"Be Yourself;"

 "... Everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde

Gosh, we are halfway through November already!! I hope you all are doing well. Here are a few things I've found the past few weeks...

While doing my usual searches, I found a nude loose 1968 Kamar Emily doll. She just needed a spa day and luckily, I had a Kamar doll dress in my collection and TA-da! She is ready to be adopted! I have her listed in my shop! Just waiting to go to her knew home. Next, from a Japanese website, I found this lovely vintage pencil case with a bunny and Roly Poly dolls, a great addition to anyone's school supply collection. This item is also listed in my Etsy.

I also found this adorable Honey Toys Bunny in pink. She reminds me of Sekiguchi Moncchichi plushies, but with a cute look with her anime eyes! She will be added to my collection for now. Below, I found this lovely Swimmer Alice in Wonderland makeup Mirror still mint in box. I listed it in my shop and it sold out the same day! Glad it was something that someone could use and love!

Lastly, this lot of Rubber squeak animals. You may have seen the miniature versions from Ken Elephant?! These are cute and are already listed in the shop! Hopefully someone will find them and purchase. Below, a DIY I decided to work on since sales have slowed down a lot and so has buying...

@ggsdolls_vtg Busy creating… 🖼️🎀💕 #beingcreative #frames #daiso #diy ♬ WOW 아이브 배속음원 - 쩝

 

Hope you stay safe and have a lovely week ahead!

Thank you for stopping in! ~ ggsdolls

Lady Prince by Iwai Co.

 Continued from my last post, here. I decided to contact, Hello Iwai, a fellow collector, from Instagram, about these Twiggy style dolls. That was Sunday, of course, it was the weekend, so the response was, that he would check their catalog and get back to me on Monday. Little did I know, I was DMing the CEO of Iwai Industrial Co. Ltd. in Japan. Oh my! Mr. Hideyasu Iwai, III, is the grandson of the creator and former CEO of Iwai Co.! He shared with me that his father took over the company at the time and now him. His father/Eddie is photographed with their most popular doll, "Hi Hi" on their Instagram page. For further information their main website for Iwai Co. Ltd. or you can also click for the English site here.

I was star struck for the moment, and had to remind myself, to be humble and show respect. Mr. Iwai was very kind and shared with me on Monday, a catalog picture of the very doll, I had shown him Sunday.

He said that my dolls were in fact, real Iwai products and that these were the dolls produced and release back in 1972. From google's translation, It says, "Ladies Fashion - Lady Prince! Ladies Fashion is a refreshing friend." Due to release in May of that year. Oh my it was just amazing and to have the information of the dolls I have admired since seeing the first one back, in 2015!! The catalog ad continues on with, "Three styles created, "Gaucho", "Midi", and "Pantalon". At the time, Gaucho's were very popular in the early 1970s, these were short pants that were originally worn by Horsemen from South America, but they became a popular style for women in the 1970's - Wikipedia/Pinterest. So, my girls Amy and Twiggy have that style, made in two colors. "Midi" style were dresses or skirts that stopped at the mid-calf, also called, "Longuettes"- Wikipedia/Pinterest . This fashion is worn on the doll, I do not own in my collection, also in two colors. Last, is "Pantalon" I think it meant, "Flared Pants" style, also known as "Bell-Bottoms"- Wikipedia/Pinterest, and that is what Cynthia and Marsha from my collection are wearing. I grew up wearing these as a child of the 70s!

Quite unique how Iwai Co. choose to use the latest fashion trends of the day! Because, I'm sure those who owned a Lady Prince, were into the stylish look and probably displayed the dolls in their homes. They probably greeted you at the door on a side counter in a shop or perhaps were decorative on the work desk at the reception, of an office or restaurant... How exciting to imagine! They were only 600yen about $6 at the time.

I truly appreciate Mr. Iwai's help and giving me the information I needed on these amazing dolls. Now, to just find the gals in the Midi dresses, and my collection will be complete! The Iwai co. has many other dolls and products that are equally desired, visit their website! The ones we collectors see often are, "The Moodies" and they are also made by Iwai Co.!!

Until next time, Cynthia, Marcia, Amy and Twiggy bid you farewell/sayonara!!

Thank you for reading! ~ ggsdolls

Found More Iwai Dolls!!

 Back in February 2016, I acquired these lovely vintage Iwai Co. Twiggy type mod dolls from a fellow collector in Italy. My original post here. They are marked 1972, Iwai Co. Ltd. made in Japan. I have long hoped to find the first doll I saw up for auction back in 2015, that I lost on Yahoo Japan. Fast forward to 2020, and sure enough, while doing my usual searches via Ebay... I did just that!

Acquired from California, the seller had them listed as Long Legged Mod dolls, no other information. I asked her if she could share how she came to find them. She said, she gotten them from a garage sale, and when she asked the owners where they got them, they simply shrugged their shoulders. But, the seller knew they were unusual and bought them to resell, and I'm so glad she did. When I saw them, I was in shock and made an offer right away. After the initial shock, I told myself to stay focused and wait for the seller's response. After a few hours, she accepted and they arrived to me safe and sound. I was thrilled when I opened the box... Because, I was afraid it was not true, and this was all just a dream! Nose twitch insert here. LOL

 The brown fashioned gal/Twiggy, is the one I have been searching, all this time for. She is in lovely condition with her original stand. She sports a yellow hat, with a red and yellow sweater top, under a brown jacket, and flaired matching bell-bottom shorts. Her green thigh high socks have green four-leaf clovers on the side of each sock, with a pair of brown Loafer shoes. She just needed a bit of touch ups to her paint. But otherwise gorgeous!

The blonde wavy haired gal/Marcia, I have only seen in black hair, and black sweater top with pink bell-bottoms. So, to get her in blonde, was a dream come true as well!! She wears a lovely sweater multi-colored sweater top, that reminds me of those YSL "Mondrian" style fashions, properly paired with white bell-bottom pants, and light brown boots. Also with her original stand, sadly I needed to fix the stand because it was cracked at the base, where the shoe is being held in place. She is still stunning and I'm just thrilled to have her in my collection too!

Here they are side by side with the other ladies in my collection...

Similar stances, just different colors and look, Marcia just has a sweater top, but the black haired gal/Cynthia has a long necklace painted onto her sweater top. Definitely creates a different look to each lady. My short haired gals/Twiggy and red hat/Amy, have the same molded on styles, just different colors again. I wonder what the Amy's sock color was? I don't think I've ever seen her other then the one here... Hmmm? Oh wait, I think I may have, they were white with brown shoes, I believe?! Haha, brain blast!

All my gals together... Cynthia, Marcia, Amy, and Twiggy!

A bunch of stylish ladies from 1972!!

Have a safe and well weekend my friends!

Thank you for looking! ~ ggsdolls

Spartus Electric Tea Cup Clock!!

 I just received this amazing vintage Spartus Electric Tea Cup Clock today!!! And it is soo dreamy for sure! Doing my usual searches, I couldn't resist getting it, when I saw it. I love the 50s styling and look. It will definitely go well with my collection too. Made by Spartus Corp. Chicago, around 1950s or early 60s. I've seen other colors in white, and aqua so far. There is no dial to turn to adjust the time. So, instead you just carefully turn the minutes hand. It has rarely been used and in lovely vintage condition too!

 

Next, I got this vintage rubber half doll from a fellow seller and collector through IG. He was selling another doll and I asked for this one instead. She was positioned, like a hand puppet on the doll he was selling. LOL I fell in love with her quirky look. She arrived to me and I had to clean her up. Not too bad too. She will be a great mascot of sorts on my page... I wonder what she was on, perhaps a car? Definitely made in Japan. Who can resist that face! I also happened to be grocery shopping last Saturday and found a New Kabaya Jewel Box set for sale. I grabbed two. LOL Still cute and I enjoy the chocolates from this one. Then, I also found a set of cute animal hair clips. I listed them in my shop last week and most of the colors just sold quickly. I was even asked if I could sell the whole card to one buyer. But, a few had already been purchased by a few customers.

Last, I decided to try and see if I could sew this cutie fuzbear a body. I didn't have enough aqua fur, so I made his body sorta smaller then normal. I even added a squeaker to his right paw, and a  bird sounder to his tummy. So, when you squeeze his palm it squeaks, and when you hold him by the hanger, just shake him and he jingles, with a tingaling sounder like in those roly poly dolls! I was already asked if I would sell. I haven't decided yet... With it being so hard to find a Rushton Happy Face bear nowadays, I am thinking the one's I make might be the best I can hope to own for now...

Lock down restrictions have been lifted. So far, so good. I hope you all have a great week.

Thank you for reading! ~ ggsdolls