31 DAYS OF COFFEE MUGS: Vintage Taylor and Ng Coffee Mugs

Vintage Taylor and Ng Coffee Mugs

You Will Love These Handsome and Whimsical Taylor & Ng Coffee Mugs


Taylor and Ng is a 51-year old American company created by the Chinese American artists Spaulding Taylor and Win Ng. The firm is still in operation today and takes pride in creating useful and attractive products for everyday life. The Taylor and Ng coffee mugs certainly meet that goal although I am certain that they are popular because they feature whimsical images of animals including some slightly naughty ones.

Vintage Taylor and Ng mugs are sought after. However, the company continues to make mugs so you can also purchase a new, reproduction mug if you prefer.

The vintage MUGS are hot collectors' items right now, with individual mugs ranging in value from $10 to $180 with that last figure being the most expensive Taylor and Ng mug sold on eBay in the 90 days preceding the creation of this page in August of 2011. Because I know you are curious, I will tell you that the mug that sold for $180 is a white 1979 mug with a blue picture of Le Chat Aile - a winged cat.

(Picture of the Le Chat mug shown here by Hidden Library on Flickr.)

Taylor & Ng Le Chat (Cat) Coffee Mugs


Cat lovers who appreciate Ng's work will love Le Chat (cat) mugs and, of course, you don't have to hold out for the rarest $180 mug. You can have a different version from a more recent year for much less than that figure. Click here to see multiple Le Chat Taylor & Ng mug options on eBay

Vintage Taylor and Ng Horse Mug

Taylor & Ng L'Escargot and Cheval Mugs


There seems to be something about the vintage mugs in the blue color for the blue Taylor & Ng l'escargot and cheval mugs also command top dollar but, once again, there are other choices available including more recent reproductions, other images and other colors. Check out the escargot and horse Taylor and Nug mugs on eBay by clicking here.

(Picture via former eBay seller jhighead.)

Taylor & Ng Orgy / Naughty Coffee Mugs


Taylor & Ng Orgy Naughty Coffee MugsThese Taylor & Ng orgy or naughty coffee mugs generate a lot of discussion on and offline. (Taylor & Ng calls the reproduction of these naughty mugs animates, I am not sure if that is what they originally called them.)

People often have these cups in their hands without realizing exactly what those creatures are up to in the image until someone points the activity out to them. Fun and playful, these mugs fortunately leave much to the imagination.

Although popular, these naughty cups are generally more affordable with the most expensive one sold in the last 90 days being a naughty alligator coffee mug, which eBay seller CTCulture had the good fortune to sell for just over $50 once you factor in the cost of shipping.

See eBay's collection of Taylor & Ng naughty mugs by clicking here. Remember there are vintage and there are new versions of these mugs and if  you see a mug you love, don't hesitate. These mugs are all listed on eBay and may be the seller's only one.

Modern Taylor & Ng Coffee Cups


Classy Critters Taylor & Ng Coffee MugsBe aware that there are two types of Taylor & Ng mugs...the vintage, collectible ones and the reproduction, brand-new ones. Some available from Amazon are misleadingly titled vintage although they are really reproductions. Be aware, too, that people are sometimes disappointed with the new mugs, especially when they were expecting the character of the older ones. In any case, you can see all of Amazon's Taylor & Ng mugs by clicking here.

I love the Taylor & Ng classy critters mugs. (As shown here in a picture via Happy Flower Head on Flickr.) They are more colorful than most of the others and may appeal to you more or less because of that fact. They are attractive and feature fun names and illustrations like Rascal Rabbit, Doggy Do Good and Kitty Katfish. You can find the classy critter collection on Amazon by clicking right here.

What do you think of these Taylor & Ng coffee mugs naughty and otherwise?

Brenda


More Reading from my 31 Days of Coffee Mugs Series:

Starbucks Boy With Green Balloon Mug
Harry Potter Coffee Mugs
31 Days of Coffee Mugs (2015) Index Page


Author's Note: Page originally published elsewhere in 2011.



A Very Vintage Christmas: Holiday Collecting, Decorating and Celebrating by Bob Richter


'Tis not the season right now but I just finished watching a short video in which Bob Richter of Flea Market Minute and PBS' Market Warrior introduces his upcoming book, A Very Vintage Christmas: Holiday Collecting, Decorating and Celebrating.  The video shares Richter's flare for decorating in the rooms of his own home and you can watch it for yourself here:



There is no doubt in my mind that when this book is released readers, especially those who embrace things vintage, will find inspiration between the covers for decorating their own homes at Christmastime. You can read more and/or pre-order the book now from Amazon by clicking right here. Bob's Christmas book will be delivered on July 1, 2016.

Merry Christmas...
(many months early!)
Brenda

Quick Link:

Order A Very Vintage Christmas: Holiday Collecting, Decorating and Celebrating from Amazon.


31 DAYS OF COFFEE MUGS: Prince Purple Rain Coffee Mug

RIP Prince. The world lost another talented musician on April 21, 2016.

Prince really does not need much in the way of introduction. We know that he was part singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, producer and even actor. He was flamboyant and eclectic. He crossed over numerous musical styles including pop, fun, rock, rhythm and blues, soul and psychedelia.

Prince Rogers Nelson, which is his full name, left behind a legacy for which he will never be forgotten.

Continuing then in my 31 Days of Coffee Mugs series, I thought it appropriate to seek out a Prince-themed coffee mug for his fans and I found this one by Cayman Hill Designs on Etsy. It is simple and that is why I like it, it has a nice image of the musician and it features lyrics from the song Purple Rain, the song that I remember best from my youth.

Are you a fan of Prince? What is your favorite song?

Brenda
You never know what
coffee mugs I might
have in store for you next!

Quick Links:

Find this Prince coffee mug on Etsy.

31 DAYS OF COFFEE MUGS: Leslie Knope Motivational Mug

If you are reading this, you likely need no introduction to the reference on this mug which reads, "Be the Leslie Knope of whatever you do."

Played by actress Amy Poehler, Leslie Barbara Knope was a character on the NBC comedy television program, Parks and Recreation.

If you were inspired by Knope's attitude and motivation, this mug will help you continue to embrace her traits whilst at the same time embracing your coffee mug.

It's a great gift idea as are the matching tote bag and sweatshirt for anyone who loved the television program Parks and Recreation or even for those who simply admire her attitude and her gumption. Find it on Etsy by clicking right here.

Brenda
Treasures By Brenda
You never know what
coffee mugs I might have
in store for you!

Quick Links:

Order this Leslie Knope coffee mug from Etsy.



TRAVEL GIFTS: Our Top 10 Hawaiian Souvenirs

Our Top 10 Hawaiian Souvenirs.
During our trip to Oahu, Hawaii, we collected some fantastic Hawaiian souvenirs. Before I go on, I should explain that our trip was in 2001 and this page was originally written on another website. By now, my little boys have grown up and left the house but this is still a solid and updated list of souvenir ideas for you whether you are travelling alone, as a couple or as a family unit. Because I am practical by nature, many of our choices were practical. However, I am also sentimental and some of the items will serve as a reminder of our holiday in Hawaii forever.

I thought about arranging the items on this page in some sort of order but found that too hard so here they are, arranged randomly, with the exception of the fact that I've saved the best for last!

Many of these items are available before or after your trip. Sometimes shopping before you leave home instead of shopping at your destination can save money plus there is nothing quite like wearing a Hawaiian shirt while you are in Hawaii. It only makes sense, doesn't it? Buying yours in advance is not a bad thing at all and the internet makes doing so fairly easy.

Of course, if you've already had your Hawaiian vacation and are now looking for a great souvenir, these ideas are sure to help you find that piece that you remember from your vacation!

Who Are We?


We are a family of four including myself, my husband and two (then) boys. When we went to Hawaii my boys were nine and seven years of age. They loved Hawaii and my eldest son shared his view of our adventures on the page Hawaii For Kids By A Kid.  If you are curious about what we enjoyed doing in Oahu, you might want to check out that page, too. You'll find a link to that post at the end of the page.

Our Top 10 Hawaiian Souvenir Ideas


A Kukui Nut Lei 


A lei is a garland or wreath of items put together as a necklace. In Hawaii, that frequently means a wreath of flowers and you will likely be given a lei or two while you are in Hawaii. They are commonly made out of flowers like plumerias, lehua, orchids, pikake, and maile leaves, ferns, and ti leaves and of course, some are plastic.

My boys, being boys, wore the flower ones the is more masculine, the Kukui Nut Lei. These leis cost more. However, I think they are a great choice and worth paying a bit more for because they are a souvenir that is handsome and that will last forever.

For years, my sons kept theirs on their bulletin boards. Now, they are safely packed away as a reminder of their trip to Hawaii.

They used their own savings to buy them and one son chose a lei with all dark nuts, as shown here, and the other son chose a lei with a combination of dark and blonde nuts. You can order yours from Amazon by clicking right here.

Hawaiian Jungle Bird Shirt Magnum P.I.
A Hawaiian Shirt 


Of course, a Hawaiian shirt is the perfect souvenir of your trip to Hawaii and great for parties at home, too. My husband has perhaps one too many Hawaiian shirts. He wears them at slightly unexpected moments and people love it when he does so!

My boys will tell you that real Hawaiian shirts receive a bit of extra attention when they are made and can include little details like pockets that disappear because they exactly match the print background; bamboo buttons; and fabric that includes tropical and floral motifs as well as additional Hawaiian themes like corvettes, planes, tropical drinks and pineapples.

Here's a fun Hawaiian shirt that will have you looking like Magnum P.I. in no time at all...well maybe feeling like Magnum. You can buy Magnum's Jungle Bird shirt on Amazon by clicking right here.

The Best of The Brothers Cazimero Hawaiian Music CD
A Hawaiian Music CD 


When in Hawaii, I loved the music and I really wanted a CD to bring home. I have to admit that I was lucky. I picked a CD pretty much randomly - The Best of The Brothers Cazimero as shown here and I love it. Whenever I think about Hawaii, or when the weather is warm in the summertime and the breeze is blowing, I put on my Brothers Cazimero CD. It ranks as one of our most used souvenirs so I would definitely recommend this CD or, at least, a Hawaiian CD as a souvenir.

The Brothers Cazimero are a standard in Hawaiian music. Their style is part of Hawaiian history and they have contributed to Hawaiian music and dance for both tourists and natives. This 17-track album is in both Hawaiian and English and is a beautiful tribute to the islands of Hawaii. Amazon says, "Definitely add this album to your collection if you want a taste of the magically and exotic Hawaiian Islands." I agree.  You can order yours from Amazon by clicking here.

Hawaii's Best Tropical Food and Drinks Cookbook
A Hawaiian Cookbook  


I'm not sure if our enjoyment of foods with a Hawaiian theme started before or after our trip to Hawaii, but in any case, we do love Hawaiian food, however authentic or inauthentic it might be. I haven't created a complete Hawaiian menu yet, but I expect that one day I will. Our favorites include Hawaiian Potato Salad and Hawaiian Punch. You will find links to my recipes shown at the bottom of this page.

Anyway, I would recommend picking up a Hawaiian cookbook as an excellent and inexpensive souvenir. Mine, shown here, is called Hawaii's Best Tropical Food and Drinks. It is a thin booklet with a few recipes from each food type as well as a few tropical drink recipes. We love the Kalua Pork and the Soy Teriyaki Chicken. One day, we'll try the tropical drinks, too! Find this cookbook on Amazon by clicking here.


A Hawaiian Photo Album 


When you come home you are no doubt going to have some fantastic pictures. Another great idea for a souvenir is a themed photo album. My Hawaiian one is the second travel-themed album that I have chosen and filled. It isn't really fancy but it is quite special because it is instantly recognizable as our Hawaii album and because it is full of precious memories.

The album shown here has a rustic, outdoorsy feel and features a large Hawaiian turtle. You can find it and some like it here on eBay.  I love the idea of a photo album that feels a little bit vintage. Hawaii does that to me.

Hide & Seek in Hawaii 2 Children's Picture Book
A Hawaiian Children's Picture Book 


There are many great picture books you could choose as your souvenir of Hawaii. We chose Hide & Seek in Hawaii 2 a beautiful picture book 'I Spy' style by Jane Hopkins and Ian Gillespie with photography by Ray Wong. Each two page spread includes items to find with popular Hawaiian themes like shave ice, kitsch, postcards, fruit, lei and so much more. This book series is recommended for children aged 4 to 8 years old and the text and tasks are fairly simple. However, I enjoy the pictures, too. Find it on Amazon here. The pictures of Hawaii are beautiful!

An Original Painting 

Vintage Original Hawaii Oil Painting on Canvas

We chose a small watercolor painting of Diamond Head, the extinct volcano which overlooks Waikiki. It allowed us to have a seemingly unique item without much cost and we chose to frame it ourselves at home. Our painting was sold matted and protected with plastic which helped ensure that it arrived home safely.  However, I am sharing hear a beautiful, bold blue vintage oil painting. It is available from the seller by clicking right here. If this one is not quite to your liking or perhaps sold, you can see all of eBay's vintage oil paintings of Hawaii by clicking here.

The Mountain Sea Turtles T-Shirt
A Hawaiian T-Shirt 


If your family is like mine, they love t-shirts. When we went to Hawaii, my boys had the cutest little t-shirts with creatures indigenous to the waters of Hawaii on them. They loved them and they wore them for as long as they possibly could. I couldn't find the same shirts to feature here, but I did find this fantastic one from the environmentally friendly company, The Mountain. You can find The Mountain's turtle-themed t-shirts on Amazon by clicking right here.
Ty Hawaiian teddy bear


A Hawaiian Teddy Bear or Doll 


We searched high and low to find a Hawaiian themed teddy bear for me and we did manage to find one. Mine isn't a Ty Hawaiian teddy bear, but this one by Ty is cute and another great idea as a souvenir for a child, a young lady or a teddy bear collector in your family. Find Ty's Hawaiian bear on eBay here.

A Professional Photo 


This is the best souvenir of Hawaii and is still displayed in our family room many years later. We had the boys' pictures taken twice with parrots. The first time was in the street not far from our hotel when a young man stopped us and asked if we would like to take a picture of our boys with his parrots. He asked for a small sum in return for the privilege and we snapped a few pictures.

Later we were in the marketplace in Oahu where there is a stall where you can have your picture taken with parrots against a lush tropical background. It definitely cost more (sorry I don't remember how much) but today as I look at the pictures they are absolutely, positively the BEST souvenir of our trip to Hawaii so do not begrudge spending a bit more on something you will treasure forever.  As far as I am concerned, it is perfect and it will ensure that we never forget how much fun we had with our boys in Hawaii in 2001. If you have a similar photo opportunity while you are in Hawaii, I really highly recommend grabbing it.


A Great Travel Guide
Fodor's Travel Essential Hawaii Guide Book


Not exactly a souvenir but definitely a  must have. When you are spending all that money for the trip of a lifetime, make sure you spend a little on a couple of excellent guidebooks. You may be pleasantly surprised at how inexpensive they are. I always use Fodor's and Frommer's guides. You can find Fodor's Travel Essential Hawaii guide book here, on Amazon.

I hope that I have managed to give you some souvenir ideas and that you manage to pick up a few great items as memories of your time in Hawaii.

Happy travels to you!
Brenda
Treasures By Brenda

More Hawaiian Reading: 


A Vintage Hawaiian Punch Hot Dog Recipe
Looking for a fun, vintage-inspired recipe? Try this 1960s era Hawaiian Punch hot dog recipe.

The Best-Ever Hawaiian Punch Recipe
Yes. We love it. Hawaii AND this Hawaiian punch recipe. You will, too. 

The Best-Ever Hawaiian Potato Salad Recipe
Potato salad, made with this recipe, is one of my favorite things to eat in the summer. 

Hawaii For Kids By A Kid
My son's record of his trip to Hawaii.




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