Of cons, at home and away

I'll shortly be heading off for the last day of G-Anime and my panel on the History of MLP, but my second hometown con has got me thinking about the differences between going to a con at home vs one in another city.

Travelling to a con, whether you're going as a guest or a fan, you get to enter into that liminal state associated with going on a vacation or a pilgrimage.  You leave the concerns and work of everyday life behind for a brief time and instead focus on the fandom that you're interested in.  You spend your days discussing a favourite character or show with other fans, enjoying panels, taking part in the ceremonies and events that go along with the con.  For three days you can immerse yourself in the con lifestyle.

But when the con is in your hometown, it's harder to get into that liminal state.  While you're at the con it's easy to focus on the fandom, but before you get there and after you leave, it's another story.  You're surrounded by your everyday surroundings.  Instead of waking up in a hotel room with the initial thought of "let's get to the con!" you wake up in your own bed, with the initial thought of "I've got to feed the cats."  Instead of eating in restaurants and trying new things you eat at home to save money but you need to think about preparing the food.  Instead of wondering what to spend your money on in the dealer's room, it's far to easy to wonder if you remembered to turn on the dishwasher before you left home.

Of course, there are pros and cons to both situations, and I'm not going to try and decide which is better.  Just a bit of pondering for a Sunday morning before heading out to the con.  But first, to load the dishwasher.

Elf

Ponies at G-Anime

Hi all,

I'll be a guest next weekend at G-Anime in Gatineau!  Once again I'm looking forward to bring the Ponies to an Anime con!  This weekend I'm rushing to get things ready.

My panels will be as follows:

FIM Panel: Friday Jan. 27 at 8pm
Customizing MLP: Saturday Jan. 28 at10am
History of the MLP Brand: Sunday Jan. 29 at 4pm

I'll also have custom ponys on display throughout the weekend in the Foyer!  :D

I hope to see you there!

Elf

G3 Medley: an MGR custom

This custom was made from a McDonald's Happy Meal Pony, Starsong to be precise.  Her mane was sculpted from Apoxie Clay, as were the extra strands I added to her tail.  The harness, saddle, and roses were also done in Apoxie Clay.  Jewels were added to her hair and harness to give her a little extra sparkle.  She was fully repainted in acrylics and sealed in Mod Podge.  She was made for Seaponey in the MLPArena 2011 Advent Swap.

Elf

Sugarplum: A Holiday Swap Custom Pony

Happy New Year, Ponyfans!

I'm starting off the year with the last custom I completed in 2011.  Sunnydaze of the MLPArena and I have been pony friends since we met at the San Francisco Fair in 2006.  We decided we'd do a private Holiday swap to celebrate Christmas this year and provided each other with a list of likes and dislikes.  This is the Pony I created for her.

 Sugarplum was made from a Royalette who'd had an unfortunate run in with a cat at some point in her life and had quite a few chew marks to show for it.  Her plum symbol, holly, and the sugar swirls on her legs and head were all made with Apoxie Clay.  She was painted in Folkart metalics acrylics and Reaper Masters Series acrylics and sealed with Mod Podge.  Her hair is Dollyhair mulberry crush, sugarplum, buttercreme, virgin snow, brambleberry.

Sunnydaze liked her, I hope you do to.

Elf