Holiday Display at Elfpony's, 2017

Every year the Ponies gather at the Dream Castle for the Holidays.  The early arrivals are already beginning preparations for the celebration a few days before the festivities really get under way.

Ponies and friends from all across the lands are beginning to arrive.  Lots of sleighs and hot air balloons will be arriving over the next several days.

The decorating committee is already hard at work making the Castle look festive.  But how do the lights always get so tangled up every year?

Inside the decorating is coming along well. Pinkie Pie is running the show, of course.

Fluttershy and Sky Skimmer have hung the garlands and are now discussing butterflies they have known.

The food committee is already hard at work as well, getting snacks ready so the decorating committee can keep their energy up.  They'll have more than enough to keep them busy, preparing for all the meals, snacks, and of course the feast.

Supervising everything are Majesty and Celestia (as they also compare notes on ruling), while others also renew their friendships.

Here is the full display.  This year's theme is based around ponies who have alternate versions across generations, either directly or those sharing similarities.  I would have liked to include more of these, but the table is only so big.

I hope you've enjoyed the display, and that you have a lovely holiday season.
Elf

Holidays at Elfpony's, 2017 (Teaser)

Welcome to the Holidays at Elfpony's house.  The Ponies will be making their appearance next week, but in the meantime...

The Strawberry Kids are all on their way through the snowy woods to the Berry Bake Shop, where Strawberry Shortcake is hosting a Yule party.

There's plenty of baking going on already at the Bake Shop, and the Kids who are already there can't wait to dig in.  After lunch there will be hours yet of snacking on sweets and opening gifts.

Here's the inaugural SSC holiday display.  It's quick and dirty, but it's cute and I get to show off some of my favourite characters.

I hope you'll come back next week to see the Pony display.
Elf

Curating - am I doing it wrong? - part 3

Baby Northstar and Baby Nightsong.

Are they the same pony, just different versions?  Or are they different ponies?  It depends on which collector you ask.  They have the same symbols and pose, but they were released in different markets and look markedly different.  Do I keep them both or do I chose one over the other?

(Spoiler alert: right now they are both on my shelves.  In all honesty, that stunning pink hair is the reason I decided to keep Baby Northstar, who was never on my want list to begin with.  I may yet change my mind.)

What about Baby Gusty and Baby Explorer?

They're the same two sets, but in this case they look very similar - almost to the point of being identical.  Do I use the same criteria to decide whether I keep one or both?

I tend to think of think of these sets as different individual ponies, but similar enough that I originally chose the European releases over the North American releases.  But when I bought that bag of ponies in the summer I ended up with 3 of the 4 North American releases too.

The fact that they're in my house is not reason enough to keep them, but it's reason enough to reconsider (after all, it makes more sense than changing my mind in a year and buying them again).  I've also never been a set completer, so I may keep some but not others.  And I can always change my mind again.

This is part of the fun, and frustration, of collecting: actively deciding what you do and don't want to add to your collection.  There's no wrong way to do it, no set of rules, except what you set for yourself.  And it's good to reevaluate from time to time.

Happy collecting, and curating.

Elf