Wednesday, 6 February 2019

Behind the Scenes at Chestnut Ridge

It's been a long time since I've done a behind the scenes post, in fact it's been so long I don't think I've actually done one at the new house.

So pull back the curtain, go through the key hole and see where all your beautiful ponies come to life!

First up we have the tack making desk, complete with the infamous tack making horse (who now has a friend) along with lots of tools, supplies and reference books! O and my plate from my after work snack :p


I am well aware that I need to tidy my desk...this is where I do most of my work, I spend a lot of time staring out that window into the darkness and trying to come up with inspiration about the latest webpage or idea!


The room is literally filled with draws, all filled with various important things. Such as this draw that contains all the things we put in your parcels, from our free guides, free gifts and even the little postcards we add.

And this draw that contains all my packing supplies. Yes all the parcels are currently coming with narwhals on. Because we are all that cool.


There are also shelves filled with files, storing boring things like proofs of postage, receipts and invoices, but it's OK I've added unicorn lights and rosettes to make it look prettier :D


Out of the study and into the pony room! The light is really poor in here because the fitting needs changing and the window is blocked off! It's better during the day with the door open.

Here you can see the very messy table with light tent on! And a few models just casually living on top (including a lovely RubberNedz belonging to Laura :p)


Some more of the shelves, sooooo many ponies!

Down below are the stables and our resident mischief maker, apparently he is having a quick snack at the moment! I think I need to put him back in his stable.


On the landing is my trophy cabinet (the rosettes are just randomly around the whole house at the moment...)


Now onto the store room which is in desperate need of organisation!


This is actually the outdoor toilet! It's sorta been joined to the house...and I have no need for an outdoor privy, so it's filled with boxes of ponies! All piled on top of said toilet :p Because that's a totally normal way to store stock right?


More files! Sooo much paperwork...and a random assortment of Breyers, dinosaurs and other things, such as my tack!


Onto the painting space, please excuse the fact that the men have been encroaching into it with their boxes of building materials (again).

Here we have shelves full of bodies (prepped and unprepped)


The actual desk, that like all my other desks, is in desperate need of a tidy. I've been doing 'actual' painting recently so those paints are in the painting booth!


Uncle Toby has been banished to the paint shelves as he was spending waaaaay too much time near the solvents again...


O and look what I found on my travels, somebody had only just got out of bed, such a hard life to be a Caesar.


I hope you enjoyed this behind the scenes tour. I would love to see pics of your studios as well if you want to share them :D

February's Photoshow

I'm a few days late posting about this but better late than never! For those who aren't in the Popular Votes Facebook group or who simply missed the announcement February's photo show is for stock horses.

There are 25 classes including some performance classes, a great chance to get those chunky monkeys out and show them off! Hopefully you got a few nice pics if you got snow last week!

If you would like to enter please take a look at the Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1493893527541574/

Entries close on February 24th 2019.

O and finally a massive well done to January's champion Fleetwood Rosalie owned by CJ.

Image may contain: outdoor and nature

A very deserving winner for our bendy show, she is rather lovely.

Monday, 4 February 2019

Some Pre-Christmas Arrivals

I've been so bad at introducing you guys to all my new ponies! OK so there aren't that many new ponies but it's been so long that I've done any that there are...

So here is the first batch that I photographed for cataloguing this evening. I hope you like them :)

First up we have CRS Cheap Chinese Crap (Cheapo)

Now that probably sounds like a really horrible name! But that is how he was described as he was given to me! So the name has kinda stuck. He has a broken leg that needs a proper repair but you can't really see it in this picture which is good :) He's rather adorable in a strange vomit brown kinda way...I'm rather in love with his weirdness!


Secondly we have CRS The Mummy Returns (Mummy)

I bought two of these at a live show before Christmas, this one is the nicest so I will be keeping him and customising the other one...eventually...


Thirdly we have CRS Dixie Nixie (Nixies)

I also picked up this one because I liked the fact he was pink :p He is rather lovely isn't he?


Fourth we have CRS Ochre Jelly (Jelly)

Jelly is a cute little kitten that came as part of the Schleich Horse Club Advent Calendar for 2018. Isn't he just the cutest thing?


Fifth we have CRS Cupcake Ogre (Ogre)

Another one from the advert calendar, this is an adorable little hedgehog!


And finally we have CRS Orc (Orc)

Orc is a very cute little baby bunny from the Schleich advent calendar. Isn't he just beyond cute? That advent calendar was pretty awesome this year!


Sunday, 3 February 2019

Five Inspirational Circus Costumes

Grab your sequins, slip into the spandex and fluff your feathers I've got give stunning and inspirational circus costume to show you.

First up this gorgeous Circus RubberNedz Tagus with red feathers!



Secondly this really cool colourful Pride inspired circus costume:













Thirdly we have this really cute little pony with red feathers, doll and cheerleader outfit? Well why not!


Taken at Blazing Saddles Live.

Fourth this one isn't 100% a circus costume but I mean it's (a) pink (b) has sparkles and (c) has a unicorn horn. So it totally needs including!


Taken at Didmarton Performance and Workmanship Live 2017

And finally we have yet more pink! Check out this awesome sparkly pink circus costume complete with ballet dancer on top.

Seen here at Didmarton Performance and Workmanship Live both in 2017 (first pic) and 2016 (second pic)



O and if you are feeling a little bit inadequate I thought I would include an extra bonus image in the form of this guy:


Taken at Pretty in Pink Performance Live 2015

Got your own inspirational images you would like to share? Email them over to catriona@chestnutridge.co.uk and we could share them with everyone!

Saturday, 2 February 2019

Muir Woods

Muir Woods is the first Collector's Club web special for 2019. Part of the America the Beautiful series he is a seriously stunning glossy chestnut on the Saddlebred mould.

When is pay day again? 

I NEED THIS BOY!



If you are a Breyer Collector's Club member you can enter for him online now: https://www.breyerhorses.com/pages/introducing-muir-woods

Friday, 1 February 2019

Quill

It's that really exciting time of the year where Breyer slowly start to release sneak peaks of the BreyerFest models.

The other day they posted this clue as the latest BreyerFest release:

SP2

And told us that he was one of the 2018 auction models, which doesn't exactly narrow it down much!

So did you guess which model it was?

It was.....Smart Chic Olena!

Quill1

Quill is a lovely blanket spotted on the popular Smart Chic mould and will be a special run for BreyerFest 2019

Quill2

Find out more about BreyerFest and order your tickets on the Breyer website here: https://www.breyerhorses.com/blogs/breyerfest-blog/meet-quill

Thursday, 31 January 2019

Video Tutorials

Whilst I was uploading our latest video tutorial I thought it would be a fun idea to do a Blog post with all the ones I could find on our YouTube channel compiled together.

I will add the latest one once it has uploaded (only a few more hours to go...).

You can find our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJJ5eX7A89wM7BMVdxo5Egw

Make sure to subscribe so you can hear my beautiful voice on a regular basis :p 

Right here we go, the tutorials!

Making Tassels

This video shows you how to make tassels for Arabian costumes and halters. It's a bit fiddly but once you have got the technique they make a great addition to your headcollars and you'll be addicted!


Tack Making Supplies

This video isn't so much a tutorial as much as a talk through the different tack making supplies you might want to own and what they are for. A great shopping list for all potential tack makers!



Grooming

This video talks you through how to groom your haired models. With particular relevance to the Bendy CTF shower!



Attending Your First Live Show

Thinking about attending a live show for the first time? Then check out this awesome video which talks you through what to expect from your first ever live show.



Skiving Leather Lace

This is a short video showing you how to skive leather lace. This is really important for model horse tack making as it thins the leather you are going to use allowing it to sit closer to the model and reducing bulk.