they used the highest quality plush and decorative accents, the stuffing is all super soft high density recycled cotton, the overall design is exquisite. You can really tell these were envisioned and created by a true artist.

    My Rushton collection has definitely grown A LOT since that first baby cow I found all those years ago. At this point the Rushtons take up about 50% of my entire toy collection and I think part of this is the sheer volume of designs available, they're all so amazing! I do have to set limits with myself on collecting though. One of the ways I've done that is with my displays. I designed and hand made all of my display shelving and have made those the physical barriers of my collection. This has honestly helped me a lot to keep my space looking nice and cohesive because otherwise I'd be reaching hoarder levels with my collecting, haha! So when I add a new piece to the collection that typically means it's time for another one to find a new home.

Upper shelves on left side.

Lower right side shelf.

A closer view of lower right side shelf, further right.

     What has been your family/friends/colleagues to your passion for cute kitsch?

     Jillian:  My non collector friends tend to think it's overwhelming the first time they come over, haha! I do talk about my collection a lot so people usually aren't totally caught off guard but I think when they see it in person it is still a little shocking for most people. I do try to keep everything very organized and well displayed so once the shock is over I feel like most of my non collector friends enjoy looking at all the curiosities. Luckily, I do live in LA and there is a a pretty big community of toy collectors out here. and we all see each other at least every weekend at the fleas or at various other toy events and shops in town. It's a super cute, fun, and supportive community. So for all my toy friends I think my collection is a welcome sight! Collector or not, it's always so fun to see what people gravitate too when they are interacting with the collection.

    Tell me about your favorite item and why is it so special?

    Jillian:  Oooh, this honestly changes depending on my mood, and what part of my collection we're talking about, but I'm still going to have to cheat and pick two ~ my jumbo blue Rushton lamb and early Rushton kitty. The kitty I think is one of the first kitties the company made and the paint and posture on her is absolutely perfect her lashes are to die for and she's got the cutest little face. I honestly love all of my kitties so much but there's something so special and charming about this one in particular. She's literally sitting on my lap as I write this. And my jumbo lamb was always a grail piece for me, so to find her in this vibrant blue color with pink accents was over the top perfect for me! Blue Rushtons are my favorite. Both of these pieces have their original ribbons and are in exquisite condition. I could stare at them all day, I'm absolutely in love.

    If you run a shop selling vintage kitsch, how did that start and what has been your experience? Has there been surprises and is it sometimes hard to let go of a vintage item or really great piece?

    Jillian:  I am a shopper at heart so selling was born out of the overflow of my personal collection, and has grown to be a bit more than that! It brings me tremendous joy to rescue and consciously revive vintage pieces and deliver them to loving homes. I do however struggle with letting go of toys. I tend to over empathize and anthropomorphize everything, so the fact that most of my toys have a face makes it really hard for me to part with them. Lucky for me I also collect and sell vintage housewares. Haha!

    If someone didn't have access to the internet, how would you describe the items you sell?

    Jillian:  I describe my shop as stylized vintage from a curated collector.

    If an item could just fall on your lap for free! What would that be and why?

    Jillian:  An untouched 1920s storybook style house in my neighborhood in Los Angeles ~ I literally have nightmares that when it comes time for me to buy a house that everything available will have renovated kitchens and bathrooms. To be completely honest - I absolutely loathe modern renovations in vintage house.

Top right shelf view.

Jillian's cherished Rushtons.

    Have you noticed the increase in popularity/demand for vintage rubber face stuffed animals in the last few years? If so, why do you think this aesthetic is appealing to more people right now?

    Jillian:  Oh definitely! I think the internet popularity of these has drawn on a really vast audience since 2020. Honestly, I think good quality design is easily communicable to anyone, even if the person has no idea what they're looking at, and as I've discussed earlier these pieces possess really exemplary quality and design.

    So true Jillian, so very true! I'd like to thank Jillian for participating in my blog interview with a collector, it was truly a joy to read her answers and learn a bit more about her and her collection!

Until next month's interview guys! Happy Thrifting!

Thank you for stopping by! ~ ggsdolls

Interview with Amanitarium

 Interview with a Collector - A ggsdolls blog Series

    A monthly series on my blog where I feature some of the most amazing collectors, sellers, and content creators that have become really good friends of mine and what they collect and why? Read on to learn more...

    For the month of July, my blog interview is with the amazing and talented artist, designer and seller, Anna of Amaniterium on Instagram. On Tiktok you can find her under the name amanitarium_arts, and her shop on Etsy! Anna resides in England for the last 8 years. 

How did you encounter Kitsch and do you collect anything else?  

Anna:   I used to collect different kinds of dolls such as BJDs, Monster High, Licca and bisque dolls. I often came across some pictures online of how various arts were changing their make-up, hair and even body parts and this is something I got really into, which eventually led me to creating my own dolls and accessories with doll parts. I discovered vintage kitsch later on as there has often been an overlap with doll collectors community and it has become one of my biggest sources of inspiration for up until today.

How do you describe your relationship with your art and what keep you interested or inspired by it?

Anna:   In my work, I combine nostalgia, retro, childhood memories, as well as references to Shoujo and Kawaii culture with all it's dreaminess and charm! The quality of materials I use is very important to me and I spend a tremendous amount of time looking through fabric stores and online shops to find the softest and fluffiest fur fabrics which are nice to the touch, making my plushies not just decorative pieces of art but also comfort items.

 What is it about the vintage cute kitsch aesthetic that distinguishes it from other toys/novelties of the same time? 

Anna:   It's the combination of cute whimsical features and sometimes a tiny drop of uncanniness, which I absolutely love. Mary Rushton's toys especially, since they are particularly different and tend to stand out a lot from other mass produced toys with their expressive sentimental faces, making them so special and darling.

Tell me a bit about your art, how it started, and how it has evolved?

Anna:   I've always enjoyed drawing, painting and decorative crafts, however my passion for dolls has really pushed me to take my art to the sculpture medium. At first, my dolls and accessories were only human-like but later on, as I evolved as an artist and started learning more about vintage kitsch, I started making work inspired by vintage toys, too.

 What has been the reaction of your family, friends or colleagues to your passion for cute kitsch?

Anna:   At first, they were pretty confused. The reaction wasn't negative, but perhaps not as supporting as I'd hope. My parents just couldn't take this idea seriously and insisted that I should find a job in the industry I got my degree in. The concept of managing your own small business as an artist, especially in a pretty unconventional niche, seemed like a strange idea to them. Perhaps because of the culture as well as the times they grew in. Over the time, however they became very open to it and now they feel so happy about me. Seeing how well this is going and how thriving our community is! When I get to see my Mom, she even helps me sometimes with things like tack stitching and fabric cutting.

Tell me about your favorite project and why is it so special to you?

Anna:   There isn't one, as I put lots of love into every piece I make. As an artist, it's very important to do it for the process and not just the outcome. This is why I don't get attached to any particular pieces and feel really happy when my little creations find their loving homes. There are some aspects of my work which are my favorite, such as adding shine/gloss and assembling the plush parts together seeing them come to life!

As a seller, how do you describe your items to someone who doesn't shop online?

Anna:    Dolls and accessories inspired by vintage kitsch, childhood memories, as well as 'kawaii' and other alternative styles.

Tell me about the most unique item you have made?

Anna:    Most of my plushies are bunnies, bears, and lambs. However I've had some pretty unusual custom orders too, such as monkeys and even a caterpillar!

 Have you noticed an increase in demand for the vintage kitsch in the last few years, why do you think that is so?

Anna:   The raise of different aesthetics on social media has definitely played a big part in their popularity. Especially among the younger people. I've also noticed a particular increase during COVID outbreak. Since collecting is a perfect hobby if you stay home a lot.

Is there anything else about your experience that you'd like to add?

Anna:   I'm very happy to be a part of such a wonderful community of plush artists and collectors who truly appreciate items that are rare, unique or custom made, and I'm forever grateful to my friends and customers for the opportunity to do what I truly love doing most!

@amanitarium_arts made a new melanie martinez doll! @Melanie Martinez 🖤✨ #melaniemartinez #mm3 #portals #melaniemartinezdoll #handmadeplush #melaniemartinezportals #earthlingsmelaniemartinez ♬ VOID - 𝕷•𝖊•𝖓•𝖏•𝖆🎶

A beautiful segue into concluding this lovely interview with a beautiful person and artist! We love you Anna! Until next month when we head back to USA with another dear collector!

Thank you for reading! ~ ggsdolls

Interview with KitschyFlower!!

 Interview with a Collector - A ggsdolls blog Series

A monthly series on my blog where I feature some of the most amazing collectors, sellers, and content creators that have become really good friends of mine and what they collect and why?

    For the month of February, my blog interview is with a talented artist and Tiktoker who was raised thrifting all his life. The 70s style fashionista, Cole of kitschyflower on Instagram!

     His name is Cole Eugine and he hails from the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. At a tender of 25, he has definitely made a name for himself.  Now on to the interview...

    Where were you originally from Cole? "I am originally from a small town about 13 hours outside Moscow Russia! Now, I live in the suburbs of Atlanta Georgia." 

    What do you do for a living? "I’ve dabbled in many of things over the years but currently, I'm full-time vintage reseller!"

    When did you first encounter a Rushton or rubber faced plushie and do you collect anything else?

"Well for starters, I absolutely adore this question! It all goes back for me originally to the first rubber face plush, I ever saw was in the antique store my parents had while growing up! I think I picked up my first one when I was around 14 or 15! Then around the same time, I found one of my absolute favorite artists of all time the wonderful Mark Ryden!  I’m sure everyone knows he has a huge collection and inspiration of the vintage rubber face plush, so the rest was history!"

 

     How would you describe your relationship with your collection, what is the magical thing about your collection that keeps you wanting more? 

"I’ve always been a fan of all the things cute and kitschy, it definitely runs in my family, I have always collected vintage toys, anything from 60s! Troll dolls to big eyed pose dolls anything that evokes sweetness and joy, I like to pick up! I think it’s awesome anyone can start collecting or recollecting at any point! Many moons ago I ended up selling all of the rubber face plush I owned when I was around 17, and then recently started recollecting in the past two-years."

 

    What is it about the kitsch aesthetic that distinguishes it from other things of the same era? 

"In my opinion certainly the expressions and faces on some of the vintage kitsch, there just certainly isn’t anything like it! With the large round eyes with wispy feathered lashes to the rosy cheeks just the emphasis on cute!!

     Tell me a bit about your collection, how it started, your first item and how it has grown? 

"I’ve always been a collector of sorts like, both of my parents growing up had antique stores, so from an early age I developed a taste for Kitsch! I’ve always been super big  into big eyed Art. The ones done by Margaret Keane. Who happens to be one of my favorites! So I really started collecting anything with big eyes from the 60s! Once I discovered Blythe dolls when I was around 13 that’s when the floodgates surely opened!" 

 

"From there, I really got into vintage fashion dolls from the 60s. I’ve always been super into vintage clothing so being able to see tiny versions on these tiny plastic ladies were always such a cool treat for me! And honestly over the years it just snowballed, where honestly I wanted everything I own to be vintage! I certainly collect a little bit of this and a little bit of that anything from my vintage ceramic mermaid bathroom to my full wardrobe of vintage clothing from the 60s and 70s, to antique wardrobe where they currently reside!  Obviously, vintage toys are my sweet spot of happiness! There’s something so magical about a vintage toy being 50+ years old still being around and being able to be enjoyed for years to come!  I typically only collect vintage toys from the 70s and earlier I would certainly say my favorite sweet spot of vintage toys would be from the 50s through 70s!"

 

    What has been the reaction to your collection from family, friends, etc.?  "It’s been nothing but wonderful. Both my parents really enjoy the fact that I carry on the tradition of loving vintage! And honestly, I’ve even gotten my mom into becoming a Kitsch lover herself!"

    Tell me about your favorite item in your collection and why is it so special to you? "Oh that’s a really hard one, haha, definitely any rubber faced bunnies always has a huge tug on my heartstrings, But I think that who might go on the top spot is my rubber face Gund Devil! Which just so happens to be my logo! He was the first one that got me into collecting them again about two years ago! A close second would be my Kamar doll collection"

    I see you run a shop as well, when did that start and how have your experiences in selling been? Any surprises? 

"I have off and on sold vintage throughout the years since high school and it was certainly a different market for rubber face plush. Throughout the years they’ve definitely grown in popularity which honestly I really love! Granted they might’ve gone up in price a bit, but the fact that there are so many people who really love and enjoy these old guys bring me a lot of happiness! And I’ve certainly come across lots of surprises, especially when fixing old rubber face plush. I’m not gonna lie you never know what you’re going to find inside of one.  As for letting them go it depends, it can definitely be a little bit harder and pull on your heartstrings. When I find a new one at home, but I’m also super happy that I get to share the love of vintage plush with someone else. So it really makes up for it in the end!"

 

    If someone didn't have internet to see your online shop, how would you describe it? "I would definitely say the items I sell are full of sweetness that evoke happiness! No old forgotten toy left behind!"

    How do you source and what are the characteristics that help you to find the items for your shop? "I honestly find them all over! Whether that’s online, estate sales, antique stores and even sometimes thrift stores! At this point, I have made a lot of great friends who have also help keep an eye on vintage items, I might be interested in! And of course I am always looking for anything Kitschy! I mean it is in my name after all, Haha!"

    Describe some of your best selling items in your shop?  "Hands-down are going to be some of my rubber face plush especially the Rushtons and I actually have a pretty decent following of vintage 60s Barbie collectors. Who always seem to grab them as soon as I make them available!"

    Tell me about the most unique and unusual items you have come across?  "Oh my goodness this is quite the loaded question anything from shrunken heads to 'one of a kind' prototype dolls!! My little piece of advice is always be open to learn something new and do some research! That’s why I think I’ve always just been such a fan of being on the hunt for Vintage is it’s truly like a treasure hunt!"

    If any item could just land on your lap or be free of charge what would that be and why? "Oh hands down, I would Love a Rushton Rubber face lamb! I have yet to find one out and about at a price I am down to pay!"

    Have you notice an increase in popularity over vintage rubber faced plush and the kitsch aesthetic? Why do you think that is so? "I’ve certainly seen an influx of popularity towards the rubber face plush, especially the Rushtons in the last few years! Like I had mentioned when I started picking them up here and there in my teens, people really just didn’t know too much about them, and you could really pick them up for 10 bucks randomly! That is a little bit harder nowadays. 

When you do find them out in the wild at least in antique stores and such, they can certainly be marked up! Like in the recent years, I know the artist Melanie Martinez has been a big fan of the Rushton dolls and have even featured them in music videos and such which has definitely skyrocketed their popularity to different levels! I really love seeing the younger generations become fans of vintage, it keeps the legacy alive and it makes me quite happy!" 

    Would you like to add anything else? "I am very very fortunate to have been able to meet so many wonderful people through the community, such as yourself GG! I've been able to make some truly wonderful friends throughout the world over the love of vintage and everything Kitschy cute things and I will always be grateful for that!!"

Thank you so much Cole for sharing your collection with us and your story! We truly enjoyed learning more about you and your love of vintage!

Thank you all for reading my latest interview with Kitschyflower! You can find him on Youtube, Tiktok, Whatnot, and on Etsy! Until next month, "Same time, same 'bat' channel!" LOL

Thank you for stopping by! ~ ggsdolls

Interview with Marcelowyellow!!

 

 Interview with a Collector - ggsdolls blog Series 

      Here's my monthly series on my blog where I share some of the most amazing collectors, sellers, and creatives, that have become friends of mine and what they collect and why?

    For the month of June, my blog interview is with the handsome, marcelowyellow on Instagram or commonly known as Marcelo.

    Marcelo was born in Brazil and am currently living in Rio de Janeiro. Though he has lived in the United States for twenty plus years too. He has worked as a store manager for an Italian high-end fashion brand. Now on to the questions!

    What began your journey to collecting rubber face plushies, etc?     

     I'm a collector at heart, and have gone through several different phases during my 25 plus years of collecting vintage toys, kitsch and ephemera. My interests are quite vast as far as toys go, but I'll try to keep my focus between the decades of the 1950s to the early 1980s. Though, I do own several rubber-faced plushies I do not actively hunt them down. But will buy them on occasion if I fall in love with the character and the price is right. The bulk of my collection these days consists of vintage rubber and vinyl toys (squeaks) and vintage fashion dolls, such as Brazilian Susi (1966-1975), pre-80s Barbies and celebrity dolls. Besides those, I also collect Japanese toys/dolls, 70s action figures, vintage Happy Meal toys, rollie pollie dolls, 80s Playmobil, space-themed toys and the list keeps on going...

    How do you describe your relationship with your collection? What attracts you to these items and what keeps you interested?

    Vintage toys remind me of the happy carefree days of childhood. Though I did not come from a “wealthy” family, I pretty much got the toys I coveted as a kid, as far as I recall. So, no, I wasn't this toy-deprived child who compensates for it as an adult or has a bout of Peter Pan Syndrome.

    Looking at my collection, displayed on shelves and cases in my home, does transport me back to those joyful times and I still do get starry eyed about it. Toys musn't be expensive to be cherished either as I value the dirt cheap broken toys from the flea market as much as the break-the-bank highly coveted collectibles you've overbid from Ebay.

    What is it about the vintage kitsch era that makes it different from other eras?

    The eyes! I'm a total sucker for those big round eyes combined with that mid-century aesthetic. I'm such an old soul and if something is vintage, combined with cute, with a touch of kitsch and a dash of weird I'm in! Let's also mention the quality and care put into manufacturing them, with all those amazing hand done details we don't find on contemporary toys at all anymore. Vintage packaging graphics & illustrations are also amazing!

     Tell me a bit more about your collection.

    I've been a collector since I was a kid and I've collected stuff like match boxes, key chains, candy wrappers soda cans and whatever else I thought was cool at the time. As a teenager, I was into new wave records and foreign magazines. When I moved into my first apartment, I started buying 50s/60s furniture and kitschy atomic-age objects to decorate my place. Along with that I was already adding vintage toys to my own childhood ones that my mom never had the heart to give away. Moving to the US a couple of years later opened the horizon to having access to many more vintage toys that weren't available back in Brazil. I recall making my first truly vintage (to me) purchase in Miami in the mid 90's: a Farrah Fawcett doll, a Buck Rogers doll and a Brooke Shields doll, all mint in box – and I was in heaven! The next milestone was when I opened my first Ebay account in 1999 and was only downhill from there! I went through a couple of years of really heavy Ebay buying and I don ́t regret it a bit! I actually only regret the toys I sold on eBay at times I thought I needed to scale down my hoarding.

Though toys are my main focus, I must confess I do bring the oddest stuff home from the flea markets, such as old medical school props, taxidermy and whatever else strikes my fancy. My home can be a tad creepy for first-timers. But I love that surprise aspect too. Nowadays, I m mainly on the lookout for vintage rubber squeaks and 70's. Susi doll fashions as example, but I search for a dozen other things too, depending on the day's mood.

    What has been the reaction to your collection from family and friends?

    It's usually a surprise when new people I meet learn that I collect vintage toys, specially work- related folk. Some people find it quite interesting and some are unfazed, and that's OK too. To my family it ́s no big deal as I ́ve been a collector of stuff since I was a kid. To be a collector you must not care too much about what people say or think about your hobbies, as it's your passion and we cannot live our lives to please others, right?

    Do you have a favorite item and why is it so special to you?

    I don't have a favorite item, really, and couldn't pick just one. But, usually my latest purchase is usually my favorite one for the time being.

    If any item could just fall on your lap free of charge? What item would that be, and why?

    Just one? That's a hard one! There is a Viceroy panda version of a Sunny bear that has been on my wish list for a few years. But haven't seen one for sale yet. I'd be very happy to own one of those for sure!! Pandas are the best and Sunny is just the cutest bear, so combining both is just perfection!

    Have you noticed an increase in the popularity of vintage kitsch, why do you think this is so?

    Pop singer, Melanie Martinez is certainly the main artist who introduced that kitschy-creepy- cute aesthetic to her young fanbase, who are voraciously gobbling up Rushtons & rubber faces from Ebay. Prices have also skyrocketed since, that is a bummer. Some young collectors can be a bit too eager to build a collection overnight. So that also reflects on the inflated prices we see now regarding 50 ́s/60 ́s era nursery-style toys and kitsch. But, I'm also glad that a new generation of collectors are appreciating and preserving these amazing toys. 

    Finally, is there anything else you would like to add?

    Building a collection, be it toys, stamps, lunchboxes or baseball cards, requires discipline, research, patience and perseverance. It could takes years to build a focused collection and some grail items might seem impossible to attain or take forever to show up at a decent price, but they always do! Collections are often changing hands for a variety of reasons. So, be patient and try not to overpay unnecessarily. Treasures can be found pretty much anywhere so be open minded to expand where you search for them too. Keep it in mind that we are just the current guardians of our collections, which one day will move on to the next guardian. In the meantime, enjoy and have fun with it! Don't hog information, share with it your peers. There is so much out there to be learned about toy collecting still and it's the network we build with other collectors that will keep on widening our horizons.

    Also, be kind to other collectors, be it newbies or old timers and keep out of the gossip mill, as we do not need that negative energy.

Perfectly said my dear friend! Thank you so much to Marcelo for allowing me to interview him, share his amazing collection and give us some wise words to part with!

Until next month for another installment of an interview with a collector! Kindness Matters...

Thank you for reading! ~ ggsdolls