vintage collectibles

Even if the names Irmi and Nursery Plastics don’t ring a bell, no doubt you’ll recognize their vintage iconic look. Many of us have admired the whimsy and detail of this company’s handpainted wooden lamps, wall hangings, switch plates, nursery mobiles and more.

I love learning a bit of history about vintage nursery pieces and the companies of long ago that created them. And the story of Nursery Plastics is by far the sweetest I’ve heard in a long time. It was hard to track down even this much info about the company and the founders. I hope you enjoy the history as much as I did. It will give you a new-found love for the products they created…

On his 15th birthday in 1936, Fred Bering got a note from his father:

“If you should ever find yourself in a position where you have more than you need for yourself, think of those who are less fortunate,” the note said in part.

The Bering family lived in Stuttgart, Germany. At the time of his birthday, Adolph Hitler had been in power in Germany for three years.The Berings were Jews, and they could clearly see what was ahead.

“It was very obvious they were going to do away with us,” Bering said. Just before his 17th birthday, Fred Bering got out of Germany alive, going from Germany to France, and then to live with an uncle in New York.

He never saw his father again. Years later, Bering found his father’s note in his files. The words reverberated with him. To live by the message of that brief handwritten note, Bering gave $2 million to a hospital in New York in 2008. The donation was also a way for Bering to honor his wife, Irmi, who died in 2005.

Irmi and Fred escaped Germany within weeks of each other but didn’t meet until 1948, on a tennis court. By then Fred Bering had become an American citizen and was serving in the U.S. Army.

Fred and Irmi married in 1951. They ran Nursery Plastics, a New York company they founded together and ran profitably until they sold it in 1971.

“I came to this country with $9 in my pocket,” he said. “Through hard work and opportunity, I made enough money to share it with people.”

In 2008, when asked about his late wife, Fred Bering said, “Sometimes you don’t have a full appreciation of what a wonderful wife you had until she’s no longer here. Everyone who ever met her would tell you what a wonderful, original person she was.”

Incredible story. If you don’t have your own Irmi or Nursery Plastic vintage collectible, it’s not too late to drink the kool-aid. These pieces can be found pretty easily around the internet, in antique shops and even in thrift stores if you’re lucky. Prices can range from very inexpensive to moderately ridiculous. Here’s a few adorable pieces currently for sale around the internet:

Irmi Humpty Dumpty Night Light

Irmi Angel Crib Mobile

Irmi Snow White Music Box

When I say, “vintage plastic for baby,” do you cringe just a little? Well believe it or not, generations before us survived infancies filled with gorgeous plastics that would melt your heart even today. Hard to believe? Take a gander at this…

There’s several terms out there synonymous with vintage plastics. Maybe you’ve heard of Bakelite? Yep, it’s plastic. But funny thing is, calling it by another name seems to give it a different persona. Bakelite is actually one of the hottest vintage collectibles out there.

Bakelite is the trade name for a castable, flame-resistant plastic invented by Leo Baekeland in 1909. It was originally used for industrial purposes, but its light weight made Bakelite perfect for manufacturing inexpensive jewelry and other items. (Perhaps inexpensive in a past life, but as a vintage collectible, prices can now range from reasonable to ridiculous.)

Some of those ‘other items’ crafted from Bakelite included cutlery sets for baby (above) and functional teething rattles (right). Crib toys were also frequently made of Bakelite — usually in the shape of whimsical people and animals, like this Bakelite bear (below).

Now I’m not suggesting giving vintage plastic to your sweet baby (not a good idea). What I am suggesting is that plastic pieces like these deserve to be admired for the works of art they are. There’s very little that compares to their vintage charm, don’t you think?

Footnote: As I mentioned, Bakelite is hugely popular. While researching, I found so many incredible examples — from watches to brooches to kitchen utensils to napkin rings. I fell in love over and over again. It was really hard to stay focused on baby-related items. I highly recommend googling ‘vintage Bakelite.’ Scotty dogs and cherries are probably two of the most popular Bakelite themes. Absolutely gorgeous and totally worth a look!

We went to a few antique shops this weekend that we visit pretty regularly, but this time I found a hidden section in one of the shops that I had ignored on so many trips before. Something pulled me to this tucked-away shelf that turned out to be full of vintage children’s books. I LOVE vintage children’s books. (A lot of the graphics that you see on products at The Baby Gardner come from vintage story books and primers.) So needless to stay, I got really excited. Here’s a sampling of my finds:

For me personally, I love primers for their amazing vintage illustrations and the nostalgia they exude. Totally reminiscent of the 1940s and 1950s, they represent picture-perfect vintage Americana.

School primers (a.k.a. early readers) appeared in classrooms across the country to instill reading fundamentals as a fun and straight-forward process. Today, these books can be easily identified by their bright and cheerful vintage illustrations and large text. They often include several short stories, a vocabulary index, and reading comprehension questions.

“See Dick run. Run Dick run!” No doubt you’ve heard those infamous words from the classic primer, Dick & Jane. Many vintage primers have become incredibly collectible over the years. Dick & Jane primers, in particular, are very sought after and treasured among serious collectors. These characters came alive in 1930 when the first Dick & Jane primer was introduced.

The popularity of Dick and Jane has boomed even more in recent years as reproductions of the classic primers have been published. Michael Miller, fabric designer, has even created a line of vintage-inspired fabrics dedicated solely to this famous duo:

If you feel that irresistible pull toward vintage school primers the way I do, here are some great tips for collecting:

• Search for primers at flea markets, used book stores, garage sales, thrift stores, and eBay.
• Try to choose books with all pages present and clean. Often it’s difficult to find readers without school stamps or other markings.
• Look for books with a good tight binding and clean covers. The text should be clear and readable .
• Also keep in mind that all of the original primers are now out of print. Reproductions have been printed by various authors so always check copyright dates.
• Books that may not be in the best condition overall, still have potential. Consider framing individual pages that showcase colorful illustrations and charming text. Choose 3 or 4 pages to frame and group on a wall in a nursery, bedroom or playroom to add instant vintage charm.

The great thing about collecting these vintage school primers? They’re still fairly easy to find — and at reasonable prices too! Happy hunting!

If you aren’t familiar with the term pram or know it only by name and not by reputation, let me share with you all the vintage goodness of the perambulator (what a mouth full) — better known as pram for short.

First, a little history… Before 1800, babies were seldom carried outside of the home. When transporting babies was necessary, they were swaddled in clothing or, among the upper classes, carried by nannies. Prams were introduced in the early 1800s and by mid-century, they had become status symbols across Europe and Northern America. It wasn’t until the 1920s that prams became common in all social groups. Although prams were quite popular in their day, the design of strollers and carriers became more modern and convenient — eventually causing the pram to become cumbersome and obsolete.

So you might be wondering, “Okay, they’re vintage and really cool, but what could possibly be the practical use for an oversized vintage baby carriage?”

Good question! And besides the fact that pushing one down the sidewalk will surely make you the hippest vintage mom on the block, the bonus answer is, “Think bassinet.”

Both of my babies slept in a bassinet beside our bed for the first three months (a great helper when you’re nursing). And the wheels on that bassinet were a must for wheeling the little ones from room to room during the day without disturbing their naps. In hindsight, I wish I had thought to use a pram in place of that bassinet. What a wonderfully vintage experience that would have been! (Not to mention the great photo opportunities!!) It wasn’t until years later that I remembered this vintage pram my mom had used with my baby brother…

Although the quality of the photo is not the best, this photo is priceless. My mother custom made the red gingham bedding for the pram and the red gingham chicken mobile that’s hanging above. How adorable is that? If you squint, you can even see the silhouette of my tiny baby brother (born April 1980). She wheeled him everywhere in this thing and even took him for an occasional stroll through the neighborhood.

It was kind of ironic when Krista (see previous post) sent me photos of the vintage pram she used for her son, Shiloh. The funny thing is, I had already started research on this post about vintage prams. (Great timing, Krista!) Krista also used Shiloh’s pram (below) in place of a bassinet and once he could sit up, it was a great photo op as well!

I love the embroidered vintage car below. It works perfectly with the vintage travel theme Krista used in Shiloh’s nursery.

So maybe you’re open to the possibilities of a pram? Many people are taking advantage of these vintage ‘hot rods’, and as much as I would recommend researching them as an option, always be careful in your selection of vintage items that will be used for baby. Be sure any pram you are considering is in excellent, sturdy condition and safe for baby.

For more information and a slew of gorgeous photos of vintage prams, the Prams Perfect Prams blog is a great resource. You won’t believe how many varieties there are.

One of my favorite vintage things to scope out are pieces by Holt-Howard. Their whimsical childlike designs from the 1950s and 1960s were so uniquely their own that even today it’s not hard to spot them in a sea of vintage pottery and glass.

A little background on Holt-Howard…

Holt-Howard was created in 1948 by John and Robert Howard and A. Grant Holt. The company first focused on Christmas items which became very popular in the 1950s. Soon after, Holt-Howard began to branch out into whimsical kitchen items and giftware. Animal themes quickly made their way into the design with rooster egg cups, cat string holders and more.

Pixieware is what the company is best remembered for — produced from about 1958 until the early 1960s. Pixieware is immediately recognizable for the elf heads which adorn the condiment jars and other kitchenware, painted with bright colors and clever facial expressions.

The Jam n’ Jelly jar above (dated 1959) was my first encounter with Holt Howard. From the moment I laid eyes on it, I was smitten. The pixie’s head lifts off to reveal a small scoop molded underneath the lid for scooping jam. Even though this piece would be considered prize Kitchiana, it’s found a sweet little home on a corner shelf in Gracie’s bedroom.

Here’s another piece I found recently on eBay. It’s a vintage Jack and Jill wall pocket (dated 1958). It’s really petite, measuring only 4 inches wide. I thought I might reinvent it as a really cute business card holder. I’m not quite certain what the holes at the bottom were originally intended for. My guess is hooks were inserted in them to hold keys or measuring spoons? I’ve tried to research this rare piece without luck. If you have any info on it, please share!

Let me count the ways…

Here are some of the many reasons I love Holt Howard. Some of these pieces are currently up for auction on eBay — just in case it’s love at first sight for you too.

‘Dorable Daisy Lipstick Holder - 1960

Lil’ Sugar & Creamer Set

Easter Bunny Candle Climbers

Merry Mice Salt & Pepper Set – 1958

Santa Claus Ashtray – 1959

I keep hearing that song on the radio. We have a station here that plays nothing but Christmas music throughout December (you probably have one of those too). Seems like every time I turn it on, Julie Andrews is belting this one out. I never really considered it a Christmas song or Sound of Music (one of my all-time favorites) a Christmas movie, but okay. Works for me. In the movie, I guess the children are preparing for a holiday concert if I remember it right. I’m way over-thinking this. Moving on…

My favorite things… I’ve kind of been on a hunt the last several years in search of vintage ornaments similar to those that were on our tree when I was a kid. My mother sold all our ornaments in a garage sale years ago. (She knows I love to give her flack about this.) We lived several states apart at the time, so I didn’t even know about the horror until long after the fact. Her reasoning? She wanted to ’start fresh’ with the tree. And I get that, I do. But it kills me to think about it. I can still remember our tree vividly from all those Christmases growing up. My mom even HANDMADE a bunch of those original ornaments (felt gingerbread men, bells, santas, etc.). How could she sell them a decade later at a garage sale for 25 cents? Can you tell this is a sore spot for me? Don’t get me wrong. My mom is the greatest and she did hang on to sentimental things from our childhood. Unfortunately, the tree stuff — the stuff she made — just wasn’t among them. The upside is that the whole incident reminded me that stuff is just stuff. And it also made me realize that sometimes that stuff can hold childhood memories for the little ones we love most.

My kids may or may not grow up to be the sentimental sap their mom is, but in case they are, I’m making a conscious effort to keep small reminders of their past.

Favorite #1: Vintage Elf: Is he the cutest thing or what? Found him and a few of his buddies at a flea market last year. He’s a total flashback from my childhood. The cool thing is that at the base of his head he has this candy cane-wrapped wire that you can actually twist around the branch of the tree rather than your standard hooks.

Favorite #2: Vintage Stocking: Yep. This is the real deal. This held my very own loot from Santa every year when I was little. Mom held on to this one! It’s made from red felt and lace. Gold glitter sequins spell out my name. It actually inspired me to make handmade stockings for my own family that we now use every year. I’ll have to share them with you in a future post.

Favorite #3: Vintage Santa: Check out this jolly vintage Santa. I was able to grab him and an entire bag of his clones at an estate sale a few years back for $5! Score! Just like the elf, his hat is felt and he has that hard plastic face reminiscent of the 60s and 70s. He also has a fluffy spun cotton beard and his ‘made in japan’ label on the back.

Just as a side note, you’ll probably also notice in this photo that we have a ‘fake’ Christmas tree. I ADORE live Christmas trees. They are beautiful and smell wonderful. And I admire my friends that use them. I know that picking out the tree every year is a tradition for lots of families. If I had any sort of green thumb, I’d probably be tempted to go that route myself. But I don’t. And that makes them a pine-needles-everywhere, fire-hazard nightmare that scares me to death. So I’ll have to stick to enjoying them from afar.

Favorite #4: Vintage Christmas Place Card Holders: I keep telling myself that I’m going to use these at a big Christmas dinner, but so far it hasn’t happened. We usually go to the grandparents’ house for big family dinners, so I haven’t had the chance. I’ve also thought about using them in an altered art project. I found them in mint condition in their original box and couldn’t resist the urge. They’re really tiny. Only about 1-1/2″ tall.

I can’t remember if I told you guys already or not, but the fam has been planning a trip to Disney World since January — yeh, before the whole economy scare. (Our timing is always stellar.) Anywho, we decided to stick with the plan, forget reality for a week, and head to sunny Florida. This will be Gracie and Aidan’s first time to DW. We’re really looking forward to it (minus the 10-hour road trip) and as you might expect, the kids are bouncing off the walls already. Granny & Pop are even joining us (it’s their first time too)!

So in the spirit of our upcoming adventure, I thought now was the perfect time to talk about vintage Disney! When it comes to decorating, I’m personally not a fan of the Disney Princesses, Cars, and Buzz Lightyear decor which is available in every department store from here to eternity. But believe me, I know how much the kids love them. Lightning McQueen is a member of the family. But I’d like to think that maybe there’s a way to fulfill the Disney dynasty with the kids while throwing in a bit of vintage flair that stands apart from the aisles and aisles of Disney-branded merchandise. Is it too much to hope for?

Believe it or not, yesterday was the 80th anniversary of Mickey Mouse’s debut in Steamboat Willie. (Who says my timing is bad!) Finding vintage Disney really isn’t hard. It’s incredibly popular and collectible. Prices on rare pieces can get pretty high, but there’s so much Disneyana (that’s the avid collector’s term) out there, you’re sure to find something in even the most modest price range.

I went through eBay looking for vintage pieces that I thought might inspire you. Let me take you on a little tour…

If you have an extra, say $1000 or so, you might want to check out this fabulous 1930’s Steamboat Willie Mickey Mouse doll (shown above) currently up for auction on eBay. Even if you can’t swing the price (yeh, me neither), it’s still worth a peek. It’s the epitome of vintage Disney collectibles.

Another vintage Disney treasure I found was this Mickey & Minnie Vintage Pail. Wouldn’t it look great filled with vintage wooden alphabet blocks? (Stuff the bottom with newspaper first so it doesn’t take so many blocks to fill the pail.) You could use it as an adorable bookend or display it as a central focus on a wall shelf or dresser. This particular one is sold, but you can find many more like it on eBay.

Disneyana isn’t only about Mickey and Minnie though. Bambi, Snow White, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Dumbo (my personal all-time favorite) — the list goes on and on. You can find vintage versions of all of them and more. Here are two more examples of great oldies that are just itching to be rediscovered and adored…

Vintage Bambi Alarm Clock, circa 1964

Vintage Classic Dumbo Comic Book

Are you just giddy now with inspiration? Ok, well maybe that’s overstating a bit, but I hope you did enjoy the trip down memory lane. That’s truly one of the best things about Disney — the characters that we grew up with are still there among the Jasmines and Lightning McQueens our children are growing up with today. And you better believe I plan to point out every one when we get to that amazing wonderland in the sun — Walt Disney World.

I’m back! The surgery saga was a bit more involved than the doc had led on. The surgery wasn’t bad, but the 10 days in a cast up to my shoulder and now the month or more of physical therapy ahead of me were not anticipated to say the least. I’m more than a little perturbed at the doc for downplaying the post-op. But with the busy holiday season coming, not to mention a family trip to Disney World the week of Thanksgiving, I definitely have incentive to push hard with the PT and get full movement back in my hand and wrist. Typing should be an added help!

So I couldn’t let one of my favorite vintage holidays go by without posting. Halloween is #3 on my list of favorite holidays for decorating vintage. It’s only been in the past few years that I’ve really started collecting vintage holiday decorations. It is so much fun though! Let me share with you some of my favorite vintage and vintage-inspired pieces as well as some things that I would dearly love to add to my collection if I could just go crazy. Hope you enjoy!

I’m loving this Scaredy Cat vintage hanging decoration. His arms and legs are hinged.

And check out this rare valentine. It works double-duty for Halloween and Valentines Day. It just ghost-to-show-you, you never know what you’ll find!

What a hoot. This crepe paper tablecloth is vintage and a must-have for any spooky festivity. I could also see these adorable illustrations used in some altered-art projects. Hmm… Better beat me to it. You can find it here.

Treats are a must at Halloween! These vintage cookie cutters will make any goblin grin. These would be in my collection if I didn’t have a drawer full of cutters already. My clutter means YOUR cutters! Find them here.

Guess Who! These vintage masks are an especially fun blast from the past. Great way for little ones to play dress-up any time of year!

Lastly, here’s a view of my front door. Found this vintage-inspired garland at Target (believe it or not) several years ago. These spooky faces are painted wood cutouts with a glitter overlay. They’re strung by wire that’s pretty easy to twist and shape. I wrap it around my boxwood wreath that I keep on the front door most of the year, and voila! Spooky greetings!

Keep a close eye out for all those little goblins running around this All Hallows Eve! I’ll try to ’round up’ some costume photos of my wee ones to share with you this weekend. Happy Halloween!

I’m not sure if the lack of sleep has improved my writing or just made me delirious, but after a really long day, this post title cracked me up. It couldn’t be more appropriate to sum up my recent experience on eBay…

I tend to hit eBay in waves. I get hooked for a week or two and spend way too much time and often too much money. Eventually I snap out of the eBay fog and ban myself for the next few months. Case in point: After a heated bidding war the other night, I narrowly escaped as victor of this wonderful vintage photograph postcard. How could ‘The Baby Gardner’ not fight for this? It epitomizes the shop, right? But it cost me. Boy, did it cost me. Which brings me to the ‘done’ part. I’ve banned myself from eBay for the foreseeable future. But really — can you blame me?

So what do you think about incorporating this into a product for the shop? Good idea or nah, not so much?

Remember the vintage Charlotte and Charlie dolls I had mentioned in a previous post? Thought you might like to see the collection I have hanging in Gracie’s room. Shadow boxes really come in handy when collecting vintage smalls. I have them everywhere displaying all the little vintage treasures I heart most. And check out the scrapbook paper I used in the back of the box. You’ve probably noticed, I heart paper too.

Hope this sparks ideas for you to add your own vintage touches to your little one’s nursery or bedroom. To learn more about the history of Charlotte & Charlie dolls, you can read my brief description in the Cowboy post or search more online.