Sweet Kitsch Finds!!

 I received some adorable finds the last few weeks... So here's what came in!

I found this adorable furry ceramic pup in the wider version I was told and she is in lovely condition for her age. I have already listed her in my shop! I generally find the skinnier neck version, so to find this one was a joy! I also won this lovely vintage 1972 Rushton Toy Catalog. Some great colored pages inside too! I am deciding if I want to sell scans of it or not... Hmmmm!

I also adopted this adorable Japan Bisque doll jointed. The original owner, added a wig in blonde with curls and the dress and bows. I couldn't resist. She is just too cute and miniature!! Next, this lovely bright pink Columbia Toys plush poodle! She's huge! But so light. The seller even drew me a little note, how sweet of him!! I am deciding if I will sell her or not... Haha!

This adorable Ideal side laying bunny had a plastic film on her face and I removed it, now she is ready to be loved. I already have her listed in my shop! She is lovely and minty too! Even these sweet bunny tin tea tray and plates were added to my shop! Just so many cute goodies to choose from!!

A dear friend of mine, Savannah sent me a cutie I adopted from her along with several adorable vintage hankies, most I have listed already in my shop! Just look at these lovely hankies. My fave are the blue and pastel pinks! The cutie I got from her! Love this precious vinyl oil cloth bear doll. She is just the sweetest! Thank you Savannah!

Next, I happened upon this yearbook or catalog while searching up Rushton ads and this is basically the next best thing! It's a catalog of toys chosen by the Guidance Council of the USA. Inside, filled with toys, dolls, etc. that were in competition. Rushton's are featured inside as well! Just love the colored pages. Especially to see the Rushton's available prior to the ones we know!

Last, is this adorable Japan made Bunka Doll sign. I bought from an online shop in Thailand. Of course I fell in love with the adorable dolly sign and it used to say, "Sweet Country". See 2nd photo below. But I took my business card and now it says my shop name!! Haha!

Well, April is on its way out! My how time flies! I also had my annual mammogram and the results came in this past Monday. I'm Cancer Free!! Yippee!! Please be sure to get your annual mammogram done. It saves lives, and it saved mine!! Early detection saved me!!

Happy Thrifting Guys!!

Thank you for looking! ~ ggsdolls

He Spoke Not a Word, But Went Straight to His Work...

 Tis' the season folks!! Here are some unique finds the past few weeks into December!

I received a lot of items from Japan, that was sitting in a warehouse since 2020!!! Yup, 2020. When the pandemic began, I was still getting my boxes via EMS Japan, but by that summer, all flights stopped coming out of Japan into Guam. So, I had a lot sitting for over 2 years, because it was filled with ceramics that could not be sent in a cheaper way besides EMS, ugh. Oh well, so my loss is your gain. Many of these cute ceramic coin banks, etc. are listed in my shop!!

Can you imagine even this cutie who is the largest I've found, was stuck in Japan for that long as well. He is now safely with me and will be added to my shop as well!! Adorable Fujika flocked bear holding an ear of corn! Haha! Below, I also won this lot of anime girl toy jewelry sets. They are already listed in my Etsy shop!!

This 'smexy' and not a typo, Ado Mizumori Bouffant lady reading news ashtray? Not sure, perhaps just a figurine. Was listed in my shop and sold. I've only seen one other from a friends collection too! Below, a tiny tin canister by Chocoholic!! I fell in love with it and its so cute and tiny too! It now sits on my dresser for display.

I also adopted another vtg Japan dakin plush tiger. This one is just too funny and cute. I couldn't resist him! Both tigers are unique and remind me of 50s Japan. I also got this adorable new to me vtg rattle doll that stands upright. She has a wood body and rest of her is plastic or celluloid like my other cuties. I love her so much and she is quite unique for sure!

I also won this lot of plushies below. Most were in beautiful condition, no issues or flaws. My favorite is the Ideal pink Piggy. She will live with me for a bit. The others are up for grabs in my Etsy shop!! There is a Knickbocker Pouty baby in blue, a fabric face sleeping baby in amazing condition and so nice and soft too, and a Chubby Tubby the small size!! Trust me I so want to keep him!! Ugh! Or all of them, but I can't!

This adorable child's suitcase, I could not pass up on... It is definitely made in Japan and possibly by Rune Naito, because of the art work on the front of the case. Inside it is lined in a lovely pink color. Still in pretty decent condition for its age. I did have to reglue the mirror and I need to figure out what to use to take away the glue residue along the edges of the vinyl on the outside of the bag. It is a gross orange color.... Hmmm. What to do...

Next, I purchased this adorable miniature porcelain doll made by a S. Korean doll artist NursingU. She arrived safely to me and is just the cutest tiny little thing! Very well made and truly the sweetest thing ever! I hope to get another doll by her. I also bought a lovely plush side sleeping bear by Icecreambearshop. He arrived safely and so soft and just too cute!! So many cuties by Icecreambearshop are selling out!! Be sure to snag yours before they are all gone!! Available in my Etsy shop!

This posedoll I found in a Lot, I have one doll listed, but this one I will keep perhaps. She reminds me of Junichi Nakahara's 50s style art. Her face and eyes are just dreamy, and she's a whopping 24 inches tall!! She came with her original box as well. Just look at how adorable it is. I can imagine a Dad buying his daughter this doll to bring back to the States... How sweet!

Last, this adorable Macoto paint palette. It too was in a lot that I purchased from Yahoo Japan. Lovely artwork of Macoto T. girls and this one is my fave for sure. It also came with its original box. Made by the Japanese company Venice for school supplies.

It opens up like so. Truly adorable for sure!!

Well, that's all for now. I hope your holidays are shiny and bright this year! Until next time...

Thank you for looking! ~ ggsdolls

Sears Christmas Catalog Pages!!

 I've recently come across a website that has scans of the Sears, Montgomery Ward, and JCPenney catalogs for your viewing pleasure! christmasmusetechnical.com. I was so thrilled to come across this because, they can offer a lot of information on vintage dolls and toys that were released through the years. Sadly, only scans of the books from 1940 up until 2017 are available. So, here's what I found using the scans...

A foreword, Sears and Roebuck Stores released their first mail-order catalog in 1888, which sold jewelry and watches. Each year their catalogs added more and more products to them and it was easy to order from. You can read more here on how Sears catalogs became a household name.

While searching through and looking for rubber face plush toys... Sadly, they were not featured in the catalogs until about 1945 in a Sears Christmas Catalog. The first fabric face bear plush was named, "Windsome Bear". He was a 'lovable, huggable little fellow for little tots'. He stood about 15 inches tall, and made of rayon, and a mask face with hand painted features. He was sold at the time for about $1.96! How cool is that?! Though it would've been nice to find an earlier catalogs to see if there were other rubber face plushies. But because some catalog years are not listed, he will be considered first, at least in a Sears catalog. The other issue is that the listing doesn't show the company names who made them. So we can only guess or if we already know from what the plush or item is.

By about 1946, the catalog featured another fabric face plush, a bunny named, "Oswald the Rabbit". He stood about 19" tall, and had rayon fabric body with 'magic skin' synthetic hands. A first, to mention rubber features and not a fabric face. His original price was $3.89. Around 1950s, it was Ideal's musical bear and cat that are featured in the catalog that year, with its first, 'vinyl face' plush bear and cat. "Music Box Bear", was about 15" tall and cost about $5.89, whereas, the "Kitten with Squeaker Tail" was also 15" tall and priced at $2.79.

By 1952, the catalog finally featured a Rushton Toy Co. plush, "Buddy Bearkins" and "Sleeping-eye Bear". Buddy, is a happy two-some of a brother and little brother bears. Buddy being 15 1/2" tall, and sold at $4.79. The Sleep-eye bear was about 13 1/2" tall and cost only $3.69 each. It wasn't until the 1953 Sears Christmas catalog when Rushton's popular "Chubby Tubby" was introduced. See next catalog page after.

His, "Pert little face, shaped hands, feet are made of soft vinyl plastic. Chubby was about 12" tall, and about $4.79 back then. Others followed in 1956 and 1957's Sears Christmas catalogs. Daisy Bell at 10" tall, and priced at $5.49. In 1957, "Zippy the Chimp", "Social Skunk" instead of "Stinky Skunk" LOL, and "Puss in Boots" are seen along with a non-rubber face, "French Poodle" all by Rushton!

What I've also found is that Zippy, is a constant plush pal offered through out the years since his first print back in 1957. In fact, he is still offered in the catalogs all the way up until early 80s prior to Rushton Toy Company closing down by 1984. I've only seen him in the catalogs up until the 1980's Sears Christmas Catalog. It's no wonder you can find Zippy a lot when you search for Rushton plushies. It's because he was the plush they kept offering until the Rushton Co. closed it doors.

Yes, you will find colored catalog pages as well on the website!! Haha! It's really nice to see the toys in color too! Just look at the lovely Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme Rushton plushies offered!! It makes us collectors drool and wish it was 1964 again and selling at $4.97!! Oh my!!

By 1970, you can see the adorable "Caterpillar" plush and there's Zippy again too! By 1970 Sear's catalog, we see the very sought after "Happy Bear" and "Crying Bear" too! Each only $4.99!! Haha, so awesome!

By 1979, you can see the adorable "Mouse" with big ears in the Christmas Book. Called, "Novelty Mouse" here and sold at $9.99 back then. Well, that's it for now. I am sure there will be other things we can find out. But, those are the things that stood out for me. It is amazing that the website shared the books and each scanned page in detail for us to peruse drool over and enjoy for free too! 

Enjoy, while you can! These are amazing pieces of history and a wealth of information that we can get from these catalogs scans. Thanks to christmas.musetechnical.com for sharing the catalogs! We truly do appreciate the site.

Thank you for looking! ~ ggsdolls