My week in a nutshell

The Jennifer Show bonus prizes

"That judge hates my horses."

Oh, how I wish I had a dollar for every time I've heard a disappointed shower utter those words! 

And honestly, I've probably said them myself. After a long, frustrating day of low ribbons and no ribbons, it's easy to feel like the judge really does hate your showstring.

If there's one thing I've learned from judging, however, it's that judges don't make decisions based on hate. There are a multitude of reasons why an entry may not not place well. It's not unusual for a judge to love an entry, but place it behind others that better fit the class criteria. Other times, it's as simple as too many horses and not enough ribbons. I don't think I've ever judged a show, where I didn't wish I could award bonus prizes for some of the horses that just missed the cut.

So...

In addition to the first and second place blue and red Potato Chip medallions, the Jennifer Show prize table will also include some bonus green and purple Potato Chips. These will be awarded by the judges and the Jennifers to entries that were loved and appreciated, regardless of placing. 

This is another part of our Mookie approved plan to help spread the Jennifer Show wealth.

We're expecting a lot of fierce competition at the Jennifer Show, but everyone who's attending should be sure to leave some extra room in their suitcase. This is a big prize show, and no one is going home empty handed!

The Jennifer Show halter prizes

The Jennifer Show performance division is my baby, and I've written extensively about the different championship sections and the prizes that will be offered for each.

I've written less about the halter classes, which may lead some readers to conclude that prizes there are somewhat less impressive... Trust me, that is simply not the case!

Every single model that wins a halter class will also win a Potato Chip medallion, dark blue for Breed...

and light blue for Workmanship. 

Similarly, every second place horse will win a red medallion. 

Again, there's a slight color difference for Breed and Workmanship. 

Division Champions and Reserve Champions will win the resin bust Jenn and I have been referring to as "Potato Chip Husband."  This is a photo of the original clay sculpture, but he will also be cast in blue and red resin.

Overall Champions and Reserve Champions in the Mini Breed and Workmanship Divisions will be awarded Dainty Darcy resins. Sorry, these will be the standard issue white, not red and blue!

Overall Champions and Reserve Champions in the Custom Glaze China divisions will receive China Darcys. These will be clear-glazed in gloss for our Champs and satin for the Reserves.

Finally, the big winners in the Artist Resin and Custom divisions will win each win a Rajah resin.  

As you can clearly see, the Jennifer Show is more than just a performance show. The halter divisions, and their prizes, are every bit as impressive as their performance counterparts. I can't wait to see all Potato Chips, Husbands, Darcys and Rajahs lined up on the Prize table!

Battlefield

My desk looks like a battlefield, but progress is being made.

Today was a slog, but tomorrow, I should get to the fun part. I can't wait.

Back to work

I haven't made any tack since my dad died.

Actually, it's been longer than that. With one small exception, I haven't made any tack since the beginning of July.

I've wanted to, of course. I've sat in my studio and started numerous small projects, all of which were abandoned long before completion. This kind of tack making slump isn't terribly surprising. I always find it hard to work when I'm in the midst of emotional upheaval.

But.

The Jennifer Show is rapidly approaching, and I need to make those Championship saddles. This must happen. IOU's are not an option.

So, today I picked through my leather supply, and chose the best petite tooling calf hide I have left.

I dyed that a deep chocolate brown.

While that was drying, I cleared a space on my very messy work desk. 

Then, I built... 

and covered a pair of saddle trees. 

They may not look like much yet, but this feels like a real achievement. Any progress is good progress, and this is real progress. With any luck these saddles will be done by the end of the work week!

Grace's TJS donation

I first "met" Grace LeDoux through my 2012 Gift Horse Giveaway. In the years since then, she's become one of my favorite bloggers and mini scale tack makers.

BreyerWest 2016 Other Performance Champion, owned by Sue Manly, tack by Grace LeDoux

I emailed Grace earlier this year and asked if she would be willing to donate a piece or two to the Jennifer Show. Because I knew she was in a tack making funk, I didn't expect much. Honestly, I would have been delighted with just a halter.

halter and photo by Grace LeDoux

Yesterday, I received a box from Grace. Inside, I found a Breyer mini Valegro, who was sculpted by my Jennifer Show co-host, Jennifer Scott. He was decked out in a lovely custom TJS  blanket...

complete with the date on the offside. 

I thought that was a perfectly lovely donation, but it wasn't the only donation. As I was emptying the box in preparation for recycling, I found another tiny little bundle.

Holy crap! How can anyone make something this small and this perfect?

My camera doesn't want to pick up all the tiny details, but trust me, this thing is awesome.

Of course, I had to try tacking up the little Valegro. The saddle went on very easily, but I am not used to mini scale tack, so I struggled with the bridle. Still, I think I got it pretty close. With a little practice, I'm sure I could do better.

Thank you so much, Grace! This was so much more than I expected and also so awesome!

Bobbie's box

In the same way that I "knew" everyone wanted to see my MEPSA Championship Show entries, I also know that everyone wants to see what else was inside Bobbie's box.

The contents fell into three general categories: model horse tack, 

Japanese toys and souvenirs...

and Japanese candy and snacks. 

All of the tack items were made by Bobbie. In addition to the awesome duct tape halter, there was also a teeny tiny rope halter and stable blanket...

and two gorgeous, cross stitched saddle blankets. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of these, but you can see one of them peeking out from under Gizette's saddle in this photo. This was a custom order, and I couldn't be more pleased!

The toys included little puppers, two of which are well behaved...

and one who is decidedly not. 

I absolutely love this naughty little boy... 

and I can already tell that he's going to find his way into a lot of my photos. 

There was also a Neko Atsume cat... 

and a regular barn cat.  I like her mismatched eyes.

I (mostly) saved the candy for Ryan and James. The Kit Kats and the gummies were a big hit, and James was pretty excited about the Poppin' Cookin'.

We weren't sure what to expect in regards to the crackers, so Ryan used a cell phone app to translate the box.

It turns out that "whirlpool taste" equals salty and slightly fishy!

Thanks again, Bobbie. That was really a fun box, and my entire family enjoyed that "taste of Japan!"