Collections Within My Collection: Modern Customs

First Post of the Day

I've discovered that vintage means one thing to "hobbyists of a certain age" like me and something else to others who are younger. Their date line to determine vintage versus modern customs is not as recent as mine. So, some of these modern customs may seem vintage to you.

MooNet MooMates

Decades ago when Yahoo groups such as Haynet were THE place for hobby connections, there was a group called MooNet. It was begun by a woman who loved cows, thus the name. I was a member of that group for a while and one of the fun things we did was to create a "MooMate" for each other. Using a Stablemates body, of course.

Creamsicle was one of those MooMates that were gifted to me. 

The artist did not sign her work, but I am pretty sure I remember who it was and she is a well known artist and still active in the hobby. I may contact her and see if my memory is correct.

Creamsicle has won many ribbons in both live and photo shows for me.

I have two more MooMates but unfortunately I don't have a record of their names.

The model on the left is an etchy, the only etchy in my collection. 

The palomino is signed on the belly with "Otter" and then a date but I can't read it as it is too small. It did well in live shows years ago. The etchy has tiny initials; but I cannot read them even when I magnified them.

A Christmas Ornament

Jessica Swaney is a hobby friend from the 1980s and 1990s. We are still in touch via Facebook but I don't think she is collecting any more.

She is a talented artist and sculpted the holly and bells on this sassy Stablemates foal that she also painted. One year we met up at BreyerFest and shared a room with group of hobby friends, and the Christmas afterward, she sent each of us an ornament that she had made.

NaMoPaiMo Models

I will always be grateful for the opportunity that Jennifer Buxton provides hobbyists via NaMoPaiMo to gather in a large group and paint a model horse all at the same time every February.

Beth Peart offered to be my mentor the first time I painted, and I now consider her a good friend. 

I am very proud of the portrait model I created of Sultanna. There are at least 14 layers of color on her body!

Happy with that success, I joined NaMoPaiMo again, this time painting a portrait model of Hokey.

I had no idea that black was such a difficult color to do! And when doing his hooves and nostrils, I simply couldn't get the shell pink I wanted, finally giving up and letting it be.

Portrait Models from Betz Everitt

In 2024, Betz Everitt of Painted Potoo Studios asked if I minded if she painted a portrait model of Abby. Mind? I was delighted and very, very excited. I had struggled so while painting Hokey that I knew I did not yet have the skills to replicate Abby's color in paint.

Tucked in with Abby came a surprise - Two Socks! The Stablemates Scrambling  Foal mold was perfect for that girl!

Of course, no one dreamed that in a year both mares would die after being struck by lightning. That made these two models all the more special to my heart.

The portrait model of Abby is beautiful and done on the Stablemates Indian Pony mold, my favorite of all the Stablemates molds.

I love, love, love that Betz included her cheek spot

 At Midwest Mini Mayhem, her very first show, mini Abby qualified for NAN.

This portrait model of Abby is very special to me for several reasons, one of them being the kindness of Betz Everitt. Thanks, Betz!

I had thought that the modern customs post would conclude the customs section in the Collections Within My Collection series, but I have realized that I do have another collection of customs that deserve their own post.

Stay 'tooned!

The Hobby is BUSY Right Now!

There is a LOT going on in the model horse hobby right now. First, it's time to register for NaMoPaiMo.

Think you can't paint? Have no artistic bent? Those were my own thoughts for years until I took my students' advice and gave it a try.

I painted Sultanna in 2020,

and Hokey in 2021.

I even received a NaMoPaiMo medallion for my efforts!

Don't let doubts about your artistic capabilities keep you from participating. NaMoPaiMo is not about being the best. It's about enjoying the process, learning, making new friends, helping others, and so much more. Give it a try!

BreyerMidwest is taking place this weekend in Topeka, Kansas.

When the dates and location were announced months ago, there were some raised eyebrows and concerns voiced by people about having such an event in the middle of winter in the Midwest.

Those concerns were justified. Fortunately, the heavy snow part of the storm is coming in after people arrived. It will be heading home when the event finishes that will be problematic. (If you're there, have fun and safe travels!)

As always, BreyerMidwest is where two of the three ambassador (formerly volunteer) models are introduced.

Vegvisir on the Georg mold! Palomino and sooty buckskin are being handed out at the event, and the third color will be introduced at BreyerFest. (Photo from Facebook.)

Georg is a very popular mold and so I think prices for him on the secondary market will be very high. 

Breyer has introduced the first Exotic Destinations Series model of 2026.

Lisboa (Portuguese for Lisbon), a Lusitano stallion in glossy dapple bay. 600 pieces are being made and entries close 1/25 at 11:59 PM Eastern.

And, Breyer has a sweepstakes going on, too!

Enter by January 28, 11:59 PM to win Cupid, the 2026 Valentine plushie. Six winners will receive him for free.

I haven't covered any of the releases for BreyerFest yet, but that will have to wait for another blog post. In the meantime, here's a "before the storm" photo from the barn.

Eazy, Penny, and Bogo at the hay racks. Eat up, ponies! The snow is coming!

Stay warm and stay safe, all!

Give Aways & NaMoPaiMo

It's time to spin to win for the January 2025 Give Away! Good luck to all who entered!

Congratulations! I have your mailing address already, and will send you tracking as soon as it is in the mail. Most likely not until tomorrow due to the extreme cold we have here. (By the way, I said in the video that the wind chill was 12. That's 12 BELOW zero, not above.)

Since we'd had so many entrants and because I have plenty I can give away, I spun again for a second winner. (Those snuffling noises you hear in the background are Pepper and Tammo. They wanted their breakfast. Hah!)

Congrats to you, too! I haven't decided yet what I'll be sending you, but I will figure it out. Please send your mailing address to me at horsiemama8@gmail.com. 

But wait! There's more! Lucky me, I too am a Give Away winner myself this morning thanks to Jennifer Buxton and her blog, Braymere Custom Saddlery.

I won a set of Jennifer-made Notch and Ruffle medallions and I am thrilled! Thanks, Jennifer! (Pictures are screenshots from Jennifer's blog.)

Jennifer mentions NaMoPaiMo (National Model Painting Month) and if you are interested in participating, here is the link for information and to register. 

In exciting news, Stone Horses is an official sponsor this year and they have some special things they, too, are offering as part of NaMoPaiMo.

If you've never done it, I highly recommend you give it a try. NaMoPaiMo takes a lot of the blah out of February and is for all levels of painting. I have done it twice and hope to do it again some day. Do it!

Stay warm everyone!

NaMoPaiMo 2024 Comes to an End

Not a lot of time this morning to write - I am speaking with Craig at an early morning devotional at our church today, and I have to be there soon. So, in honor of the end of February and the wrap-up  of the 2024 NaMoPaiMo, here are my two NaMoPaiMo models from previous NaMoPaiMos. 

Sultanna, NaMoPaiMo, 2020

Hokey, NaMoPaiMo, 2021

Pony Pal Mila and her NaMoPaiMo horse, 2021

Lukie and his NaMoPaiMo horse, 2021.

Congratulations to all who participated in the 2024 NaMoPaiMo. Regardless of whether you completed them or not, I hope you learned new things, made new friends, and had fun. 

NaMoPaiMo & the Story of Can Do Gracie

Registration for NaMoPaiMo 2024 is open! And I highly recommend that you participate in this event at least once in your life, even if you do not consider yourself an artist or have ever painted a pony before. 

The NaMoPaiMo 2020 medallion I was gifted one of the years I participated.

Every year I would decline entering because I did not consider myself an artist. But in 2020 when NaMoPaiMo registration rolled around again, I remembered a huge life lesson one of my students, Can Do Gracie, had taught me, and as a result, I have now participated in NaMoPaiMo twice. 

Here are my two NaMoPaiMo horses,

Sultanna, NaMoPaiMo 2020

 Hokey, NaMoPaiMo 2021

and here is the story of Can Do Gracie and how she was the catalyst for my entering NaMoPaiMo.  

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NaMoPaiMo - The Real Reason I Entered (written March 8, 2020)

The 2020 NaMoPaiMo class of projects. Can you find Sultanna? I put an arrow pointing to her. 

(Photo posted with permission.) 

I am so pleased to have participated in NaMoPaiMo this year. But there is an underlying reason I finally decided to enter and do a NaMoPaiMo project, and I credit a former student for the final push in getting me to accept the challenge. Here's the real story as to why I entered NaMoPaiMo.

I'm generally someone who prefers to remain in the background. I do what I can do but rarely am one who shines at anything. I much prefer to be the cheerleader cheering others on than to be the one in the spotlight. A few years ago I had a "spotlight moment" with my students that changed me and my confidence in what I can do.

In 2016 I had been nominated for The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching by the parent of two of my former students. With only five state finalists being selected, I was sure that I would not win. But, I felt that if Dr. DeWoody took the time to nominate me, then I should at least follow through and complete the award process. I had no idea what I was getting into - it was very involved with lots of essays to write, responses to give to questions about my teaching, and so on. I spent at least forty hours writing, finding examples of my teaching, and documenting my career.

The final step was making a 45 - 60 minute film of myself teaching Science to my students. I hadn't told them about the award, but when they saw the cameras come into our classroom, I had to explain the purpose behind the filming.

Sure that I would not win and not wanting them to be disappointed when I didn't, I tried to prepare them for that. I pointed out that many teachers across the state had also been nominated and that only five would win. "I'm honored to be nominated, but I think the odds are that I won't win," I told them.

Gracie spoke up very matter of factly. "Mrs. I., you've got this. You can do it!" she declared. Another student pointed out that I had always told them to never be afraid to try, and so I shouldn't be afraid, either. Other students began piping up and encouraging me, offering their opinions that I would win. Finally, Gracie put her hands on her hips and repeated herself. "Mrs. I, you can DO this!"

That day, and their sweet votes of confidence, is one of my most cherished memories of my teaching career. They turned around my own words to them and applied them to me. (Gracie is in high school now, but she is still called "Can Do Gracie," the nickname we gave her after that Science lesson.)

When I thought about NaMoPaiMo in January, I thought of past years when I'd considered signing up but hadn't because I did not think I had any artistic talent. For some reason this year, though, Can Do Gracie's words rang in my ears. She was right - I could do this. I could paint a horse, and even if I never became a hobby artist, I could enjoy the process. Yes, I COULD do this!

And that is the real reason I joined NaMoPaiMo - because a fifth grade student taught me to believe in myself. 

(And to the kids' great joy and "We told you so, Mrs. I.!" I did win The Presidential Award for Mathematics and Science Teaching and was one of the five Indiana State Finalists.)

Me in Indianapolis with the Indiana Department of Education State Superintendent, Glenda Ritz.

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Please don't let doubts about your artistic abilities keep YOU from participating. NaMoPaiMo is not about being the best. It's about enjoying the process and you may even learn something about yourself, too. 

Yes, you, too CAN DO IT.

NaMoPaiMo - Not this Year

 I'm just not going to be able to participate in NaMoPaiMo this year. I made the decision this morning as I sat and looked at the tub of paints and supplies, the Stablemate kits I'd bought for the Pony Pals to paint, and then looked at my order book for both Horsiemama and Jolis Chevaux.

A recently completed haversack order for someone who is a big fan of the University of Iowa.

I've got so much sewing to do, so many fabrics to stitch up, I've overflowed the sewing room and put some fabrics out in the family room. 

I have a couple more custom orders to finish before I can get back to replenishing my stash of sales haversacks for the February Great Lakes Congress show.

Cowpoke Ian and Pony Pal Mila have asked me to stitch up some tears on their favorite plushies. They are going to pick them up later today, so those repairs are first on today's to-do list.

I have thirty men's shirts cut out for the Yankee Doodle Muzzleloaders Show in March. My goal is to finish ten for that show. (I find it much easier to cut things out early and then sew them when I get a moment. I do that with haversacks, too.)

NaMoPaiMo is a fun, well run, and educational event and I am so proud of the two models I completed in 2020 and 2021.

But I know myself well enough that taking on one more thing right now would simply be too much. The joy of the creating, be it haversacks, 18th century clothes, or a portrait model of one of the herd, would disappear and I would be stressed and wishing I had not taken one more thing on.

So I'm calling it now - no NaMoPaiMo for me this year. 2023, though? That's very much in my plans. And best wishes to the 2022 participants! 

NaMoPaiMo - Will I or Won't I?

There is only a week left to register for NaMoPaiMo and I am not sure that I am going to make it.

 I've located all my painting and prepping supplies and they are all in order - no need to order anything.

For Pony Pal Mila and Cowpoke Lukie, I have some pieces for them to paint should they want to participate again this year.

After doing Sultanna and Hokey in 2020 and 2021, my plan was to do Trouble this year. But he was sold and so I don't have a real horse to paint any more. (Abby is way beyond my skill set.)

I had planned to paint this prop sled while I did my NaMoPaiMo horse, but to enter NaMoPaiMo you must paint a model horse. This would not count as my entry.

In addition to that dilemma, I am swamped with sewing orders. I haven't mentioned my sewing business much, but it's keeping me busy.

Mutton Buster Cambria doesn't always wear jeans and boots; she's got this pretty dress for her upcoming baptism.

I am making a matching dress for her American Girl doll. And to make it look just like her dress, I have to merge aspects of three of these four different dresses into one dress.

I've got a basket of cut-out haversacks that are ready to stitch and ten new fabrics to post on the Horsiemama's Haversacks and Mercantile Facebook page.

What's been keeping me the busiest is that I took on more 18th century sewing. 

After the success I had with the riding habits and their reception at The Feast of the Hunters' Moon, I branched Horsiemama's into the 18th century and am stitching up a variety of period clothing. 

There's a large indoor show, Yankee Doodle Muzzle Loaders, in Kalamazoo in March and I'm heading up there with Teacher Daughter Lisa and my sister, Leslie to see how my clothing is received.

Between that deadline, the doll dress, and sewing new stock for the February Great Lakes Congress show, plus the fact that I don't have a real horse to paint, I may not enter NaMoPaiMo. 

I've only got a week to figure it out.

NaMoPaiMo: Unicorn Lovers

Unicorns have been trending for quite some time and Breyer has been on top of that trend. They have been releasing unicorn after unicorn for the past couple of years in all their lines even down to Mini Whinnies! (Go here to see what is currently available.) I am not a unicorn lover, but I can appreciate a good paint job and some of those paint jobs are stunning.

NaMoPaiMo has developed a couple of "teams" as time has gone on (team Minis Painting Minis is SO funny and creative!) and this year Jennifer winnowed out some of those who had painted a unicorn and made a collage from their "I Did It" photos. (Photo posted with permission.)

I count 49 freshly painted unicorns, 9 of them with kids in the photo. And, we know there are more since Jennifer says this collage is of some of the winners, not all of them.

A few days ago I wrote about how much I liked that NaMoPaiMo reached hobbyists across the globe (27 countries represented this year!) and that it was especially encouraging to children. That gave me an idea. I'm going to think about it a bit more, but stay 'tooned.

 

NaMoPaiMo: Jennifer Buxton Makes a Difference

NaMoPaiMo 2021 has concluded and Jennifer Buxton has put together the final collage of finished models. I circled Pony Pal Mila with her unicorn and Hokey, the one I painted.

1,173 painters entered and 730 of them finished. I find that pretty amazing.

Even more amazing is what Jennifer has accomplished. She's created an event for hobbyists at any skill level, from professional to never-held-a-paintbrush. Final statistics show participants entered from 24 countries and that 360 painters were under the age of 20. 85 of those were children under 12. 

So what does that that mean? It means that Jennifer has found a way to reach and encourage our youngest hobbyists in a way that is different from collecting, showing, or tack making. She has opened up another aspect of the hobby to future hobbyists in a way that allows them to participate and have fun in a safe and encouraging environment. 

In short, Jennifer has made a difference in future generations that is being felt across the world.

And that is pretty incredible in my book. 

NaMoPaiMo: I Did It!

Yesterday I finished my NaMoPaiMo horse!

I now know three different ways to make the color black without using a single drop of black paint.

Since last year I did Sultanna, I decided that this year I would do Hokey, another of Abby's pasture mates. I went through a lot of photos trying to find clear ones of his white markings.

I didn't want to do a sunburnt Hokey, either. I wanted to do him in his winter-black coat.

This year's challenges were getting the hoof color right (the bottom of his hooves needed to dry so I propped him in the paints) and trying to give depth to his coat. That part was so much fun - I used a watered down midnight blue applied with a fan brush!

I could not get a good photo, but I think his most realistic feature is his right eye. I used four colors on it and despite struggling with the tiny eyeball size, tiny paint brush, poor eyesight (mine, not his), and stiff fingers, I am really happy with that eye. (The other, not as much.)

He is far from perfect, but I wasn't struggling for perfection. I wanted to learn more about painting and I wanted to paint with Pony Pal Mila. (Cowpoke Lukie was an unexpected bonus.)

I achieved those goals, and even better, I completed the challenge. 

I did it!