Spotlight Sunday Cynthia Lubenow

What a long week it has been . I didn't have a chance to write a single blog . I guess that happens when summer is coming to a end and everyone wants to fit in those last minute get together. My husband and I are looking at a new house we are in love with. I have already picked a room to be my Disney room which has me extremely excited. Though at the same time I will have  to let go of some of my prized possessions for the house. Our Spotlight of this week had to leave most of her collection behind  ( In a storage unit) when she moved to Texas.

 


Cynthia Started collecting in 1997. She and her mother had been walking around the mall when her mother suggested that the Disney store would be a fun place for her to work. During the group interview , another girl started showing off her own Disney room. This Discouraged her, but she got the job! Her first Pieces were a set of Disney Princesses she bought after she started working. She continued to buy and fill shelves leading up to her parents buying her a large curio cabinet for her Graduation.

 


Her collection included anything and everything Disney. From Plush animals to Big Figs and everything in between . Among her favorites are "Disney's self portrait" a painting that depicts Mickey mouse looking in a mirror and painting Walt Disney. Idea taken from the earlier Norman Rockwell painting " Triple self portrait". She also loves her piece where Mickey is shaking hands with a Fire Fighter.

 


After she was married in 2008 she moved to Texas and collecting took a back burner to her new life. She says that if she starts collecting again she would like to get more Jim Shore and WDCC pieces. One of the things that she wants is the WDCC 5 year member piece since she was a member for 5 years before she moved. When she was collecting she got most of her pieces from the Disney Store. She was also gifted items from friends and family and purchased from Disneyland, Disneyworld, and Ebay. One memory she shared to me was after a friend of hers had a baby boy , they gave her 2 Disney Diapers. Along with the diapers was a card with which she wrote that she wanted to donate to her collection, though it was nothing to frame. So she did just that!

 

Spotlight Sunday Lisa Robison Cottam

Recently I added a new group on facebook called "For TRUE Disney Addicts". This is a fun group of people that frequently post Disney trivia. When I added the page Lisa was running the trivia and it was for sure she knew her stuff. It wasn't until later on another page that I saw her collection. I was astounded and asked right away. 

Lisa started collecting as a kid like most of us did. Stuffed animals, coloring books, movies, anything you can think of a child Disney lover would want. Among her first collectible pieces were sculptures purchased at the Disney Store. Including the three good fairies from "Sleeping Beauty", and Mushu from "Mulan". 

 

Her collection really started accumulating pieces when she got engaged. When it was decided that they would have a Disney wedding , she started purchasing Disney Lenox figurines to use as their center pieces. ( Lenox is white and gold bone china founded in 1889. ) Lisa Purchased every Prince and Princess Lenox piece that was made and also a few Mickey and Minnie wedding pieces . They even used the Piece of Cinderella and Prince Charming dancing was used as their cake topper. 

 

 

Lisa's favorite character is Eeyore. Therefore would reasonably be assumed that most of her collection is Eeyore items. Her Eeyore collection is made up of everything including pens, mugs, cookie jars, and Christmas ornaments and everything in between. She even has a Big Fig she found at "Pooh's Corner" in Downtown Disney. It was love at first site and wasn't a piece she would be able to take lightly not purchasing. After Phone calls were made, and three more stores were stopped at in search of the Big Fig before a CM (Cast Member "Associate" ) was able to find one for her. It is now one of her favorite pieces in her collection. 

There are many pieces she is on the look out for. Some of which include the new Elsa from Bradford Exchange, Multiple WDCC statues, and more. It is obvious that Lisa's collection will continue to grow and be more amazing with every new piece. 

US 12 Garage Sale

The US 12 Garage Sale is Michigan's longest Garage Sale. It goes from New Buffalo to Detroit. Which is a 212 mile route beginning to end. People come from all over to search for their perfect treasure. Even more wonderful then the treasures you find are the people you meet.

I have been doing the US 12 garage sale route for a few years now. Last year I found one of my most treasured items a wooden Donald Duck rocker . It is still in beautiful condition for it's age . I actually got to it just before someone else. When they asked if I knew what I had just got , it made the find so much more exciting.

This year I got VHS tapes, Stuffed animals , the Kellogg's bobble head set, Lion king statues, and so much more. My husband and I were called a professional by a gentleman because of how we plan our trip and how we decide what to buy. The finds weren't quite as good this year as last but I had fun!  Can't wait until next year!

Rest in Peace Mr. Williams

It's breaking my heart to hear the news. A man , comedian, Disney legend has passed away. It doesn't seem real, just another ridiculous hoax. How can this be real? It is painful just to write this because it feels like someone we came to know and love is gone. It has been stated that Robin Williams was suffering from depression and that it was a possible suicide.That doesn't seem at all possible but if it was I honestly think it was a shame that we couldn't do the same thing for him that he has done for us.

I have all kinds of Genie items including a musical statue and a large clock. I will continue to look for Genie and Flubber items to commemorate a beautiful soul. May you enjoy your new found freedom. We will mourn you today and remember you as a legend tomorrow.

 

Spotlight Sunday Robert Jennings

I am writing this weeks Sunday Spotlight early so I can post it on Sunday. This Weekend is the US 12 garage sale. I plan to write about it next week so stay tuned.

This Sunday's spotlight is Robert Jennings. I discovered his collection while he was sharing pictures on one of my favorite facebook groups "Disney Addicts and Jim Shore Group".
He is sixty five from Chicago and currently resides in Florida. Always being a Disney fan he took to collecting, and has enjoyed it immensely. Now collecting for 10 years , he has accumulated a hundred to a hundred and fifty pieces.

His first Disney item he got was a Mickey Mouse Sorcerer's Apprentice Bobble head he received for Christmas. His favorite piece so far is a painting of Apprentice Mickey by Disney artist James Coleman. He would like to get Jim Shore piece "Fantasia Symphony". It is a Beautiful piece that is made to look like it is carved out of wood. Featuring Apprentice Mickey, Chernabog, and other Fantasia Characters the piece is simply breath taking.

He finds his pieces through out the internet . Including online garage sale sites and other web sites. He also finds his pieces at Disney World and Thrift Stores. Robert Plans to continue collecting and sharing his love of Disney with all who want to share it with him. 

Spot light Sunday Randol Martinez

To finish off our Jim Shore weekend we have an amazing young man! People start collecting things at all ages but usually nothing quite like Randol Martinez. Randol is currently 21 years old. He started collecting Disney Jim Shores two years ago when he purchased Snow White and six of the seven dwarfs from a thrift store. The set was unfortunately missing Sleepy. ( I have found this to be common of Snow White sets, I assume because he fell asleep and got left behind.)

Randol had 145 statues when we had our interview and two more on the way. Currently he has every one of Jim Shore's wind up Musical pieces except one. His goal is to collect every Disney piece that is made including the already released and retired designs. His favorite piece so far is Sorcerers Apprentice Mickey big fig that he received from his parents for his twenty first birthday. He also has the regular Mickey Big fig , and wants to get the twenty four inch Grumpy big fig more then any other piece to finish off his big fig set.

While we were talking he schooled me on the sizes of Jim Shores. Explaining that Big Figs are twenty to twenty five inches tall, mediums are twelve to twenty inches and under twelve are normal sized. Like most collectors he finds his pieces online on ebay or online stores and also has collector friends that look out for pieces for him.  The pride and knowledge of his pieces is easy to see even while just talking over the internet. I hope more people his age follow his lead and take on a collection of such a magnitude.

I would like to Thank all my readers for a awesome first month. It has been a delightful start and I hope the blog continues to flourish. Please feel free to share your thoughts, and questions in the comments. I love hearing from other Disney lovers and collectors. I hope to make Dabbling Disney one of the top Disney blogs so if you like it please share and feel free to like my new facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/Disneyfansrock

Celebrity Saturday Jim Shore

Have you ever wondered what the people that create your favorite collectibles like, think , etc. What goes / went into every piece we have come to adore. From the idea to the creation these people put every waking minute to bring us happiness. It's about time we took the time to look behind the scenes at the people that bring us such wonderful stuff . I am going to try to have a celebrity Saturday once a month . Though I will not guarantee anything since our idols (of sorts) tend to be busy. So with that said I am over joyed to introduce my first ever Saturday celebrity Mr. Jim Shore!

As you have seen through out my blogs over the last month, ( if you were not already familiar) Jim Shores are Poly Resin Statues. Jim Shore is the inventor of these delightful pieces many have come to love. Jim has been using his artistic talents ever since he was little when he would make roosters and cats for his mother. Even a normal job did not decrease the creative out put Jim would eventually share with the world. As a trained Engineer with a background in Chemistry he took to working with Poly Resin quite easily and takes great care with the detail of every piece he creates.

While he never imagined he would get this big his wife has always believed in him every step of the way. She inspired him to keep going when things got rough. He does not feel he has hit it big yet. Though hearing that his pieces hold a delicate place in peoples hearts, whether they represent something good or sad is important to him. He holds many meets with people whether at the airport or one of his many events close to his heart and says he loves hearing that people love his work and have some of his pieces in their home or work. He feels his biggest accomplishment to date is being a good father and a even better grandfather!

While keeping very busy with new designs, his friends mess with him about his lack of spare time. Liking to stay busy he always has a project (or 5) he is working on. Right now he is working on remodeling a guest house and has plans after that to make a stained glass window. As for the future of Jim Shores he is excited to work on more Frozen pieces to add to the newest releases.He has found Frozen to be a gratifying theme to work on.

Jim collects folk art particularly quilts. He has aquired some quilts that date as far back as the 1830's. You will notice in his work that he includes patch work designs on every piece adding a piece of him to each design.

Getting involved with Disney through the company Enesco, Jim was skeptical on what he could bring to the great art of Disney. He seems quite proud when he says "It worked out". His favorite character is Tinkerbell because she is full of fun and makes for a lot of possibilities to work with.He loves visting the parks especially around Christmas time. Disneyland holds a special place in his heart since it was the original and the park he grew up dreaming about as a kid.  

Please feel free to leave any questions for Mr. Shore in the comments. I am sure he would love to hear from all of the blog readers! Thanks again for the interview and taking the time to make a fan extremely happy.


Check to see if Jim has a scheduled event near you at http://www.jimshore.com/index.php/news-events/7-news3
Read more about Jim Shore at http://jimshore.com/index.

Jim Jim Jimmy Jimmy Jim Jim Jim

I'm guessing if you're a Muppets fan reading the title your thinking this is about muppets but it's not. While the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of that quote is in fact a bunch of furry , cute , litte puppets on a boat heading for adventure on the big blue wet thing. This is more of a intro to the weekend dedicated to one of our idols . The creator of one of our favorite collectibles "Jim Shores". It's still hard to believe I got a interview with the man that created something that I have to go to Hallmark or gift shop to find.

I have known about Jim Shores for over a year now. To be honest I didn't think I would ever have one. Mainly because I usually don't buy stuff from stores like Hallmark. They are usually quite out of my price range and not really my style of used and abused . Well Jim Shores changed my mind on that and has been the only pieces so far that I have bought right from a store ( I'm fibbing a little because there has been one Precious Moment that was purchased from a store but , it was by my husband and it was a anniversary gift (so it doesn't count).

My very first Jim Shore piece was Doc. While walking around a flea market close to my mothers house I saw him from a far (Dramatic huh?). Probably lucky for me the owner of the booth had no idea what we was selling or the purchase price would have been higher. The piece joined my Snow White shelf as soon as I got home.

Months later ( about 6 or so at least) St. Patrick's day this year. My husband and I were at a local gift shop. We were suppose to be window shopping but I think I knew something was leaving with us that day. After all who walks into a store filled with treasures untold and walks out with nothing. Plus it was after all the anniversary of the day we got together , 6 years to be exact. When  the Leprechaun Mickey Jim Shore caught my eye there was no way I wasn't going to buy it. It now inhabits the class cabinet that is dedicated to our Irish finds. (There is a whole shelf dedicated to Mickey!)

The last one I have was actually purchased at Hallmark . Even though I have no fire fighter familiarity. I fell in love with Fire Fighter goofy. The way he is tangled in the fire hose gave off the perfect essence of the goof I know and love.  He now joins the fire fighting Mickey and Pluto salt and pepper shakers on my book shelf.

This is just an introduction though. My little set of three compares not to the man himself and our spotlight this weekend . That will be the fun ones to read. I am so excited to be able to post my first celebrity Saturday that it makes me wonder, If you could learn about anyone who had an idea to create something awesome who would it be? Maybe I can find a way to interview them to!