Sage Creations

2011-01-30T22:49:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share a few pictures of a set I wrapped up a few weeks ago. This is the classic scale Egyptian Dancing Horse costume I made for Iaret by Morgen Kilbourn. The set has been sold and is in its new home already, waiting to make its debut this show season! I won't bore you with any more text, here are the pics!

Posh Pony Pockets!

2010-12-20T16:13:00.000-08:00

Recently my mom was out of work, and while she was not working, I asked if she would make me some pouches to put my models in for transportation to shows. I was tired of miles and miles of bubble wrap, and not having enough, or worse, having too much at the end of packing up each time. When I do get to go to a show, I want to spend my time looking at other models, talking with friends or actually showing -- not fighting with the bubble wrap Kraken that spills out of my totes and onto the floor under the table.

I also asked her to please make the pouches a little more fashionable than the ones I already had (What can I say, I like cute/trendy colors and patterns!), and to make them nice and plush to keep my models safe. To keep a long story short, she delivered, in a big way! She made me a batch for my collection and when I saw the results I asked her to make some more to see if the rest of the collecting world would be as impressed as I have been with them.

So today I am putting up a few for sale, to see what you guys think, and to get them out there to get some reviews. I have a good array of sizes here, and she is willing to take on custom sizes as well if these sell and are well received.

The ad can be viewed here: http://www.modelhorsesalespages.com/sales/view_details.asp?path=Gallery&id=823574

Each pouch is lined in high quality white micro-fleece and all edges/seams are serged and sewn to avoid fraying. Closures on some of them are Velcro, while others tie with ribbon. Each picture makes it clear what kind of closure is featured, no worries. The outer fabric is cotton quilting fabric, and they are cushioned with premium, high-loft quilt batting between the fleece and cotton layers. Some of the initial batch will feature a plastic sleeve to put the model's name in; she can add them to orders in the future if desired for no additional cost.

Custom orders will depend on the amount of time she has in the near future; she wished for, and received a new job for Christmas (yay!), so she is spending a lot of her free time learning the ropes instead of slaving away for the model horse hobby. ;0) If you need special sizes, please drop me a line and we can see what we can work out.

Fun With Feathers

2010-11-21T17:43:00.000-08:00

Get your dirty minds out of the gutters peeps,
the feathers are for the horses! :0)

Just thought I'd share. It's been so long since I've been productive, so this is kind of crazy to have two posts within a week, but hey, I'll take it! I found something similar to these for real horses and thought I'd take a stab at it and see what happens. Turns out, it went quite well.
The set is listed on MHSP for sale if anyone is interested! http://www.modelhorsesalespages.com/sales/view_details.asp?path=Gallery&id=818432
Gotta study a bit

New Tack, Yep, you heard it right!

2010-11-15T15:45:00.000-08:00

I don't have too much time to go into great detail this evening, homework is calling, but I did want to post a few pics to update what I've been up to lately.

First is a set I started last April when I should have been typing an essay outline for one of my education classes. . .and I have been really inspired to work on it now that I should be working on an essay for another class. Hmmm. Funny how that works!

The set is made to fit Iaret by Morgen Kilbourn (I believe you can still purchase her here http://www.artbymorgen.com She's absolutely to die for, so detailed and spunky!) and is the first of these in this size range. Classic scale is not much smaller than traditional to the eyes, but man, the hands disagree! Working with lace this small is tough, thinning it down takes more patience than I think I have some days.
The set is fully functional, as are all of my sets, with working slip buckles and tongue buckles where it wouldn't be more of a difficulty than a benefit.
I'm totally in love with the tiny little star on the noseband, it just completes the look!

And next, I decided to branch out a bit with dancing horse costumes after finding some examples of two toned sets online in my quest for more reference pictures. I used an inlaying technique that required some deft maneuvering of the old exacto, but the results speak for themselves. The red pieces fit like perfect little puzzle pieces into the black suede, so there is no added bulk from layering, and you get a more realistic appearance in the end.

It still needs tassels on the off side and the collar, and the girth/bridle/halter and tie down need to be made, but those are not too bad time wise. This set will be up for sale soon, and should be completed before Christmas. The bit and stirrups are on order, so as soon as they arrive I'll be in business! I'm planning on completing it to fit Reno and some of the larger sized Arabians, so if you're interested, let me know.

If anyone has any questions, be sure to drop me a line. Thanks for reading, and I will do my best to not be such a stranger from here on out, but I can't promise much with school still underway. Thanks again!

pokes head out from under homework

2010-02-19T22:51:00.000-08:00

I really don't have anything model related to say, just wanted to let everyone know that I am still technically in the hobby, just taking a bit of a break until the summer. I am enrolled full time in school, pursuing a Secondary Education degree, I have 14 credits this semester, plus my home, kids, dogs, cats, fish etc. to still look out for, so I am one busy mama. I will post here when I have anything exciting to post, but for now my days are spent writing, revising and editing essays, doing lots of other homework, and a 'field experience' thing at the local high school.

I now know why energy drinks were invented, lol.

If anyone needs anything from me, my email addy has not changed, it just may take me a few days to get back to you is all. I have a few ads running on MHSP too, they can link you to me through the ad inquiry button.
Thanks for the continued support!

Still alive!

2009-09-08T21:52:00.001-07:00

I'm still here and kickin, just busy as all get out! I got the girls back to school today, though I've been back for two weeks already, so yeah, fun. I am working on very few projects right now, trying to adjust to being a mom and a student, working on my terrible time managing skills. :o) If anyone needs to contact me for any reason, please use my e-mail mrsmelissage (at) msn (dot) com Thanks so much for your support!

NAN wins to report!

2009-07-05T19:52:00.000-07:00

Woot! Ok, sorry...lol, but I am so excited! Last weekend was NAN as I am sure you guys know, and it went rather well! I was able to get a top 10 in CM Saddleseat on Friday with my Knightly Cadence resin, ( painted by myself) in his Jennifer Buxton tack, he looked great!

I left kind of early on Friday, but Saturday I was there for most of the show, and took home some more pretty ribbons...and TWO Championships! Woot!

I was thrilled to hear my name come up for the top 10 in the Arabian Costume class, and almost hit the floor when I heard My horse's name as the Champion of the class! The set (red EDH set) he was wearing was finished in Portland on Thursday at my Dad's kitchen table, I am so glad I got it done in time. The other set (black and gold costume) I had entered in the class placed on two judge's cards, so I must be doing something right, the class was HUGE!

I floated around for a while, so happy with my results so far, then put my Dressage entry up later in the afternoon. I was so happy again to have my name called for the top ten, and, wonder of wonders I was eventually called for Champion again! The spectacular dressage set was made by Jennifer Buxton as well, her blog can be found here: http://braymere.blogspot.com/ The props were by me, though the heat on the drive back killed my rail, arrrgh. I need to put it back together this week so I can get some better win pictures. :0)

Towards the end of the day, without performance showing and sticky wax on my mind, I was able to take pictures of a few of the AR halter classes, including one that I had my final piece of the day entered in. The AR Paint class was chock full of eye candy, so much that I had myself all packed up ready to leave when it was called, not expecting to place, and then I heard my name again! I couldn't believe it, the Matriarch I painted had made it into the top 10! I was so shocked I didn't even have my camera with me so I had to hustle back to my table to get it so I could snap a pic of my girl winning her pretty purple ribbon! So far, in the three shows she has been to, she has placed second, first plus a Reserve champ of stock breeds, and has taken a top 10 at the biggest show of them all... so far so good! She even got to wear her little stock halter that I made special for her to match her blue eye, OK, I'm a dork, but it looks nice on her, lol. (the head shot shows her coloring way better then I was able to swing at the show)

Overall I am so happy and proud, and glad I was able to go. I hope I will get to attend the Kentucky NAN next year, it was so much fun, and I met so many nice people whom I had only known from the internet, it was great. (*waves to Angela, Lauren, Erin and Wendy*)The link for the entire album is below, there are 370 or so pictures, and I got most of the performance entries I was present (or not running around like a headless chicken while they were on the table) for, and a few classes like AR appaloosa, Paint and some of the Mustangs too. Enjoy, and have a great week!

http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n74/sagecreations/NAN%202009%20Portland/

Posting Two Costumes for sale today...

2009-06-11T17:17:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post, as I need to (try to ) get to bed at a better hour tonight, but I am posting two sets for sale this evening! I will be able to ship as soon as I return from NAN, postage is included in the prices, and I accept time payments gladly! :0)

The first is the Black and Gold Hollywood/Showring style set, its ad can be found here: http://modelhorsesalespages.com/sales/view_details.asp?id=699049

And the second is the Turquoise and Black set, it can be found here:

http://modelhorsesalespages.com/sales/view_details.asp?path=Gallery&id=699155

Thanks so much! Goodnight!

Show report!

2009-04-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

A few weeks late, but better than never, right?

I went to Sarah Tregay's Appy Country Live show in Boise a few weeks ago (the 4th), and it was great! Sarah runs a tight ship, we did performance and OF and CM (mini and trad. ) halter in ONE day! Whew! The class lists were condensed a bit, but still varied enough to let me show lots of ponehs and tack.

I am pleased to announce that my Mindy resin, painted by myself, took another championship home, this time an Overall Grand Championship of CM mini, she's on a roll! I am so proud of that little gal, she has so many subtle details that are hard to capture on the camera properly, I am so glad she's doing so well. She'll be off to NAN for sure, with or without me, lol. My matriarch resin did very well at this show also, winning second in her paint class and reserve champ of stock breeds too! She is painted by myself, and is featured (and more properly photographed) in another blog post around here somewhere!

I also got the chance to experiment a bit in Dressage, using the new doll (and horse) from the Elegance Dressage set, she is really easy to pose, and she actually stays where you put her! I'd like some flexion in her heels, but overall she sits nicely and her clothes are pretty nice too! Not sure if I will use her at NAN, I'll be enough of a wreck already, but I may. My English entries both took first in their classes, in their amazing Jennifer Buxton tack, with my dressage entry placing as Champion of English perf., and my English pleasure (Saddleseat) entry taking Reserve Champion, on its debut showing! The Knightly Cadence is finished by myself as well.

As far as my work goes, I was not able to pull my Arabian costume entries together well enough to place over third in that class, we got lost on our way to the show hall (only about 10 minutes out from home too, grr.) as hubby tried an 'alternate route' so I arrived with about 5 minutes to unpack and get my English pleasure entry as well as the two costumes up, I was a wreck!

I did do well with my green EDH costume once more though, it took a first place in Other perf. and a Championship of Other performance as well, so yay!

One of the greatest things about the day, is, that Sarah was also running a youth show during our show, so I brought my two (very sleepy, lol) kiddos along with some of their horses, they had a great time and did really well too! My littlest one showed mostly her schleich horses that she plays with, but Madison, my oldest has a pretty nice show string for a 9 year old. She won a few division championships along with winning the overall reserve Champ, after that I'd say she's hooked! (the shot on the top is of the models of hers that went to final callbacks) So here's to spreading the hobby to our younger generation, it's such a great thing to be able to show together with my girls, we had a ball.

I'll be back with some goodies to share next week!

"Look mom, my butt fits!"

2009-03-31T20:16:00.000-07:00

The last one for a few days, I promise, mostly because I have company coming in the next few days and I probably ought to tend to my house a little... :0D

The red dancing horse saddle is done (save the lining), and the girth, bridle and collar still need attention, but I should have them wrapped in another week or two, and I still owe you guys some pics of the other native set in progress, hopefully by the weekend I'll have those!

The main purpose of tonight's pictures is to illustrate how important fit is in the model saddle. I can't even begin to count the teensy weensy little seats I have seen on costume after costume, and it really makes me wonder what happens when the buyer gets a really cool doll for their set, only to find the seat is built for a person roughly little bit size!

That reason is why I keep my trusty doll "Ron" (who has a very strong resemblance to my little brother...hence the name, lol) handy, to test out my seats before they even begin to get covered in fabric (or suede as it is in this example), just a little added touch that I hope helps the buyer have more flexibility when showing my work...with the added bonus that it adds to the realism as well.

Oh, and please excuse Ron's lack of shirt, I am working on making an actual robe for him, like the guys at the Egyptian event wear to show their horses, wish me luck, I *hate* the sewing machine, almost as much as it hates me I'm sure!

I'll try to post pics this weekend of the other set in progress...if I get time!

Picture update...

2009-03-30T17:11:00.000-07:00

Just a quickie to clear up any confusion on the saddle seat of the red costume! It is red, not red and white, though I will be trying a red and green two toned set soon, so stay tuned... :0)

I'm also sneaking in a *little* something, just to see how far I can take it...my eyes are hating me already!

Working working working!

2009-03-28T21:58:00.000-07:00

I figure with spring trying to pop it's head out up here in Idaho, I had better get a few things started and hopefully done, so I have some new stuff for NAN, or I just might not have time, (or energy) and that would be bad.

So anyway, here's the latest set on my desk, it's a Red Dancing horse set, and it's much further along than this pic, taken a few days ago, it's turning out really nice, so nice I don't really want to part ways wth it, lol. The pieces are just kind of laid on each other in the pic, nothing had been glued as of yet! It will have a row of tiny tassels along the drape edge, and the collar will have a double row, and I think I will go ahead and do the tie down for this one too, as it adds a bit more realism, and three more buckles, but who's counting? ;0)

I am also still working on the hand embroidered native costume, as well as one more native style set, made with a mini rug though for sanity's sake. I'll try and get snaps of the rug based set in a few days! Off for bed, I'm wiped today for some reason!

More EDH pictures

2009-03-19T01:05:00.000-07:00

This was a sneak peek a few weeks ago, just wanted to share the full picture album with you guys! I went a little further than normal for this set, I added a tie down to it, which is often seen in Dancing Horse exhibitions to keep them from tossing their heads too much (which they probably do because of all the dangly things in their nostrils, lol) And the result is pretty cool! It makes the buckle total hit 19, which is crazy, but worth it for that added adjustability!

Well, that's it for me. :0) I need to get to bed!

Back home, with some additional shiny things in my hands!

2009-03-19T00:10:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a weekend! I am still pretty wiped out, as the bed I was in wasn't the most comfy, and not to mention late night tack changing to prepare for the next day...but all in all I am feeling good! I am so glad I had the chance to test out some of my new pieces, and I got some great tips from a very well respected and tough judge, it was fabulous! I have a few more shows I would like to get to this spring, and I am hoping and praying that NAN is in my future as well, I want to make my work's debut at NAN in person, I can't wait!

My overall win list:

Saturday (Judge Lauren Wood)

1st place Modern Arabian Costume-Khaotic-wearing the gold and black number

1st place Historical Arabian Costume-Mehdi-wearing the turquoise native set

2nd place Other Costume (apparently a rein popped off its wax, grrr.) -Khaotic in the green EDH

Champion of CM Other Performance-Khaotic

Reserve Champion of CM other Perf.-Mehdi

Overall Reserve Champion of CM Performance- Khaotic (he is painted by me as well)

Sunday: (judge Lauren Wood)

1st place Modern Arabian Costume-Maxximum Output wearing the gold and black costume

1st place Historical costume-Darkh Knight wearing the Turquoise Native set

1st place Other Costume-Darkh Knight wearing the green EDH costume

1st place other performance- Noisy Rio wearing the carousel costume

Champion of Other Performance: Darkh Knight

1st place Dressage-Pierino

Champion of English-Pierino

(the English classes were quite sparse, Lauren said she thought my entry was very nice and everything was done correctly, though she would have tucked the excess rein I left hanging to the right, so a good entry nonetheless! )

Overall OF Performance Champion-Darkh Knight

AR Minis(all painted by me) Judge Caroline Boydston

1st place TWH, MFT-Cougar's Pride-Mindy resin

Champion of Light breeds

Overall Reserve Champion of AR mini

1st place in Warmbloods-Ricochet-Dinky duke resin

2nd in American Ponies-Gimli-Flitwick resin

3rd place Paint horse-Apache Clouds-Cheveyo

3rd place Other Stock-Butternut-Doodlebug resin

4th place British pony-Silvermist-Netzky resin

5th place Arabian-Sadeek-Mini Nahar

AR Traditional and classic size: (painted by me too!)

2nd place Paint horse- Sierra Skies-Matriarch resin

So all in all a great list of results for my work, I am very proud. I am so pleased my Mindy did as well as she did, and under Caroline as a judge! She had me shaking so hard after the light breed champ pinning that I could hardly manipulate my tack, but I was able to compose myself and get the green Dancing Horse costume all put on properly, and it kicked butt! Woot!

I've included a few pictures of the show, I couldn't snap many because I was running around with tack changes and such, but I managed a few! Here is the rest of the album in case anyone is interested! http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n74/sagecreations/Las%20Vegas%20Live%202009/

Thanks for reading!

Hey Baby let's go to Vegas!

2009-03-07T16:38:00.000-08:00

How ironic was it when that song came on yesterday, as I was finishing up the reins on the double bridle for my gold/black Arabian costume!

Well, like any other LVL year, I have been busy working my fingers to the bone. I have super glue and exacto injuries on nearly all of my fingers, (maybe I should super glue the cuts...it could be a sign, lol.) and my eyes and neck have been strained to the max, but I am so close! The gold and Black costume is DONE, and boy am I proud! It was my first ever attempt at a double bridle, and it is as detailed as anything I have ever made before, 5 tiny working buckles and a slip buckle for the throatlatch, it's so cool! The bit is from TWMHC/Allison Bennish on ebay, very cool stuff if you haven't ordered from them before! The rings swing just like on the real horse bits, which to me is so neat.

The green EDH will be done by tomorrow I hope, just the bridle standing in my way at this point, I'm a bit burned out on strap goods at the moment, but it will get done in time. I'll put some pics up of it when I have it finished.

I finally got around to painting the Matriarch who has been sitting on my shelf for two birthdays, she's turning out so much nicer than I hoped, I hope she does well this next week, she is a BLAST to paint! She is quite the demanding thing though, she said she needs a halter of her own, so she got one, it has 5 buckels for adjustment on it, and turned out quite lovely also, in my unbiased opinion! :0)

I also just wrapped up a customer commission for a simple cable style halter, the throatlatch is removable, and is done in super fine cable, just like the real deal!

Well, need to roll for now, my daughter just got hit on the head in a Pinata incident at the neighbor's house...off to tend to her! Hope to see some of you in Vegas next week!

Sneak peeks!

2009-02-16T00:02:00.001-08:00

Two more things that are to be done in the near future, though one (the green EDH) will be much more near than the other. The pics are clickable as always, but do remember, the embroidered piece is in the picture with a quarter for scale, blown up it's probably gonna look a bit messy. It's also my first try at a hand embroidered set, and holy buckets is that a lot of stitching!

Here's hoping to have at least one model Q'd for NAN who can wear it...it just may take that long to finish!

Enjoy the pics!

Building a small stockpile...

2009-02-07T23:18:00.000-08:00

Of Tack! This is the first of four pieces I hope to get finished by Las Vegas Live in another month. I know I will at least have three of them done, the fourth, my first hand embroidered piece is driving me nuts. I am not a very patient person, I like results, at least in a reasonable time frame, so spending 3 hours putting tiny little dots of color around a rectangular piece of cloth is not my idea of progress. I would be a lot faster if I was not so darn anal about spacing, size, etc. but I guess that's OK, and probably preferred in the long run. :0)

So anyhow, here is number one in my little tack arsenal, an 'El Badia' beaded style costume, complete with separate bridle and halter, so the halter and chestpiece could be used without the rest of the set. It fits a few different sizes of Arabians, so I am hoping to use it for the OF and CM classes, and then again at another show in April. This is the first Traditional costume (not EDH or anything else) since LVL '07, so I am so excited to have one done!

Enjoy the pics!

Carousel Costumes, for models?

2009-01-16T13:39:00.001-08:00

Yes! I finished my first Carousel Horse costume this week, and wanted to share a few pictures here, and a little backstory I guess too!

When I first started cruising ebay, in early 2003, I ran across a seller Chey Ann Silver Fox (and I may have just butchered the first name, sorry, it's been a long time!) who was selling the coolest thing I had ever seen, Model Horse Carousel Costumes, all made out of leather, tooled and painted, and just awesome. I thought I would love to buy one one day, but I waited too long, as she dropped out of the hobby and no longer makes these lovely costumes! I managed to contact her though ebay (can't for the life of me recall her user ID anymore, gah.) about 2 years ago, and she was very nice, but said she probably won't be doing any more for now, but maybe some time in the distant future.

Fast forward to a few months back, one of the bead stores I buy from online was having a clearance on some really cool Swarovski crystals so I bought some, not knowing what I 'd be doing with them. So I get the crystals and begin to think of what I could use them for, and then I looked at my monitor and the wallpaper I currently was using,...pictures of Carousel horses from the Idaho State Fair I took the summer before last! Click!

So to make a long story kind of shorter, here it is, the first Carousel costume from my studio...but not the last, these things are fun!

Third Annual Holiday Halter sale!

2008-12-09T21:14:00.001-08:00

Yep, I have been bugging you all with my holiday sale three years running, whew! *giggles*

Actually I am very proud to have quite a few new pieces to offer this year, and a few more on the way if I can get my errand running out of the way this week and get to my desk! The 5 pictured here are all available as of the time I am writing this, except for the copper/gold one, I have someone interested in it. (but wanted to share the picture anyway! ;0) ) I can be reached via email at mrsmelissage "at" msn "dot" com if anyone is interested in one of the pieces! (all priced at 35.00 except for the mini halter, which is 25.00)

Thanks for reading, I'm off to go take care of more pre holiday crazyness!

The last piece of the puzzle...

2008-11-21T15:44:00.000-08:00

It's finished! I just about killed my neck with this one, but it was so worth it, it turned out exactly like I was hoping, and a pretty good representation of the original 'real horse' set as well!

I am now free and clear to do sales pieces, and a few pieces for Las Vegas Live, which will be here before I know it, time has flown!

Coming soon will be 4 holiday halters and a few of the royal show halters as feature in some posts below...and maybe a few wire/cable style halters as well, I haven't decided just yet. I am also planning on a Hunter green EDH costume as well as my first hand embroidered native set, so things will still be busy, just no one waiting on me, which will be very freeing.

Well, enjoy the pictures, I'm outta here for 10 days starting tomorrow, so I won't be able to post any for a while! Have a great Thanksgiving week everyone! :0)

The inspiration piece...

Busy Busy Busy!

2008-11-19T21:29:00.000-08:00

This has been a great week of tying up loose ends, and boy did I have a LOT of ends to tie! I won't bore you (if there is a *you* that is, lol) with a bunch of text, here are some pictures!

OK, so I lied, here's a bit of text...The halter is the prize for a drawing I did on Halloween, the Pony is still a WIP, but he is coming along nicely, I have a poll going on to pick his color, he looks to be going towards Golden Palomino...

The Necklace is...wouldn't YOU like to know...;0)

I have one more item I'm working on here tonight, that should be wrapped up by tomorrow, I'll post it here when it's finished... Ok, back to work!

(click the pictures for gigantic sized pictures!)

Having a little fun!

2008-11-17T12:00:00.000-08:00

So after a year's worth of working on these two items as I could (between moving, surgery, yard building, kid surgeries and daily 'Mom' stuff...not to mention a whole lot of other 'little' items!) I'm finally finally done! Woo! So with that under my belt, I trekked out into our semi frozen backyard to the dirt pile left from the pond excavation to take some fun pictures of the two sets I will be sending out this week. I've also included a picture of a Royal Show halter I created as part of a package that includes the costume on the left below...it turned out well I think.

I have noticed a certain pattern in my work, and maybe other artists/tack makers can relate. In the beginning, I was slow, things took forever it seems, but as I got better, I got fast, really fast, and now, that I find my attention for detail increasing in large leaps, I am back to slow again, does that make sense? Things that would take me three days take me a month, things that used to take a month take much much longer. I suppose it's just a natural progression, putting more and more detail into each piece and being ever more picky about what you send out into the world, it sure does impact the quality as well as the quantity, which isn't all bad, just kinda confusing. :0)

Well, back to the grindstone...there shall be more to come this week if it kills me!

Ta da!!!

2008-11-09T01:33:00.000-08:00

Just a few quick pictures of Oberon all wrapped up, then I must go to bed (2:34 eek!) He won second place in an "other draft" class at a show in Boise ID on the 18th, I'm pretty proud of him!

I have so many more things wrapping up this week too, it's going to be crazy, but I'm working towards everything that is not for myself, or a sales piece in the works, to be out of here by Thursday the 20th! Wish me luck...:o)

Oh, and for fun I've included a pic of the Mindy I have been working on for my own collection, she turned out just how I had hoped!

Flow

2008-10-11T00:20:00.001-07:00

There are times when 'it' just comes to you, for whatever reason, things just become more effortless, lately that has not been the case for me at all, until this week. I am seeing things differently for the first time in a long while, having lots of great nights of great progress, and that makes me feel so much better. My laundry pile has suffered due to this great burst of creative energy, but my commission pile is getting smaller and smaller! I'll put up a few pics of the most recent completions and good old WIP's, a few of which should be finished by next week, what a relief!

I think I know what I'm doing...:0)

2008-10-05T23:51:00.001-07:00

At least it is starting to feel that way around here, lol. This little guy has been the single most difficult thing I have done in regards to finishwork, but will be one of the more rewarding tasks I have completed...when he's completed that is.

I received Mr. Oberon in the mail from England in December of last year (my that's embarrassing!) and he immediately began giving me troubles.

He had a few layers of primer and previous color on him, and needed a few tweaks before I could be satisfied enough to put my finishwork on him (mostly because I'd be horrified to have a customer find something I missed while prepping, eek!), but nothing too major. So he received a Power dissolver bath and a new prep and prime, and was ready for action...or so I thought. We received word that we would be moving, so I needed to pack up my models to get the house ready for sale, so mister Obie in his fresh new primer coat was placed away in a tote to be brought to the new house, where he would begin coming to life finally in May!

I began his coloring in a way I thought would give me good tone and balance, by pastelling a base coat, as I was aiming for a roany look at first...but he had different ideas for sure! I'm going to let the pictures do the rest of the talking (it's past 1am again...tee hee..) but I think it's a neat transformation to see the various stages he's gone through to get where I'm fairly happy with how he looks! He's still far from finished, but has come a really long way so far, finished pictures should be up within the week! Stay tuned!

(top is first pic, they get more recent as you scroll down!)

Why pictures are wonderful

2008-08-01T21:30:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to have the seat on the blue Egyptian Dancing horse costume put together, I neglected to look at the size of the seat, so it's been changed, thank goodness for pictures! The pics also revealed that I knocked a stud or two off somehow... :0)

Off for more fun...

More fun stuff this week...

2008-07-29T23:40:00.000-07:00

I must be on some kind of major roll this week, I have three more bodies prepped and ready to paint, along with some solid progress on an EDH costume I've had going for forever and a day!

The Egytian Dancing Horse costume is one of those things that once you sit down and get cracking on it, it can go fast! It's just wanting to sit and stare at 1.5 mm dots all day that gets me most of the time, they make my head hurt!

The bodies are for a SM painting contest I hope I will have time to get at least one of them done for, they include an OM SM Arabian stallion, an OM SM ASB made into a stallion, and an OM SM TB mare with new mane and tail and reworked ears and eyes. I'll post pics of them soon, for now I'll leave you with a pic of the EDH in progress! Off to bed! (so early for me!)

Progress, sweet progress...

2008-07-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

Wheeee! Just finished a new piece last night- an AA Arabian Knight in Dapple Bay, and am getting closer on the other one, (that is trying to break me, but it won't work!) a leopard appy Oberon, both pieces are trade paintjobs in exchange for other minis! Once they are done, I will be once again painting for my own collection, which consist of a lot of nekkid bodies right now! It will also free me up to work on the final 4 commission tack pieces I have taken, which will be wonderful to have all done! (2 EDH costumes, a halter and a halter collar set!)

Finally finshed a few things...

2008-06-13T00:34:00.000-07:00

Yay me! My favorite line from my daughter's favorite Disney Channel show (moms of 7-13 year olds should know the name of it! ) applies this week because I finally finished some work!

The move, and subsequent unpacking, followed by sick animals, surgery, and the total construction of a new backyard/pond/patio etc. (which is still not done, but it is getting closer...) stole a lot of my thunder for model related activities, and I am happy to say, I am back in the swing of things!

I managed to get a model painted up from my 'Paint a Mini, for a Mini' promotion, and the next two should be ready pretty soon! I'll have pics of them when they are done, for sure. I also completed a halter and Collar set that is part one of a commission, with the other set coming along well too!

I'll leave you with a few pics of the pieces, as it is 1:44am, ( me and my crazy hours) and I need to go to bed, tomorrow is going to be a looong day.

Cheers!

Melissa

(Oh, and the pics are clickable, the pics are huge, but clickable nonetheless! )

So we begin...

2008-06-06T01:30:00.000-07:00

I'm writing this at an insane time of night, which tends to be pretty well the norm for me actually, but enough of that...

I started the blog to give an inside view as to what goes on in my day to day, and to have another way of keeping in touch with my clients. I hope I will provide something worthwhile to read from time to time, as well as some fun pictures of works in progress as well!

Thanks for stopping by!