Sunday, March 30, 2008

Kitsch














Kitsch: Prounounced "kich"
Function: NOUN - remember, the teacher taught us a noun is a person, place or thing....
Etymology: German
Date: 1925

Definition:

1 : something that appeals to popular or lowbrow taste and is often of poor quality
2 : a tacky or lowbrow quality or condition

aka: Kitschy, which is an adjective.

Hmmmm...ok, I admit, I am a bit confused, dazed, perplexed. Reason? Well, I have been loving
"Vintage Kitsch" things for many years and have been proudly collecting and displaying them in my home because I LOVE the sweetness of the pieces. Little did I know that Kitsch refers to things in poor quality, tacky or lowbrow. Lowbrow? What is that? It sounds rather nasty to me...lowbrow. Ok, get my mind out of the gutter on that one.

I don't care what the definition truly is. I love Kitsch! Tacky, blase, imperfect.... Bring it on!!!! The cuter, the better. They are little pieces that bring a smile to my face! A tacky and imperfect smile at best!!
For a little "vintage" thinking...check out Laura's post on Card Tables. I had to share this with you, if you haven't read it already, because it really tickled my funny bone...well, all of them! Laura has a keen sense of humor and her posts are very amusing, to say the least!!

36 comments:

Rosemary said...

Cute stuff!!
Thanks for sharing,
Rosemary

Betty said...

Oh crap! I love kitsch too! I guess that makes me a lowbrow. Eyiyiyi!

PamKittyMorning said...

You're killing me with the cute stuff. I've been driving myself crazy trying to find a basket like the one you're pretty geraniums are in and now I'm going to have to start finding some cute salt and pepper shakers. I have the squirrel with the cornicopia in pink.

Everything is so cute!

Sal said...

I love kitsch too..!Your pics are so fab..thanks;-)Sal

Janet said...

Becky,
Well I just love your style, lowbrow, tacky, poor quality and all :>)

Janet

Nancy said...

Hi Becky! Don't you just love kitsch? I think it creates such a happy and cozy feeling like the days when people were not afraid to add a little "dime store" to their homes. I also love your vintage textiles in a previous post!

Feenwerkstatt said...

Oh, I was very surprised to read the word "Kitsch"!!!!
At first I thought I was accidentally stumbeld in a german blog ;0)))

And I have to say: I love Kitsch!!!

Love, Anja :0)

Vintage Linen Treasures said...

Hi Becky!
How do you do it? Everything you have always looks to chic and well put together. Your display of kitsch does not match the official definition of the word. I think everything looks FABULOUS! Why don't we redefine kitsch?
Kitsch: vintage, cute, whimsical, and makes us smile.
Patricia :o)

Mrs. Cherry Heart said...

I am loving it!!!
So much cute stuff!

Hugz,
Dolly

Anonymous said...

Well count me in cuz I love kitsch too. Oh what the heck do they know??? I've been known to be tacky once in awhile so ya, bring it on!! I love all your cute kitsch. Give Doogs a kiss for me. Jackson says hi.

Hugs,
LeAnn :)

Heidi Ann said...

Great stuff, great pics. I am with you, Becky. Kitsch is kooky and"Kool"!!!

Sinta Renee said...

Love your photos! Thanks for letting us peek. I am already trying to bid on plaid luchboxes on ebay... now I will have to be on the look out for cute salt and pepper shakers too!(did the other puppy get adopted by your son?)

Miss Jean said...

Yea, Kitch!!!! Kitch to me is anything that has been loved and treasured. I'll bring out the card table and put on my scotty dog embroidered kitchy tablecloth and we'll do lunch next time you visit!

See you later, my kitchy friend!

Susie said...

Hi Becky,
I always enjoy seeing all the cute things you display. Grandma used to call them knick nacks..(and she had loads!!)
I also loved seeing all your vintage linens. You showed so many cute ways to display and use them.
Always a delight to visit here!
xo

Unknown said...

Hi Becky! Thank you so much for visiting me!! Oh my gosh, I LOVE your blog!!!! Love all your bunnies for Easter :)

Hugs,
Amy

Meggie said...

I say, if it makes you smile, bring it on! It makes your home a special place.

Rosie's Whimsy said...

I agree with Meggie. We love what we love! Definitions be damned! :-) I call them doo dads and yours make me smile :-) Rosie

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

Kitsch is Kool and it may be lowbrow but it has guts and is full of character...!
Some of my favourite possessions started out as cheap fair ground tat.. but I love it all. Kitsch has a humble charm and I would rather that any day than highly polished and pretentious..
Ooh dear.. got on my soap box there didn't I ?
Love your Kitschy collection Becky.. right up my street or should I say.. down my alley!!
Much love to you
Michelexx

P.s I haven't forgotten you and will post mystery gift v soon...

Anonymous said...

I think they're all such cheery pieces! They're such happy things! Loved your pictures!

Manuela

Esther Sunday said...

Becky - you have truly been inspiring me on my kitchen makeover!! I am trying to incorporate "Becky Kitsch"! Now, pass me over a lollypop. Love, Esther

Ele at abitofpinkheaven said...

The little canisters with the strawberries are so precious. Love the kitsch!

Simply Shelley said...

Hi Becky, I love all your kitschy things,and they are no way tacky. Lovely is a much better word for them.

Blessings,Shelley

PattieJ said...

I love kitsch too! Even if it is "lowbrow" lol. Your kitchen is adorable Becky! I would love to have a kitchen just like yours.

Pattie

Painted Pink Pot said...

I found your blog on Our Back Porch. You have some great stuff. I'll be back.

BittersweetPunkin said...

I love your kitsch...it's nice to look at someone else's for a change...LOL
Hugs,
Robin

Dena said...

Okay Becky, those pictures were delish! I love all of your kitschy things, from one lover of tacky lowbrow to another, if this is tacky some, all the better because it just means more vintage yummy treasures for all of us!

Hugs,
D

Louise said...

Who cares what the definition of Kitsch is? As you say let's just love it. Anyway we want more to think of it as second rate, so there is more for us to go round! x

Linda said...

Hi Becky, I'm with you...I love kitsch too! I loved seeing all you cute things. Enjoyed all the textiles from a previous post and seeing red is a good thing too. Hugs, Linda

Lori said...

Great post! Gotta love the old salt and pepper cuties!!! Lori

Stacy said...

I loved looking around your site. I was thinking some of the things in your pictures looked familiar, though....has your house been featured in one of the decorating magazines?

Mary said...

I love all your stuff! Highbrow, lowbrow, who cares? At least it's not a unibrow. (Sorry, I couldn't help myself)
xoxo,
Mary

regina barnett said...

I guess you can say I am a collecter of kitsch things too. I love little cute things. Mostly the animal figerines. I just love looking at all your pretty things. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Oh, they're so cute. If you love'em, don't worry about anyone else.

Kate

Beth Leintz said...

Low brow- I don't think so....I'm just loving your goodies. I used to have a cute 40's kitchy kitchen and your pictures make me wish I had never tried to decorate in a high brow French country style- cause your kitchen make me smile!

Lallee said...

They all make me smile, too, especially Humpty Dumpty.But where are the pink flamingos?

Susie Q said...

Oh how I love your treasures. That Scottie pen holder with the flag is something I would have grabbed if I had seen it in a shop!! I LOVE kitchy and whimsy and cute. Life is too serious not to have such delights in out home~

Love,
Sue