2023 model year in review

Every December, I write a post recapping my year in the hobby. I talk about the things I bought, the things I made, the shows I attended... basically everything I did with model horses and model horse people in the previous three hundred and sixty five days.

When I sat down to do this earlier today, I thought, "This is going to be short." After all, I only added four models to my collection.

Well, maybe five. This is still to be determined.

There were a few others that were here briefly.

So briefly.

These three are still here, but they're looking for new homes so they don't count.

Other notable acquisitions included one new tack set...

and a stunning painting of Olive by hobby artist, Karen Gerhardt.

There were a few other small purchases here and there, but mostly, this was not an acquiring year.

It wasn't a making year either. Oh, I made a few small tack items,

painted a handful of tiny models...

and finished a few props, but mostly, this year was a bust on that front as well.

I did a little better in regards to events. In February, I held a successful International Model Horse Painting Party.

I also attended the third Denver BreyerWest.

It was so nice having so many of my favorite people here in town. I especially enjoyed inviting my friends out to the barn to meet Olive.

And who could forget that amazing cosplay photo shoot? Truly, this was one of the highlights of 2023.

Beth McCarley's Beehive Live in April was another highpoint. I'm not generally a mini person, but this show was so much fun. Please do it again in 2024, Beth!

The rest of the year was devoid of official events, but I did have dinner with a group of Northern California hobbyists in Sacramento in June. 

I also had memorable visits with local hobby friends including Regan O'Keefe,

Heather Malone, Angelo Žunić,

Fabian Rodriguez,

Teresa Fedak...

and Teresa Buzzell.

I was also one of the lucky participants in Shauna McDaniels' Curated Countdown of Crap for Christmas, which was as ridiculous as it was amazing.

It's been many hours since I started this post, and on reflection, perhaps this hasn't been as bad a hobby year as I'd thought.

Thank you to everyone who's stuck with me this long. I love and appreciate all of you. Here's looking forward to a new year filled with tiny horses.