Interview with Suspiria

 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 August, my blog interview is with the spirited and mod Rockabilly-est gal I know, Paula M. or Suspiria1313 on Instagram. She sells vintage in her shop, KookieComb on Etsy! 

     Paula was born in Ohio and grew up in Munroe Falls until Fall '85 when most of her family relocated to Arizona. Both sets of her grandparents decided to head to the desert to retire and her family as well. She said, "We followed them like a clan of gypsies." Paula works in the mortgage business and makes dreams come true! Now, onto the good stuff!

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

    I would have to say it all started in the mid to late 80's when I began thrifting as a teen. As a mod kid back then it was always a challenge to find clothing that fit my style. There was a certain look I strove for being a punk/mod/rockabilly teen and those kinda threads were not easily available like today. We had to either find that one cool alternative store off the beaten path or just get creative and alter or thrift our clothes. We'd hit the 2nd hand stores and garage sales in search of vintage, wacky and currently 'out of style' pieces. So, the search for vintage clothing led to finding vintage kitsch i.e. nutty artwork (velvet, wood and pebble paintings), mid century space age furniture, faux furry furniture, home accessories/decor and kooky figurines. In addition to vintage kitsch ceramics, I collect Halloween and horror memorabilia/movies/books/posters/toys, vinyl records, mid-century clothes/furniture/home decor and I also dabble in Rushton's.

What magical thing attracts you to these items and keeps you interested?

    My collection is basically my personality via inanimate objects from my deep connection and love of all animals (the majority of my Rushton's and ceramics are innocent big eyed critters) to my fascination of lore, witchcraft, paranormal, horror and Halloween (my mermaids, Halloween and horror collection) to my craze of B-Movie Girl Gang 60's style (my bouffant haired girls, teens on phones and/or playing records ceramics). Since these are all things I find joy in and am passionate about, it only makes sense to surround myself with these items. And when I dig something, I do tend to go a bit overboard.

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

    A kitsch piece has HUGE personality. It's not just the two black dots for the eyes or one bland color made on an assembly line. It's the attention to details, those gigantic sweet peepers, exaggerated eyelashes, vibrant blue eye shadow and the plump rosy cheeks all hand painted making each cutie one of a kind. The overall facial expression giving the whole "baby schema" vibe off big time! Then top that off with a quirky hat, dingle balls, a sweater or even a wink and that piece shouts CUTE KITSCH GALORE.

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

    My ceramic kitsch collection is mainly adorable animals. As I look back on what I collected as a child, teen and adult it seems the kitsch bug has always been hangin' around. In elementary school I collected cutesie animal figurines, pink spaghetti poodles, unicorns and stuffed animals. I also collected stickers, posters, teen magazines, records and ANYTHING Rick Springfield. As far as my first collection of ceramic figurines go, I still have a lot in storage and most are marked "Japan" amazingly enough. The majority of these tchotchkes are more bisque looking as opposed to the glossy figurine I collect today. Then, in my teens I continued collecting the same types of things, just my style changed (clothes and music). Now add punk flyers to the mix -- fun fact, my flyer collection was even in an art show once! Also, as mentioned earlier, this is when I started thrifting which was the kickoff of collecting a broader range of vintage. I was obsessed with vintage clothes, especially cocktail dresses and go-go boots from the 1960s era (still am). I would also buy vintage jewelry, knickknacks and home decor if my allowance allowed. ALL of those loves carried over into my adulthood when I finally could afford more vintage pieces on my own. I started buying vintage furniture and home accessories as long as it gave off a Barbarella meets The Jetson's meets Jungle Pin-up Girl energy.

    Finally, when EBay became a thang, I started recollecting the ceramics. I began with black Shafford cats, and vintage mermaids, anthropomorphic shaker/cookie jars and eyelash kitties. Then about 6 years ago the current Japan Kitsch mania hit when I found myself on google images. I started getting obsessed with finding certain rare pieces like Lefton Pink Poodle Chef. I ended up on Pinterest one day and saw those faces and was like WHAT ARE THESE CREATURES and the rest is history! That rabbit hole led to many others.... all sorts of other kitschy ceramic must haves. I was not on any social medium platforms at this time and still using only selling sites as well as garage sales, thrifting or antiquing to find items. Then one day a conversation on Etsy with a seller about Lefton Pink Poodles led me to a fellow collector on IG which basically changed EVERYTHING. Here they were, all those faces I drooled over. People actually had them, traded them, sold them and shared links with each other on where to find them. At this point my collection accelerated BIG time. I am still close friends with the collector who brought me onto IG. She even taught me how to post with hashtags, I was so old school and never thought I would be on social media and look at me now all hash taggin' and shit!! It was at this time I met some of my closest collector friends (including you!) and here we are, happily haunted by Japan Kitsch 24/7. My collection is truly now on steroids as compared to before joining IG. As far as what items I am always on the hunt for, now that would be the M. Kazami Fancy Land unicorns, Ado bouffant girls and faux furry beasties. I am attempting to practice more self-discipline these days and keep my purchases limited to the more rare items...AND just when I say I am satisfied with my collection a fellow collector will post a fabulous piece that immediately gets added to my ISO list. There is just a plethora of kitschy cuteness out in the world. I have to admit, part of the fun is the treasure hunt itself and then the thrill of finding the item and finally opening the box -- it just makes me feel like a kid on Christmas morning!

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

    My mom loves it and was the one always buying me the majority of things I collected when I was younger. As I got older she would go antiquing with me and always knew my stile and what to point out. My 11 year old nephew thinks they are weird and creepy "like possessed dolls". He says, just watching him from behind glass. We have this debate a lot, I'm like HOW are these frightening to you? Look at those innocent faces!!! They are all basically baby animals, how in the world is that eerie?! On the flipside, his sister who is 6, love to point out who is all winking, who is all furry, who is all pink, who is all blue and who all has sweaters. She also is rather obsessed with my Halloween Horror office and constantly asks to go in there, her curious little hands stress me out quite a bit, however, she is very respectful and knows to be careful with certain things. As a further precaution, I use museum putty on most of my breakable if they are not locked up in my cabinets, so that helps. My oldest niece who is in her mid 20's collects vintage as well. She is a thriftaholic and is always bringing unique vintage items home especially from the 1970's. It's such a blast to shop all the different era's between the two of us!

    I tend to surround my self with the like-minded people. My bestie collects horror movies/toys, Halloween, gothic and baroque giving his home a 1960's Hammer film vibe. My husband has a small collection of oddities like glass eyeballs, antique poison bottles, pocket watches, skeleton keys, coins and arrowheads. He also collects records, books and art.

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

    Pink Poodle Chef, she is the reason I have most of what is in my collection today. She was my first rare kitsch obsession and the reason I joined IG. The teapot of that series was also one of my 1st pieces of a harder to find more expensive item. That giddy feeling in actually finding her for sale, buying her and adding to my collection remains with me to this day. 

If no one had access to the internet how would you describe your shop and what you sell?

    It's like going through your favorite eccentric aunt's attic, just no dust or cobwebs. Although, I don't really consider myself as much of a seller but rather a collector just making room or extra cash for more cuties. My listings are rather lackadaisical in description and it takes me months to even list the item I decided to let go. With that being said, I do love meeting new friends in the fellow collectors that buy from me.

 What is the most unique item you have come across?

    I know this sounds like a setup, however, it HAS to be the red Fancy Land unicorn bank I JUST adopted from your shop. She is unlike all my other unicorns in that she looks like a bell since she has no legs. Also the purple Rushton cow Daisy with those udders! I purposely have her udders in full view off the top of one of my display cabinets. She makes me smile when I walk by and look up at her every day. I mean, talk about attention to detail on vintage kitsch item --- actual cow boobs on a plushie toy meant for kids back in the day, I love it.

 If any item could just land in your lap for free what would that be?

    Oooh, there are so many on my brain, however, IF I had to pick just one, it would have to be the Ado Mizumori mod bouffant girl phone planter! I have been obsessed with collecting this series lately and that planter with her flirting on the phone is FAB-U-Lous!!! Luckily, I do have some kitschy fairy godmothers lookin' out for me (hint, hint). Hopefully I can add her to my collection one day soon!

Have you noticed an uptick in popularity for the cute kitsch aesthetic, why do you think this is so?

    Yes, for sure. We now see vintage kitsch in art, music, movies and TV shows. Also, all the replicas being produced---even all the retro Christmas ornaments made to look like vintage pieces we collect or just remind us of family heirlooms from back in the day. The internet has boosted art and nostalgia to a wider audience. The internet is a part of most of people's daily lives in one way or another and is consistently adding more social media platforms for people to connect, share, discover, reminisce and buy or sell. we can also find items we didn't even know existed in the first place. I also think a lot of people find comfort searching for childhood memories in vintage pieces, looking for that one piece that was always a family favorite displayed during Holidays back in the day, a reminder of more innocent times. It's definitely a trip down memory lane and the novelty aspect of the kitsch piece can be so expressive, quirky and fun. These pieces are playful and can certainly bring the inner child back out as well helping us to recollect that warm and fuzzy feeling we all love to get. 

 Is there anything else you would like to add?

    I just want to say that since I've started collecting vintage kitsch I have met so many like-minded and incredible people. I now have several close collector friends, of which you are one, and I think this community is one of the most supportive, fun and artistic groups to be a part of. My collection would not be what it is today if it were not for my friend and fellow collectors. Xo

 Aww, I truly enjoyed reading your thoughts on Kitsch and your collection Paula! Thank you so much for your love of vintage!! You inspire us!! Hugs to you as well my dear friend!! 

Okay guys, until next month's interview! Happy Hunting!

Thank you for stopping by! ~ ggsdolls

Interview with KaylaSunshine!!

  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 March, my blog interview is with an awesome squeak toy collector, talented IG seller and 1/3 owner of the FaceBook shop Three Daisies Vintage also known as Kayla M. or kaylasunshine32 on Instagram!

Born and raised in Arizona, Kayla and her family moved to Aurora, Oregon, and own a family run business there called, Three Daisies Vintage. Okay, let me have Kayla tell you all about her collecting world... 

My family and I started collecting vintage all at around the same time in about 2014. I actually started collecting old TV show memorabilia first, before I got into collecting squeak toys. My favorites were "The Monkees" and "The Partridge Family". I started with watching all the episodes of the TV shows, then I went on to collect things like comic books, trading cards, posters, toys, and more.

 

The next kitschy thing I collected during that time was 'Dream Pets' as well. I had quite a few of them, and I still do. It was actually my mom who bought the first squeak toy we found. She started a collection of them first, and then that’s when I decided to start my collection with squeak toys!

It hasn’t always been with vintage, I’ve always been a collector even since I was little. Whenever a certain toy came out that I liked, I wouldn’t sleep until I “collected them all”. So if they came in a different color, a different shape/size, some kind of different variant, I HAD to have them all.

The main thing with me, to keep me interested in something, or to keep me going with ANYTHING, there always has to be more... There always has to be something I haven’t seen yet to keep me excited about what I’m doing or what I’m collecting. So with squeaks, and with vintage in general, it’s not only the thrill of the hunt in finding these toys, it’s knowing there’s still more out there to explore, there’s still more out there to see that you haven’t seen already.

When people ask me questions about squeaks or certain toys, they assume I know it or assume I have it, and that’s not always the case... I’m seeing new squeaks weekly, that I’ve never seen. So that’s what keeps it interesting, knowing there’s always more that you could discover with squeaks, with toys, or with anything vintage. 

I’ve always liked happy things and seeing happy things, and wanting to be around happy things. Not just with people, but my surroundings as well. Being happy is what I’m all about, that’s why my name is Kayla Sunshine on Instagram and my favorite color is yellow. I like sunshine and happiness.

And the moment I saw squeaks and as silly as it sounds, I thought “these are such happy little toys”. And I think they are so different from other toys and novelties because of how happy they are and how different each and everyone are.

My collection has always looked like a collection. Even when I first started collecting, I kept finding squeaks when we would go out vintage shopping, so my collection accumulated quite quickly to be honest. I’ve posted my progression with squeaks for quite awhile on Instagram, sharing new ones I’ve found or discovered.

Back in 2019, my family and I were featured in Flea Market Style magazine, showcasing our home in Arizona right before we moved here to Oregon. It showed my collection, my moms collection, my sisters collection, and several other neat pieces in our family’s collection. Back when they interviewed us for the magazine, they asked what my squeak count was... at the time it was at over 500 squeaks. Now 3, almost 4, years later, I have not counted since, but I’m sure I’m probably getting up to the 700s now for my squeak collection.

I’m always looking for squeaks of course, different ones I don’t have and ones that I already have too. Again, lots of people assume I have them all, but truth is, I don’t! So I’m always scouring the local antique shop, flea markets, online, and even in different states when we travel, for one I don’t have.

Besides squeaks, 3 other major things I collect are; vintage rubber face animals, vintage greeting cards and vintage figurines. Not as big as the squeak collection, but I also have quite big collections of these 3, I mentioned. I haven’t counted, but if I had to guess, I think I have around 150 or so rubber face animals, LOTS of figurine, planters and salt and pepper shakers, and probably close to around a few hundred greeting cards. So while going out shopping, I don’t just keep my eye out for squeaks, but also rubber face animals, greeting cards and figurines that catch my eye as well! And of course while shopping, we’re always looking and buying merchandise for our store as well.

My family is very supportive of my collections, because they collect vintage as well. They weren’t really surprised when I started collecting vintage because I have always collected something, but this is for sure the longest collection I’ve stuck with.

 I get asked this a lot actually. Which is my favorite or which one is the most special to me, and honestly I probably couldn’t pick out just one. I really like my collection as a whole, I like how it looks altogether.

My family and I started selling at antique malls and vintage shops in Arizona starting in about 2015, I believe. We had both and eventually my sister and I worked at one of the malls. I was a cashier and my sister was the manager of the mall. The mall had over 250 dealers and is one of the largest antique malls in Arizona.

The experiences at the malls have all been very different... I’ve learned so much working at an antique mall. What sells good, how the customers are, how they act, and how to work in retail. Since opening our store in 2020, we’ve learned even more being owners of the business and not just that, but owning an antique store in a different state, which is totally different.

I could go on and on about stories of what we’ve seen and experienced working in the vintage industry in the last 9 years, but there are way too many...

I would describe the items as kitschy cute. I’ve always thought of the word 'kitsch' as meaning something is cute or something adorable or lovable. But if you actually look up the word 'kitsch', it actually defines as “art, objects, or design considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garnish-ness or sentimentally”. Also referred to as “tasteless, showy, gaudy, tacky or retro”. So it’s interesting what the word actually means, compared how you hear it on Instagram when people refer to the things we collect like squeaks or rubber faces. 

I would refer the things we sell at our shop different than kitschy, even though we do sell stuff like I collect here as well, we mainly sell vintage advertising, primitive, chippy, we’ve got a real mixture of vintage things at Three Daisies Vintage. We look all over to be honest. We look at flea markets, estate sales, garage sales, thrift stores, vintage shops, I shop for me personally online as well.

We look for things to sell in the shop that are something we think others will like too. The almost 3 years we’ve been open (we opened on June of 2020), we’ve kinda have gotten to know what our customers like and what they buy. So we also keep that in mind when we shop.

Lots of different things sell right away when they hit the shop. We post pretty much everything new we get in. And we get loads of messages about things when we post them, right away. Every year we’ve been open, we have a huge vintage Christmas show, where we take out our everyday merchandise and fill the shop up with only vintage Christmas, and when I say fill, we FILL it... So vintage holiday merchandise is always very popular. What’s also been pretty popular here is vintage tins. Like old candy tins, marshmallow tins, cracker tins. Not just tins, but anything with good graphic or images on it, sells very good and very fast.

 The most unique or unusual items we’ve came across has probably been for our personal collections at home. We have things like old clown heads from amusement parks, old animatronic store displays, flying elephants, you name it, we have lots of different things at home.

For me personally, my holy grail has been a Rushton octopus for quite awhile. I’ve never been one to spend oodles of money on one toy, so I could never pull the trigger on a toy worth almost $2,000. We are truly bargain hunters when it comes to vintage. Sure it would be nice to have one, but I’d be even more excited to find one for $5 at a flea market, than to buy one for a $1,000 online. So the Rushton octopus is the item that I’d like to land in my lap.

I have definitely noticed the increase in popularity with not only vintage but specifically vintage toys like squeaks and rubber face animals. Squeaks have always been pretty affordable for the most part. There are a few worth a couple hundred dollars each, but for the most part, affordable. But, figurines and rubber face animals more so, I can’t believe how much money these are starting to cost now. Never in a million years will I understand the price or the popularity to make these toys that price. Don’t get me wrong, I love rubber faces and figurines, but I can’t believe how much they are worth now to people. 

I love vintage and buying and reselling, and I’d like to do it for as long as I can as a profession. But I also have a major love for film and television as well. My dream job was to be able to work behind the scenes on a TV or movie set. I’ve always been so fascinated with television and movie history. My favorite decade as far as movies, TV shows, music, fashion, hairstyle, and so much more, is the 1980s. I so wish I could go back in time and take a trip back to the 1980s, specifically 1985, if I had a choice. My favorite 80s films are; "Back to the Future", "The Lost Boys", "St, Elmo's Fire", "Pretty in Pink", to name a few.... 

I also like some TV shows and movies from “more current times”. My two favorites being the TV show “Chuck” starring one of my favorite people, Zachary Levi. And my second favorite is a little show called “Stranger Things”. I especially like “Stranger Things” because it’s based in the 1980s.

So besides vintage toys, I’m all about old television shows, film and music. So go ahead and test me on some 80s songs or music!

 Oh my goodness Kayla!! Love a collector that is into the 80s dear! I grew up as a teen then and I for sure miss those days!! It has been a pleasure getting to know Kayla, her amazing collection and shop with her Mom and Sister! Thank you so very much for sharing your story with us dear!

It has been one full year since I've started this awesome blog interview series! Thank you for an awesome year guys!! Until next month when we'll meet another collector in the good ole' USA!! Until then, Happy Hunting!

Thank you for stopping by! ~ ggsdolls

Interview with OldSoulVintageCA!

 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 January, my blog interview is with a Canadian beauty with an eye for vintage, mentor and restorer, Savannah of OldSoulVintageCA on Instagram!

    Savannah is from Ontario, Canada and is 26 years old. She sells vintage toys on Etsy and vintage patchwork quilt blankets locally for a living. Now, onto my questions for Savannah! When was the first time you encountered vintage rubber faces? Hmm... I think the first time I had seen lots of vintage rubber face toys was on the website Flickr. Back in my early days of toy collecting when Instagram wasn’t really a thing, and a few Canadian Regal brand rubber faced toys locally at antique stores and such. I've always thought they were interesting and have never found them or any of my toys creepy. The knock off Rushton Brand Santas' can be found in almost every antique store nearby so I had seen those a lot.

 How do you describe your relationship with your collection, and what is the magical thing that keep you interested in it? I am extremely attached to my toys and also collecting and selling as a lifestyle in general. It does not feel like a job for me. Like other collectors, toys are really an escape for me! They are what keeps me going a lot of times. Throughout my life I have always felt like sort of an oddball with my obsession revolving around vintage toys and antiques! Since I can remember I always been obsessed with toys and completing the play sets I had among toy lines. They have always been a big part of my life and will continue to be. What keeps me interested in these magical toys is the unique personalities and energy each one brings. I believe they are a deep expression of who I am. I also feel like some of my older toys have personalities within them. Haha, this is why I get passionate about where they end up sometimes. I like that collecting them is endless, I am able to collect different types of toys from all eras without any limitations. Lastly, there is a lot of mystery surrounding them and their history. I’m always curious about the previous lives they have lived and enjoy talking with my friends doing toy detective work…trying to figure out the origins of how these toys came to be. Especially, Mary Rushton's creations. I’m constantly reading and learning new things about them in my spare time.

What is it about vintage kitsch aesthetic that makes it different from others? I would say the vintage kitsch aesthetic is different than other eras as it was really the staple and beginning of mass produced toys. Kitsch era heavily influenced toys throughout the following decades and even today that are being sold in stores. There is something so sweet and cute about the expressions, colors, and big eyes of the kitschy era. My collection originally started when I was younger. I used to go to yard sales with my grandpa as a child, he taught me how to be a finder. Once I grew out of the typical age where children stop playing with toys I was still very much obsessed with them. Mostly dolls! I started searching eBay and collector blogs, Flickr and became extremely influenced by Blythe dolls, Strawberry shortcake, Holly Hobby and rag dolls. They really took over my entire brain. My parents would find me lots of these toys locally and surprise me with them for Christmas! 

Okay, my collection now is honestly quite large, but I try to part with some items in order to acquire more without feeling too crowded. I have learned to get a bit picky with my collection and don’t normally share toys I am after or actively trying to collect on social media. I am always looking for unique toys that I don’t see much of and lately I am rekindling the flame with my collecting roots and love for antique and vintage rag dolls that are one of a kind!

What has been the reaction of your family, friends or colleagues about your hobby? My partner lets me take over rooms in our house and fill them with toys. So I thank him for that freedom and always supporting my collecting (ha ha). My parents have always been extremely supportive of my collecting. They even get so excited when I have new toy arrivals! We go out antique hunting quite often as a family as they are into this type of thing too. I am also extremely lucky to have a cousin who shares a passion of vintage and antique toys as well.  I have had boyfriends and friends in the past that would make fun of my collecting and really misunderstood it. So I kind of kept my toy collecting a big secret for a large portion of my life. (It’s not fun). I think a lot of people who know about my collecting in real life now don’t really get it and might find my toys unsettling. They cannot see the artistic side to them which is hard for me to understand. As I have grown older I embrace my collecting and now I don’t mind sharing it with new people regardless of their reactions or judgement. Some think it is a very unique hobby and are shocked at the craziness of the toy collecting world. Especially the value of some items.

Tell me about your favorite item in your collection and why it is so special to you? I have a LOT of favorite toys so this question is extremely hard for me…but I would say that my primitive rag doll cat and also this large mask face cat are in my top favorites. They are just so special to me…worn and played with kitties with character that hit every checkbox for me. I instantly feel happy when I look at them.  

As a seller, when did you start selling, what has been your experience and is it easy to find things to sell for your shop? I sold my first item on eBay when I was 13 years old! I found a vintage 'Jammie Pies' doll locally for 3 dollars and I think I sold her for 130 dollars! Which was a lot at the time. But my Etsy shop actually started when I was in college and pulling some of my collection out of storage and decided to part with some of my toy hoard. I posted them online locally and was shocked that the value had tripled since the time I had them packed away. I decided to start my shop and sell off my extra strawberry shortcake dolls that I had doubles of, but then started grabbing vintage toys while I was out thrifting as I sell patchwork quilt blankets and used to sell vintage novelty and band shirts or old clothing. I was able to turn this into a full time income and eventually quit my retail job. It took a lot of work to get my Etsy shop going with traction. There has been many times where I part with an item from my collection and feel extremely sad about it. But I always remind myself that better toys eventually come along with patience.

How would you describe your shop? I would describe the items I sell as vintage kitsch 80s and 90s girl toys but I also occasionally sell kitschy decor items if I come across them. How do you source the items you sell in your shop? Now I source the items I sell from a good friend of mine that lives nearby and treasure hunts all day. I normally pick up toys from him every week, clean them up and post them. My favorite thing is to clean 80s and 90s toys and fix them as close to original as possible. It is so rewarding to save toys and it is a whole other passion within collecting and selling. Cleaning toys is so therapeutic and I love being able to reunite people with their childhood memories. I also buy lots of my toys online, I search selling sites daily. Sometimes I buy things and they don’t sell. It takes a lot of time, energy and money to figure out what sells and what doesn’t. I have donated lots of toys back after spending time cleaning them etc because of this reason! The types of items I mainly look for are nostalgic toys, the more obscure the better. The best toys to sell are ones that other thrifters wouldn’t consider grabbing. But ultimately I just sell things that grab my eye.

What are some of the best selling items in your shop? The things that sell the best in my shop are Polly Pockets, Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears, vintage Fisher Price and Playskool plush toys. I am frequently restocking these items. What is the most unique or unusual item you have come across? The most unique item I have come across are my vintage oil cloth carnival prize plush and also some antique cloth dolls I have. I truly cherish them and don’t think I can ever part with them. 

If there was any item that was given to you or found for free, what would it be and why? If any item was given to me for free of charge I would have to say I would choose some early Rushtons. Mary’s earliest work really interests me. There has been a huge increase in demand for rubber faced toys in the past years. I think most of it is attributed to social media and the pandemic but also because toys have evolved into somewhat of an *aesthetic* as well…As soon as Covid started I noticed I had a lot more sales on my Etsy shop, more people interested in their childhood toys but also people have had a lot more time to get heavily influenced by Instagram collectors and discover rubber faced toys. 

I also think that new collectors are drawn to “fixing“ these old toys as a hobby. Which can end up being very unfortunate to witness if they don’t know what they are doing. But overall I think that Rushton's in general are extremely enticing and interesting. Once you have one they kind of become an addiction. Their quality and craftsmanship is truly unmatched. Right now the market is so competitive and these toys are becoming more and more rare. Especially hard to find in original untouched condition. It seems that younger generations of teenagers are very into rubber faced toys and squeaks which I find interesting!

Thank you again so much to Savannah with sharing her story, collection, and shop! Be sure to visit OldSoulVintageCA on Etsy, and Instagram for Savannah's amazing restorations and treasures up for sale!!

Until next month, when we meet another collector for the Month of February!! Happy Finds Y'all!!

Thank you for stopping by! ~ ggsdolls