Cleaning and Rearranging

The time finally has come where I have added enough new pieces to my collection that I had to rearrange the shelves. (Oh, and dust the horses and those shelves, too. Hah!) That is always a daunting task, but I had models sitting out on my craft table who needed to be put away and I just could not find a spot for them.  The writing was on the wall - it was time to rearrange.

I always take pictures of my shelves before beginning.

 That way, if I have to, I can always put things back the way they were before I began.

It is so easy to forget just who went where and how you were able to play a sort of "shelf Jenga" and get all the models onto the shelves without anyone being rubbed or damaged.

 Since I have been sewing, I had my machine and cutting mat out, but I left them as is. That mat works well in protecting models that might topple.

I really, really would like to get rid of the tiny shelves - they were originally for DVDs and CDs, but I've found them useful for Classics and Stablemates.

This behemoth and the one in the last photo are about thirty years old. They are very sturdy and well built, and while I don't like their color, I have no plans to paint them.

I did not realize that I had this many Hartlands (and I have a tub in the closet full of more) so I decided that I would go ahead and box them up for storage.

 The sorrel Morgan set at the bottom right were my first Hartlands and a gift from Santa in the 1960s.

I decided to keep my woodcuts out on display - the ebony Thoroughbred Mare and Foal, the Three Gaiter, and the Mustang, the cherry Mustang, and the walnut Mustang, Three Gaiter, and Five Gaiter. Everyone else is now packed up and tucked into the closet.

Also packed and put away were my seven Breyer Tennessee Walkers. While I am opposed to soring and padding in real Tennessee Walking Horses, I did not put them away because of what they represent. I just got tired of their tippiness and always having them fall over and needing to be returned to an upright position on their shelf. After trying several different ways to keep them upright, I decided that I was done with that and packed them away.

I just put the last piece back on the shelf a little while ago. Now I am straightening up the boxes and tubs that I dragged out and will take pictures of the new arrangements when that is finished.

I'll post those soon!