I like Starbucks coffee.  But I love Starbucks mugs.   In fact, I love any of the Starbucks items.  When I spot a Starbucks item at a yard sale or in a thrift store, I grab it as quickly as possible.  Over the past few weeks, I have sold the following from the Seattle-based coffee giant:

• A coffee canister
• A Starbucks logo coffee cup
• 3 espresso cups
• A baby chick coffee cup
• A West Palm Beach, Florida mug
• A Seattle, Washington mug
• A Miami, Florida mug

On July 21, 2011, Elliot Handler died.  He was 95 years old.  What you may not know is that Handler was the creative force that developed Hot Wheels.  What might surprise you even more (it did me), is that Handler’s wife, Ruth had created the Barbie doll a few years before the arrival of the first Hot Wheel.

So both of these iconic toys came from one married couple.  It was the success of Barbie that caused Mr. Handler to think of something that would relate to boys as Barbies had to girls.

I am impressed with the creative minds living under one roof.

One of the challenges of being in the collectibles business is determining the value of an item.  One has to have an idea of the value before they purchase the item.  Then one has to set a value at which to sell the item.  The book value might be a consideration, but really the value of something is determined by one somebody will give for that item.

Here is a great television commercial of an expert helping a lady determine the value of her collectible item.  Enjoy.

Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel

In the early 1980′s I lived in Germany.  Specifically, I lived in the region of Bavaria in Germany.  I remember seeing the prized Hummel figurines in the shop windows.  I always wanted to have at least one Hummel figurine to enjoy.  I often passed by a particular shop which had two near life size figurines that were priced with a hefty tag.

Recently I was able to obtain 5 Hummel figurines and a Hummel spice jar.  They are wonderful pieces of art.  I thought I would find out about the artist behind these pieces.  The artist is a Bavarian woman born in 1909 as Bertha Hummel.  Bertha was raised in a strong Catholic home and was able to be educated as an artist.  After art school she turned down an offer to teach at the school and entered a convent.  This would allow her to devote her life to God and to her art.

Two primary subjects were the objects of her art.  As a member of a Franciscan order, she painted many religious paintings.  Part of her task was as an educator of children.  Surrounded by children, she began making them the focus of her art.  Families had her paint portraits of their children.  As she progressed in the order, she changed her name to Maria Innocentia Hummel.  We usually see her work identified as by the artist M.I. Hummel.

Her art work made its way to Munich.  It was there that Franz Goebel, the porcelain dealer searched out her work.  He had the idea that during the difficult days in Germany, people would be drawn to beautiful figurines of children.  He sent representatives to the convent to form an alliance with Sister Hummel.  He pledged his personal oversight of her work.  She maintained artistic control.  Her proceeds were to be committed to the convent.  On January 9, 1935 an agreement was signed and thus birthed “The Hummel.”

The figurines proved popular with the German people.  However, WWII severely restricted their development.  After the war the popularity of the figurines began to spread worldwide.  They especially became popular among the American military community.  As the popularity was on the rise, Sister Hummel developed a lung ailment and died on November 6, 1946.

The work has continued because Sister Hummel left behind a large cache of artwork about children.  An artistic board at the convent was created to guard the legacy of her artwork.

Take a look here at the Hummel’s we are offering for sale.  All are priced well below book value.