Fun

Copperfox Challenge Day 8 (#CDCDay8)

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Copperfox Challenge Day 8:   Join a Model Horse Group, Forum or Club (#CDCDay8)

There are so many fabulous groups, forums and clubs out there both online and offline to join, all over the world. Joining a group (or forum or club) is a way to chat to other like minded individuals about your models, to share ideas and be part of the community that has the same interest as you.

This is a tough challenge, only because I have been involved in the online model horse community for a number of years now and am already signed up as a member pretty much anywhere I have an interest! Plus.. blogs need pictures and this is, on first look, a non-photogenic type of question (Hmmm…).. but I shall do my best..

To start, among many bookmarks I have in my “Model Horse” folder, I have the company websites for Breyer, Peter Stone Horses and Copperfox Model Horses. 

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Random Model Horse Photo 🙂

I’ve been a member on Model Horse Sales Pages (“MHSP”) for several years and recently bought several items from listings on there. In the last few days alone I’ve connected with some new-to-me fellow hobbyists on Facebook, which has been fun.

A few of my new tack pieces from MHSP 🙂 

 

I find Model Horse Blab to be my most entertaining and enlightening message board in the hobby and I have been visiting it daily for several months now.  It’s an active community and there are often new posts and threads to discover.

I also visit several model horse blogs, some more often than others, but my current favorites include:  Breyer History Diva, Desktop Stables, and Braymere Custom Saddlery.

I bought new horses from fellow collectors for the first time,

Thank you Kay Koeller!
Thank you Nikki Hertzog!

and have begun to prepare for a live model horse show in my area (Pocono Ponies Live for those who need to  know!).

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Practicing proper tacking up for performance classes.

Incidentally you can search for and find live model horse shows through North American Model Horse Shows Association (“NAMHSA”) as well as through Model Horse Blab.

So.. I’ve got a challenge posted WITH photos to go with it. I’m so proud. More tomorrow!

 

Copperfox Challenge Day 7 (#CDCDay7)

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Copperfox Challenge Day 7:   Share your favourite piece in your model horse collection (#CDCDay7)
What is that piece in your collection that you would never part with? It is the first model you owned, a customized model or a piece of hand crafted tack?

I have many favorites in my model horse collection of over 250 pieces.  I have models from my childhood “carpet herd”, models I was so excited to buy because it was the first time I had my own money to spend, and I have special models picked up at a fleamarket that are considered rare and very novel to fellow colleagues.  

Though all of them are precious in their own way, probably my most novel and likely most valuable is this guy:

My model horses
Stone Equilocity 2012 T-Shirt Fun – Tennessee Walking Horse

My model horses

I was one of 12? very lucky visitors at The Peter Stone Company Equilocity Event who was “in the right place at the right time”.  A small group of models, custom painted with a “tropical flair” were given out at random to visitors who wore their Peter Stone Company T-Shirts and were spotted by one of the staff at the Stone Company.  It so happened that I was in the main sales room at Equilocity when Peter Stone himself caught me proudly wearing my shirt.  I was exuberant and took a few minutes to decide which of those lovely models would come home with me.

Copperfox Challenge Day 6 (#CDCday6)

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Copperfox Challenge Day 6:   Find a new artist/sculptor/tackmaker that you don’t already know about (#CDCday5)

Today’s challenge is about finding something new. Trot onto the Internet and find the work of a new artist, sculptor, tack maker, hobbyist- anyone within the model horse hobby that you don’t know about… yet!

This challenge comes on the perfect day!  I just discovered, through a friend on FB that some of my favorite Breyer models were in fact sculpted by Susan Carlton Sifton.  I just friended her on Facebook, and now I look forward to seeing more of her work with Breyer 🙂 

Here are a few photos of my own models based on Sue’s sculpts:

Thank you Kay Koeller!

Copperfox Challenge Day 5 (#CDCday5)

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Day 5:   Create something for your models or try a new skill (#CDCDay5)
The model horse hobby is full of things to create both for your models or using your models. Today’s the day to be brave and have a go at creating that jump for your models or to have a go at painting your horse’s hooves.

4:27pm Eastern US time….
OK.. so I wanted to jump the gun and do Day 5 early.. but I’m at work right now, and CAN’T create/try anything right now, so.. in the mean time.. here are a few photos of past projects I’ve done:

My first (adult) attempt at re-painting.. a few Breyer doggies that needed a new look..7299418862_965c714491_z

Two cats I repainted- and experimented with chalks..5598335725_9c890bc0b6_z

Cutest model cat namesakes ever.. Meet “Lily”…5570342142_a6575c1448_z

….and her mommy, “Jasmine”12274414_10153942579222448_9038558099648563498_n(together ..because Lily can’t LIVE without her mommy. This is one of the few photos where Jasmine is out front/ on top.. because usually Lily crashes Jasmine’s nap and piles literally on top of her!).

More tonight…

Copperfox Challenge Day 4 (#CDCday4)

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Day 4:   Your Favourite Model Horse Picture (#CDCday4)

What is your most favourite model horse picture? Maybe you already have one or maybe you can create a new one?

This photo is part of a series I did playing around with a barn and some fun accessories.  I just love this because the animals all look so expressive 🙂

Susecion, LeFire

“Little Ginger is out on one of her her early explorations of the big wide world beyond the comfy stall she was born into.  She is a friendly little foal, and looks to makes new friends right away.  Snowball the Samoyed looks on with calm amusement as tiny puppy Buttercup and Ginger try to make friends with Bluey the Butterfly.  Mom, Nightingale joins in the fun with her own curious eye.”

 

Copperfox Challenge Day 3 (#CDCday3)

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Day 3:    Be a Model Horse (#CDCday3)

Imagine yourself as a model horse. What colour would you be? What mould would you be created on? What scale?

I really like the traditional sized Breyer Bluegrass Bandit.. and of course a beautiful subtle dappled palomino with lovely metallic highlights and lots ‘o “chrome” would be my obvious choice of coloring.  Below are photos that show the mold (but not the color), and the color (but on a different mold).  Combine the two and you know what I’d look like as a horse 🙂

This Mold:
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In This Color:
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Or Maybe This One:Model Horse Photo Session in the back yard.

But then I like this mold too… Oh decisions decisions!!

Copperfox Challenge Day 2 (#CDCDay2)

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From the Copperfox Blog:
Day 2:  Name your model or barn (#CDCDay2)

Have a go at naming the most recent addition to your herd by giving them a show name, stable name and pet name. As further ideas, why not do the same for your barn or stable yard and then make a barn tour video?

My most recent addition to my barn was actually THREE new stable friends that all arrived this week!  I definitely have some catch-up on names to do with my new purchases in 2015, but for now I’ll concentrate on these pretty ponehs.

Stone DAH 2016 – Tennessee Walking Horse in palomino: Armend (“mind of gold”)
Stone DAH 2016 – Trotting Drafter in buckskin: Hickory – just because it fits 🙂
Breyer WEG 2010 – Roxy in palomino: Rayna (“Beautiful to Gaze Upon”)

For now, here is a casual picture, taken of the three upon opening:

20160223_124419_resized I’ll post official photos in the appropriate Flickr collections (My Stone Inventory | My Breyer Inventory)

My virtual stable was born as “Clover Lake Stables” back in the 1980s.  I officially considered the activities I did with my model horses a hobby while I was a 4-H member and several of those activities were done through my local 4-H horse club. I always liked their symbol – a 4 leaf clover, so that was the first part.  I have also liked scenic lakes, and daydream of owning a big property with a lovely lake shaped like a clover, so thus was born “Clover Lake Stables”.  

A couple years ago I renamed my virtual property to Clover Lake Acres, to encompass not just my horses, but my dogs, other animals and various activities (in my virtual world of course though I have done real life dog training instruction!)

Nowadays, when I daydream of being involved in training animals or people, I like to use the name the “Eclectic Approach”.  I am fascinated with training theories and techniques and pride myself on using any number of these to best suit my particular client or animal, real life (“RL”) or virtual.

Get to Know you

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1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No. Mom liked another name (forget which one), but there were two babies around friends/family with the name, so she named me for something that a person would smile when they think of it.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Angela knows when I cried last! (think singing!)
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Not much, though I prefer printing to cursive. I definitely LOVE computer fonts though 🙂
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Does peanut butter count? no? well then Oscar Mayer bologna.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? No.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes. I hope that I would want to be friends with me, because I can talk about deep things with my friends and try to be trustworthy.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Not much. Although I  know it can be used in fun,  sarcasm can used as a cowardly way of critizing others without doing it directly.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yup.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I’ll opt for the hot air balloon myself!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?Lucky Charms/Honey Nut Cheerios mix and generic frosted mini wheats (in my opinion cereal should be considered a lunch meat too! 😀 )
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? When the mood strikes.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I’m a wimp. Not much muscle at all!
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Easy answer- Cake Batter / Better Batter!
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Physically- their eyes, otherwise, their ability to ask good questions.
15. RED OR PINK? hmm.. red.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My lack of self discipline / “long haul” consistency.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My paternal grandma. I really wish I could have gotten to know her better before she died. (as well as my other 2 deceased grandparents)
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? I won’t forward it to many, but definitely would like to hear back from those I send it to.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? brown pants, black shoes.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? a sugar cookie. YUM!
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The hum of the building air system and the whisper of my boss talking on the phone in his office.
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? I like teal and cranberry, or maybe a teal/cran twist?
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Vanilla is my all time favorite. Next would be oranges, roses, and fresh green woodland trails!
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Funny, that would be- Robynlyn!
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yes! wish we had money to do the air balloon trip together!
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? dog agility and horse shows.
27. HAIR COLOR? brown
28. EYE COLOR? blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? nope.
30. FAVORITE FOOD? REAL Kettle corn is great (had some at the fair this weekend), but I don’t have any strong favorites.
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Oh definitely happy endings.
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Simpsons with my husband (HIS CHOICE – I watched it with him for his sake!)
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? tannish golf shirt
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer!!!
35. HUGS OR KISSES? I like kisses, but hugs are great all around!
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? I’d have to go with ice cream too!
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? not sure who I’ll send it to!
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Malchus- Christian novel and Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? don’t got none!
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV. LAST NIGHT? No time for TV, too busy suffering through the Simpsons!
42. FAVORITE SOUND? a gurgling brook.
44. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Texas
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I’m an organizing fanatic! I also write “heart2heart”.
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Dover, NJ
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? I’m just glad I got through them myself ! LOL (I actually really like these and keep copies in my journal!)