Jackie O, Who painted You?

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One of my favourite prints from my mass produced 60's collection, I don't think you could even call this one ugly.

 I believe it's Jackie O, that's what we call her anyway. I'd come across this print on eBay last year & loved it, but it was a little out of my price range, going for around £50.

 This summer I found a large version of her at a car boot sale, along with a rare Tretchikoff floral print. The flowers didn't take my fancy & the seller was asking £25 for it anyhow (being a Tretchikoff I would've paid a tenner for it regardless of not loving it).

 I was even more happy to find the seller only wanted £15 for her. For a large version of this print in it's original frame that's a bargain, I've seen them go for £70+ on eBay.

 Here's my problem: any time I've found it on eBay it's by searching 'kitsch' in the art section, I didn't have the artist's name. I've seen it listed as a Tretchikoff piece, but I've looked at the signature & it's definitely nothing like that name.

 Do any kitsch kings or queens know who produced this print?
I'd love to know!

Claire

My Secret Book Collection

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I have a strange love of old photos of areas I know. I've many books with photos of my home town Bangor from the turn of the last centuary.
I studied architecture & environmental planning at university (until I dropped out) so perhaps the obsession stems from there.

 I find it amazing how places I know well have changed over the years.
I've also hoarded books about Newtownards, Belfast, Antrim & the Ards Penninsula.

 They are currently in residence at my parents' house, but I managed to pick up two I haven't seen before today in Belfast.

 The Masonic Lodge at CornMarket were having an exhibition of these old photos, so we went in for a nosy.

 Two books for £5.

Claire

Too Bad To Buy

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Spotted this temperature telling ceramic shell in a charity shop in East Belfast. I especially liked how the stamp on the bottom just said 'foreign'.
Dithered over whether it was worth my £1.50 & finally left it on the shelf.

 I don't really go in for shell kitsch & any item I'm not sure about I always just leave.

 Pretty damn ugly looking, mind you!

Claire

Ridgway Homemaker Plate

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I have scoured the charity shops for even one plate from this sacred range, but have had to resort to eBay to get my hands on one for my kitchen wall.

 This dinner set was sold through Woolworths & everyone and their neighbour had a set at the time.

 I really want to get my hands on some more pieces, so if anyone's mums have any they'd like taken off their hands, I'd be grateful!

Claire

Amazing Collage Chest

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Imagine my joy when viewing our current rental house for the first time & seeing this dresser as part of the dining room furniture.

 My landlady has fantastic taste in my opinion. Love this newspaper & magazine clipping covered cupboard. It's definitely hand made but I don't know if she did it herself, or where she would have bought it.

 I've seen a myspace page before of a girl who does similar stuff to chairs, from Belfast.

 I'm hoping if/when we buy the house we can keep this one!

Claire

Dallas Simpson's Miserable Child

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Anyone know why a lot of the ugly 70's art featured sad children with animals?

 This is my favourite from my Dallas Simpson collection. Love the colours & it's really nostaligic for some reason.

 I think my granny used to have that bizarre print (that I still don't 'get') of a sad girl standing in the corner of a room with a lassie dog watching her.
What was that all about?

Claire

Tacky Greetings Cards

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A tacky greeting card collection could potentially be huge. Have you ever come across your mum or dad's old wedding cards, or the baby cards from the year you were born?
Horrid.

 Greeting card design follows trends as much as clothing does. There are types that go in & out of favour, illustration styles, colour schemes of the year.

 I don't especially collect cards, but I did have two. The third I received from my pal in England, Charlotte (@queenchoo) a fellow kitsch lady.
She sent me the fabulous silver foiled flamingo number. Very tropical!

 The Valentine's card isn't strictly vintage, it uses genuine antique images, but has been put together by a crafter & I bought it from eBay for my husband last Valentine's.

 The last card arrived through my letter box when we lived in our last rental house, from some long-lost-relatives of previous tenants. With no forwarding address I decided I'd put it up that Christmas anyway & have kept it's foil loveliness in the cabinet since.

Claire