It’s the end of December, which means I’m digging out of the NaNoWriMo slump and trying to get my art Muses back in gear. I’m still unpacking from the craft fair at the end of October, but 2019 plans are being planned! 😀

2019 is going to be a slightly slower year in terms of art (and writing). I have a lot on my plate in the lands of programming, so most of my work will be digital. I will not be doing as many custom orders or one-of-a-kind artwork.

That said, I do have plans on making a bunch of kits! (And some new How-Tos.)

Christmass Ornaments

I had a lot of fun creating Christmas ornaments this year!

I sculpted the two new bird ornaments and cast up a bunch of the older reindeers. I didn’t sell any (yet), but that was more on me for not getting them done by the time folks were shopping for them. Next year I’m going to be focusing on making paint-your-own kits instead.

I have one more ornament that is the Shire and Shetland pony with the wreath, but that one needs a lot of sculpting work still. *pokes ornament* May have it ready for kits in 2019, may not.

Fat Animal Magnets

I’ve done a bunch of custom Fat Pony magnets this year! From custom portrait horses like the set above to the more generic ‘paint them X color’. Doing portraits on the magnet is both harder (and easier) than expected.

The appy was a lot of fun! 😀

I’ve been working on getting better molds made for the other Fat Animals, but didn’t get as much done this year as I’d hoped. I have ideas for a new casting method for 2019, so keep your eye out for hippos and alligators and MinPins and lizards and armadillos and hedgehogs and and and…

I still have a LOT of magnets that are not in the Etsy store, so that will be my focus next year. Well, that and making some painting kits! 🙂

Model Horse Props

One fun custom order that I did since the last update was a pair of Breyer Stablemate scale (1:32) display bases. They had removable fencing (I finally figured out a good position on the oval) and sculpted nameplates.

The nameplates were sculpted out of Super Sculpey Firm and were baked onto the bases. Since the bases are pine that meant I had to do additional prepwork to clean up the sap… but it was worth it!

I may add this as an option to the bases for next year, but I’m still pondering. It didn’t take very long to do, but I’m not 100% happy with the edges/squareness.

The buyer liked them though, so that’s All The Battle! 😀

Looking Forward

For the next year, my plan is to a) list existing items to Etsy and b) finish items I have already started. Listing items will also include creating the packaging for the item, so it is easier to store.

The only new thing I want to work on it making kits for the various crafts I do. (So kits for model horse props, and magnets, and ornaments.) These will come in a few versions, but should take only prepping and assembly– no creative work.

In theory, this will allow me to move finished goods out of my art room and into storgage, which will help free up some space. It will also prep them for the next art show, which will cut down on packing time.

It’s a New Year’s Resolution… so it should last until at least March! 😉