Weekly Winner - another first!

In the late 80’s, I got to attend a couple bigger model horse shows.  Marney’s IMHCC Congress was in its final years in northern Illinois and I was keen to show and peruse the lovely sales models!

My first custom purchase was a classic QHS done to a POA Gelding named “The Paisley Palette”.
Kris Markovich is IN sold him to me with his blanket and photos, and it started my passion for realistic vintage custom models.  Back then it was R/R/H which stands for remake/repaint/haired but he was not repositioned - just a “simple custom” done very nicely with a new paint job and mohair mane and tail.  His tail bone is a nail!  I became obsessed with the artwork of the talented Bev Zimmer, and we began to write back and forth.  I ended up acquiring a couple more models from her and we shared photos and horse experiences!  This was all by MAIL as the public internet had not yet been born.

He has been a tremendous show horse and still holds his own as a vintage custom.  I especially adore his lifelike eyes and striped hooves.  Studying her paintwork has been a huge inspiration to me!  As I consider so many “firsts”, and recall poring over Janet Piercy’s amazing model book, the pull towards a remade model was very strong.  This guy will always hold a special place in my collection & heart.

Model/miniature canines!

Believe it or not, I have collected and customized dogs longer than horses!!!  Starting at age 5, the model dogs have been a passion.  Everything frim teeny tiny Hagen Renakers to larger Breyers, even a life size Spaniel.  This is Spyrytfyre Strike, my lovely new Harlequin Great Dane painted by Sara Runyan.  She will be my lovely smaller scale Barn mascot dog.

 

 Back around my birthday, she gifted me with lovely felted portraits of my Phaser and Cola created by BearsNBugs!  I adore them and all mini-me portraits!

I also have created custom pieces and original sculpts of various breeds over the years.

                                             

WOOF!

Busybusybusy

Some days don’t allow for much Arting or otherwise!  This day is slotted to be Uber-busy from sunup to sundown, but with projects in the works and looking ahead to some relaxing downtime.

Thrifting is a sport I enjoy, from finding a supply bargain to locating antique collectibles and plenty of surprises in between!  Finding steals and having fun on a budget is as exciting as the thrill
of the hunt for me.  Even the dogs got a new game/toy and some bedding fabric my last time out.  I never know what we are going to find, but usually have a particular thing I seek (like an office supply).  My last trip did not disappoint, with this inexpensive shelf o’ tinies (several Wade Whimsies in there), a lovely breed book and a fine clinky hound (I make exceptions for smalls).
And now, miles to go before I sleep...

NaMoReViMo and Shannon’s Choice Awards

Today’s hodgepodge includes my continued “old mold, old materials” take on vintage style customization with my long-ago started acrylics Hobgoblin mustang...

Love that hobbyists are paying homage to our hobby history and older techniques!  For me, the “painterly quality” will always embody a warm, realistic look.  Still, some pretty amazing current talent and technique produce incredible results!

A recent oh-so-pretty dappled goodness from the recent live show in the form of a beautiful resin painted by the magical Carolyn Boydston (not my model).  In recent years I have taken to awarding my own little notes and prizes to “Shannon’s Choice” around shower’s tables...just to let them know I find their model to be “droolworthy“.  It’s a very busy atmosphere, so it gives me the chance to admire and compliment without distracting an exhibitor.  Chocolate is usually a welcome surprise too!

Fleurs!!!

I’ve made quite a few custom plants and flowers to accompany props like jumps
and pole sets in all scales.  They make great photo props and can really dress up a live show performance setup.

I am fairly picky about scale, so seek out tiny leaves and flowers as well as containers.  Blooms must be small enough to to be believable.  I have custome colored them and sculpted some as well.

Creative decor in modeldom is great fun!  What kinds of proppage would YOU like to see or accessorize?  Let me know in the comments!

Tack Trunks!

I created a donation Tack Trunk for The Jennifer Show (which sadly I cannot attend).

I’ve changed a few things, option-wise, and am open for limited orders.

Now to make a few more little goodies to send with Tiffany...

Lazy dawg, hunting dawg, and new pony!

Today I’m working on some loose end projects and getting into Fall stuff...yesterday I managed to thrift some materials for crafting and scored a very handsome vintage hound!

Sara put clothes on another mini pewter for me as a companion piece to the chestnut.  Love their attitudes!  This is Spyrytfyre Obsidian:
                                          

Creating a dog bed for the lazy Lab was more challenging than I thought!  Too poofy or sized wrong...  Finally I got the look I was after, with her sunken in a bit with comfort.  She needs a name!

The real lazy dawgs are chilling with me today, enjoying the rest of our weekend!

Meow! Happy Weekend!

Not much time with lots to do, but here is an itty bitty kitty committee:

Some Hagens old and new, older plastics, and a kaiyodo

Happy Weekend, Everyone!

Weekly Winners!

I really enjoy the various hobby blogs that focus on individual models and usually learn from them!  Thinking about using a similar idea with my models, perhaps visiting some of the more interesting or pertinent pieces every week or so...

Breyer’s #88 Glossy Charcoal Mustang is a beauty!  He is such a strong, wild, beautiful soul!
This is my specimen, “Blackberry Magic”, named for the blackberry bushes outside the garage sale where my grandparents purchased him for me as a child!  He has the honor of being my first Breyer and igniting a passion for horses, models, and collecting.  My first live show was at my hometown library in 1988 (!!!) where he was OF Grand Champion.  Now he mostly graces my shelf and enjoys retirement, but he inspired an amazing journey from imaginative play with the carpet herd to a foray into learning and the hobby.  Fun to get him out for collectibility and photo shows once in awhile...

Beautiful Blackberry Magic, the one who started it all!

Hobby Odds n Ends

My posts as of late have been brief - lots on my plate!  Please forgive my randomness and brevity!  I appreciate my blogging community and enjoy all of the efforts that go into it, from communication to photos to food for thought.  Life here has been busy in some good ways...I’m excited for some upcoming events and activities.

Live and Photo showing are back in swing!  Blab OF photo show just wrapped up and I look ahead to winter entry.  Leaf Medallion Show is judging - beautiful eye candy!  Last weekend was a very competitive Midwest Model Mania, and this fall I will switch gears to my mini string.

Ehrmagerd! NAN cards!

Working on various projects, donations, gifts, a commission, and personal projects.
The following hodgepodge includes the first Blanket I made (for my Semi-Rearing Mustang! Wonder  if this is why I’m obsessed over that Christmas plaid I missed out on) and my little foal resin in the works.  The SM size Hong Kong just keeps wowing me because of the painted details.  I’m impressed enough to hang on to the little guy.

Looking forward to the weekend!!!

More healthy snackage...

I’ve been really trying - nuts, fruit, whole grain, veggies...

I especially dig little cucumbers and watermelon.

These are savory delicious crunchy tubes!

Hoping to hit the farmers market as Fall brings squash and apples!

Wanted Blanket

Breyer blankets are a collection in and of themselves!  I have had no luck in finding last year’s holiday blanket:

I really dig some of the blankets folks are making as well!  Perhaps this fall will bring blankie luck!

What’s Another Barn?

Upgrades to G2 SM trotting Stock Horses are always a thing for me, and I dig barns in various forms for photography....was lucky to win this in raffle:

At least it’s mini scale!  Have been drooling over the deluxe one for quite some time...  

EtchASketch reveal

So I did post a peek of the etched Appy I was doing...
He was an early Halloween surprise for Sara.  Really enjoyed creating him and happy with how he turned out!

Live Show!

Got to attend Midwest Model Mania and show some new and old faces against tough competition.  They also had Collectibility and Workmanship for this all halter show.  FUN!

Sara also got to experience a more balanced atmosphere and had success with her show string...

Looking forward to the next show already!

Summer harvest

Getting some art accomplished in tiny bits!  Preparing for shows, getting models in order.

This Amazing Cucumber was gifted to me today.  I am trying really hard to snack on veggies and carrots and cukes are a fave.  My minimal “gardening” did not pan out as planned, but luckily people share their bounty of green beans, tomatoes, and more with me!  Will get some model
Art pics this weekend!

                                                                                Woohoo 

Yellow Lab, Champagne Pony!

I finished painting this yellow Labrador (scanned from a live dog!) who will make a fine tackroom/barn dog!  Somewhere I have little rugs and beds for her to snooze on.

My golden champagney Appy Gamblers Choice Pony arrived - very cute!  I liked all
The colors they came out with in this year’s run.  Hope that funky deco color pops up again!

Vintage “style” customs!

I adore vintage customs from earlier decades just as I have passion for our latest and greatest customs and Finishwork with new materials and techniques!

I suppose my painting style leans towards the “vintage look” with soft colors and blending as I strive for realism.  I have successfully haired models and enjoy that look!  My main change has been that of using more mixed media - pastels and pigments along with the acrylics.  Someday I hope to dive back into oils, but for now I enjoy the blend of materials and the results they produce.  I also use marker and colored pencil at times!

So my “unofficial” NaMoReViMo projects include a CAM and Galiceno body.  My attentions got torn away and redirected to a started classic mustang I started back in my college years, and I thought, “why not finish him?!”

So here’s the Hobgoblin I started attacking after so many years...

He’s cool and finishable!  So far fixed a few dings and started eye color and facial detailing.

Next up before the new bodies will probably be this Courbette Lipizzaner I started several
Years ago as well, but he may be more “current” in style and finish!

  

So, maybe change in plans, but lots to work on and fun homage to vintage style!

Etched n Stones

Okay, not Peter Stones, but the real deal!  Gems/minerals/rocks/fossils/stones have a beauty all their own.  The carving in jasper, jade, onyx, and quartz are nothing short of astonishing.

My little rescued ponies make fun plant accents, and I locally purchased the teeny tiny guy and his Spaniel friend on my birthday.  These are found in all shapes, sizes, colors, and critters.

Larger are about curio scale and the others more micro!

As for etching, well, I got the itch to etch as I get started on Spooky Swap!  Here’s some spots:

Hope everyone’s having a good week so far!

The Season Cometh...

I love Halloween!  Prepping for a couple live shows, working on some customs and Spooky Swap surprises.  Stores already setting some festive goods.

Dragon Skeleton!  What are some of your fave things about Halloween?  Do you decorate/celebrate?

Provenance!

Thanks to Sande Schneider (pintospreferred on Blab), I have the missing piece from the Marney auction!  I had the auction info and sheet from being there, but VCMEC Ardith Carlton also published it recently.  Day one of the auction was even numbered lots. Day two was the odd numbers.  I was there after on Sunday where I purchased unclaimed lot #2,  blood bay LP test (and other goodies!)

2nd on top shelf!

I named her First Bid, and she has been a jewel

In my collection!  Now I have the documentation beyond experience!

prov·e·nance

/ˈprävənəns/

Learn to pronounce

noun

1. the place of origin or earliest known history of something.

   "an orange rug of Iranian provenance"

   synonyms:

   origin, source, place of origin; More

   • the beginning of something's existence; something's origin.

     "they try to understand the whole universe, its provenance and fate"
   • a record of ownership of a work of art or an antique, used as a guide to authenticity or quality.

     plural noun: provenances

     "the manuscript has a distinguished provenance"You