In my dim memory, the term "ticky-tacky" preceded Malvina, but as an adjective not a noun. Malvina's creativity was to say the house were made of "ticky-tacky" instead of they having the quality of beint "ticky-tacky".

I remember being crushed when Karen Rauch (the resident Bohemian of my High School's Junior class) described me as a "Ticky-tacky guitar player". Ah the joys of memory. I'm sure there are much nicer things I could have remembered from 40 years ago which instead I have forgotten.

At least today, I know I'm not a "ticky-tacky guitar player".

Roger in Baltimore