A Little Crazy About G1 Ponywear

It is no secret that my favorite My Little Pony generation is G1. While I practice "All Generation Appreciation" and actively collect from all generations, G1 will always be number one. I'm sure it is due to a mix of nostalgia as well as the thrill of never reaching the end. If I finish one part of my collection, I can simply change my collecting focus.

I've been spending some time organizing my accessories and Ponywear lately and I may be going a bit overboard in my attempt to organize. You may remember back in January when I posted about my wondrous labeler and how it is amazing and how much I love it. Anyway, I used said labeler with my Ponywear collection and I'm loving the results. It has inspired me to finish my Greek Ponywear collection just so I can make more labels (I think this may or may not be a sign of a problem). Regardless, check out some pictures of my organizational madness:

In this photo you can see the sets divided into plastic sleeves. If the outfit has shoes or other plastic pieces that could possibly leach color onto the fabrics, those items are placed in a smaller baggie inside the larger plastic sleeve and then each outfit is labeled by set name and individual outfit name. Each set has it's own drawer (which is of course labeled.)

Here is a photo of all three plastic drawer units. I haven't finished sorting my Euro Ponywear yet(hence the two unlabeled drawers in the unit on the right.)

 I purchased these drawers at Walmart last fall for around $10 each and then all three drawer units fit perfectly inside a storage shelf that I purchased at Target. The storage shelves were on clearance and I think I paid about $6 each for them.

This shelf is basically the same as the shelf unit I bought, but a little pricier since the exact shelf units that I have are discontinued.

These are the same plastic drawers I purchased (a little cheaper than what I paid.)

You can also use your handy dandy copy of The My Little Pony G1 Collector's Inventory to identify and check off your Ponywear pieces. :)

I challenge you to dig out your Ponywear and accessories and get organized and then list your extras on Ebay so myself and the other accessory addicts can buy them!

To Buy or Not to Buy?

It has been quite some time since I've had the time or energy to browse Ebay and other online sales sites. However, now that I'm spending time cataloguing my collection again, I'm determined to fill in a few gaps and find myself looking for new ponies to add to my collection. If you are familiar with Ebay, you can appreciate how easy it is to be sucked into the vortex of online auctions and sales. It isn't something I allow myself to do regularly, but when I do I go all out.

Currently on my radar are a few missing G3 items. While they aren't terribly exciting to track down, it is fun having a focus and a goal to work towards. I think that's part of the appeal of collecting My Little Pony (aside from the ponies themselves.)  I'm also actively seeking the last few Euro/German ponies that I'm missing. While I've made these my focus, it doesn't stop other things from catching my eye. In the past month, I've added 3 Venezuelans, and a Peruvian. Plus, I've received a few packages from Europe.

 I think my mail carrier has suspicions that I might be involved in shady international dealings. Little does she know I run an international pony cartel.

A collecting moral dilemma

If you frequent Ebay and search "My Little Pony" with any regularity (which I do) or if you read about the latest pony news on one of the myriad of My Little Pony message boards (which I also do.) You may have noticed unreleased My Little Pony toys being offered for sale from a certain Asian website. Resellers in the US have begun to purchase these desirable items from said website and then turn a hefty profit. Or  maybe you have noticed fellow collectors who bulk order from this Asian site and then sell to members at cost.

Just to be clear, the purpose of writing this is not to chide resellers or to point fingers at bulk ordering collectors. To the resellers that can snag a bargain and then make a profit- more power to you, and I think it is great that collectors are willing to help each other out when tracking down pony items. It is just one of the qualities that make the Pony community so great. Where I'm finding issue (if there truly is one) is the origin of these ponies. Are they legally obtained?

I think it is strange that there are multiple unreleased pony items being sold sans packaging. While some of these items/designs may find their way to store shelves in the future, there are others that are clearly the product of factory mess-ups that were never intended for sale. An example of this is this Rainbow Dash:

Clearly, this was an "oops" moment. Rainbow Dash is supposed to have wings and she doesn't! Or this one:

Rarity ended up with Princess Celestia's hair colors. Oops!

Curious minds (mine included) are finding themselves wondering. Were people in China given these ponies to do what they please straight from the factory which is resulting in sellers trying to make a buck on online websites. Or are these items the product of factory workers sneaking product out the back door?

As a collector, I'll admit these oddities are a pretty awesome addition to any collection. At the same time, I find myself wondering if by buying these items I'm supporting illegal activity (a.k.a. stealing ponies.) The moral dilemma perpetuates.

If you have any thoughts or insight on this issue I'd love to hear it!

Ponies + Chemistry = Win!

I don't normally post about pony related artwork. While I appreciate the work that went into it, unless it is official MLP artwork or in the same style as official MLP artwork, I don't typically care for it. With that said, I'm finding that I'm impressed by a lot of the artwork that the "Bronies" have been churning out over at EQD. Some of it is quite creepy and I'm sure will give me pony nightmares, but some is pretty great.

This is my personal favorite at the moment:

I'm loving the awesomeness of pony-fying the periodic table. I spent so many late nights working with that thing in college while studying biochemistry. I'm pretty sure if I would have had this to refer to, the work would have been far less tedious. This product of win was created by MetalGearSamus over at Deviantart. I love the original idea and execution. Bravo MetalGearSamus!

MY LITTLE PONY Fair: Forum Frenzy!

If you haven’t stopped by the MY LITTLE PONY Fair Forum hosted by our friends at www.MLPArena.com, head on over there and check it out! You can find out what attendees will be bringing with them to the event, make requests for roommates, carpools, and travel buddies, and chat with past and future attendees about all things MY LITTLE PONY Fair.

The My Little Pony 2009-2012 Collector's Inventory Cover Revealed!

I'm thrilled to share the cover of my upcoming book, The My Little Pony 2009-2012 Collector's Inventory. I'm very happy with it and love the fact that they used APPLEJACK on the front cover! This book covers the last of the G3 Core 7, G3.5, Newborn Cuties, Ponyville, G4, plus more. I can't wait to share it with everyone. I haven't been given an official release date yet, but I'll be sure to pass that info on as soon as I have it.

Thanks so much to everyone who has purchased copies of the My Little Pony Collector's Inventory series books and all the nice emails I receive from the fans of my work. It is nice to know that they are a treasured resource for so many people.

MY LITTLE PONY meets Stormtroopers?

It may seem like a strange pairing, but the MY LITTLE PONY Fair welcomes the help of the 501^st Legion for this year’s event.  Volunteers from this charitable organization will be helping to run events and games during the convention. In exchange, the MY LITTLE PONY Fair will be providing a table for the 501^st Legion to promote and raise awareness about their organization.  

MY LITTLE PONY PROJECT 2012 to take place in Los Angeles!

It looks like the Toy Art Gallery in Los Angeles will be hosting a MY LITTLE PONY Project exhibit this May 5th-26th. The event is being sponsored by Hasbro and Mighty Fine Clothing and curated by Sweet Streets. It looks like they already have a slew of artists and celebrities lined up to design the ponies and that they are once again raising money for charity. Let's hope that they offer them up for auction online like they did last time. I know I'd like to add one to my collection!

Here are the details posted on the event's Facebook page:

Hasbro's MY LITTLE PONY Project returns in 2012 with a year-long global celebration of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, an art exhibition dedicated to My Little Pony's favorite charities around the world. 2012 marks the first world tour of the MY LITTLE PONY Project, engaging talents in Los Angeles, New York, and Tokyo, Japan.

This special charity exhibition series launches in Los Angeles on May 5, 2012 at Toy Art Gallery and will showcase the MY LITTLE PONY Project charity ponies, original artwork, and brand new "artist series" by WeLoveFine. Select shops from Toy Art Gallery to JapanLA, Joyrich, Munky King, and more will host secret pony items, turning Melrose Avenue into "My Little Pony Avenue". Please join us in celebrating the world of My Little Pony.

Participating artists:

6%DOKIDOKI
64 Colors
Ana Bagayan
Angry Woebots
Blamo (Mikie Graham)
Blythe (Junie Moon)
Chikuwaemil
COPE2
DABS & MYLA
Eimi
HIME+YOU
Indie
Jillian Kate
J*RYU
Julie West
Kano
Kukula
Lisa Alisa
Luke Chueh
Madoka Kinoshita
Martin Hsu
Mark Mothersbaugh
Miso
Miss Kika
Onch Movement
Pee-wee Herman
Perez Hilton
Shojono Tomo
Sket One
Spank!
TOUMA
and more

MY LITTLE PONY Fair 2012 Tickets!

Tickets are now on sale for the 9^th annual MY LITTLE PONY Fair. Join MY LITTLE PONY fans just like you for a weekend of pony fun in Orlando, Florida on July 7^th and 8^th. Tickets can be purchased through our Eventbrite ticketing page. For additional information on this terrific event for MY LITTLE PONY fans of all ages visit us online at www.mylittleponycon.com

My Personal Wrap-Up

I've been a little neglectful in my posting not due to lack of content, but lack of time. So, in case you've been curious as to what I've been up to, here's the rundown.

If you've been following my twitter feed, you will have noticed that I've been a photographing fool. I'm happy to say that photos are basically finished for my newest book, which will be released in the coming months. I should have a cover to share with you all soon. The publisher just has to finalize it. I'll be hard at work this week finishing up the last bits of text and making a few last minute photo requests for the handful of items that I somehow neglected to add to my personal collection. I'm still scratching my head over this because I am a Pony completest and I can't believe I missed out on purchasing something pony related, but figure that it has to do with the fact that while these "missing" items were released I was living like a gypsy and most of my belongings were in storage.

I've also been working on things related to the year's MY LITTLE PONY Fair. Tickets went on sale last Thursday and we have had a great response so far. I can't wait to see everyone in July. It is going to be awesome!

This past week, I've been vacationing with my family at the beach (again)! Any excuse to escape the dreary Indiana winter weather and I'm on board. We were supposed to come home yesterday, but I called and had our tickets changed to Sunday due to the crazy weather that swept the Midwest. I'm glad the airline was able to change our flight as I'm pretty sure we would have spent the night in the Orlando airport and with a 14 month old in tow, I'm thinking that would have been an adventure best avoided. Luckily, our home in Indiana wasn't damaged, but others living in a few towns over weren't so fortunate.  It is a little unnerving seeing your local area being covered by the national news due to the mass destruction. My thoughts go out to all of those affected by this tragedy.

MY LITTLE PONY Fair Tickets go on Sale Today!!

Tickets go on sale for the 9^th annual MY LITTLE PONY Fair in just a few short minutes. Join MY LITTLE PONY fans just like you for a weekend of pony fun in Orlando, Florida on July 7^th and 8^th. Tickets can be purchased through our Eventbrite ticketing page. For additional information on this terrific event for MY LITTLE PONY fans of all ages visit us online at www.mylittleponycon.com