Showing posts with label Toys/Dolls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toys/Dolls. Show all posts

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Fun with Vintage "Made in Hong Kong" Plastic Cake Toppers!

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It's Saturday morning, and time for another Sarsaparilla Saturday

After a long and sometimes stressful week at work, Saturdays are a good day to unwind with some lighthearted fun.  Each Saturday, we'll be traveling back to the kid's world of vintage toys, dolls, games and cartoons - or an adult world that's whimsical, weird, comical or maybe even a little naughty.  In any case, my goal is to make you smile.

This morning I wanted to to share with you a fun collection of plastic whimsies from the 1950's and 60's.  Most of them are Made in Hong Kong - and most are Cake Toppers!  I recently purchased all of these little items from the estate of a 91-year-old woman.  Her granddaughter proudly, and a little apologetically, told me:  "She was in the catering business for 35 years, and never threw anything away..."

 
I've already shared a photo of these colorful plastic bridesmaids and groomsmen on heart stands with you - in my recent post on vintage weddings.  But they're so much fun I thought I'd give you another peek. 


I love these little plastic bonnets in pretty pastel colors.  Perfect for a spring birthday or wedding shower!



Isn't she sweet?  Tina the plastic ballerina...

She came with two bags filled with tiny pink ballerinas in silver and "chocolate" tutus - to decorate cupcakes!


These two "Li'l Professor" trolls in plastic cases are 3" tall - and so sweet.  Perfect to top a Graduation Cake! The card inside the case says:  "JANZ Trolls and Dolls - for the best-dressed dolls" - from House of Ideas, Naperville, Ill.  You could also purchase for your trolls a Play Mite Set with tiny furniture and Troll Fads clothes, or a Magic Mountain Troll Cave!
Ain't she purty!


Here's an intriguing little cake topper for a baby shower - a 6-inch tall stork with a baby tied around it's neck with a pink ribbon.  There's a "Western Germany - U.S. Zone" tag on the leg, probably dating it to the early 1950's.

This rubber baby is borderline scary...don't you think?


Talk about scary....here come the CLOWNS!

A child's nightmare...a box filled with clown heads, come to life!

Actually, I think the clowns with the big red noses in this second box - Made in Japan - are adorable. 

This "Diligent Porgies" (what a name!) plastic toy was Made in Hong Kong and is friction powered.  I love the squiggly tails on the porgies.   


This mini plastic golf bag with 8 woods and irons, about 5" long, would be great fun for Dad's birthday. 


Look at these 9" long miniature skis!  I'm not sure who the maker is, but they are surprisingly detailed.    Everything's plastic but the spring that attaches the shoes to the skis.


And here is my favorite of the whole lot.  A box of plastic racing cars!

I grew up in a family of 7 girls andjust  2 boys, and I don't remember playing with cars at all when I was a kid.

So I was surprised that I was so fascinated with these little plastic racers.  I spent a good hour "playing" with them: opening up the boxes and researching the car makes (most are from the 50's).  After sorting them all out, I discovered that this is apparently a series of 10 different cars - and I have at least one sample of each:  M.G. Midget; Mercedes Benz; Cunningham; Aston Marton; Triumph TR2; Vanwall; Connaught; H.W.M.; Jaguar Type-D and Masserati. 

So maybe the detailing on the cars is a bit fuzzy, and the wheels barely turn - but isn't that all part of the charm of these plastic vintage toys?

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Vintage Weddings: "Something Old..."

"Something Old, Something New,
Something Borrowed, Something Blue
And a Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe."

                     - Old English rhyme - Anonymous 

I don't think I'll ever outgrow my love for weddings.  It doesn't matter that my own marriage didn't last quite as long as I had hoped.  Whenever I go to a wedding, my eyes always glisten with tears of of joy for the bride and groom.  I still believe that love can last a lifetime - and my own parents, happily married for 54 years, are living proof.

Romantic fool that I am, it's no surprise that when I go to antique stores, auctions and estate sales - anything to do with a wedding catches my eye.

Here are some of the vintage wedding items I've collected over the years.  I hope you'll enjoy...

Engaged!  Showing off the ring at the office.  1958 Saturday Evening Post cover.

"Priscilla" Wedding Ring ad - from 1929 Photoplay Magazine

Beautiful Diamond Rings - 1930's Jason Weiler & Sons catalog

What a sweet little ceramic basket for holding rings - ca. 1920's?

An early 1920's Wedding Record Book

The book opens up to this quaint verse - "Hail! Wedded Love..."

One of the oldest wedding traditions....tossing the garter.  These days it's often a blue garter - to cover the "something blue" tradition.  The garters pictured above are from "The Ribbon Art Book", 1923 - back when garters weren't just worn for show, but to hold up stockings!

A variety of tiny wedding flowers from the 1950's and 60's - for bouquets, wedding cake toppers, hats and veils.  They were purchased from the estate of a 91-yr-old woman who catered weddings for 35 years.

Here's a closeup of the flowers with a rhinestone center.  Aren't they fabulous!

Life Magazine - June 9, 1952.  Isn't this dress gorgeous?

Crinoline Petticoats and a "Belle o" the Ball" hoop (above).  Bridesmaid nine times, flower girl three times (below).  Both photos are from Life magazine - 1952



Early 1960's bridesmaid dress.  The coat, with a bow clasp, is in a heavy gold satin. And the lovely dress underneath is in a beautiful gold and cream floral brocade.


Here's another early 1960's bridesmaid dress in a pretty lemon yellow.  I was thrilled to find a matching pair, both size 8.

I love the daisies - and the pretty bow in back.

And best of all....there's a train with a huge bow that attaches to the back, for that walk down the aisle!

And to top it off - a pretty yellow veil.  I love this color!

Here's a pretty Fostoria American cake stand with a rum well in the center.

Vintage plastic bridesmaids in green, yellow and blue, on heart stands - to decorate a wedding cake.  How fun! 

Here's a 1950 "military" wedding cake topper with a 48-stars flag.  I love the simple floral frame surrounding the bisque bride and groom.

Pictured above - famous bride Frances Folsom Cleveland (wife of President Grover Cleveland). The gown was fashioned of ivory silk, a bustled skirt, fifteen foot train & trimmed with orange blossoms - the most popular bridal flower of the nineteenth century. 

Pictured below are three more famous brides: Jackie Kennedy (married 1953); Wallis Simpson - King Edward VIII abidcated his throne to marry her in 1937; and Grace Kelly, who became Princess Grace of Monaco when she married Prince Rainier in 1956.




1920's satin "flapper" wedding dress

Such a simple wedding dress - with the only embellishments, the beautiful lace (above) attached to the slip underneath, and the gorgeous beaded belt (below) across the front.
 

A collection of early 50's bridal shower, wedding and anniversary cards.


This last one is my favorite.  Squeeze the top of the card, and the couple pops out from underneath!
 

And finally - a vintage 50's, 60's bride doll with a zippered storage compartment hidden under her skirt, for holding all your wedding treasures!

p.s. If you're interested in learning a bit more about the history behind "Something Old, Something New..." take a peek at this Foot Talk blog, written by a shoe historian!
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