My Lil Pony Tale

Wow! Where does the time go?! It seems like I just blinked and almost a year has flown by since my last post. I have had SO many PONY adventures and I really need to share with you all. I have literally traveled around the world because of MY LITTLE PONY this past year. It has been kind of amazing! Alas, that is the focus of another day and post. Today, I have really exciting news!!

I've been helping Bonnie Zacherle with her new book, My Lil Pony Tale, and I just received the proof copies yesterday. Bonnie wrote and illustrated this book herself and it tells the story of how she came up with the idea of MY LITTLE PONY. It will soon be available through Amazon.:)

 In the meantime, I have just listed Bonnie's book on the MY LITTLE PONY Fair Store. It is listed for the same price as Amazon and  we'll be offering Free Shipping on all preorders. Books will ship out on August 17th. Bonnie will receive a bigger royalty % from orders placed through the Fair Store than  on Amazon since Amazon takes a cut of the profits, so if you are thinking about purchasing, consider purchasing through the Fair Store. 

;) 

I'm so happy to be able to finally get Bonnie's story to you all. She is an amazing lady and she is really excited about her book. I'd love for her to get some love from collectors and maybe a nice royalty check too. Here's the link to reserve your copy! 

https://store1004005.ecwid.com/

"Bonnie Zacherle tells the story of her creation of one of the most beloved and iconic toys through her own drawings. Perfect for collectors and Pony fans alike, this charming book gives the reader a history lesson in a fun way suitable for all ages! 8.5"x 8.5" 30 full color pages. This item is pre-order and will ship August 17th. Free shipping eligible for preorder."

Happy Birthday, Bonnie!

 

A few years ago, I had the privilege of meeting Bonnie Zacherle, the creator of MY LITTLE PONY. She is a wonderfully funny, talented, and sweet person and I feel lucky to call her a friend. Her innovative idea of small cuddly ponies with brushable manes shaped my childhood and those of millions of others around the world.

While playing a table topics game with my extended family during the Christmas of 2012, I was asked to name three people (living or deceased) with whom I would like to spend a day. I instantly answered Bonnie Zacherle and Walt Disney, but was at a loss for a third.

A few months later in April of 2013, I was given the opportunity to visit Bonnie Zacherle in her home. I was beyond excited to be spending the day with her, chatting about the history of MY LITTLE PONY, and even getting to see and hold her original PONY prototype models. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled so big in a photo!

Since that first meeting, I’ve had the pleasure of hosting Bonnie at the 2013 and 2014 MY LITTLE PONY Fair and traveling with her to New York last spring. I feel grateful to have met Bonnie and I look forward to many more visits and chats in the future. She is an amazing lady and deserves to be celebrated.

Happy Birthday, Ms. Bonnie Zacherle! I hope you have a lovely day.

Do You Know Why G1 Ponies Have Tail Washers? I Do!!

One of the perks of running the Fair is the ability to be able to have lots of Pony conversations with the Guests of Honor. It is crazy the little tidbits about Pony that both Bonnie Zacherle and Liz Knight have shared during our conversations. One such fact was why the G1s have tail washers.

 According to Liz (and Bonnie confirmed this), when they first made the original 6 Ponies(Cotton Candy, Minty, etc.) they noticed that they kept falling over on their faces because their heads were too heavy and the Ponies weren't balanced. To solve this issue, someone in the office suggested putting a weight on the inside of the pony near the Pony's back legs so it would stand upright without falling on its nose. The end solution was the tail washer, which was also incorporated into how the hair was installed to make it appear fuller (so the tail washer ended up pulling double duty of the first six ponies!)

I thought this was a pretty neat little Pony fact. :)

* I found this photo that illustrated perfectly what a tail washer is and its location in a pony on Sail-Away's Harbor. There was also a step by step tutorial for removing a pony's head and tail, but thankfully not how to dissect a Pony into halves. :)

Ponies, Tour, and a Giant Pinkie Pie!

I've officially returned from my trip to the 2008 My Little Pony Fair Collector's Convention. It was a terrific event with top-notch speakers and sneak peaks at upcoming products. While I enjoyed every minute of the convention, I have to say my favorite part was the Hasbro tour. In addition to hearing Bonnie Zacherle recount the beginnings of My Little Pony, we were treated to presentations by the marketing, licensing, and product design departments. No pictures were allowed inside the research and development department, but I did catch some gorgeous design drawings of a future art pony on the wall of a cubicle! I hope that one makes it to the shelves! At the end of the tour each attendee was given a pink (of course!) bag with one of the new core 7 ponies and a special 25th anniversary silver pin. While we waited for the buses to arrive to take us back to the convention center, we were greeted by Pinkie Pie from the MLP Live stage show.

Be sure to check back soon for video footage!