For over six decades, Barbie has been a beloved icon for children and collectors alike. While many of us grew up playing with the classic, affordable versions of this fashion doll, there is a whole world of luxurious, high-end Barbie dolls that are worth a small fortune. These limited edition and designer collaborations are some of the most expensive dolls ever made and are sought-after collectibles in the world of Barbie, showcasing the finest craftsmanship and opulence that money can buy. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the most expensive Barbie dolls ever made and their extravagant price tags.
The weekend was wonderful, but the true highlight was the delightful day-trip my husband and I took to Sacramento. We journeyed a few hours each way to visit our much-loved Midway Antique Mall – a real mid-century treasure trove! The summer sun was in full swing that day, the car dashboard recorded over 100 degrees outside. Quite the scorcher, indeed!
Yasmina Greco – Mid-Century Tiki Dress
As any mid-century enthusiast would understand, choosing the right outfit was a challenge! But keeping in mind the vibrant, tropical heart of summer, I decided to add a little Tiki charm to my ensemble by Lady Voluptuous. You can view pics my other Lady Voluptuous dresses here, here, and here.
Our arrival at the mall was greeted with the usual excitement – I simply adore this place! Midway Antique Mall is a unique place where the past is perfectly preserved. Their showrooms are organized like living spaces straight out of the 50s and 60s, complete with authentic furniture from the era available for purchase. The mall houses multiple dealers, making it a dream destination if you’re on the hunt for mid-century accents and collectibles.
Welcome to a nostalgic adventure with my latest line of vintage kitsch greeting cards, these kitsch themed cards are perfect for modern memories and rafted to transport you to a bygone era while adding a unique touch to every occasion. My kitsch range features vintage Pyrex-inspired patterns to retro Halloween, Vintage Christmas, Mid-Century too, find the perfect card for your occasions.Visit the Crazy4Me Cards shop.
This eye-catching range includes delightful designs inspired by Pyrex patterns, eerie yet charming retro Halloween themes, vivid floral prints, and cheerful birthday greetings. Additionally, we offer a selection of heartwarming encouragement cards for those days when you or your loved ones need an extra boost of positivity.
With new designs introduced every week, my kitsch cards promise to be a continually expanding treasure trove of vintage-inspired cards for every occasion. Join us on this journey as we help you commemorate life’s special moments with a dash of retro enchantment.
Ready to explore the world of Kitsch Greetings? Visit the Crazy4Me kitsch card site and start your voyage through time today!
ChatGPT is a hot topic of conversation these days so I was curious about its thoughts on how AI is going to assist those of us passionate about antiques and collectibles so I went ahead and asked it and you can read below what answers it gave me. I do think ChatGPT can be a wonderful resource and am having a lot of fun with it. I’d love to hear what you think so let me know your thoughts.
AI is already having a significant impact on the antique and collectibles businesses, and this trend is expected to continue and accelerate in the coming years. Here are some ways in which AI is impacting the industry:
Enhanced Authentication: One of the biggest challenges in the antique and collectibles industry is the ability to authenticate items accurately. AI-powered authentication tools can quickly and accurately identify patterns, materials, and other details that can help determine the authenticity of an item.
Improved Inventory Management: Collectibles and antiques businesses often have a vast inventory to manage. AI-powered tools can help businesses automate this process, streamlining inventory management, and reducing the likelihood of errors.
Enhanced Pricing: AI-powered pricing tools can help businesses price items more accurately, taking into account various factors such as condition, rarity, and historical significance.
Improved Customer Experience: AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can improve customer experience by providing quick and accurate responses to customer inquiries, without requiring human intervention.
Increased Market Reach: AI-powered marketing tools can help antiques and collectibles businesses reach a broader audience, targeting potential customers with personalized advertising based on their browsing history and interests.
Overall, AI is poised to revolutionize the antique and collectibles industry, improving authentication, inventory management, pricing, customer experience, and market reach. Businesses that adopt these technologies early are likely to gain a competitive advantage over those that do not.
Vintage Aluminum Christmas Tree and Holt Howard Cozy Kittens Sweater
It’s that special time of year again for Christmas traditions to make the season merry and bright! The time when families all over the world come together to celebrate the holidays. For many, that means decorating the tree, stringing up lights, and spending time with loved ones.
There are so many wonderful Christmas traditions that have been enjoyed for generations. While some traditions have fallen by the wayside, others have endured and remain popular today. What matters most is spending time with loved ones and creating new memories that will last a lifetime. Merry Christmas!
Why Traditions Matter
There’s something special about the holiday season. The air is crisp, the leaves are falling, and everyone is in a good mood. Part of what makes the holidays so magical is all of the traditions that come along with them. From decorating the Christmas tree, shopping for vintage Christmas decorations, baking cookies, to attending holiday parties, these traditions are what make the holidays so unique. But why are traditions so important? Keep reading to find out!
Traditions Bring Families Together
One of the best things about traditions is that they bring families together. I especially enjoy going with my husband, nieces, moms, sister, and brother-in-law out searching for the perfect vintage Christmas decorations at local antique malls. It fills me with nostalgia because I always think about who the person and family were that had these treasures before me, did they also look for these decorations as a family, what were they like and if they passed them down each generation like we do now.
Vintage Christmas tips: collecting figurines & candleholders. Learn the tips about manufactures like Holt-Howard, Napco, Lefton, Norcrest, and more. For many, the holiday season is filled with love, warmth, and cherished memories. It’s also a time to appreciate and celebrate traditions, both old and new. One such tradition is the fascination with vintage Christmas noel figurines and candle holders from the 1950s, made in Japan. These collectibles not only add a nostalgic touch to your holiday decorations but also carry with them the rich history and craftsmanship of Japanese artisans.
Today’s post in our 2021 Vintage Christmas Collecting Series features some of my favorite vintage Noel sets that date to the 1950s-1960s and feature candle holders, bells, and figurines. Some of these sets were featured in last year’s Vintage Christmas Collecting Series of 2020 but have been updated with current pricing and colorways. When it comes to vintage Noel collectibles there are so many varieties and themes from Santa Claus, Elves, Poodles, Snowmen, Angels, Candy Canes, and even Pixies that there really is something for everyone and you can easily have a theme each year for your holiday decorating too!!
Note: Blog post has a lot of photos and pricing source is recent Ebay, Etsy, Worthpoint, and my own personal sales data.
One sure way to any collector’s heart is items that come with their original boxes. For me, the box can also be used as part of your vintage holiday decor as they usually have timeless graphics that add so much charm to your displays. Since these vintage items are usually 70 yrs old, if you do find an original box it will probably have some wear and tear or even water damage from being stored in basements and attics and that is completely okay and in my opinion, adds that much more to the story and history of the item.
Here are some of my very favorite Noel sets from my personal collection and I think they are just dynamite. Each set is so unique and has loads and loads of vintage Christmas charm. I actually have them up year-round in my cabinet and they always make me smile when I stop and admire them.
Stacked Santa’s NOEL Totem Pole Candle Holders
Vintage Christmas NOEL Santa Candleholders Napco Brinns
Near-and-dear to my heart are these vintage Santa Claus stacked NOEL totem pole candle holders. These have such fun, witty, retro charm. Pictured are two matching pair made by Tilso in Japan in the 1950s. The Santa’s have gold little curly-q’s in their beards, have expressive eyes, and each hold a letter to spell NOEL. Tilso sets (sometimes referred to as Brinns) tend to fetch $225-$300 each, having the original box really can impact the price.
