lefton | Crazy4Me - The Modern Bombshell Lifestyle by: Yasmina Greco

Kitschy-Cute Vintage Collectibles

August 8, 2021 By: Fan

Find out what kitschy-cute vintage collectibles are and why they’re so popular and sell for so much money these days. Also, learn about the history of the merchandise and some tips for buying them!

My heart gets so happy looking at these adorable little faces with those big eyes, long eyelashes, and sweet expressions…… welcome to the kitschy-cute world of today’s vintage collectibles.

Vintage Pixieware Kitschy-Cute Menschik Goldman Dolly Girl Collection Set

Kitsch is a term that’s been around for quite some time. It can be described as art or items that are considered to be in poor taste, corny, or overly sentimental. For many people, kitsch has become an insult with negative connotations, and they avoid it at all costs. But there are some who enjoy the warmth and nostalgia of kitschy things from their childhoods. These vintage collectors know what they’re looking for when browsing through flea markets and antique malls. Kitschy collectibles and prices for these items has even spurred a new term in the market referred to as “kitschy-cute”!!

Vintage Kitschy-Cute Enesco Lil Bear Collection Set

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✨Collecting Holt Howard Pixieware and Whimsical Kitchen Kitsch✨

July 16, 2021 By: Fan

Yasmina Greco with her Holt-Howard Jam ‘n Jelly Pixieware Jar and matching T-Shirt

There aren’t many kitchen collectibles from the 1950s and 1960s that excite me as much as Pixieware does. From the jam ‘n jelly jars with their little tongues licking the sweet jelly residue from their lips, to the instant coffee pixie jar, relish pixie jar, or the jolly girl set, manufacturers like Holt-Howard, Davar, Lefton, Lipper & Mann, Norcrest, Napco and Menschik Goldman to name a few, displayed creativity at its finest and what thinking outside the box is supposed to be when it comes to dreaming up the colorful creations of the era. Pixieware has been a hot collectible and the enthusiasm continues till this day!!

Holt-Howard Relish Jar with Spoofy Spoon 1958

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5 Tips for Collecting Lefton Vintage Bluebirds

May 1, 2021 By: Fan

Yasmina Greco Lefton Bluebirds Topline Import Bluebirds

Today on the blog I am sharing some of my very favorite vintage bluebird collectibles with you all. Back when eBay and Etsy were all the rage for antiques and collectibles I was a PowerSeller (a rating eBay had for their PowerSeller program where sellers needed to consistently sell a significant volume of items and provide a high level of service to their buyers to achieve this rating) and I sold many vintage bluebirds to collectors all over the world. It wasn’t until I came across a bluebird sugar jar from the Topline Imports company that I actually had an emotional reaction. I had listed the sugar jar and it sold within minutes and after a few days I found that I could not stop looking at the pictures I had of the item and that lil’ birdies cute face. I was so sad I sold her. I didn’t start collecting these adorable blue birds till years later and now they are the pride and joy of my collection.

NOTE: You can read about my collections here at Antique Trader Magazine

Topline Import Bluebirds Collection — Topline Imports Bluebirds Collection

Many collectors are drawn to vintage bluebirds because of the cheerfulness they exude. These adorable figurines and dining sets can really brighten your day. Although not much information exists about the Topline Imports company, we do know that they manufactured high quality items in Japan in the 1950s-1960s. My Topline Imports bluebird set is stamped with the numbers 50/154 and they retain their gold foil “Topline Imports, Inc. Japan” tags. It was this set’s sugar jar that stole my heart all those years ago. The set includes a cookie jar, teapot, sugar jar, creamer, salt and pepper shakers, snack plate, and set of 3 wall plaques (mama bird and two babies). I am now on the hunt for the teacup that fits the snack plate and my collection will be complete. The Topline Imports bluebird is my all time favorite.

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Collecting 1950s Vintage Spaghetti Poodle Figurines

December 19, 2020 By: Fan

Today I am sharing one of my passions with you all and it has to do with collecting vintage spaghetti Poodles. The poodles in these pictures are all part of my personal collection and I adore their kitschy cuteness and how they make me smile. These vintage poodles also fit my Pinup and Mid-Century Modern vibe perfectly. My favorite spaghetti poodles are the three on the tray that have glasses and bows and are made by Norcrest in Japan in the 1950s and the little Christmas poodles that spell out ‘NOEL’ made by Lipper & Mann in the 50s. My collection includes poodle lipstick holders, poodle planters and vases.

UPDATE: You can ready about my collections on a recently published piece in the Antique Trader

This post is all about going back to the 1950s of yesteryear when kitschy cute Poodles were all the rage. Poodle motifs came in a variety of items from poodle skirts and sweaters to table linens and decorative collectible figurines like the spaghetti poodle. Ceramic artists in the late 40s-50s came up with a new technique to mimic the poodle’s fur known as “spaghetti art ware” and it ignited a frenzy for spaghetti poodles.

Spaghetti art wear is made from clay, porcelain, and ceramic which is applied as “fur” to form various textures of a poodle’s hairdo. To accomplish the spaghetti look, ceramicists and designers would have different techniques like using tea strainers to push the material through to form strands that were then attached to the poodle giving it a pom-pom look or they would swirl it onto to the poodle for a curly look. The spaghetti is very fragile and tends to break or chip over the years.

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Pretty Ladies – Collecting Vintage Christmas Head Vases and Planters

December 10, 2020 By: Fan

Welcome to blog post three in our six-part series on collecting vintage Christmas. Today I am sharing some of my favorite Christmas head vases and planters from the 1950s-1960s along with some tips towards the end of this post on collecting head vases and cleaning your precious items.

Vintage Christmas Rubens Skater Girl Planter

If you’ve been reading my blog and following me for some time then you know I am obsessed and you can say addicted to vintage kitschy mid-century goodies but, I am especially crazy4 vintage Christmas!! I started collecting vintage Christmas head vases and planters with this adorable little skater girl (above) wearing a bright red skater outfit, gold antlers on her head and a sleigh filled with presents and candy cane runners. This planter was made by Rubens in the 1950s and most likely in Japan as that is where the majority of ceramic production was taking place. I found this planter so adorable and charming and so a collection started.

Vintage Christmas Inarco Head Vase Glamour Girl

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Collecting Kitschy Christmas: Noel Sets

November 27, 2020 By: Fan

Yasmina Greco with her Vintage Christmas NOEL Collection

You may have noticed that Christmas is in the air. That feeling of festivity and joy that comes with this time of year can be attributed to many things, but one of them surely has to be all the vintage kitschy decorations. For me, one of my favorite things to do is pull out the vintage NOEL sets that I have been collecting for years and display these treasures as I get my home ready for Christmas. If you love a touch of nostalgia with some Mid-Century flair then you’ll want to curl up with your cocoa and read our new blog post on Collecting Vintage Christmas: Noel Sets for tips on buying, selling, and searching for these treasures.

Yasmina Greco’s Vintage Christmas NOEL Collection Kitschy Mid-Mod Decorations

Today’s blog post features some of my vintage Noel collection that dates from the 1950s-1960s and features Noel candle holders, Noel bells, and Noel figurines. 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 Clowns, that there really is something for everyone and you can easily have a theme each year for your holiday decorating too!!

WARNING!! Blog has a lot of photos.

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 five 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.

1950s Grimco Japan NOEL Bells Vintage Christmas

This 4 Piece Noel bells set of boys and girls made by World Creations by Grimco Japan 1950s. This set is hard to find and very delicate, made from very fine ceramic so there may be light hairline cracks if you do come across a set. The facial expressions on these kids are so darling. In today’s market expect to pay $275-$325.

2. Christmas Cowboy Santa Noel Candle Holders set by Menschik Goldman in the 1950s. Santa is wearing his western hat with green and red holiday flair, his red suit complete with holster and pistol and his body spells out NOEL. This set is very rare, I have only come across it one time and in today’s market expect to pay $299-$350.

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