My Purdy Custom

I don't collect customs, although I do have three early 70s ones (Pace's Hi Hopes, Scojeadon (I think that's its name), and Midwest Tumbleweed.)I also have this guy:

 Champaign Toast made by Tiffany Conwell (Purdy) in 1995.

 She brought him to Lincoln Land Live and I fell in love with him!

By today's standards for customizing, he's average, but back then, he was dynamite!

I cleaned my hobby closet out over Fall Break and found him. I am downsizing my collection (well, in SOME ways I am... haha!) and I decided to send him to my friend, Jennifer Buxton, Tiffany's best friend. She's also the one who made my the miniature halter with Abby's name on it as well as a set of sleigh bells that are my real ones only downsized for model horses.

Jennifer was thrilled. Here's her blog post about it.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

Pre-Purdy

In my heart of hearts, I secretly believe that all the Purdy horses should belong to me. 

Today, I came one step closer to that goal, except my newest Purdy pony is so old he predates the Purdy name!

Meet Champagne Toast. He was a surprise gift from Lynn Isenbarger.

The note accompanying tells his story: When Craig was teaching at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois, I held three live shows, Lincoln Land I, II and III in the early 1990's. Entries were arriving for Lincoln Land II when I got a call from a girl named Tiffany. She asked about model showing and said she was interested in attending a show and seeing what it was all about. I invited her to come join us, and she did.

It may have been her first live show, but she had wonderful entries! Her packing boxes were neat, too; I still remember a round, pink box with leopard print. Tiffany attended both Lincoln Land II and III, bringing this horse to Lincoln Land III. I fell in love with him, and ended up purchasing him. 

I am in the process of downsizing and, aside from this TWH and a few 1970's pieces from Sherry Cook, I really don't collect customs. I spent some time thinking about who might appreciate him, and you came to mind. Please feel free to what you want with him--keep him, pass him on, etc. Regardless, I hope he brings a smile to your face.
Thank you so much, Lynn. I love my new pre-Purdy pony. He definitely won't be passed along!

Abby's Nameplate Halter

Jennifer Buxton writes a very popular blog about her life as a miniature tack maker/real horsewoman which is read by people all over the world, myself included. Recently she took orders for miniature nameplate halters, and I ordered one with Abby's name on it.

Several days later, Jennifer posted a picture of the halters - they looked so wonderful, I could hardly wait to see mine in person!

Photo by Jennifer Buxton; used with permission.

Abby's is the one  on the bottom left.

Last week she did a blog article on Abby and the halter. She's given me permission to repost it here.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2015

Abby's halter

I make model horse tack, but occasionally I get an order that has more to do with real, live, breathing horses than their plastic counterparts. This was the case with Abby's halter.

 Abby is a chestnut Appaloosa mare owned by Lynn Isenbarger.

She was a rescue, one of a group of  nineteen neglected and abused horses that were taken in by Indiana Horse Rescue in 2011. When Lynn adopted her, she had a badly slippered front hoof and limped for more than a year.

Lynn writes: My son called as I was hauling Abby home in April, 2012 His wife was in labor and later that morning gave birth to our granddaughter, Corinne. Corinne loves the fact that she was born on Abby's "birthday" and calls Abby her "tins hoss" (twin horse.) Makes me smile. 

Granted, I am hugely biased in favor of chestnut varnish Appaloosa mares and all animals name Abby/Abbie, but that makes me smile, too. I am happy every time Lynn posts a picture of Abby on her blog or Facebook page. She is one of my favorite "cyber horses."

Thank you for your order, Lynn. I hope you and your beautiful girl enjoy the halter!

Thanks, Jennifer, not only for the halter but for featuring my sweet girl in your blog!

Sleighbells Documentation

Awwwwww.

By the way, I love your horse.  Her color reminds me a bit of my best pony friend when I was a teenager.  I'm attaching a picture of Snickers, and I think you'll see some similarity.  Their heads are a bit alike, too, although that's not obvious in this photo.

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From: "Lynn Isenbarger" <lisenbarger8@gmail.com>
To: braymere@comcast.net
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 6:52:25 PM
Subject: Re: Ordering?

I'll let you know when they arrive and even send you a picture of them on one of my models (or two. Or twelve. Or... :D)

Thanks for letting me use the picture - I've written the blog entry and just posted it. You are welcome to cross-post. Do I need to change the reference to my dad's pony, Oh Boy, so that it makes sense? I can easily do that (or feel free to cut out that part yourself.)

Have fun at the donkey rescue. My current horse, Abby, is a rescue as is our dog, Millie. Needless to say, I have to be very careful around rescue places as I always seem to come home with something. :D

Take care!

Lynn

On Jan 14, 2014, at 8:38 PM, braymere@comcast.net wrote:

Hi Lynn,

The money arrived safe and sound, and the bells are on their way to you via First Class mail.  Thanks for such a fun (and EASY) order.

You are welcome to use the picture on your blog.  I'd love to cross-post your sleighbell story on mine.  Depending on when you write it up, I might even use it tomorrow.  I'm going to a donkey rescue with some of my barn buddies in the morning, and I think my afternoon will be spent editing photos!

Thanks again!

Jennifer

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From: "Lynn Isenbarger" <lisenbarger8@gmail.com>
To: braymere@comcast.net
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 5:25:07 PM
Subject: Re: Ordering?

They are GORGEOUS!! And they look just like my life-sized set! I am so excited and happy. I just sent the money via PayPal; PLMK if it does not appear in your account.

May I post the picture you sent on my blog? I'd like to do an entry about the sleighbells and my other set. (Here is the link if you would like to look at it first:www.horsiemama.blogspot.com) 

Jennifer, heartfelt thanks for making something that is very sentimental for me into a miniature to go along with something else (my collection) that is also very close to my heart.

Hugs,

Lynn

On Jan 14, 2014, at 11:48 AM, braymere@comcast.net wrote:

Hi Lynn, 

Your bells are done.  I've attached a photo.  Hope you like them.  The total will be $20 ppd.  Paypal is fine.  Please use this address.

~Jennifer

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From: "Lynn Isenbarger" <lisenbarger8@gmail.com>
To: braymere@comcast.net
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 3:23:18 AM
Subject: Re: Ordering?

Yay! Doing the happy dance here. My address is:

Lynn Isenbarger

3446 Brixford Lane

West Lafayette, Indiana 47906-8710

I will be offline until later this evening, but will PayPal you when you let me know what I owe you.

Lynn (smiling, smiling, smiling)

On Jan 13, 2014, at 10:23 PM,braymere@comcast.net wrote:

Hi Lynn,

I went on a treasure hunt today and found a whole bag full of little silver jingle bells.  Hurray!  I'll play with this tonight and if all goes well, it should be ready to ship tomorrow!

~Jennifer

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From: "Lynn Isenbarger" <lisenbarger8@gmail.com>
To: braymere@comcast.net
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2014 5:52:18 PM
Subject: Re: Ordering?

THANK YOU!! I am so excited! 

Medium traditional sized is fine. As for the other things...

Ideally, I'd love to have a replica of my set. Realistically, I know that may not be possible. :D And honestly, I am okay with whatever you make - truly I am not picky.

So, in the ideal category: brown/tan leather with silver bells and no buckles. (Mine tie.) I am attaching two photos of the tie ends. (I have never used mine on my horses so I don't know how they are supposed to be used on a horse. Maybe tied to the harness somehow? I bought them at a tack shop in the 1990s and have always kept them in the house by the piano.)

Realistically, any color of leather (except pink) is great, and buckles are fine, as are gold or silver bells.  

As for neck or belly, I've always thought mine were for the neck. (I can tell you that they wrapped nicely around our black Lab's neck when we went caroling with him to the neighbors. :D) 

I can PayPal you the money whenever you need it, or do a deposit if you wish. Just let me know how much and where to send it. Or, if there is anything else I need to take care.

Again, thank you SO MUCH for taking my order. It means a lot to me to have these made.

Best,

Lynn

Pictures are below (I haven't really looked closely at my bells for a while - need to get some leather oil on them!)

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On Jan 12, 2014, at 5:10 PM,braymere@comcast.net wrote:

Hi Lynn,

I'm not really taking orders right now, but this is such a *small* order, plus the jingle bells are still sitting on my desk...  I would be happy to make them for you!

Are you looking to recreate your full scale bells, or do you want something similar to the bells I made for Tiffany and Danielle?  Those were strung on a piece of leather that buckled together at the ends.  I have gold bells and black, brown, tan, pink and natural leather on hand.  I *may* have some silver bells, but I would have to check.  I can make the strap long enough to go around a horse's belly or short enough to circle their neck.  Just let me know, and also let me know which model you have in mind if it's not medium traditional scale.

I can't give a definite quote without knowing all the specifics, but this shouldn't cost more than $20.

~Jennifer

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From: "Lynn Isenbarger" <lisenbarger8@gmail.com>
To: braymere@comcast.net
Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2014 6:22:52 PM
Subject: Ordering?

Hi, Jennifer,

I was wondering if you are accepting new orders. I am interested in a traditional sized set of sleighbells.

I am in no rush - this is simply for personal pleasure and not live showing. I have real sleighbells for my live horse, and have wanted some for my collection for some time now.  (Attached is a picture of them.) My grandchildren like to play them when we play "Jungle Bells" on the piano. :D

I can PayPal the money or send a check, whichever you prefer if your books are open and you are accepting orders. I can also provide references.

Thanks much.

Lynn Isenbarger
West Lafayette, IN