Loyalty Reward Schemes

We are introducing some new loyalty reward schemes to Chestnut Ridge

Bronze Scheme

Get 5% off all orders. To be eligible:

• Place an order of over £20.00 in Month A
• Place a second order of over £15.00 in Month B
• Continue to order over £15.00 every month

Once the first two orders have been placed then you will get an automatic 5% discount. To continue your discount place your next order within one month of the first one.

Keep your bronze scheme for over one year and receive a free gift worth £30.

Silver Scheme

Get 10% off all orders. To be eligible:

• Place an order of over £35.00 in Month A
• Place a second order of over £20.00 in Month B
• Continue to order over £20.00 every month

Once the first two orders have been placed then you will get an automatic 10% discount. To continue your discount place your next order within one month of the first one.

Keep your silver scheme for over one year and receive a free gift worth £40.


Gold Scheme

Get 20% off all orders. To be eligible:

• Place an order of over £50.00 in Month A
• Place a second order of over £30.00 in Month B
• Continue to order over £30.00 every month

Once the first two orders have been placed then you will get an automatic 20% discount. To continue your discount place your next order within one month of the first one.

Keep your gold scheme for over one year and receive a free gift worth £60.

Terms and Conditions Apply

Essential Terms

Here are a few pieces of important information:

• Minimum order value excludes promotional discounts and postage
• All percentage discounts run for exactly one month (e.g. 3rd February to 3rd of March). This means the number of days may vary from month to month.
• Orders must be placed within one month of each other to continue discounts
• Additional terms and conditions apply

Example

On the 6th of February I place an order for £25.49. On the 4th of March I place another order for £20.08. My account will now be credited with a 5% discount. I continue to order over £15.00 until the 28th of June when I order £42.50 (before my discount), on the 27th of July I order £25.00, my account is now upgraded to a Silver award and I get a 10% discount.

If you have any questions please just ask.

The scheme starts as of 29th of January 2014. To be eligible all you have to do is place orders at www.chestnutridge.co.uk

Making Progress & Ultrasonic Cleaner

I took a picture of my little ponies in progress but me being me I left my memory card in my camera! So no pictures I'm afraid...

I have done some work on all of the ponies, one is nearly finished. He was meant to be Champagne but has ended up almost buckskin in colour. I have given him mottled skin anyway so he is technically champagne. He is very beautiful, can't wait to show him off when he's done!

I also got the ultrasonic cleaner and had a chance to try it out. Think it has made an improvement. It definitely cleaned some of the paint off the outside! (yes I did have an airbrush covered in yellow paint after a bit of an incident...). Quite tempted to actually go around and start cleaning random other metal objects now :p

My Iwata airbrush arrived as well, gonna try it out next weekend me thinks

A few treats to myself

Well after my airbrush and me actually having a physical fight on Sunday (the hose broke and put a nice dent in my leg) I decided it was time to do something about it.

So I purchased an ultrasonic cleaner (on advice from a friend) and also finally bought an Iwata airbrush! I had wanted one for a long time and this gave me the excuse needed to get one. The airbrush itself is actually fine (although I think it could do with a good clean) so I will be reporting back on Saturday to let you know how I got on!

Hopefully some videos as well :p

Rajah

This is the 2014 Breyer Collectors Club Exclusive (he is $70 for collectors club members with a $20 deposit)



I love him. He is really beautiful. I don't really like the mold but this colour is gorgeous.

The Plan for Next Weekend

So last weekend I got a load of models all prepped up:



I spy some new Schleichs :D

Anyway I have chosen 20 models to paint and here are some of the reference pictures I have chosen. I wanted to do some 'interesting' colours instead of just doing the same thing all the time.

None of these pictures of mine, all are stolen, I am a bad person.


This one has been started, it is a Giselle

This marking is going on a little Schleich foal:


I thought this roan was rather nice:


SPOTS :D


And more SPOTS :D


Well this is just too cute


Love the white markings on this guy:


A beautiful appy:


A brindle foal (I've never done a brindle before):


And finally another cute foal:


So there, some of the pictures I have chosen. Finished horses coming soon!

And to the owners of these pictures, I'm sorry I'm a horrible human being.

Amazing New Models

I am feeling very very spoiled this morning!

I received my Christmas and Birthday presents from my husband as well another little edition.

This is Jack Frost


This is Dangerous Mountain


Don John was a model that I had for years. But he got damaged when we moved. I finally got him repainted and went for an amazing brindle


And this is Sana Zahrah


On her stand


I also got a selection of Crystal Moon ponies that I'd bought a while and a commission that I had won.

OTT was my commission piece.


And Gingerbread Cookie


Stone Cold Sober sits on a shelf (or a box)


And Gargoyle who also sits on shelves


And the amazing Elvish Dream

What I'm waiting for....

I currently have quite a few things in the pipe line...i.e. the postal service or with artists....so what am I waiting for?

1. Breyer Order - Classic Unicorns, Mini Whinnie Set & Vintage Club Model
2. H&H Order - Mojo Models & Mini Whinnie Surprise Models
3. Crystal Moon Ponies - Several that I've bought and one I had made as a raffle prize
4. Deb Brown Customs - An appaloosa Weathergirl, appaloosa Raval, brindle Silver and a pinto G2 Appaloosa

Model Horse Love 2014 Show Series

The Model Horse Love 2014 Show Series is now OPEN! There are three shows with sections and classes for nearly every type of model ending in a qualifying championship show at the end of the year (first and second place photos qualify).

There are printable certificates and REAL PRIZES for the winners in the championship show.

Not only that but it is completely FREE :D

Visit http://modelhorselove.proboards.com/forum to enter

Breyerfest 2014 Models

Some of the Breyerfest 2014 models:

The Celebration Horse:



Champagne Toast:



Athos:



Marcus:



And the Early Bird raffle prize:

20 Model Horse Money Saving Tips

OK so this is not a complete list and some may seem a little patronising (I think the concept is probably patronising in and of itself) but here are 20 tips to help you save model horse pennies this year!

Have a wonderful 2014 everyone.

1. Have a spare model when painting
When painting a custom keep another smaller prepped model spare. This way you can use up excess paint mixes without them getting wasted. Particularly good if airbrushing or completing a model that requires you to mix colours. In fact the same also goes for tack making, keep those scraps in a box and use them to make tack for smaller scales!

2. Plan your spending and save
Take a look at what models you really want to buy. If you know you'd love to finally get that resin painted then why not be determined to save up for that instead? Many banks offer instant access saving accounts which may not offer great interest but are a brilliant way of saving a little bit when you can. Many artists and companies will let you know what is being offered throughout the year. Look at what is on offer and write a list. If something is being released mid year that you really want save up for it from now.

3. Use social media wisely
This goes with the one above but also goes in terms of selling models. You can use social media to many advantages, from finding out that your favourite sculptor will be releasing a new model in June (giving you time to plan and save) to using it to seek out bargains, sell your models and ask fellow hobbyists if they have seen a model you're after for sale. Many bushiness also offer special social media promotions (the like the picture and share promotions are common) so you can get money off and win prizes as well!

4. Bulk buy and share orders
If you are planning on ordering items (particularly from abroad) why not get together with other hobbyists to bulk buy? Or wait until there are several items you are after. This can be great in saving in shipping (particularly on sites that charge fixed International shipping rates such as Breyer direct) but can also help reduce customs charges as they include the postage in the price as well. Make sure you know and trust the people you are dealing with and get the money before you order (or make sure you get good references if you are giving people money). A little maths is usually involved but this is easy to do on a computer!

5. Make your own
Go on, give it a go! Alright so maybe its not going to be top LSQ but its a start! The more stuff you make yourself the more money you can save. On a personal note I tend to make all my own bridles, although I can't make saddles. That saves me money on buying tack! I always try out making my own pieces first. Most of my resins are painted by me, although I left it for years before I started to do so (and ruined some of my first ones), but it saves me a lot of money and I've ended up with some pieces that I love, they mean more as well because I know the work that I put into them. Look online for tutorials to help you out or ask fellow hobbyists for advice.

6. Love what you have
Make a resolution. No new models until you've photographed, documented and written pedigrees for all the models you have! Or maybe no new models until you've made them all rugs and headcollars. Setting yourself a limit such as this will not only help you get those jobs done that you have been putting off for ages but also save you money.

7. Delete your saved searches, emails of new releases and avoid sales pages (you can even block these on your computer).
Sometimes you just need an extra barrier in your way! OK so these are easily removed but if you give yourself another barrier then this will help you resist temptation. Deleting that favourite seller from your eBay email updates will also mean that there is no temptation.

8. Move to email subscriptions
Many paper magazines and clubs now offer email alternatives. Having the paper magazines is lovely I know but you may be able to save money by switching to online accounts.

9. Utilise free selling methods
eBay is great for sales but their fees just go up and up (as do many other sites). Start to try and use as many free sites as possible, MH$P allows you to post a certain number of ads for free, Facebook is completely free to use as are many forums. There are also lots of other free selling sites and you can always sell items through your own website as well.

10. Make your own supplies
Its very easy to make your own jump rings and buckles by bending wire and a lot cheaper. You can make saddle trees using cut up cans (although be careful)! and pipe cleaners. This is particularly good if you are just making pieces that aren't for live showing (although if done well they are perfectly good for that)! Experiment with what you have lying around and look online for help. There was a time before ready made supplies and many will help you make your own and give you tips and tricks. But for now remember that a toothbrush can easily be turned into a very good broom!

11. Enter free photoshows instead of other shows
Photoshows can be just ask fun and there are plenty of free ones around. Maybe instead of entering that live show you could try photoshowing instead? Its a lot cheaper and just as fun to see your horses winning. Many free shows even offer prizes!

12. Stocktake your supplies
Take some time to go through all those bits and bobs you have lying around (whether hobby supplies or just boxes of tack and props). Look at what you have and see if there is anything new you could do? You could probably create several great set ups just from the stuff you having lying around!

13. Delete that PayPal app!
Take only cash to live shows and make it difficult for yourself to PayPal over money. I am definitely a victim of smartphone ease, I have many an AA that are with me thanks to technology! Take a limited amount of cash (what you can afford) and leave some away from the rest for raffle tickets. Putting money from items you sell into a separate pocket or handing it someone who has come with you also helps!

14. Dig out those oldies
Those old models are just as good as the new ones! Last year I attempted the 'live show project' the aim of which was to live show every model I owned. I didn't complete it fully (mainly due to their being not enough shows for all my foals)! but I did get a good way through. The result was over 100 BMECS qualifications many for models that I wouldn't have even thought about showing previously. Write a spreadsheet with the breed classes on and list all the horses you could show underneath, make a note of who you take. This is a great alternative to just buying a new model!

15. Have some immature fun
Photostories and YouTube videos are fun. They are. Trust me. So go and make one! You don't ned anything expensive (just a camera) and you can have a laugh with the models, takc and props you already own. Having fun with what you've got instead of seeking out new editions is a great way of deterring yourself from spending

16. Have a clear out
Go through that body box. Lets face it you really aren't going to finish that decapitated horse from 1992, seriously you aren't. Sell it. Someone else may be able to love it! The same goes for old magazines, hobby supplies, tack and other bits and pieces you have lying around. Even models! Remember one mans trash is another mans treasure! When it comes to body boxes or projects make a resolution that you will not start a new project until you've finished your old ones!

17. Avoid the final minutes of eBay auctions
The adrenaline rush, the pretty item, the knowledge that you really really want it. All of these can end up with you spending waaay over your upper limit. Go for a walk and leave your smart phone at home when the auction is about to end. Come back and find out whether you've won. If you didn't there will be another model!

18. Trade
See if people will trade for something you want or need. Many artists will trade for bodies (or other models) and many people will be happy to trade. But don't be rude, some people need the money or may not like what you have to offer. Don't contact people and ask them to trade when they've specifically said they don't want to. And always always always check references! This is a very easy way to get stung so make sure you do your research.

19. Take supplies to live shows
Take a packed lunch and a flask of tea or coffee with you in the car. It will avoid you stopping to buy food. Also fill up somewhere local and cheap (use petrol price finder to find the cheapest station). Above all avoid motorway service stations! Everything there is overpriced.

20. Set a price limit on your search
And finally. Here is a great tip especially for eBay searches. If you find you go on eBay in search of bodies or supplies and end up with a £200 resin then maybe this one is good for you. Instead of just searching for 'Breyer' on an open search setting a spend of say £20 will help to limit what you see. If you can't see it you won't be tempted. Always make sure you read the postage prices before you click buy as well! Also in bulk lots work out how much each individual model will cost you. Also make sure you always read the description so you know what you are getting.

Feel free to add your own tips in the comments section below or let me know how you get on with these ones.

Five Halloween Customs

I ran a special offer before halloween allowing someone to order a halloween decorator for £20 (including the cost of the body). Someone decided they wanted five! So five they got.

The first is a dark purple (photos don't show true colour) piece with black detail including a witch, bats and tree with a glittery white moon.



The second is a Frankestein model. Each square is a different horse coat colour! I was running out of colours after a while...



The third is a black cat one with a resculpted tail and paws as well as cat eyes.


Now a little Stablemate appaloosa foal jumping out of a pumpkin!


And finally dracula! Complete with a cape, fangs and bow tie