Vintage Christmas Noel Sets: The Best 5 Tips for Collectors

Yasmina Greco with her Vintage Christmas NOEL Collection

Vintage Christmas Noel Sets: The Ultimate 5 Tips for Collectors for collecting Noel figurines and candle holders from Santa Claus, Elves, Poodles, Snowmen, Angels, Candy Canes, Holt-Howard. 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.

Vintage 1950s NOEL Angel Girl Bells - Japan
Vintage 1950s NOEL Angel Girl Bells – Japan

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!!

Continue reading

Share

4th of July Celebration: Mid-Century Outfits & Collectibles

Curvy Nautical Patriotic Style - Yasmina Greco
Curvy Nautical Patriotic Style – Crazy4MeStyle

As we approach the 4th of July, let’s take a trip down memory lane and explore how you can bring the vintage 50’s era into your wardrobe and home for a 4th of July Celebration: Mid-Century Outfits & Collectibles with patriotic, nautical-themed Pinup and Rockabilly outfits and mid-century kitsch collectibles.

Nautical Outfits: Classic American Fashion with a 50’s Twist

Patriotic and nautical fashion has been a quintessential part of American style since its inception. These two themes beautifully blend during the 4th of July celebrations, offering an opportunity to showcase your creativity and love for vintage fashion. I am wearing vintage-inspired nautical themed dresses and skirts in the above photos.

The Vintage Nautical Look

Creating a vintage 50’s nautical outfit begins with understanding the basic elements: think sailor pants, wide collars, and navy-and-white or red-and-white stripes. The 1950s was also an era of full skirts and A-line dresses, so feel free to add a full, pleated, midi-length skirt in a navy blue or red to your outfit.

Top it off with a striped boat neck top for that truly nostalgic look. My t-shirt in the photo above is one of my favorites and one designed for my t-shirt brand that you can find here Seaside Sweetie Nautical Pinup Tee You can read more about the 50s era kitschy fun fashions here 1950s Kitsch at its Best: The Ultimate Poodle Purses, Skirts, and Dresses

Patriotic Color Schemes

The 4th of July is the perfect occasion to experiment with patriotic colors. Channeling the colors of the American flag – red, white, and blue – into your nautical ensemble will exude vintage charm and national pride all at once.

Complement your outfit with accessories like red scarves, blue sailor caps, or white retro sunglasses to add more authenticity and individuality.

Mid-Century 50’s Kitsch 4th of July Collectibles

The 1950s weren’t just a golden age for fashion, but for home décor too. This era saw the rise of kitsch, a style marked by the use of everyday, mass-produced objects as decoration. This quirky, whimsical style is a great way to add a touch of the 50’s to your 4th of July celebrations.

Patriotic Collectibles

Incorporate the stars and stripes into your décor through items like vintage ceramics by makers such as Napco, Lefton, Norcrest, Josef Originals, and Holt Howard. You can also incorporate 50’s era flags, or even mid-century style tablecloths featuring patriotic motifs. These small touches will contribute significantly to your 4th of July atmosphere.

Vintage Josef Originals Patriotic Liberty Bell

As we celebrate this 4th of July, let’s honor the past as well as the present. By donning vintage 50’s era patriotic nautical outfits and decorating with mid-century kitsch collectibles, you’ll not only look the part but also feel it. Here’s to a stylish, nostalgic Independence Day!

Support the Blog
Support the Blog
Share

The Best Books and Guides for Vintage Mid-Century Collectors

Ready to become an antiques aficionado? Look no further than the experts’ books available on antiques, vintage Christmas, kitschy mid-century modern artifacts and collectibles! So start exploring this fascinating world filled with nostalgia and tradition today! Here are a few titles worth checking out:

Vintage Robots and Tin Toys Collector Book Resources

Space age tin toys and robots captured the imagination of a mid-century generation enthralled by space exploration. These highly collectible toys are now prized by vintage toy collectors and Mid-Century Modern enthusiasts alike. If you’re interested in collecting space age tin toys and just starting out, here are some really good books to get you started that full of photos and information.

1000 Tin Toys by Teruhisa Kitahara

Robots. Spaceships and other Tin Toys by Teruhisa Kitahara

Robots: Tin Toy Dreams by T. Kitahara

Vintage Ceramic Christmas Trees
Vintage Ceramic Christmas Trees

Download your digital copy of “Vintage Kitschy Christmas: A Merry Introduction to Vintage Ceramic Christmas Trees” today

*Please note that if you purchase from clicking on one of the links, I will get a tiny bit of that sale to help keep this blog going.

Share

The Best Tips for Collecting Vintage 1950s Spaghetti Poodles

Yasmina Greco Spaghetti Poodle Collection 1950sToday I am thrilled to share one of my passions with you all – collecting vintage Spaghetti Poodles! These little guys are positively precious, and they add a wonderful sense of cuteness while perfectly fitting into my mid-century modern aesthetic.

My favorite pieces from the collection have got to be the 1950’s Norcrest poodle trio in glasses & bows on the tray plus Lipper & Mann’s ‘NOEL’ set for Christmas time. Also included in this beloved assortment is an array of delightful lipstick holders, planters, vases – it just can’t get any better than that!

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

Norcrest Napco Lefton Spaghetti Poodle Collection 1950sTake a step back in time and revel in the kitschy cuteness of 1950s poodles! Back then, these furry four-legged friends were everywhere – from classic Poodle skirts to intricate spaghetti art ware figurines. Ceramic artists crafted unique pieces using a special technique that mimicked the pup’s fur and sparked an excitement for all things “spaghetti” poodle!

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.

Norcrest Napco Lefton Spaghetti Poodle Collection 1950s Yasmina Greco

Continue reading

Share

The Joy of Collecting Vintage Napco Christmas Angels

There’s something magical about the holiday season, with its twinkling lights, festive music, and nostalgic decorations. Among the many vintage treasures that bring charm and warmth to the season. The joy of collecting vintage Napco Christmas angels holds a special place in the hearts of collectors.

One of the most sought-after and beloved Napco figurines are the enchanting Candy Cane Angels. In this blog post, we’ll explore the history of Napco, the art of collecting vintage Napco Christmas figurines, and the timeless appeal of Candy Cane Angels.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…for Napco devotees, that is! While many people associate the holiday season with Santa Claus, reindeer, and evergreen trees, for us, it’s all about collecting vintage Napco ceramics. From angelic figurines to jolly Santa mugs, there’s nothing that gets us into the Christmas spirit quite like a little bit of retro kitsch.

But what exactly is Napco ceramicware, and why is it so collectible? In short, Napco ceramics are beautiful examples of mid-century American craftsmanship. Produced by the National Potteries Corporation (or “Napco” for short), these pieces were designed in the 1950s and 1960s and were mass-produced for use in homes across the country.

Today, they’re highly sought-after by collectors for their clean lines, pastel colors, and Atomic Age imagery.

Continue reading
Share

Kitschy-Cute Collectibles: A Treasure Trove of the Best Tips

Vintage Lefton Bluebirds Collection
Vintage Lefton Bluebirds Collection

There’s something magical about uncovering a hidden gem from the past, and for collectors of kitschy-cute vintage collectibles, the thrill of the hunt is just as exciting as the prize itself. From vintage pixiware to Lefton pink poodle chef pieces, these delightful treasure troves of the past have a nostalgic charm that’s simply irresistible. In this blog post, In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most sought-after kitschy-cute collectibles, their unique stories, and what you can expect to pay for these quirky, adorable items.

Vintage Pixieware Kitschy-Cute Menschik Goldman Dolly Girl Collection Set
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
Vintage Kitschy-Cute Enesco Lil Bear Collection Set

Continue reading

Share