"A Hunting We Will Go, A Hunting We Will Go...

 ...Heigh Ho, the dairy-o. A Hunting we will go!" ~ composer Thomas Arne.

Vintage hunting for finds is always, at least almost always therapeutic for me! So here's what I found recently...

I found these not vintage but cute items from Japan. Another Ayumi Uyama miniature posedoll princess above, I listed in my shop and she sold right away! Below, a lovely posedoll princess case with jewelry accessories inside. Also, a book case, that includes toy jewelry as well. I just love vintage Okura Toy accessories. They remind me of my childhood so much! Glad to see these items finding their forever homes too!

I also found these Ayumi tins. Both have been listed in my shop! Just look at those cute Bunka dolls on front. A vintage Bijou Eater bunny in floral pastel design. Just adorable and she plays music too. Always fun to find a plush that is unique.

My favorite, this hot pink container. The top can be changed out so, I put some adorable Meyercord cuties on the front! Lovely container to hold your jewelry! I was able to find this rare Gunderful Chime Bunny, still lovely too. She is also listed in my shop. I love her blue eyes!

When I shared my Kubrick Pink Blythe last month I got a few people interested in getting one. So I found more for the shop! They are just amazing and hard to find too! This adorable Columbia Toy's blue Easter Chick. I added a bonnet to her which can be removed. She is also added to my shop.

I recently saw these Gatcha retro albums and I am so happy I got them. There are five in this series, a red album with a bear, a yellow with a fawn, a blue with a squirrel, a green one with a puppy, and a pink album with a bunny. Each made of vinyl and cardboard with three pages inside for you to add Purikura photos inside. Just too adorable. I've already added them to my shop!

I even made a video about them. I will definitely be using mine to add cute photos inside it!! Below, a closer look at the before and after of my blue bear by Rushton!!

I love his face mold, the same face mold of the large panda. This blue bear is a rarity! Well, that's all for now!

Happy Thrifting!

Thank you for stopping by! ~ 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

American Girl Barbie!

 I recently found a lovely 1958 Mattel Japan American Girl Barbie with blonde hair. I don't generally collect Barbies, well at least not since the early 2000s when I first collected Francie. But, I was searching to find an American Girl, and too my surprise, there was one, at a reasonable price. I bought her and when she arrived. She just needed some cleaning up!

When she arrived, the seller had included a Peewee doll, and a Knickerbocker Kewpie Bunny plush in the box. I was very surprised! I immediately took the pajamas Barbie had on and washed her hair and cleaned up her face. She had no green ear, just a little lipstick rub. I was very happy. I thought about keeping her, but, I have decided not to collect dolls if I can help it. I told myself, if I did find dolls, I would get them to resell. Haha! She originally came with an original Barbie fashion called, "Slumber Party". I was able to find an original American Girl swimsuit via Ebay. She turned out lovely after her shower. I then, relisted her via my Etsy shop and she sold about a week later.

It was nice to see her adopted. I then, took the Knickerbocker Bunny and washed him next...   I restuffed him. Sewn the areas that had holes, and added a bow along with a working wind up music box inside his zipper compartment. It plays, "Easter Parade". A fitting song for him. He turned out quite lovely and is listed in my Etsy shop. I also received this lovely artist wall decor of Rushton's Omar Octopus made by KewtKitsch on IG. I love her packaging!! She made me laugh so much, as I opened up the box!

KQ made him to look just like the original Omar. I love the style of lace and ribbon combo! Quite unique and he will be a great addition to my wall decorations. I was able to find some dolly fashions made for Kikipop, that could fit my little Japan Bisque doll, Betty! I just need to find the jumper I have. I know it is some where in my storage containers... LOL

I also received from Japan, via DHL, these lovely Nesting Bento boxes by Chocoholic. I got three sets. One with a poodle, one with cute animals and the last, with adorable girls. I will list two and keep the animal set for myself. So check my Etsy shop soon! These will be great for lunch boxes or just to use as storage for your cute things!!

I also received this lovely blue My Toy plush bunny. She just needed a bit of cleaning up. She looks so cute with the red one as well. I just sold the red bunny this past week. The blue one is listed in my shop! I forgot to mention also in my box from DHL, are these ceramic teal puppy figurines. I have been wanting a set since seeing them a few years back. To my surprise, there was a set up for grabs recently. So, I was very happy!! They are quite unique and adorable too! Just look at those chubby puffy cheeks!!

Sara and I had decided we'd spend last night at our family friend's condo. She is off island. So we've been checking in at her place to make sure her mail is picked up and other things. Our initial plan was to go swimming in the pool. But sadly, we had to make a change of plans. So, instead we just relaxed and lounged around. It was very meditative. I took some friends with me, and this morning we left early for the Post Office, and I picked up new ones. It was a busy Saturday!!

We left the condo by 11:30am and headed home. I hope you are all staying safe and enjoying your weekend!

Thank you for stopping by! ~ ggsdolls

Recent Online Finds...

      It has been one week into August and busy with so many projects... LOL  But, that is okay. I like keeping busy. No appointment date set as to my Breast Cancer removal, and that's okay too. Here's what finds came in the mail the past week...

I found via Yahoo Japan, these lovely vintage DX accessory purse case and box with hankie set. The clear purse case above came with lovely multi colored beaded necklace, 2 hair clips, 2 rings, and 2 clip on earrings. I've already listed it in my Etsy shop last week and it sold. The boxed jewelry set below, I will keep for now. I love the Licca purse case. I need to replace the gold tone chain, because it is rusting. ugh. But I've already washed the hankie. Just unique and I love vintage toy jewelry!

I bought these fake cotton candy and lollipops to use as props with my plushies and dolls! And, I am so glad I did! Just look at Happy and Chubby with their yummies!! They definitely make great props!!

I never knew this existed, Knickerbocker wind up music box. No, its not from a plush, but sold exactly this way. You turn the crank and it plays a song. In this case, it's "Three Blind Mice." A bit off tune, but that's probably because its like over 50 years old. I think about 1950s. I found out there are other color combinations. This one is pink with gray. I've seen pink with blue and pink with black. So far, songs like "Rockabye Baby." In the box from Japan, I also got these amazing Pose doll ornaments!! These are hard to find. They make great Christmas Tree ornaments as a friend once shared on flickr. Just love them and they are a great addition to my collection.

Next, this lot of vintage Japan wallets, memo book, origami and mirror cases! I've already listed a few in my shop and kept a few. My fave is the origami case in pink below, the mini pencil case, and the rose quilted mirror and case. Just look at that pencil case, it is so small and opens just like a life sized one!! OMG! Then, I found a miniature bone China girl sitting figurine. She was too cute to pass up. Quite unique and looks like a little fairy.

Then, two lovely Rushton plush bunny and puppy. I love that the puppy still had his original Rushton tag!! Their colors are quite unique. The hot pink bunny is just adorable. She will be added to my collection. The orange puppy, is smaller than he actually looks about 6 inches across. He sits a top my record player for now...

On Instagram a friend shared a Snapchat photo of herself and she looked exactly like an ad from the 1950s!! I literally downloaded Snapchat just for this filter. I love it!! It was so much fun to do! Next, I was able to find some pink vtg Valentine's Chocolate boxes on Ebay. I sold the first one, and decided to keep the other in dots. They are great for props!! The flocked bear with blue hair is also a recent find. He is just adorable and also listed in my shop!!

Can you believe, I found this lovely vintage Japan baby hooded blanket off of Ebay!! When I was searching for baby blankets, it popped up and it took me a month to decide if I was really going to buy it. I"m so glad I did. This blanket is rare, even in Japan. It has vtg bunny and bird nostalgic puffy decals on it. Many fabrics have the very same characters on it. But this one is a puffy applique. Even the drawstrings for the hoodie, had pompoms!! I love the way the seams of the blanket has like chiffon pink fabric sewn into the edging. This style reminds me of the 1960s style of sewing the edging on blankets. So cute!!

Next, this lovely vintage nursery Mother Goose record. Sadly, it has a scratch on one side, but I am hoping to follow some of the directions on google to see if I can fix it. I have yet to play it on my record player. Soon!! Below, a commission for a dear friend. I have his bear and am working on replacing his fur. I can't wait to see how it all turns out!! More on this, soon!

Have a great week all!

Thank you for looking! ~ ggsdolls