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.
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.
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
