Saturday, December 31, 2016

Bury your poverty, Dig up your wealth 2016-2017

Okay folks! It's New Year's Eve today!! And I stole this from my friend Chris Wallbruch - I tried it in 2013 and it was an OK year - I tried it again in 2014 and while it was a rough year - this DID work for me. I did this in 2015 and while the end of the year was not what I expected - it was a very good year. 2016 has just been a bitch and while I had no great windfall I have always had the funds to pay what needed to be paid, so I think it counts.



It is time to bury your money!



For those of you who are unfamiliar with this tradition, what you do is bury a dollar (or any amount above a dollar that you want) in the soil on New Year's Eve. This can be in a houseplant if the ground is frozen or inaccessible, but I like to go outside, dig a hole, and drop my dollar in. (I put it in a plastic bag). As you bury said dollar, say out loud, "I am burying my poverty!" TIP - if you do this outside, make sure you place some sort of marker where you bury your buck.

On New Year's Day, dig UP the dollar, and as you do so, say out loud, "I am unburying my wealth!"

You can't spend the dollar - you can either keep it or give it away to charity. Giving it away is the best so you are less likely to spend it.

This tradition is supposed to give you an unexpected windfall of money during the year.

I have had money come to me the 4 years I have done this - while not what I would call a windfall it helped me out of tough times so I am NOT complaining.

It is a tradition I plan on keeping every year and I thank Chris for pointing me to it!!





Sunday, November 6, 2016

Painted Sea Shells and Wood Pieces

Growing up, all I ever wanted to paint or draw was horses. Art teachers in Grade School and High School frustrated me to no end wanting me to draw anything else, so in 9th grade I quit drawing and taking any kind of art classes.

I had been learning model horse painting from Chris (Cook) Flint and I even stopped that, regretfully now.

Art became like poetry too me, something I didn't like. Oh I dabbled at still painting models but was more frustrated than anything.

It took a lot of years and finally just giving into the urge to actually sit and paint models and work at getting better. With that came the urge to do flat work again.

I bought some very small canvas - like 4x6 - to practice on.




As you can see I was not that good at depth or even the shapes but I did try. Frustration still abounded and still does but I have started to do other things to teach myself painting technique since I can't find someone to help me learn that doesn't want to charge me hundreds of dollars. 

I came across some wood pieces and sea shells and thought well I will try my hand at those. These were my first attempts at the wood pieces.




These were my first attempts at painting on the sea shells






I stopped painting them for a while because, again, the frustration was building. Recently, I purchased about 20 large sea shells for a really cheap price at a thrift store and thought - what the heck just start painting. 




While I have a long way to go - I am liking how they are turning out and I am learning more and more about getting everything where I want. 










Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Chestnut and Bay - 2 Months of Painting

I am working on other blogs - topics of interest to me but I am still editing them. This one is just models that I have painted in from Sept 1-Nov 1.  I seem to have been in a chestnut and bay faze but I feel I have improved with each model.

1:12 scale Breyer Classic Man O War painted by me in Pastels and acrylics

1:32 scale Moonlit Dale Resin painted by me in pastels and acrylics

1:32 scale Moonlit Dale and Night Heather Resins together

1:32 scale Night Heather resin painted by me in pastels and acrylics
 
1:32 scale Ertl Plastic QH painted by me in pastels and acrylics
1:32 scale Unknown Plastic Faux Breyer FAS to bay in pastels and acrylics by me


1:32 scale Breyer Stablemate Driving Horse to bay splash in pastels and acrylics by me, sculpting by Heather Kapica

Laura Behning Working Western 1:32 scale resin painted by me to bay in pastels and acrylics 




Saturday, October 29, 2016

Pet Association of Estes Park Adoption Fun Day

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Pet Association of Estes Park adoption fun day at the Estes Park Pet Supply

Several Kittens and older cats were up for adoption as well as Richard The Min Pin who very patiently went through 3 costume changes from Bat to Devil to Court Jester.







It was a fun time and my first Volunteer Event to work. 

No one was adopted today but there were a lot of lookers so here is hoping they come back and adopt!





Friday, October 21, 2016

Tibetan Singing Bowls

As many know, my hours were cut this week at work to 2 days. While I have been applying for jobs around town and signing up for some volunteer work, I decided to attend a class held at the Estes Park Senior Center.

It was on Sound Healing with Tibetan Singing Bowls.

Here is a little information on the Singing Bowls - here.

We laid on Yoga Mats on the floor in a darkened room. Those that weren't comfortable getting on the mats could sit on chairs. The bowls make wonderful sounds and vibrations. The people giving the seminar told us how the bowls were used and began playing.

I have never been able to meditate and this whole experience was actually very interesting to me because I feel that this is the closest that I have ever gotten to meditating.

I have a herniated disc in my back and the vibrations of the bowls actually seemed to help. It was a really amazing experience and I am glad I went.

I would like to learn more about these and am attending another seminar next month.




Saturday, October 1, 2016

Magnificent 7 - Just a few thoughts



I rarely go see a movie in the theater. Most of the time I can't be inspired or talked into going, but for this one I could be and was not disappointed. I have never written a movie review but I felt the need to for this blog - so bare with me.

The casting was excellent (and not just because I am a Denzel Washington and Martin Sensmeier fan) - these guys worked very well on screen together. It was a lot of talent all in one place.

There was some great lines - these two were my favorite but there were a ton more;

"I seek righteousness but I will take revenge."

"I believe that bear was wearing people's clothes."  (this scene had the audience in the theater roaring).

There was very little cussing - which was nice for once - while I can cuss like a sailor - it's nice not to hear a lot in a movie.

I am usually very critical of westerns or anything requiring people to ride horses because I can tell who can't ride well. It was a pleasure to see very little bouncing around in the saddle! Whether the actors knew how to ride already or had a grueling training for riding - 4 of the 7 at least looked like seasoned horseman and the other 3 were decent.

I was surprised by the ending - I decided I won't spoil it - but let's just say it's not what I expected.

Check out a cool video trailer HERE

My advice - if you haven't seen it - GO NOW - HURRY!




Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Where did the time go?

I have had a very busy summer working and I took absolutely no time to do blogs, models or really any art.

Now that the summer is drawing to a close I have started working more on models and art and other stuff and I am going to begin posting more.

The blog will have my art related stuff as well as my real animals and other things close to my heart.

Hope you all had a great summer and I won't let 4 1/2 months go by again.

Melissa


Sunday, May 8, 2016

Happy Mother's Day 2016

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there - whether you have human children or 4-legged!

Mom and I and her dog Beth Ann - Sept 2015 Rocky Mtn National Park

Me and Gabby - 2015



Sunday, April 10, 2016

Happy 31st Birthday Dancer

There are always horses in your life that change everything. I have had 3 very special ones in my life.

Today is the birthday of my Miniature Horse mare - Starstruck Uptown Girl "Dancer"






I miss you little girl. Thank you for the memories. 

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Classic Classic Live Show 2016

Today was the Classic Classic Model Horse Live Show in Boulder, Colorado.

Show Holder Teresa Buzzell

Judges: OF Collectibility Teresa Buzell - OF Breed - Fabian Rodriguez - Non OF Workmanship - Jennifer Scott and Non OF Breed Jennifer Buxton

My horses did pretty well today:


Glacial Aurora - CM CAM by Tia Ossenkop

Ravendale Ransome - Kulfi Resin CM by Laura Behning

Luck Be A Lady - CM Breyer Classic Morgan by unknown

Miss Sea Command - CM Terrang by Sophie Nordstrom
Ocean Flower - CM Terrang by Sophie Nordstrom

Dathadair - Kitty Cantrell Nightmare Resin to Thestral

Ohanzee Dent - CM Breyer Reiner by Jeanette Garey

AMB Strawberry Delight - CM Breyer Keen by Anna Bentley
Marked Delight - CM Breyer Terrang by Ross??

Marked Delight - CM Breyer Terrang by Ross??

AMB Strawberry Delight - CM Breyer Keen by Anna Bentley

Zephyr - OF Breyer Pegasus

Sgoil Dubh - black Unicorn OF Breyer
Ibhri - white Unicorn OF Breyer

Kai Opaka - CM Breyer Haflinger to an American Kerry Bog Pony by me

Stars N Stripes - CM Classic Mustang to bay brindle Pony mare by Janice Williford

October Surprise - OF Breyer Polo Pony

Duke Campbell of Argyle - CM Breyer Draft by me

Hannibal - OF Breyer foal

Tilikum - OF Breyer foal

Cashmere Cat - OF Breyer Draft

A great day!