Hi all!
Now, first things first, I hope you all receive this ok. I've changed the name of the blog from Kelly-Savage, to Kelly's Studio. My legal name is now Kelly Sealey but until now I have been trading under my maiden name. I feel it's time to make the change so to avoid confusion I'm renaming my website and blog to Kelly's Studio.
So, I wanted to report back on the Hullabaloo that was held in August/September this year. It was the biggest, most labour-intensive event I've ever attended as I was managing the resin release (last year it was Union Jack) myself this time and was hoping to offer an array of painted and special cast models for sale, on top of holding two workshops and hoping to enjoy the event too!
I packed up the car and set off for Newmarket.
I packed up the car and set off for Newmarket.
Newmarket is a small town in Suffolk, it's not too far from me, just about an hour and a half. Newmarket is famous for being the "home" of Thoroughbred Horse Racing and the Hullabaloo was held at the National Stud there.
This is the roundabout (traffic island) outside the Stud. The sculpture in the centre is awesome, I believe it is 2:1 scale (twice life size) and bronze, it is small on this photo but is a very impressive sight as you approach the National Stud.
Most of the team arrived the day before the Hullabaloo opened, so my first port of call was to set up my table in the secure room outside the lecture theatre. this was to be my "home" for the duration so I could set up my table without having to worry about packing it away each night, which was a relief. I had a LOT of things to unpack!
I brought along a showcase selection of the Union Jack Minibust models I'd been casting. There's a reason some are in a fabric-lined box...
I was representing Beccy with her beautiful Pony Bags so set them up alongside my table.
I was really pleased with the layout of my wares, you may notice that there are some spaces on the table, this was because I was awaiting delivery of a few models from Donna so had saved space for them. Victoria and Albert were making their debut at the show, I only had a few sets cast but they proved very popular.
I may need to explain myself in this photo - you may see some Union Jack models. My 50 copies of Union Jack sold out last year during the show, however a further 162 copies were provided to Utterly Horses for their online sales. I've had many inquiries about Union Jack that I have not been able to supply models for so I asked Utterly Horses if I could have some of the 162 copies back from them. These are the first lot I had, these are sold now but I'll be getting some more soon, so let me know if you wanted to buy a copy direct from me - you can buy Union Jack from Utterly Horses by following this link.
On my table you can see some postcards - I had great fun creating these in the run up to the event, here's a small selection:
Sixpence (Sold at the event)
Spotlight (didn't sell at the event, now part of my own show string, may be offered for sale again next year)
Storm Cloud (Sold prior to the event, was displayed there though)
Sweet Lullaby (this card was to advertsie the unpainted copies that sold at the event - she's still available to order! :)
The Babysitter (this card was to advertise the unpainted copies that sold at the event - she's still available to order too! :)
After all the setting up, which took 4 hours(!!), it was time to down tools for a while and go get some dinner. I love food, I'm no food connoisseur but I do love good food. This means that I have to concentrate on being polite in company as I am sometimes a touch "too" enthusiastic about things. Dinner on the first night was a beautiful warm chicken salad. I was relieved, I didn't want to pig out and it was was nice and light.
Unfortunately though, the chef then brought out dessert - not just any old Eton mess (my FAVOURITE food EVER!!), but a chocolate drizzled, blueberry infused Eton Mess the size of a suitcase!!!
Lucky for me, as I realised that no amount of willpower in the world was going to prevent me having seconds, I discovered that I was in good company, everyone dived in and had seconds, thirds and even fourths (you know who you are...)!! I stopped at two helpings but that was as good as I could be, it was A-MAZING!!
After dinner I needed a little walk in a vain attempt to burn off some of the Eton calories, I was treated to a stunning sunset, I enjoyed standing by the post and rail fence watching the horses graze as the sun set in a spectacular display of colour!
The work was not finished though, after everyone was down from their pudding high, we got stuck in to putting together the goodie bags. I think there were around 400 when we were done, they each contained a magazine, a program, a Schleich model horse, a pot of paint and a selection of other goodies. We got a good system in place, as we did last year where we all did laps around the tables adding each item and then stacking them up.
Filling goodie bags is a great way to work off energy! It took us a good hour or two and once they were all filled and sorted it was time to hit the hay! Tired and happy I headed to my room only to find this waiting for me - Utterly Horses treat their helpers very well indeed!
On the morning that the show began, we were all up early to check the details and make sure everything was in place. Here are some photos of the layout of the event:
The ticket tent
The Tee-pee and the Show tent
The Model Making area within the sales tent
The Sales Tent
This is the Union Jack model that was awarded as a door-prize at the show, this little chap was painted by Amanda Greaves
Inside the Show Tent
One end...
...the other end - it was HUGE!
Some prizes for the Section Winners at that day's Live Show
The Entrance to the Show Tent, where all the "Create a Scene" entries were displayed throughout - I wish I'd been able to take photos of them all, they were amazing!
The Tee-pee Tent
The Auction Display Cabinet - this was set up in the entrance to the lecture theatre, so these gorgeous models were there for us to admire the entire time until the Auction on the Saturday evening.
This is one of the parcels I received at the Hullabaloo - it come from Karen Gerhardt and is a custom glazed Little One model that Karen had completed for me a while back. It had been caught up in the customs trap and had eventually been returned to her, so she kindly added in with her auction donation that was sent to Becky at Utterly Horses and I received it at the Hullabaloo. This model wasn't for sale, it will remain with me but I did have it on display along with her business cards at the event - the glaze work is just beautiful and I would recommend Karen to anyone looking for china finishwork! I've named this model "Little Voyager" on account of it's trip from the US cast by Joanie) to the UK, back to the US to Karen, then back here only to be returned to the US and finally arrive with me at the Hullabaloo!
I also took delivery of some models from Donna. She had provided me with photos so I had made postcards up for them too!
Vanilla Skies - China Union Jack. Sold prior to the event but was on display
Mosaic - For sale at the event, sold afterwards online
Buttons - Sold prior to the event but was on display
I also took recipet of this little Union Jack. It was a commission model but the buyer had changed their mind and was having a new copy glazed, so this one became available for sale. I popped it on the table, no card for him, but within 30 minutes of the show opening, he was sold! I was really pleased as his new owner had been smitten with him, but his story was to unfold throughout that day...
Things were VERY busy - not just for me but also the other artists, including Beccy! After the first day, from starting with around 40 or so bags, this is all that was left!
I didn't get many chances to take photos once the event began, it was amazing - so busy, so happy, so exciting, we had a ball! I did get an all-important shot of that evening's dessert though, of course :)
My good friends Ann and Yvette attended the Hullabaloo as guests on the Saturday and when they came to see my stand they brought with them a very welcome gift - I think this was a blueberry cheesecake muffin - it was divine! Things were so busy in the Artisan's gallery where I was that we had little chance to eat.
Ann and Yvette also brought with them a new box full of Beccy's bags - Beccy was unable to attend but thanks to a lucky chain of events Yvette had more of the bags with her, so, restocked, things were good to go again!
Dancing Daisy by Anne Healion alongside her "mother" - a Breyer Classic Haflinger mare.
This Daisy sold at the event and now lives in Germany I believe.
A lovely shot of the "Midnight Pearl" selection of Union Jack Minibusts
Dancing Daisy by Mindy Berg - part of my show string
A shot of that weird box thing - some of my Union Jack minibusts had been cast using fluorescent pigments that glow under UV lights, so we fashioned the box to display them. It was very hard getting a photo that showed the glow, but I think this photo illustrates it quite well. UV glowing Union Jack Minibusts are orderable :)
This is me working on my latest model - a traditional scale Welsh Cob. I can't tell you any more on this just now, but hopefully in the New Year I can tell more about it.
Matt from Utterly Horses checking Facebook (maybe)
Saturday also saw my second workshop. I didn't get photos from the Friday workshop but Jackie again took some pics which I am very grateful for. This is the lecture theatre - a better equipped theatre I couldn't imagine!
Jackie has a knack of taking photos of me in my most flattering poses...
One of the other workshops was all about equine anatomy, I found it fascinating - the subject was very well behaved and helped to give us a better understanding of how equine biomechanics work.
Back in the show tent (Jackie's pics again - I couldn't leave my stand to spectate sadly), the winners were coming thick and fast!
...and look!! This little man, rejected and then chosen took the title for AR/AC Foal, then the AR/AC Division Champion of the whole show!! Given the size of the event and the sheer number of models on display, this was a brilliant result for him and his new owner! She was absolutely delighted, as was I :)
That evening came the auction - a buzz was stirring and the lecture theatre was full to bursting with bidders all keen to raise their hands. I had a mixed result - losing this gorgeous Roundabout to a higher bidder..
I also had a dabble with this lovely CM Bacchus resin, I planned to bid but a bidding war broke out and I didn't get a look in, he sold high and raised a great amount for the charities!
This was my offering, a custom glazed Union Jack decorator foal. He didn't meet his reserve at the event but went on to raise £150 from a private buyer - an excellent result albeit delayed.
This is the model I'd been eyeing up all weekend - this is an Animal Artistry claybody custom model of an Arab with a cat on the fence. This image makes it look abit orange but it was a luscious chestunt in real life and I wanted it! I bid and bad and then the bidding stopped, this model came home with me!!
On the Saturday evening, after the auction and our lovely meal, Utterly Horses gave out goodie bags to all of the helpers. I had been asked to provide Union Jack Minibusts for each bag in an array of colours and styles. I was curious to see which one I had received when I opened my bag, but was delighted to find this waiting for me! This is an Animal Artistry Chess Piece in Earthenware china. I collect these so was chuffed to bits, but this one is extra special as Donna explained that she had held it back a while before as she had liked it so much, and that it is the only earthenware one in this colour. Thank you Donna, and the Utterly Horses guys - you gave me a wonderful surprise that I will treasure!
On the Sunday, I was running out of steam, I took very few photos and spent most of the day at my stand (I had a chair!) I was joined in the afternoon by Jackie who, as well as being a fabulous photographer, is also a bit handy with sculpting - she created these little critters - the one on the left is a Furry Cactus and if you have to ask what that's about, you're in the wrong Facebook Groups, hehe!
Sunday was another great day for sales and for meeting fellow hobbyists. After packing everything up and a fond farewell we went our separate ways home to recover. Here is a photo shoing the models I brought home with me. Some are AA seconds from Donna including an incredible white glazed bone china striking out Arab and the earthenware Sabiha, some are my auction wins and some were gifts including the Schleich grazing mare and the beautiful AA Chess Piece.
I know it's taken me a long time to write up this report, but I hope it has brought back some fond memories to those who attended and given an insight to those who haven't been as to what we get up to at the UK's largest model horse event! Roll on next year's event (though not too quickly, I have to make a whole new model before then!!).
1 comment:
A great run down of the Hullabaloo event Kelly, it's made me most determined to get along to one now!
I also LOVE the new trad pony! I only just mentioned to a friend that someone needed to sculpt a pony, spooky! I can't wait to hear more about him and hope he will be tack friendly! :)
Cristina
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