Sleighbells Ring! Are You Listening?

Sleighbells ring! Are you listening?

In the lane snow is glistening!

A Beautiful sight, we're happy tonight

Walkin' in a winter wonderland.

I love sleighbells, and have had a real set since the early 1990s. They reside on my player piano, ready to be jingled when the grandchildren (or I) play Christmas songs.

Recently I was reading Jennifer Buxton's blog (she's one of THE premier tackmakers in the hobby.) In an entry on January 6, she said she had completed some sleighbells for an order and posted a picture.

(Photo by Jennifer Buxton. Used with permission.)

 Oh, my!! I have wanted some in miniature for my models for years. I wondered if Jennifer would make me a set, figured it didn't hurt to ask (although I was pretty sure her books were closed), and so I emailed her, asking if her books were open so that I could get on her waiting list.

To mu surprise, she immediately agreed, saying she had all the materials out and on hand, so it would not be any trouble to slip me in! Excitedly I sent some reference pictures, including this one:

I also sent close ups of the tie ends, and answered a few questions Jennifer had about color of the leather and what size to make them. She even went out and bought silver bells just for me as all she had were gold.

Two days later, Jennifer sent me this picture of my new sleighbells on one of her horses.

(Photo by Jennifer Buxton. Used with permission.)

At this point I was over the moon, I was so happy to have mini sleighbells for my collection!

When they arrived, I felt it fitting to let a few of my oldest, treasured models from my carpet herd show them off.

 Hercules (I've had him since the 1960s.)

Miss Windy Warpaint. (One from 1970.)

And perhaps most fitting of all since his name is Jingles...

 ... one of Leslie's first horses. She gave him to me in the 1980s. I treasure him as she did.

I cannot thank Jennifer enough for squeezing me into her busy tackmaking schedule.