Factory Ponies Live

I Had a really good show day yesterday. I wasn't even originally planning on attending the show bu the hostess is a good friend and said I HAD to go, lol. So I did and it was a really great day.
My first class was cutting. This is Johnny Cash moving into the herd. The next class was "other stock work". This is Johnny Cash doing his team penning entry.

The third class was other western. Because I like cows and it's fun this is a scene where Johnny Cash is moving the cows down from the summer pasture. It was amazingly also the only time I used my fancy diorama all day.

The next photo was my other, other western entry. This is Skippa Latte doing her western riding entry. It isn't all that interesting and only earned a 1oth place.

Next was games. This is Johnny Cash again doing his two barrels and a pole game. The idea and photo reference came from Jennifer Buxton's blog awhile back. Even with the great reference it only got 6th place though I didn't check and see what else was on the table. I thought it was really cool.

And here is my other games entry. Skippa Latte did the tennis ball relay. That was good for 3rd place though personally I thought the barrels and pole game were cooler. I guess it seems like balancing tennis balls on a racket is harder than turning a pole. I haven't personally tried either so I am not a good judge of what is a harder game. Though the way this doll is holding the racket she will have to reach across to dump the ball in the bucket.

Next Skippa Latte is doing her arena trail entry. This earned her her first NAN card of the day...

...With Johnny Cash receiving first with his arena trail entry. I have done a bridge entry with him several times before but I found a new trail pattern that had a pole on the bridge for him to step over. I guess that made this entry a bit more interesting.

This was just another shot of the same bridge trail entry but I included it because it had both my entries in it.

Though I mostly only took photos of my own entries yesterday (which made for a super relaxing show day) there were some very interesting fun classes. This next shot was in the "pimp my FAS" class. I believe this was put together by Lindy Pinkham and it was the winner of the class.

There was also a FAS performance class. This is Joan Fauteux's entry. I don't know the horse's name or who made the tack but I made that doll. Joan owns 11 or 12 of my dolls (maybe more...) but this was the first one she got. I believe this entry got second place.

This entry was Laurie Lape's George Stubbs self portrait. I made this doll as well and he tortured me for a long while. He was one of those dolls that just won't leave. Every once in awhile I have a doll that is close to done but something keeps getting in the way of me finishing him and getting him out the door. This was one of those dolls. Even on a FAS he looks pretty good. This was the eventual winner of the class.

After the fun classes were through we got the results of the western performance division. Johnny Cash and Cowboy Bill managed champion!
Next was the English division. I completely forgot to take a photo of my first entry which was a Handy Hunter in the Hunter/Jumper division. This was the first time I got to use my new tack I received from Jennifer Buxton and I hadn't adjusted the bridle quite right. So in hunter/jumper Lady Intrigue received 6th place and then got a tack adjustment. The next class she did was games. Here we have that tennis ball relay again. This time it was good enough for first place. The doll is also new and one I actually made myself. I only used Lady Intrigue for the English classes so my usual hunt seat doll (made by Joan Yount) took the day off.
Next was English arena trail and I entered the exact same entry (with a different Strapless) that I used in the western division. I would really love to come up with some new trail entries that can be used for a trotting horse but I have a very hard time finding patterns.

Next was my other English entry. I as usual put in my therapeutic riding entry. This time with the new tack and new doll. It did very well and I was thrilled. I am working my way towards a merit award with this entry and I believe I am up to 8 NAN cards now! Only 4 to go...

There was a snafu with my dressage entry and she got 6th place. I forgot to take a picture. Then there was English pleasure Where Lady Intrigue received first place but I forgot that photo as well. Even without photos Lady Intrigue had a good day and received the English performance reserve champion.

...and then went on to win overall performance reserve champion. I was cleaning up getting ready for a quick exit (my mom was watching Travis for the day and I was later than I expected to be and didn't want her to be mad at me) and had already put the dolls away. Though now my new BCS tack is easier to see.
You may have noticed little silver coins in the photos on the first place winners. The theme of the show was pirates and a coin was given to anyone that won a first place. The special performance prize was a hunt seat doll that I donated at the request of my friend Marisa (the show holder). Well, I managed to win back my donation so it was a good (and funny) day for prizes! I probably won't have another show until the fall so maybe I can get around to working on some photo show performance photos.

Crazy Weather

Last night we had a very fast, very destructive thunderstorm. It started at about midnight and the bad parts were done by 12:30. There are trees down all over town and all over Western Massachusetts. A tree took out the top of our swingset....

...and quite a bit of the nieghbor's driveway.

Both their vehicles are totaled (and are underneath the tree). The picture I got was from my driveway. It didn't seem polite to stand right in front of their house and photogragh their misfortune. Now to figure out what to do with all the trees.

Weekend show report

Today was the PVTRA second annual benefit horse show. Travis was riding in it again which he loves. Last year I got video but this year I just did pictures. Part of that was I needed reference photos for my therapeutic riding set-up at live shows. I got some good ones I think. But photos are fun so here are a bunch to look at ☺

This first one is Pat, the director of the therapeutic riding program and Travis's senior instructor. He likes her a lot. This is Anna, Travis's intern instructor. She is licenced with the state but wants to be licenced by NARHA. Elecktra is excited that she gets to help out and finally can touch the horses without getting in trouble.

This one is because action shots are fun!

Number 196 is all ready to go (and looking very cool).

The paparazzi were there as well.

I really wish I had taken a photo of the trail coarse diagram. I didn't think of it until we were on the way home though. Maybe Leora will still have it at the barn (it was big and color coded!). Anyway, this was the first circle.

Here is a very nice whoa.

Steering through the cones.

Perfect jump position (is it better with your eyes closed?).

Another action shot. The beanbag went right into the hoop. The judges (were right above him for this one) and they sounded impressed with this as well.

The outcome... second place! Great job Travis!

And the group photo. This was the only one I had where Travis didn't look really bored. The little girl was not really upset, she just looks it in this photo. The other ones I have she looked happy (and as I mentioned, Travis looked really bored).
So it was a good day and I got these and may more photos. I am thinking of having the doll in my set-up do jumping position. Not sure I can pull it off but it would be interesting.

Great mail day!

It's not every day that you get cool new stuff in the mail! I got my new tack from Jennifer Buxton! Isn't it pretty? My photos don't do the set any justice at all. It is very "wow!" in person. And coming soon...the dolls I am making as my part of the trade. Now I will go back to admiring me new tack☺

Show report

Yesterday was Quabbin Valley Performance Open (QVPO) held in Ludlow, MA. There was a crazy start to the day. I got to the hall and realized that I forgot one of my horses at home. Usually this would be cause for something other than laughter (at least a mild grr or 2) but I live in Ludlow so I knew I could just go home and get the horse. I waited until lunch to make sure I would not miss the first classes.
I missed a bunch of photos that would have been nice to have but I was showing in English and western in both OF and CM. There were 4 rings per division so at time things got a little hectic. It was great for setting classes up ahead of time but sometimes I would have to stop and check to see where I had bits and pieces of footing or props for the next class (and sometimes up to 3 classes ahead, lol). But it was a great show and I had a great time. This first photo is of my customized Chip resin, Spin A Chip. He showed in 4 classes in the stock horse division. This was his team penning entry.

He did alright but his entries still need some tweaking to make them more believable.
The next photo was my customized Smokin' Hot Chic resin doing showmanship. I was very pleased with how this entry turned out because it looks nice and I made her halter while sitting in my car Friday night during my daughter's piano lesson. I probably got some funny looks but I got it done and it looked nice and fit well.

Through some interesting entries (Pokerface also did a bareback pony ride for the scene class and a horse auction for the generic performance class) she got a Championship in the Other Performance division.

This next group of photos are of my OF Seabiscuit, Johnny Cash (named that because my husband loves Johnny Cash). This is his version of the team penning entry. I took a tip from the custom judge and moved the gate facing out and he got a first. Cowboy Bill's head was sculpted by the talented Liesl Dalpe.

Johnny Cash and Bill did very well in the stock horse division earning the champion award.
This is my OF sidesaddle Strapless, Lady Intrigue, competing in the Other English class doing my therapeutic riding entry. I have been working on improving the entry every time I show it and am trying to think up some new ideas. My reference photo is my son, Travis at one of his therapeutic riding lessons. I missed a bunch of photos but Lady Intrigue and her rider (who's name I have forgotten) got the championship award in OF English Performance. Very exciting!

Back again to compete in natural Western trail is Johnny Cash and cowboy Bill. They did very well in this class.

But then they didn't place at all in western arena trail. Johnny Cash is still wearing his boots. I meant to take them off in the last division and...forgot. The other classes he was OK to be wearing them but not for arena trail. Just goes to show that details do matter.

Johnny Cash still managed to get enough points to win Champion in the OF western division. That one was a big surprise to me (I think cowboy Bill is surprised as well).

And last but not least is my new horse. She is a Summer Solstice resin named Joyful Morn. She has had a very successful show career so far and came to me with a STACK of awards. I was going through them one day and realized she only needed 2 more performance cards to earn a NAMHSA versatility award. So I really wanted to show her and see what I could do. She fits in Lady Intrigue's tack without any adjustments which makes my life easier. Though I do plan on getting her her own tack and rider as soon as possible.

This first entry was her dressage entry. She only got 4th but there were some amazing entries in the ring. We'll certainly be working on this some more.

She did do very well in arena trail (as shown below) and also pleasure which I didn't get a photo of.

And last but certainly not least, Joyful Morn did a lovely job in Other English doing my therapeutic riding set-up. This has been a very meaningful set-up from the very first and Joyful Morn did not disappoint. Her rider, Joan (who I just recalled I named for Joan Yount who made her for me) looks very pleased. It's not every day a therapeutic riding program has such a lovely horse.

All in all I had a very productive show day. I ended up with 5 champ awards and a total of 19 NAN cards! Joyful Morn earned the cards she needed so we may be getting her a versatility award soon. Another exciting part of the day was I showed a new resin in performance and didn't wreck it! I must be learning ☺

Hobby photography

I will admit that I am at times quite envious of people that have excellent photography skills. I can take pretty good (and at times great) photos of people but miniatures of all kinds give me a lot of trouble. The really annoying part of the whole thing is I know what at least some of the problem is. I have really horrible lighting in my house. I can't take indoor photos after dark or even on cloudy days because it is just too dark inside and the lighting is pretty yellow. It doesn't make for a good photo. Outside photos are a tiny bit better. Overcast days I can sometimes get some pretty excellent shots and I can get some decent shots when it is sunny. I don't have a super place outdoors to take photos though. The outside table is meant to be an outside table. It slopes down slightly from the center to the edges. I am assuming that is to make sure rain water runs off so you don't have standing water on your table. The kids have a big swing set but the ladder steps are sloped and even the "tree-house" floor is slightly tilted. I end up taking most of the outdoor photos on a saw-horse. Not the best thing to get a nice picture.
Inside photos I have a bit more for flat surfaces but still not tons. We have a serious lack of space in here ☻. I even have one of those cool collapsible photo cubes that pros use to get nice product pictures. But I have lighting issues. I have one florescent light that I saves from a fish tank and a couple of incandescent lights I got with the photo cube. But those lights should probably go because they heat up quite a bit and very quickly. I should probably look into some more florescent lights, I can get pretty good photos at live shows.

I also need to get some more patience. The doll group photo I have is nice. I am pretty proud of it. It took me a couple of hours to get that shot just the way I wanted it. I set the dolls up one Saturday morning and took a series of shots. Then I uploaded them and studied the dolls. I moved heads and legs a bit here and there so they would look more like people and less like dolls. At one point the back row fell over and I had to set them back up. The end photo looks pretty good in my opinion. The dolls don't look like plastic people and it is not to light or too dark. However it took a couple of hours, lol. Another problem I have is my camera. I finally have a nice camera that I know is fully capable to taking really excellent photos. In the hands of someone who has a clue what they are doing, it takes really excellent photos. I learned how to use my Dad's manual film camera for my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary (no pictures from that day, sorry) and then used it to do the photos for my friend Annie's wedding. Those pictures came out really nicely. But my camera is a mystery to me. I probably should get out the book that came with it and see if I can figure it out a bit more. Then I need to work on getting good photos in less than a couple of hours.

So all in all, I know at least part of the problem I have with getting nice photos. There are probably some key points I am missing that would help me out immensely with getting nicer pictures. And nicer pictures not only are better for the brag book but better for selling your work as well.

Working away

The backlog is done and most of the official customer orders as well. I am not totally stop taking custom orders but I think I will take a break from advertising for custom orders. I ran 2 sales recently, one in December and one in January and while they brought in business they also cost me a lot. That and the donation doll I already have done for the Mary Kay foundation (totally worth it, she brought in $230 for the foundation!) and the several donation dolls I have in the semi-near future...I need to stop giving everything away I think, lol.

So this is the newest doll to come out of my studio. She's fairly simple to reflect the current trend in the show ring. But still sparkly because I like that sort of thing :) I think I will also have a couple of saddle seat dolls for sale in the near future. They can be a lot of fun.