Adios 2024...

 ...Hello 2025!! Here's my Top Nine on Instagram! ~ ggsdolls

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Interview with Atomic_Bouffant

  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 December, my blog interview is with an amazing collector of mid century decor, and kitsch, meet Rockabilly Beauty Elena or atomic_bouffant on Instagram!!

        Elena was born in Ohio, but was raised in the Metro Detroit, MI area. Her grandpa was from Mexico and her Grandma from NY state. They met and settled in a small town in Michigan about 60 miles outside of Detroit, and this is where Elena's Mom was born and raised. When Elena was about 7 years old, her Mom moved them closer to the Detroit area for her career. Elena then moved to New York City in the 90's and lived there for almost 15 years, and worked behind the scenes in fashion advertising. Eventually, she worked as a production coordinator for a post audio mixing company. 

        She also played the bass guitar in a very Cramps-like goth/post punk band while she was living there. After NYC, she returned to Michigan to go back to school for a degree and change of pace. She has lived in the city of Pittsburgh, PA with her husband for the last 10 years, which she loves for its old architecture, green hilly beauty, close proximity to tons of antique malls and historical landmark road trips! She currently works in administration as an office manager for an architecture and interior design company. She also has her creative hobbies on the side.

         Gigi:  When and under what circumstances did you encounter vintage kitsch, and do you collect anything else?

        Elena:  The circumstances which I first "consciously" encountered vintage kitsch was in my teen years during the 1980's. I say "consciously" because I grew up surrounded by a lot of it as a child of the 1970's and didn't know any better. But I truly developed a conscious love for it as a collector in the mid-1980's when I started shopping at thrift stores due to a blossoming love for vintage 1950's dresses and 1960's mod clothing. I was also fascinated with my mom's old pictures when I was young and loved seeing the 1960's groovy mod outfits she and her sisters wore with their big bouffants and flip hairdos. I always count her as a huge influence for following my passions and interests. Additionally during the mid-80's, my best friend at the time and I became obsessed and inspired by the 1960's mod fashion and pop culture after MTV rekindled our crushes on The Monkees after airing all of their episodes again in 1986. When digging through the vintage clothes at thrift stores, I would always make a point to go check out what they labeled the "bric-a-brac" section (which literally translates to "things of little value") and that's where you'd find most of the intriguing and tacky vintage kitsch home decor or curiosities and knick-knacks. I was hooked.

        As far as collecting anything outside of the vintage kitsch category, I also collect vintage vinyl records that I find in thrift stores, antique malls, and the occasional record store. Music is another huge passion of mine and I've always loved fun vintage record cover art and incorporated them into my decor as well. I tend to collect a lot of vintage country music from the 1950's through early 70's, old rockabilly, old lounge music, raunchy instrumentals that sound like they're from a 1960's strip club, and anything that might look like a fun discovery based on the record cover art. My husband also collects, and still has most of his original punk/post-punk record collection from when he was young. Plus, I still have a few of my early 80's records from the old school hip-hop genre, so between the two of us, we probably have over a thousand records. We also have a small vintage radio and record player collection. We are both very nostalgic about them because we grew up listening to A.M. radio and record players. And for the ones that don't work, he can usually repair them.

        Gigi:  How do you describe your relationship with your collection; what is the magical thing that attracts you to these items and keeps you interested?

        Elena:  I'd say the best way to describe the relationship with my collections and the magical thing is that attracts me to these items and keeps me interested is probably the wonderful nostalgia it conjures up, mixed with a love for the visual design aesthetics, as well as the adventurous thrill of the hunt! Not to mention the mechanics of how well things were made. So much of what I love comes from eras when everything was so much more beautifully designed, colorful, and built to last! We live in a time where everything mass produced is so cheaply made and easily disposable in limited choices of neutral color palettes. It's a mystery to me why so many people are terrified of color the last couple decades, so it just makes me appreciate my collections even more. People seemed to appreciate bold, fun colors, patterns, and designs so much more in the older eras up through the 80's. What keeps me interested is the thrill of the hunt, my ongoing love for nostalgia, favorite eras, and curiosity for discovering something unique that I've never seen before.

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

        Elena:  I think the vintage "cute" aesthetic is distinguished from other toys and novelties of the era it comes from because of what I personally like to call the "creepy cute" quality of it. For example, baby animal kitsch always had an adorable, but very peculiar look, with their features being so exaggerated and exceptionally happy looking to the point of looking a little crazy (for lack of a better description... Haha!). The same can be said for how children were sometimes depicted in kitschy illustrations/paintings back then... the eyes were always extra large and exaggerated with big ol' fluttering eyelashes. They really seemed to have a thing for big, thick black eyelashes and that's one of my favorite details of so much of the kitsch that I love from the 1950's through early 70's.

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

        Elena:  As far as some of the first vintage kitsch items I collected, I would say it started with a few random items I'd spot in the "bric-a-brac" sections at thrift stores, like old 8-track tapes, wall art, and vintage 1960's and 70's teen magazines. I also worked at a huge thrift store briefly in Michigan when I was 18 called Value Village and would set aside things I loved while pricing in the back. The manager would give us incredible discounts for a huge bag of stuff. Back then it was so much easier to find vintage in general to the point where I'd literally have to put things back because my cart was overflowing. It was nuts! And as I got older and continued to thrift, it just evolved from there. When I first moved to New York City in 1990, I didn't really have anything except my 80's fashion magazines and my cats! So when I finally found a bigger apartment there, I was so excited to start decorating. One of the first items I bought was a really cool vintage gothic looking chair from an antique store in the East Village near where I was living. It was definitely kitschy and probably from the 60's or 70's, back when the gothic Spanish revival trend was popular decor. And I still have that chair! I love vintage kitschy furniture. I was really into a Victorian-Mod-Goth kitschy decor aesthetic at the time. Currently, I would say the majority of the collection I have now is more on the mod and glam side from the 1950's through early 70's with a handful of vintage monsters thrown in for good measure.

        As far as vintage items that I'm always looking for, it's just whatever catches my eye and jives with our home. I gravitate towards the whimsical, unique, and weird items, as well as glamorous ones. Like many collectors, I also have an ongoing "Holy Grail" list and I've been fortunate that a handful of the items I've hoped to find, have unexpectedly fallen into my path.

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

       Elena:  The reaction I've gotten from family, friends, and colleagues is mostly all positive and supportive. My closest, long-time friends are very like-minded and have their own collections, so it's always a real gas to share each other's vintage kitsch finds or thrifting adventures. When I was young, my mom would get a big kick out of some of the things I would drag home and tease me in a good-natured way because she grew up with or remembered so much of it!

        Friends who are not "collectors" usually find it interesting to learn about the items and their history. It may not be their "thing", but they're always very respectful. On the flip side, during the mid-80's, my childhood best friend and I would sometimes encounter strangers in public who'd either think we were total weirdos in our thrifted vintage clothes, or that it was cool we were doing our own thing and didn't give a crap what anyone else thought. We were just having fun being ourselves! During the early 90's, a friend's cousin actually teased me once in a comical way and said "E, why do you always wanna wear clothes that someone's else's butt has been up in?!" I was like, "Why not?!" Haha! I'd love to know what he thinks now since vintage has become so popular in the last 15 years. I've also met some wonderful new friends and acquaintances through the Instagram vintage kitsch community. Everyone is so supportive and inspired by each other and I love that! I also love seeing other people's collections and things they create inspired by kitsch and vintage! 

         Gigi:  Tell me about your favorite vintage item and why it is so special.

        Elena:  As far as my favorite vintage kitsch item and why it's so special, I wish I could narrow it down to one, so I'll mention three. The first is a set of three mid-1960's children's plastic bouffant toy play wigs made by a company called Norstar. They came in three colors: brunette, blonde, and redhead. And the package design is so incredibly kitschy and colorful! I'm a big sucker for vintage package design too. Anyway, I forget how I first became aware of these bouffant play wigs, but I just remember becoming instantly obsessed with the whimsical weirdness of them being made as toys so little girls could look 30. Haha! Though I promptly put them on my "Holy Grail" list, I never thought I'd find them because they're as rare as hen's teeth. Any time I did a Google search, nothing would come up for sale. But jump ahead to when I started to use my Instagram account regularly a few years ago, I clicked on the hashtag "vintage kitsch" and lo and behold, somebody was selling the whole set in great condition. I messaged the seller right away and bought them for a great price. I currently display them in my dining room next to the vintage beauty  shop chair, which gives the whole corner a vintage bouffant/beauty shop theme. I wish they fit on my head to play with, but unfortunately they don't. Haha! 

          Elena:  My other favorite vintage kitsch item would have to be my 1950's Moss lamp, named after Gerry and Thelma Moss of the Moss Manufacturing Company. I NEVER thought I would find a Moss lamp in the "wild" in a million years and it literally fell into my path. The history behind them is pretty fascinating for those who would like to Google it. Anyway, a couple years ago my husband and I spontaneously decided to go to an estate sale one late Sunday afternoon at a little modest house about 45 minutes away. My husband tends to walk faster then I do at estate sales and about five minuted into browsing, he yelled that I needed to "Come take a look at this!". I could tell by his voice that he had found something special since he knows what I like. Sure enough, when I turned the corner, my jaw dropped at the sight of a stunning, kitschy Moss lamp in all of its majestic glory (covered in years of dust). And it was the very style I dreamt of finding! Aside from the dust, it was in mint condition. They gave me a great deal on the price, so I was as happy as a clam. I was quite surprised it was still there. You just never know what you're going to find at an estate sale and that's part of the adventure. I was told by the organizer that they found the lamp in the attic and it had probably been up there a long time. I love learning the stories behind the items I collect as it gives them more meaning and history. Obviously someone once loved that item just as much as I do  now and they'd probably appreciate that it was still being cherished. Anyway, I cleaned it carefully and my husband greased up the little motor for the revolving ceramic figurine (which is a characteristic of vintage Moss lamps). It still works like new and sparkles like a holiday! It's got three fiberglass shades that stem up and out above a lighted plexiglass platform, adorned with kitschy plastic flowers on the sides, and a glamorous gold-speckled female Asian figurine that spins in the middle when you turn it on. It's literally art and pure kitschy MAGIC!

        Last but not least, my 1960's kitten doll with changing outfits called 'Pussy Meow' by TV Jones that comes in her own pink atomic TV carrying case has a special place in my heart too.

        Gigi:  If you run a shop, how or when did that start and what have your experiences been like? Is it sometimes hard to let go of a vintage item at a really great price?

        Elena:  Though I am not currently a vintage "vendor", I have sold on eBay and Etsy in the past, but currently only sell occasionally on Facebook Marketplace whenever I want to part with something.

        As far as sometimes finding it hard to let go of an item, therein lies my biggest challenge. Haha! There's been many occasions when I'll buy something with intentions to sell it, but then change my mind because I've become too attached to it. But I eventually part with it after a little while. I don't want to become a hoarder and have things sitting in my basement. Believe it or not, I actually hate clutter! But I don't mind 'organized clutter"... especially if it's displayed well! One of my first jobs when I was 18 was as a window dresser and visual merchandiser for a department store called Hudson's, so I love the art of display. I've sold items ranging from a 1940's mint condition floor console radio to a mid-century Johnson and Carper dresser. I've had people give me great deals, so I like to pay it forward by giving people I sell to great deals as well.

         Gigi:  If any item could fall on your lap (free of charge!), what would it be and why?

        Elena:  The ultimate vintage kitsch item that could land in my lap and be free of charge would be the 1960's German-made Kuba Komet TV console. It's the stunning epitome of atomic and looks like it's straight out of a 1960's sci-fi movie or Jetsons episode! It's a true testament to the great design imaginations of that era.

        Gigi:  Have you noticed an increase in popularity/demand for vintage kitsch in the last few years? If so, why do you think this aesthetic is appealing to more people right now?

        Elena:  I have definitely noticed an increase in popularity for vintage cute kitsch. My guess is that it's a lot to do with social media's reach to many people and the influence of mainstream pop culture. I think there's a few music videos that have featured vintage Edward Mobley squeak toys, which are incredibly kitschy, adorable, and slightly creepy cute. I have a few of those myself and love them!

       Gigi:  Is there anything else about your experiences that you would like to add?

      Elena:  It's kinda funny, when I was young, some people said I'd probably "grow out of" my passion for collecting/thrifting/wearing vintage, and called it a "phase I was going through". I always protested and said that's just not true or going to happen and I was right! Haha! For me, it's not just collecting "stuff"... these things have personal, heartfelt meaning in deeper ways through nostalgia, expression, history, design, and a desire to preserve the past through them. I will be a proud and happy vintage (kitsch) collector and enthusiast until the day I die.

        Truly awesome dear Elena and to learn more about you and your amazing vintage collections. Elena was the collector I spoke of who introduced me to the Norstar's toy wigs in my blog post, here. I still have my set. Now, to find the box!! Thank you so much Elena for your participation! Well that's it for my 2nd year of interviewing truly awesome collectors and or sellers of vintage kitsch!

        Well... I've decided to take some time off on doing interviews for next year, 2024. So I want to truly thank all of you for tuning in and reading them! And to all my dear sweet collector friends who participated with me. I've loved every monthly issue!! I will update you all when I decide or if I decide to continue this series... ?

        I hope you all have a lovely Christmas Holiday and Happy New Year! Peace, Love and Hope be yours! Happy Hunting!

Thank you for reading! ~ ggsdolls

Interview with pop_pop.smile!!

 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 October, my blog interview is with an amazing collector of kitsch, vintage Americana, and author of "Colorful! American Junk Catalog", released back in 2006 by Tomoko Nakamura or  pop_pop.smile on Instagram! 

Tomoko Nakamura

Tomoko:  I was born in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, a town near the sea. I got married at the age of twenty five and have lived in Tokyo ever since. When I was young, my family was a little complicated, and my grandmother's second husband was American. The only grandfather I knew is my American grandfather! As a young child, I was fascinated by colorful American toys and sweets that were completely different from Japanese ones. My grandfather bought me many souvenirs every time he returned to America. My aunt was also working at the US military base in Yokosuka at the time, and our family always used tableware from Fire King and Pyrex. Also my grandmother collects Japanese antiques, and I think I inherited my collector's spirit from her! It's no wonder that I later opened my own store and started selling vintage American products.

Vintage Disney Shelf Display.

Q:  Encounter with vintage kitsch~

Tomoko:  I first encountered vintage kitsch over 30 years ago. It's history began with an old Disney doll that I encountered at a domestic vintage shop or antique event. I've loved Disney movies and music since I was little, but I never got around to collecting merchandise. I was fascinated by the slightly creepy face of Plane Crazy and Steamboat Willie, which was completely different from the big-eyed Mickey Mouse of today. However, the Disney dolls of ancient times had completely different faces than they do now, and before I knew it, I was completely absorbed in their charm. At the same time, I also collect old American tableware and kitchen goods. At that time, British and French antiques were popular in Japan.

Tomoko's Rushton Plush and Toy Collection.

Vintage Kitsch Ceramics and Brach's display Cabinet.

Q:  What is your relationship with your collection?

Tomoko:  My collection and I are inseparable. "Cute" is justice (LOL), it is the power to live, and it is indispensable. The bond between us will never be severed and until someday when we become stars in the sky. 

When it comes to American vintage, there is a strong image of masculine things like American cars and Coca-Cola, and there were very few stores that carried cute American junk. Our store was very new at the time, so right after we opened, we were interviewed by many magazines about miscellaneous goods and interior design, and thanks to that, we quickly became famous. It only started to happen much later. I called it, "Lovely Junk." I secretly think that this is the spark that started the boom in Japan (Customers also have expressed this).

Q:  Vintage cute and kitschy aesthetic~

Ever since I was a child, I have never been attracted to things that are just beautiful. The important thing is to be cute and have a charm that makes you laugh. I have always loved American tableware (Fire King), and on holidays, my husband and I would go to vintage shops and antique events in Japan. Meanwhile, I started to pay attention to vintage dolls and toys. I think the first doll I got was either an old stuffed Pluto or a wooden Pinocchio. From then on, there was no stopping it. My husband and I loved vintage so much that we later opened a store. 

When I see the rooms of overseas collectors on Instagram, I don't think my collection is that big of a deal. But my friends are always surprised. I was also attracted to dolls with slightly unique faces. American toys are unique, and many have bold designs that would never be commercialized in Japan, which was interesting. I also liked the fact that they put a face on everything (I love anthropomorphic things). Even if I want to get something, I rarely search for it desperately. This is because I believe that if we have a relationship, we will naturally meet each other. 

Variety of Rushton, Roly Poly dolls N Ceramics.

 

Q:  Reactions from family and friends~

Tomoko:  My husband and I used to run a vintage shop together, so he understands. He discovered Rushton and Sun Rubber Toys even before they became popular in Japan and started buying them all by himself. I respect you (LOL). My husband loves natural beauty, and has been buying ceramics by Lefton and rubber face dolls by Rushton since the time when most people didn't know about their existence. Since my son was born and raised in the house, he has grown up to be a great collector (Star Wars). He understands what I like better than anyone else, so he always gives me breathtaking gifts!

Most of my close friends aren't interested in vintage or kitsch, so they can't understand why someone would want a dirty doll (LOL). My partner was very understanding and enjoyed collecting as well. On holidays, the two of us went to vintage shops, antique festivals, flea markets, etc., but domestic content was no longer enough for us, so we started going to America. So we decided to open our own shop, and so we opened an antique shop in Tokyo.

Tomoko's gift from her son's first paycheck.

Q:  Favorite Item~

Tomoko:  It's hard to choose just one favorite item. However, the first thing that came to my mind was the Showa retro tin rabbit that I remember my son gave to me as a gift with his first salary.

Q:  Do you run a store?

Tomoko:  I ran a vintage shop in Tokyo for about 12 years starting back in 1997. This store mainly sold American kitchen goods and toys. At the time, there were almost no similar stores, so it became a hot topic and was loved by many customers. Many people lined up early in the morning for events at Shibuya Parco, and it was a wonderful memory that I will never forget. (Currently closed). Even when I was running my own shop, I was happiest when I could make a customer happy with such a special encounter. 

I collected things that I think are good without being particular about them, just based on my sensibilities, so the dolls in my shop come from a variety of ages and countries. Even if it's not vintage, if I like it, I'll buy it. It's exciting to think that it will eventually become vintage and be cherished by new people. 

Tomoko and her Giant Rushton "Stinky" Skunk Plush.

 

Q:  The most unusual item I've ever come across~

Tomoko:  It's hard to choose one too. It may not be that rare, but what about the extra large size of my Rushton skunk? I often see small ones, but I've never seen anything this size in Japan other than the ones at my house. 

Q:  If you could get it for free~

Tomoko:  A Rushton Octopus! Many of other overseas collectors have them, but none have come to our house yet (I'm the type of person who doesn't search desperately for something even if I want it, so I value spontaneous encounters).

Vtg Squeak and Little Sophisticate Doll.

 

Q:  The popularity of vintage kitsch has increased in recent years.

Tomoko:  There has been a retro boom in Japan for the past few years. Showa retro dolls and toys are popular items among overseas collectors. When I was running the store, there were still not many people using the Internet (which is why the store was flooded with customers from all over the country). With the development of social media, it has become easier to find vintage items, and as more discerning people seek out rare items, I think kitschy items will also catch their eye. 

Young people probably don't know about that era, but for some reason they feel nostalgic about it (as I once did). There is a lot of competition for popular items because everyone wants them, but I really liked it when people noticed the unique child I had chosen and happily took it home.

Lefton ceramics, cookie jar, and gatcha toys.

Q:  About your past experience~

Tomoko:  I am currently retired and living a leisurely life, but I am glad that I was able to work to introduce Rushton and Fire King at a time when their names were not yet well known, and that after the store closed, I was able to work related to miscellaneous goods in Japan. I feel very blessed.

Although they are not vintage, "gacha gacha" (capsule toys) are currently very poplar in Japan, and I collect them as well. Japanese people love miniature things, and women especially love small and cute things no matter how old they are. Japanese miniature toys are of high quality, and I think they are popular with people overseas as well. I have been interested in these items for decades and have been collecting them, but I regret letting go of many of them because they were new to me. 

These items seem to be selling at high prices now. I love beautiful, cute things. I like girls with charming faces more then beautiful dolls. I love dolls and toys that make me laugh and feel happy every time I see their faces. I'm already 55 years old, but this aspect hasn't changed since I was a child. Even if I become a grandma in the future, this will never change.

Tomoko's display shelf of ceramics, toys, and wall decor.

 

Tomoko continued:  I have no plans to open my own store again in the future. Now, as a customer myself, I am very happy to be able to find what I like. When you're in business, you have to sell something even if you don't want to let it go. When I see something I want being sold right in front of my eyes, I feel both grateful and a little conflicted. My son, who started working this year, knows all about my tastes and often give me cute things as gifts. That's the happiest thing right now for me.

Tomoko Nakamura's Book, 2006.

 

It was a pleasure to interview Tomoko and have her share her story and collection. I must admit I am 'Star' struck to meet the first collector who began the Rushton Toy Company popularity in Japan! "Domo Arigato Gozaimasu" Tomoko. I hope one day soon to meet you in Japan!

Until next month's Interview with a Collector! Happy Hunting!

Thanks for reading! ~ ggsdolls

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