Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, and for many many years, I led a different life. There is a hobby called Model Horse Showing, and I customized plastic model horses for myself and other competitors. The most popular plastic horse figurines used were made by the Breyer Molding Company, which was, at the time, located in Chicago, Illinois.

With hot water, soldering irons, Bondo, varieties of epoxy putties, sand-paper, grinding tools, primers, paints, and patience, we could create, or attempt to create, the equines of our dreams. Yes, our horses often sported real hair manes and tails - from a wide variety of fibers.

Below are only three of hundreds(?) of models I made. (I am still a poor keeper of records...) Most were produced and sold to pay rent, buy groceries and gas, or pay for trips to and from model horse shows - both in the U.S. and Canada. Some day I might type of years spent judging at these shows - but not today.

Arabian stallion - So Bask Fireworks (from Proud Arabian Mare)

Spotted Mule - Sunshine's Oh-Oh Be-Bop (from Classic-scale Duchess)

Appaloosas colt - Sunshine's Cocoa Dial (from Running Foal)

The baby above is one of the few customized models I still own, but that's O.K. The life-long friendships formed with folks around the world is ever so much more important. Most of the ribbons and trophies are gone. Many of the friends are now mad typists on Facebook.

This post is simply to illustrate that one person, if time and interests allot, can live a bunch of different lives. Some people only knew me in the model horse world, some only in flea market/antique shop world, some in the relatively new life as full-time artist. All of these worlds offer fascination for a life-time, but, darn, one has to choose whether to spend a whole life-time completely in one world (a fine choice for some) or decide to romp in a few other widely-different realms.

Readers who know me from art fairs - well, now we have something "new" to discuss. Readers who are in "The Hobby" will smile at these vintage goodies, and see (and rejoice?) how far the artistry in the industry has come from the good old days of the 1970's and '80's. All these different times have been important to the whole weird life I've lived so far. I hope you enjoy being part of the Adventure!

Now it's time for a late-night (for me) last cup of tea.

Enjoy your world or worlds, and if you choose - strike out to discover a new one in a minute or tomorrow. There's still time...

Fare-thee-well,

Sue