Interview with Cutthroat_cuddle!

  Interview with a Collector - A ggsdolls blog Series

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

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

Jillian and her Rushtons.

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

Giga Pets

Jillian's Living Room.

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

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

Living room display.

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

A closer look, left side.

A closer look, center.

A closer look, right side.

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

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

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

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

Another look at display.

Jillian's Sewing Area display.

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

... to left side.

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

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

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

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

Upper shelves on left side.

Lower right side shelf.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Top right shelf view.

Jillian's cherished Rushtons.

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

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

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

Until next month's interview guys! Happy Thrifting!

Thank you for stopping by! ~ ggsdolls

Interview with 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 Petit__Museum

 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 June, my blog interview is with a lovely collector of Alice in Wonderland Disney merch and vintage rubber face stuffed animals, petit__museum or Alicexmarket before on Instagram!

    Hello my name is Cheryl, but I have never publicly shared my real name as I don't hintk it's important. Haha! One very few collectors know my name, some of them call me Alice as my Instagram's name was "alicexmarket" (I used to collect Alice in Wonderland collectibles so crazily just like how I am collecting Rushtons now.) But, I never correct them anyway. I would also like to explain a bit on my new account's name... It's called, "Petit Museum", as I have been dreaming of having a small museum to display my toys. If I had a museum, it didn't have to be a grand place, but a cozy and friendly place full of treasures.

I come from Macau, which is a special administration area in China, just like Hong Kong. It is a small city with a lot of casinos and resorts and I am still living there.

I am mainly and mostly an English teacher, but I also have other jobs. I work seven days a week, and I work hard for my dolls.

I mainly use my Instagram "petit__museum" to share my collection. I am quite lazy... and busy...

The first time when I encountered a Rushton, was when I saw a seller selling Rushton plushies on a Chinese online secondhand market. I was surprised the plush was quite expensive and went to eBay to do some research on the pricing. It was not that pricey on eBay, and so I actually got my first Rushton, "Artist Bunny" at around 80 US dollars that time around 2019. I bought it just for fun. I didn't really like it very much and I just left it in the cabinet for two years!!! LOL

Rushton is somehow my current favorite. I also collect Disney collectibles. Mainly the ones made in the 90s and early 2000s. My favorite is Alice in Wonderland. I have a HUGE collection of it. I also collect other characters like the Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Cinderella... Besides Disney, I also collect Madame Alexander dolls. I started to collect them as they have the Alice in Wonderland ones. But then you know... collectors will just buy more and more! Another collection of mine, will be the hand-painted dolls from a Japanese artist, Miyuki Odani. The brand of the dolls is called, "Be My Baby Cherry". Probably they are the only non-vintage ones. They are very expensive though, so I am not always buying new ones.

My collection is my life. It just makes me smile to look at them, to display them... It's satisfying... But, I will get mad easily if I see them being messed up by my cats! I love vintage stuff as their quality is very good compared to the products nowadays. Most importantly, I love the designs. I actually find modern styled things quite disgusting in terms of the design. I have an old woman soul... And for vintage toys like Rushtons, each of them are so unique, even for the same kind. They still look different like different plushies. So it's their uniqueness and aesthetics that make me keen on collecting. 

The Rushton rubber faces were so well-designed. They just have the cutest facial expression! And their color combination, body shape, materials, and also their unique hand-painted face! They are just the perfect rubber faces to collect!

I have counted the number of Rushton back in April, and so far I have got more than 222 Rushtons!!! My first one is the Artist Bunny as mentioned, and I actually only started to collect after buying the Artist Bunny two years ago. I just somehow suddenly realized that Rushtons were so beautiful. I didn't collect all of the Ruhstons at the beginning, as I found that some of them were ugly. Like the octopus, but slowly after looking at them every day, I started to like every one of them. I believe I have the biggest collection of Rushtons on Earth... I almost buy every Rushton, and I am always looking for the ones in good condition as I am no expert in repairing them.

I didn't really ask or care what my family or friends think of my collection! I don't care what they think to be honest, and I seldom share my collection on my private account. But my sister, who has a great sense of taste, said that the Rushtons look good (except the octopus LOL).

I don't really have a favorite one. I can't choose... But, I still remember the moment I received the big bear, Bob, that Gigi repaired for me, as it's the first time for me to get such a huge Rushton!

If we are talking about rare Rushtons only, I'd probably say that the Rushton penguin which I got, I have never seen another collector having him and never seen a picture of him online.

A favorite in my collection? If it has to be a Rushton, then I will choose a Rushton lamb! It's my dream Rushton! There are so many Rushtons on my wish list, but the lamb is a dream to have!

I have noticed that their popularity is probably because of Melanie Martinez. But for me, I only knew that she collected them after I had started collecting them.

I have missed a perfect Rushton pink reindeer before as I was not familiar with Rushtons at the time. I wish I knew better and I wouldn't have missed it! Also, talking about buying and collecting stuff, I actually got all of my collection from other places, online and overseas. I am quite jealous to see US collectors finding cheap Rushtons or other vintage stuff in the wild as I don't have such an opportunity... And I usually need to buy them at high prices. So, I always need to act fast and frequently check the websites.

Thank you dear Cheryl for allowing us to take a peek into your huge collection and share your story with us. It was a joy to learn more about you!

Until next month guys! Happy Collecting!!

Thank you for stopping by! ~ ggsdolls

Interview with Rushton Barbie!

Interview with a Collector - ggsdolls blog Series

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

    For the month of December, my blog interview is with the gorgeous, talented, and pinkalicious collector I know, Peter Pratts also known as rushtonbarbie on Instagram.

 Photographed by Nelson Pereira @Aiiirmoon

Peter, is originally from Long Island, New York, but is currently residing between Las Vegas, Nevada and Orlando, Florida at this time. At 29 years of age, he is was born on June 8th and is also a Gemini.

    What do you do for a living?

Peter, "I'm a Social Media manager! I manage influencers, local businesses, cosmetologists and more! I can’t say I have one specific job as I do many things! I am a graphic designer, web designer, content creator, makeup artist and even influencer myself. However I’ve taken a break from beauty influencing as I don’t have the same passion for it as I used to. I’ve worked with many of the biggest brands like Mac, Sephora, Urban Decay, etc."

    When and how did you first encounter vintage rubber face stuffed animals or Rushtons, and do you collect anything else?

Peter, "I know some collectors in the community like to shame people because of this but I discovered Rushtons after watching a Melanie Martinez music video last year (2021). I literally was like WHAT is that and the research commenced. I already loved 80s/90s Barbies, however I didn’t have a collection. I also loved Kewpie tattoo art. For whatever, I just became obsessed with Rushton rubber face plushies and wanted them all.  I currently only collect Rushton plushies & some Edward Mobley squeaks. I’d like to start a Barbie collection in time."

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

Peter, "I started collecting Rushtons at a time where I was pretty bored with life. It's in a way sad to say but makeup became less of a passion for me the more it felt like work.. Eventually LITERALLY hating it. I still do it occasionally however for a while I didn't have something that genuinely excited me. I've really come to love this hobby of mine. I hope to keep my Rustons with me through life. Collecting these dolls has pushed me to start practicing on many things I've in a sense, always wanted to! I'm learning how to sew and create clothing. I'm also learning to paint! Retouching their faces requires precision as there are a lot of fine lines…. I've always been insecure about my drawing/painting abilities. But, I'm just happy to finally be learning! I also get to create the cutest photos. I’ve always loved photography and creation. With these dolls I combine so many things I love into one. It’s quite hard to say exactly what I feel with them."

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

Peter, "For me it’s the rubber faces of Rushton plushies. They stand out and are much more expressive than other dolls in my opinion. I may sound like a snob but I don’t really care, I also like how rare they are. I think it’s cool having something quite unique that not many people own." 

 

Not Peter Rabbit, I feel like we all know what he looks like. 

This is my 30 inch self standing white bunny.

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

Peter, "My collection started because of my extreme urge to own a Peter Rabbit. I realized getting one on eBay was going to be quite hard after being outbid several times. I purchased a random bunny rubber face who was missing an ear and had no brand. After receiving it I was like, 'Haha… Nice… But it’s not a damn Rushton!!' I took the plunge and splurged on a Tuffy duck (there were no Peter Rabbits online at the time) and the rest is history. I currently have 30 Rushtons and am always looking for more bunny friends."

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

Peter, "Honestly I don’t think anyone was surprised. A few of my best friends said they were scary. However, they expected nothing less from me (lol). I am always doing quite 'out of the norm' things so suddenly collecting these dolls was just something else to add to my list." 

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

Peter, "I’d have to say my favorite item is my Peter Rabbit. I love all of my other Rushtons but honestly, I was just like 'Oh! Okay I’ll get it.' Peter Rabbit was so hard for me personally to get! Mine is in pretty mint condition. I also didn’t want to get completely ripped off. The whole process took months until finding my perfect baby." 

Me as a Rushton posing with many of my babies.

 

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

 

Peter, "Through joining this community I’ve come across many people who also enjoy my particular style. It’s really pushed me to open my own shop/brand. Which I’ve been wanting to do for years now. However, it’s just been something on the back of my mind. I’ve decided to launch Madame Rushton and am so excited for what’s to come with it. I’ll be focusing on handmade original pieces. Clothing, accessories and more!"

Thank you so much Peter for the opportunity to share your story. I look forward to what your shop Madame Rushton has to offer!!

Please check out Peter's shop Madame Rushton on IG coming soon, and Peter's rushtonbarbie IG collection for his adorable content and love of Mary Rushton plushies!

Until next year folks for my next installment! Happy Collecting!

Thank you for reading! ~ ggsdolls