Horse Laugh & more crafts

Sometimes I pick up books to see if there are great color/marking/Breed references.  Sometimes there might be a perfect blurb or performance photo.  This one I could not pass up...

“He may start to make fun of you”

Had fun crafting yesterday...a few in the works...

Fabulous little fakes

Another Little Bit scale FAS!  I also got my craft on with little felt succulent plants (25 cents to try these was well worth it).  I do like mini things and succulent plants that last forever!

Happy Black Friday shopping to those of you who are brave and like such things...

Thankful, Grateful, Blessed

We turkeys are talking about splitting some pie...
Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday with peace and time for reflection.

Attitude of Gratitude

I am truly counting my blessings as life goes on...there is so much to be thankful for!  Best wishes and a safe, fun holiday to all, whether you feast with friends and family or quietly reflect.  Enjoy this time and remember to relax.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Quote Love

I’m a big fan of quotes and the trends of little signs as decor have made me happy whether they are found or created (I’m hoping I might get to make some this weekend!).

In my crazy shopping adventure, the “felt board” I pulled turned out to be a letterboard sign not the child’s story shapes I thought.  I decided it might be fun to have for my office to change out, and I’m glad so did as it comes with lots of little shapes and emojis as well.

I will have to find some good shorter quotes of philosophers, scientists, and artists that I enjoy.  I could use song lyrics, poems, and puns.  Please send your favorites whether funny or inspirational - I hope to make it a weekly ritual. :)

Holiday Hopes

I am super excited to know I might find time for relaxation and quiet enjoyment of the holidays.  I may not be sure what my plans are just yet, but I do know I have a great deal to be thankful for and the prospect of more time to possibly visit friends and family and get stuff done is cause for joy.

I am finding some cool gifts to give (which I love!) and managed to think of a few things for my wishlist.  I am well beyond the commercial craziness that accompanies the holidays, but I do adore spoiling a Secret Santa partner and the General Good Cheer of the season!   Some *time* is the hottest commodity in my stocking, and I will attempt to spend it wisely.

Secret Santa is fun because I get to learn another hobbyist’s interests and put together something fun.

Here’s hoping everyone finds good this season no matter their situation.
                                                    What do YOU most hope for?

Woofy Weekend

Had a lovely time with friends and dogs.  Found some amazing things and enjoyed good
company!  Phaser and Cola got to see friends too...Boxers and Field Spaniels as well as a kitty.
Lots too be thankful for...

Puppy Kisses!

Popcorn Party Spaniel style

Haha!

Such good puppers 

Turbines and Casket?

Oh the odd things seen on the road!  The wind turbine blades on trucks are a regular sight, but we spotted a casket in the road today. Weird.  More models and fun soon!

Winner of the Week: ALBY!

Breyer truly broke the mold with the Traditional Alborozo.  I do appreciate that they reversed the mini Alby!  My particular individual from BF (egads! The last BF I attended!) has lovely shading and dapples and recently NAN qualified as Andalusian Stallion “Resol”.

 

He’s such a beautiful sculpture, one of Breyer’s best to date in my opinion.  Dynamic, powerful, spirited.  Brigitte Eberl did an amazing job on this guy, and he seems to be a collector fave!

Horn of Plenty

Cornucopia could theoretically contain any fruits of harvest.  I got to thinking about what model horse themed cornucopias would look like, and how well scale minis lend themselves to the idea.  Stablemates and Mini Whinnies can come leaping out of the horn, and my dogs out in their votes for lots of treats and supplies.  Traditional gourds, grains, berries, leaves, nuts, pumpkins, corn come to mind, but perhaps I will try a couple things.

Anyone create nontraditional holiday decor by theme? Let’s hear your ideas!

Eluding Me

We all have those models we chase and chase and chase.  Lately mine have been two of the micros from Maggie’s Monthly resins...the tiny Megaboom and exclusive Tarek.  I have missed multiple opportunities to purchase these painted and unpainted.  Really hoping 2020 will be the year I complete my older micro herd.  I am now a subscriber, but always hoped I’d have a second shot at these guys (well, Megaboom anyways, as I understand the bonus models were always intended to not be released to public) in resin or pewter.

I know their time will come, it just frustrates me that they have eluded me in several occasions now!

If anyone knows of available micros, please clue me in!  I will be willing to purchase and/or trade for these tiny cuties.  Opportunities are few and far between, but I keep looking!

Tortoises/Turtles

I miss my box turtles sometimes.  I had three total, the last one gone for a decade now.  They are interesting creatures with a lot more personality than people give them credit for.  I wouldn’t keep them again unless I could really provide them with proper environment, but found them to be neat little pets with personality and longevity.

Birthday Burger Blur part 2

Birthdaypalooza continues as miss Cola turned 10!  They gulp the burgers down so fast - it’s very exciting but next year maybe video instead of these attempts at capturing their fervor!

Hard to believe my good old dawgs are senior citizens, but as they say, it takes years to become this sweet.  Happy birthday, my little effervescent spirit!  She is my soda pop bop.  Cola qui Marie.  Love this girl so very very much!

CHOMP!

Have a great week everybody!

What Condition my condition is in

Yeah, yeah, ohh yeah...(a little ode to oldies music!)

Weather pressure and sensitivities also affect and/it can trigger migraine and flare up of the body pain of fibromyalgia.  For the most part, the migraines are as controlled as possible and more treatable (prevention/abortives), but there is precious little to be done about weather or hormonal changes.  Some things are just out of our control.

PAIN

My migraines have changed over time and I hope are improving.  Body pain and fatigue unfortunately are not, and can prevent me from being as productive as I’d like.  This graphic doesn’t really address the non-joint issues of deep pain, sensory sensitivity (touch, light, sound), or exhaustion that I periodically suffer.  Some days are better than others (that is a U2 lyric!).  Exacerbation time varies, but a flare up can last for days and makes daily life and planning difficult!

I’ve managed to stave off migraine but really ran around too much yesterday.  Cold and rain aren’t my friends, and I hope for some improvement.  None of this is to whine, but rather to explain why sometimes “I Can’t Even”.  I am the type of person who does not like to make excuses, not be limited, and not be down for long.  It’s been tough to accept that sometimes the very real reasons I struggle have to be acknowledged in order to Do What I Can!

Overdid it

My post from yesterday has been hijacked in order to explain a few things.  Everybody experiences their struggles differently, and I am no exception.

I will get back to some models, art, animals...this weekend is unfortunately
consumed by Pain.  I tried to run too many errands.  I did a lot more physically, and it took its toll.
Sometimes there just aren’t enough spoons.

So to start, this is where your backbone and pelvis meet:
SI or Sacroiliac joints are small but important in your lower back, supporting your upper body.

As you can imagine, issues with this HURTS and can also limit certainty activities.

SI Joints

I won’t get into arthritis and all the technicalities of inflammation and calcification, but as I write, pain management and self care are the treatments I employ.  Sometimes ice and heat and rest and meds are just my way of life.

Weekend Warrior: projects!

A long but good workweek has me ready to tackle a model project or three...here’s hoping time and energy are on my side!  How do YOU carve out hobby time during your busy schedule?

On Monthly Challenges/Projects

This month is known as NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month.  Kudos to you folks out there increasing word counts like mad!  I am sitting this one out.  I love how Monthly challenges can inspire and keep us on track with support - everything from Inktober to NaMoPaiMo and others.

Perhaps I will plan 2020 for various hobby months!  Besides February NaMoPaiMo, we can easily claim dedicated time for different projects.  It is what inspired me to begin this blog in all fairness, and nearly every day since has included *something*.  I may cut back in the new year...

This year has been good...several shows, live and photo, completion of multiple customs and resins, sculpting, painting, and photography.  Lots of planning and dreaming.  Ideas for projects, starts on some, and accumulation of materials, supplies, and proppage for others.

Looking ahead, I think of *at least* a dozen model projects that could utilize months.
The obvious start-to-finish painting of a model.  Preferably a Trad. resin or CM.
A tack piece
Work on a doll-in-progress
Build a prop
Medallion!!!
A fantasy piece - I have ideas for a steampunk guy
Micros!
Okay, I’m already at 7 of the 12 months and haven’t even got into the showing and photography realms, let alone customizing and sculpting, maybe also flatwork!  Vintage CM style has a month.  I need dedicated time for hobby research, documentation, and organization!
I also
Want to designate a Fall/Winter month (November or December are great even if busy) for Prepapalooza.

I have plenty of bodies and nekkid medallions needing some attention...

It could be easy to overdo it.  I will start with perhaps scheduling every -other- month so that I can be successful and productive.

What “months” do you want to commit to?

HAPPY GOLDEN BIRTHDAY!

Today my buddy is 13 on the 13th!!!  He is such a sweet old boy, and he and his sister eagerly awaited cheeseburger goodness, which is impossible to photograph well.  I’m so lucky to have these amazing dogs in my life - they are truly the bestest!

Happy Birthday Phaser!!!

(Now on to the quality time of birthday snuggles)

Winner of the Week: SM etchie!

Etched Models are truly their own art form!  I commissioned Cassandra Knipp of CKK studios to create a sweet smooth pinto on a Drafter for me, and he recently NAN qualified at a live show!

Etching is relaxing and fun while producing some incredible patterned and details!  Ideal for pintos, appies, roaning, and dapples, the subtractive scratching method removes Original Finish Paint.  Thinking “backwards” can be a unique challenge, and it is a dry, portable art form.  Sometimes noses are linked and details like eyes or hair wisps are painted.  I have tried Exacto blades, needles, engraving tools, and fine sandpapers to achieve etching results, and hope to work on more!

Here is CKK Purrlikeabigcat

Happy mid-week!

Not a Clinky Collector

In GENERAL, I am trying not to be a collector of chinas, porcelains, and other breakable scale model animals, but who am I kidding?  I make exceptions.  I have only retained a few larger scale pieces and some minis in both dogs and horses, and I admire the beautiful pieces others curate.

This was a rescue Japan, and I liked the details of the rider and greenish mane and tail!  There are holes from hands to bit for reins.  After giving it a gentle bath, I studied it and wondered what its history was to remain in such nice shape.  About 4” tall, it’s a nice piece worth retaining.

But I don’t collect clinkies, right?!? ;)

More Scale Props & Rescues!

Thrifting adventures often yield some amazing miniatures and scale props.  It provides a treasure trove of tiny things that are useful in model setups!
I am delighted to find holiday goodies, and despite the lack of fillings for my little cornucopia, I was able to score some cool stuff.  I also find rescues of Schleich, Safari, SMs, and miscellaneous...  Horses, dogs cats, wildlife.  Mascots.  Couple cows!

The little resin is from trip, but he’s cute.  Older Schleich Friesian!

Safari whitetail, mascot zebra friend 

Performance ideas?!?

What have you stumbled upon that made you insanely happy?  Any amazing finds?

What besides corn, gourds, pumpkins do you envision in a cornucopia?  Grapes/berries?  Wheat?

Wish I had Hobby Lobby for better floral/seasonal selection...

Coke Is It!

This array was found in the summer - more Coca Cola miniatures for Cola’s display!

From left to right, a small hinged trinket box, tray and bottles from Buddy L, tiny tote bag(!), a pillbox, tiny loose bottles in cardboard carrier, and two straw lid Coke cups!

Quite a haul, and Cola-approved to go into the little shelf spots for her collection.  She *might* even let me borrow some for doll photos  and performance setups if treats are involved.

More Mini Props!

I love the offerings from Enterprise Props and enjoy a bi-monthly goodie box combining Traditional and Stablemate scale surprises!
Check out their new stuff as well as the StableCrates program - fun for show, play, or photos!
This month I received a set of Euro style jump blocks with pole, a nice feed tub, and a SM jolly ball.

It always surprises me and I enjoy the variety.  They track what they have sent so as to not send you repeats, but I have ordered direct from them before as well.  Great stuff!

Holiday Traditions

Read a great conversation on favorite Christmas Traditions and then learned from my sister there is to be a remake of this:

I love Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas!  For me and other 80’s kids, it’s a classsic!!!

I have fond memories from childhood holidays and find that as adults we have to alter them a bit.  They can be anything you want, though!  I noted Festivus in the calendar, and have yet to figure out celebrations for this holiday season.  I will focus on Thanksgiving as I have much to be thankful for.

If you’ve never seen Emmett, I highly recommend you do so keeping in mind it is old School Muppets and it’s a classic Gift of the Magii story.  Happy Weekend!

YA Literature - Kids’ horse books!

So I lucked out and found *another* paperback copy of Flip!  Recent conversation turned towards horse books enjoyed as a kid (loved Doodlebug!), mainly outside of series.  Here are some covers of favorites...
(A movie too)

Settling in...

Training on new job continues and I love all the learning even when I’m tired out!  I hope to have a new Breyer Calendar to add to my office, and will have to have at least a Micro or Stablemate companion, but for now, it’s this fun addition:  Phaser and Cola on a mousepad!

Happy it’s midweek and hope the weekend will allow me some creative and model time!