Saturday 25 August 2012

Starlight - a Nebula Pony

Shortly after I posted Starscape on the MLPArena I was commissioned for a similar custom.  After some discussion, Starlight came about.

 Starlight was fashioned from a Fluttershy.  As with Starscape, she was painted totally by hand.  She has been sealed with a slight gloss to bring out her colours.  Her hair is mostly Black Magick, with streaks of Pussycat, Moonlight, Fairy's Breath, Bobby Blue, Water Nixie, and Candy Kiss.

My customer let me know that her favourite nebula was a reflection nebula, and that is the one that appears on Starlight's display side.  A pink comet is on her non-display side.



I love doing the nebula customs, and hope to do some more in the near future.

Elf

Saturday 18 August 2012

Accessory Junkie

As StarlightGaze mentioned on the MLPArena, a lot of us collectors will go in for the Malibu Stacy effect and pick up a new set just because there are new accessories.  No, I don't need a 12th Pinkie Pie, but she's got a new hat!

Well, I won't pick up a set just because it's got a new accessory (usually) but I will pick up a set with a new accessory if I'm after the pony for a custom.  I'm also an accessory junkie, so if I can use a custom as an excuse to get that new accessory, well why not?
OK, I know this set came out over a year ago, but I just got mine, so bear with me while I gush.  I know a lot of Collectors weren't thrilled with this set at all.  A lot of people felt that a cardboard castle wasn't worth the money, especially with only one of the two ponies being new.  I, however, was desperate to get my hands on this set.  As a Target exclusive, it didn't come to Canada, but I was fortunate enough to find someone on the MLPArena who was going to be at this year's Fair and was happy to pick up the two Canterlot Castle sets for me (thanks Mshesha!)

Why did I want this set so badly?  The accessories, of course!

Yes, I know a lot of these are just recolours of G3 Ponyville accessories.  But there are quite a few new (or at least new to me) accessories too.  And really, can you ever have too many pieces of cake or ice cream floats?  ;)
The telescope and the blue perfume bottle are my favourites in this room.
I'm not such a big fan of the mouse generally, and the pink one does nothing for me.  But I do love the ring and necklace.
It's a toaster!  Seriously, how fun is that?!?!  Pony toast!  I love the quirky accessories.  The cart is nice too.
The fridge from G3 Ponyville was a favourite of mine, but the fried eggs in the pan are the best thing in this room.
Glad I held off getting the other carriage set.  The jewels are cute, but not too useful.  I guess they'll fill the chest, if Spike doesn't have a snack first.
I love the piano, and the giant cake.  Didn't realize the top tier came off until I opened my Wedding Castle set - nice touch Hasbro.
Elf

Saturday 11 August 2012

The great Pony Room reorg - volume 15


OK, I'm back from the Fair, I've got time on my hands, and I want to play with my Ponies.  I've got my Fair swag to play with, and I've got the new G4 Castle.  Problem is, I have no room to play in.  The Pony Room continues to be a mess.
Finally, the desire to open three new playsets will force me to venture into the spider infested area known as the Backcard Graveyard.  It's time to CLEAN ALL THE PACKAGING!

I'm embarassed to admit that after well over a year of procrastination and ignoring that corner of the room, it took me less than 4 hours to do a real thorough clean up and organize of the G3/G4 packaging.  I kept the playsets close at hand to motivate me to finish the job.
I had all the back cards spread out and organized by size/type.  It was fun to go back through the G3 packaging and see all the changes that it went through.  I can't believe the G3s first came out almost 10 years ago!  Even the box of playset boxes came out to be organized!
 I even located the long-missing playset in the pile under the desk!
 And then it was time for lunch.
Finally, here's what all those backcards condensed down to.  The back cards fit into a Hasbro MLP shipping box, one of two that I got back in the hayday of my G3 buying.  That small box on the left is the shipping box that Dazzle Surprise arrived in - my first ever Mail Order Pony.
Finally, at the end of the day, everything was organized and packed away again, and I could actually get near the desk again!  Time to fill up the empty desk space with some Pony goodness!

Elf