Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012: A Collector's Year in Review

Here we are on the last day of 2011 and I'm taking a look back at my year in Ponyland.

Ponies: I haz them

 Just at the end of 2010 we saw the first G4s showing up in stores here in Canada.  I bought my first G4 (Twilight Sparkle's Hot Air Balloon) on New Year's Eve last year.  A lot more G4s have gone through the stores since then (and a lot more have joined my herd.)

In May I made my non-Pony Con debut, as a guest at Anime North in Toronto giving two panels on MLP.  It was there that I learned of the extent of the Brony community (Ponies are cool?  When did that happen?)  I was shocked at the number of people who attended my panels and who seemed genuinely interested in learning about customizing and collecting.

Customizing Panel at Anime North

In July it was off to the MLPFair for the 6th year in a row, and back to Hasbro Headquarters for the 2nd time.  I had a great time, as always, got to see lots of old friends and meet some new ones, as well as meeting some old online friends in person for the first time.  I also added some gems to my collection and saw some amazing customs by some amazing artists.

My booth: Fun at the Fair

Just some of the amazing customs in the contest

Playing Pony Price is Right with Brightglow07 (hosted by GirlBuffalo)

 In November, I did my 2nd non-Pony Con as special guest at N2U in Ottawa.  Another great experience in which I got to hang out with the local Brony community a bit more.  I'm really hoping we can get an Ottawa Brony-Collector meet set up sometime in the near future.

In December I participated in the largest online swap I've ever done: the MLPArena Advent Swap 2011.  I had an amazing time shopping for my partner and I was totally spoiled by the swapper who bought for me.  I have some amazing new things in my collection that I probably wouldn't have had for ages yet if it hadn't been for this swap.  I can't wait to do it again next year.

This pile went off to my partner.

This is what I received.  And this is only one day's worth!

In the meantime, I've been customizing, but slowly this year.  I've finished only 16 customs this year, but I've been happy with the results of each one, and so have the owners of those who have travelled out into the world.  This brings the total number of customs I've made to 135.

Custom 128: The Collector Pony

As of December 31st, 2011, my collection looks like this:
Total Ponies:  524 (Hasbro creations)
G1s: 195
G2s: 26
G3s: 243
G4s: 23
Styling size: 5
Plush: 22
Special Ponies (Fair exclusives, etc): 37
Customs I've made: 46
Customs made by others: 31

Mint SS Crumpet: one of the highlights of my collection

That's Elfpony's Year in Ponies.  What happens next year?  Even more Pony goodness!

Happy New Year!

Elf

Holiday Display 2011: The Overview

I hope you've enjoyed looking at this year's display.  I certainly enjoyed putting it together and sharing it with you.  To finish off the Season, here is an overview of the whole display:

Happy Holidays!

Elf

Holiday Display 2011 Part 5: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Every year all the Ponies of Ponyland gather in Dream Valley to celebrate the holidays.  But there's a lot of celebration and preparation involved before the big day.  This year's Holiday Display looks at how the Ponies prepare for their holidays, continuing in Friendship Gardens with the G2s and New Ponyville with the G4s...

Friendship Gardens sometimes doesn't get very cold in the Winter, so a lot of the Ponies are out enjoying the gardens and meadows.  They don't have to worry about warm clothes, at least not until they head to Dream Valley to play in the snow.

 Snowball and Secret Tale are on the lookout for snow, but I don't think they're going to see any in Friendship Gardens.

 It's handy it's so nice out, because some of the Ponies have taken the babies out to play in the playground.   Seabreeze and Morning Glory are keeping them occupied while some exciting things are going on back at the Castle.

 What could be more exciting than swinging as high as you can, though?

 Getting ready for the Holidays, of course!  Festivities has organized a decorating party to get the Royal Castle looking it's best!  But they've all stopped to see what Waterlily has brought.  It's the last of the toys for the baby Ponies, ready to be wrapped.

 The wrapping party is going on in Light Heart's bedroom.  Everything will be under the tree by the time the babies get back, except for the gifts that Santa will bring, of course.

 Meanwhile in the kitchen Petal Blossom and Berry Bright have been busy cooking up a storm.  It just wouldn't be the holidays without a great store of food and sweets!

Over in New Ponyville, the Ponies are having a little celebration of their own before they head to Dream Valley for the Great Celebration.
"Fluttershy, hurry up and...why is your house full of animals?"
"Oh, well, you know, Rainbow Dash, it got so cold so soon this year, and I wanted to make sure all the little animals had somewhere to stay!"
"So you brought a whole tree inside?!"
"Do you like it?"

 "C'mon, Apple Bloom!  We've got to get these apples over to the Town Square for the Party.  This is the last load of food we're takin.'"
"YAY!  Let's go, let's go, let's GO!"

 Meanwhile, at the Sweet Shoppe...
"Oh, and I need one of these, and three of these, and a WHOLE BUNCH of these!"
"Pinkie, do you really think you need to bring all these cakes and sweets?  It IS a pot luck, after all, I'm sure some other Ponies will be bringing some desserts too."

 The Ponies are beginning to gather in the Town Square.
"Now Sweetie Belle, I don't want you rifling through all those presents looking for yours!"
"Aw, Rarity, I was just looking."

 Twilight Sparkle has been showing the Princesses around New Ponyville.  Now they've arrived in the Town Square and soon the Party can begin!

 Elf

Holiday Display 2011 Part 4: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Every year all the Ponies of Ponyland gather in Dream Valley to celebrate the holidays.  But there's a lot of celebration and preparation involved before the big day.  This year's Holiday Display looks at how the Ponies prepare for their holidays, continuing in Butterfly Island and Unicornia with the G3s...

In the Crystal Rainbow Castle, the early risers are meeting over breakfast to discuss what's left to be done to get ready for the holidays.  They've already started decorating, but they're talking over what gifts to buy, especially for Rarity.

 Rarity might be the leader of the Unicornia Ponies, but she's still young enough to really look forward to Christmas morning.  This morning she might be sleeping in, but the excitement of seeing the gifts under the tree will get her up bright and early on Christmas morning.

 Over on Butterfly Island the Pegasi have also started decorating.  They have an unconventional Christmas tree, as Snow'el is explaining to her little turtle friend.

 The only snowflakes that the Ponies will see on Butterfly Island are snowflake decorations.  But Starcatcher is reassuring Honolu-loo that there will be plenty of snow to play in when they go to Dream Valley for the big Holiday celebration.

 Some of the other Pegasi are having a snack while they take a break from gift making.  Peachie Pie has been diving for shells that the Pegasi will string into necklaces for gifts to the Ponies in other parts of Ponyland.

Elf

Holiday Display 2011 Part 3: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

 Every year all the Ponies of Ponyland gather in Dream Valley to celebrate the holidays.  But there's a lot of celebration and preparation involved before the big day.  This year's Holiday Display looks at how the Ponies prepare for their holidays, continuing in Ponyville with the G3s...

 At the Celebration Castle the Ponies are looking forward to a visit from some of their Dream Valley cousins who are bringing them the gift of a Christmas tree.  Rainbow Flash and Misty Blue are planning out the visit over some tea and cookies.

Some of the other Ponies are busy getting the decorations ready for the tree's arrival.  It looks like they've got their work cut out for them, especially since Royal Beauty offered to babysit today while the Mommy Ponies do their Christmas shopping.  It looks like just about everypony has taken her up on her offer.

 It looks like at least one Mommy Pony has other plans for the day, however.  Chilly Breezes is going to hit the slopes with her friend Tobbogan.

 The baby Ponies have decided to play hide-and-seek.  Or is that just an excuse to hunt for hidden presents?  They'll never tell!  Pink Sunsparkle is "it" and has just finished counting to 100.  Ready or not, here she comes!

 It seems likely that Candy Cane is going to find the first hidden baby Pony though, while she's up in the towers hanging decorations.

In downtown Ponyville, things are just as hectic.  At the Frilly Frocks Boutique Sew-n-So and Frilly Frocks are working hard to make sure everypony's orders are ready in time for the holidays.

 Velvet Bow certainly seems happy with her new hat and scarf

 And their sister-store, the Celebration Salon is just as busy!  Ponies are coming in for hair appointments as well as to look for gifts of jewelry for their friends.  Amberlocks and Dallidazey are run off their hooves.

 Down the street, the Bloomin' Blossoms shop is crowded with Ponies shopping for supplies for their baking and plants to decorate their houses.  Meadowbrook can hardly keep up with the demand.

 Meadowbrook has hired Winter Wish to offer popcorn to the Pony shoppers on the streets in order to drum up some business, but it doesn't look like she needed to worry!

 It's a good thing there are snacks on the street, though, because the Cotton Candy Cafe is closed for the day!  The bakers are all busy filling orders for the upcoming parties.  The Cafe is practically bursting with cakes, pies, and candies, and the Ponies are just getting started.

 Cotton Candy is keeping track of everything and packing up the orders while Port-o-Bella is running the finished orders around Ponyville.

Chocolate Chipper has been baking all day and Lickety Split has been decorating.  She's just finished her masterpiece.

Elf