Carousel & Rocking Horses Blog

“It Went Thataway”

L Diane Johnson — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:03:12 +0000

By L Diane Johnson

A R T C O L L E C T I N G:

I LEARNED MY FIRST valuable lesson about art collecting thirty years ago within weeks of being represented by a major gallery. As a collector myself, I now have an even deeper appreciation for that initial notable experience.

The owner was the quintessential “package” of collector par-excellence – professional in every way – and very devoted to his base of corporate and residential collectors. The second week I was in this exquisite venue, he asked me to deliver another round of paintings.

What was to become a routine over many years, I traveled about an hour to deliver new works, entering through the framing area of the gallery.

On one such day in the second week of my emerging career, the owner invited me to a nearby restaurant for lunch. As we were leaving the shop I saw that my paintings were already hung on the wall with two women perusing one of the pieces. The two followed behind the owner and I as we left the gallery saying one to another, “Let’s talk about it over lunch.” The owner gave me a queue that they were considering the painting, and that they might have just “made a mistake.” At that time, I did not know he meant by “mistake.”

We had a delightful hour-long lunch then headed back to the gallery. As we were walking in, I noticed that my large painting was moved already, perhaps to another location.

With excitement, the gallery assistants told us that someone had just purchased my painting. “In just one hour?”, I inquired. “Yes, the man just walked out with it,” they replied. Just as I was about to fire back with a delighted, “What? It was only an hour; you’ve got to be kidding!”, the original two women returned from lunch faced with the blank wall.

They were stunned to learn that the painting had already sold. Boy, were they unhappy campers. I felt so badly for them. In the fray the owner recognized that I did not fully grasp what had just happened.

He proceeded to explain that if you love and want piece of art, yet hesitate, there is no guarantee it will still be there when you return. I could not believe it!

Since that time, I have seen this episode repeated over and over again. Someone wants to buy a work of art (or other original one-of-a kind item); goes away to “think about it” and is sadly disappointed upon their return. It has happened to me and it probably has happened to you.

There is something to be said for thoughtful purchasing, especially big-ticket items. Nevertheless, lesson learned. While some pieces of art hang for months awaiting “adoption”, still others fly off the walls. Problem is, you never know when your selection is the one that went thataway!

Happy shopping!

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The Rocking Horse Winner

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:04:32 +0000

The winner of the rocking horse giveaway was Bridget in Virginia. She is happy to have it for her grandson to ride.

Thanks to everyone who participated in our event and to Second Time Around’s Birthday Bash, for hosting the giveaway.

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Win a Rocking Horse

admin — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:41:11 +0000

It’s Mommy month (Mother’s Day month) and we’re giving away the Big Clyde Rocking Horse. The Big Clyde has more bulk to make him look like the true working horse (the Clydesdale). The dimensions of Big Clyde are 34″ tall, 43 1/2″ long, 14 1/2″ wide and the saddle is 24″ above the floor.

The price tag on Big Clyde is currently $239.95, but you can win him (including free shipping) if your entry is drawn on June 9.

How do I enter to win?

Go to Second Time Around’s Birthday Bash, read the review or scroll down to the Giveaway and follow the instructions for entering and for getting multiple entries!

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Cast Your Vote For the Rocking Horse Giveaway

admin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:11:44 +0000

We’ll be making our final decision in the last half of April, so please let us know your opinion, and vote:

Zeb Rocking Horse | Big Clyde Rocking Horse | Big Zeke Rocking Horse

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Download Rocking Horse Plans and Build One For Your Kids!

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:17:57 +0000

By Liam Carter

Can you imagine a smile as big as the sun when your child or grandchild sees the gift of a rocking horse on that special occasion? Boys and girls alike will take to this wood crafted work of art like a duck placed in water. Better yet, you can bet that this horse will follow your child wherever they choose to go in life. It is that important to them.

Think about the joy you had when there used to be mechanical horses to ride for a quarter in department stores or how your kids just naturally gravitate toward the carousel at the amusement park and jump on a horse. With the right tools and rocking horse plans, your child or grandchild will have hours of fun on their very own horse that was hand made especially for them.

You might tell yourself that in order to build a rocking horse for kids you need to be experienced in the field of woodworking and to a certain extent this is true. But what better way to learn than to know that the end result will bring so much joy. If you have ever considered working with wood, this is a great time to start. Purchase your rocking horse plans and get ready.

There is some thought and preparation that needs to be put into your own initial rocking horse plans. What type of wood will you need and what type of tools are used? You probably have most of the basic tools to get started just from making normal repairs around the house. If you are serious about taking up woodworking as a hobby or even a part time job, the investment in the rest will soon be returned.

Some of the basic tools you will need are a hammer or a finish nail gun, a sander and sandpaper and a saw. You could probably get away with a handsaw but you really need to advance to bigger and better saws if you are considering woodworking as a hobby. A table saw, jigsaw and miter saw work quite well when working with hard or soft wood. This is another consideration in deciding if you want your project to be handed down through generations or if your horse will be short lived. You have probably already answered your own question.

Download variety type of rocking horse plans at woodworking4home now! DIY Woodworking Plans is a place where you can download more than 10,000 of woodworking plans for a steal!

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Looking For a Vintage Rocking Horse?

admin — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:45:55 +0000

By Julie Chrisler

Many people look for a vintage rocking horse when they decide to purchase a rocking horse. Some people are serious rocking horse collectors, and some people are attracted to the mystic and romance of an older rocking horse, while others are recapturing old memories.

Some people may be looking for a vintage rocking horse to give their grandchildren or children for a gift. In this case you must always make sure the horse you buy is safe to ride and not just looking good. Find this out by talking with the owner of the horse that you are thinking of purchasing before you make your purchase.

You can purchase vintage rocking horses from a flea market or a yard sale if you are lucky enough to find one. Or you can search the keyword on the Internet and you will find many shops selling vintage rocking horses. Most of the rocking horses that you will find in these online shops are what I consider to be antique or collectors items and tend to be rather pricey. If you are a serious collector however; it may well be worth your time to browse through these websites to see if there is something you might like to add to your collection.

If you are looking for a vintage rocking horse in the lower price range, you can try searching eBay or looking in Craigslist or other such auction and classified sites for them. You might be surprised at how many you will find.

A problem you may have to confront is just what does the word “vintage” mean really? This word is well defined when speaking of wine, however when speaking of something other than food it is not so clear. When it comes to rocking horses the word vintage seems to be rather subjective. It depends on who is selling the horse and where the horse is being sold as to whether it is called vintage.

For example, on eBay if the seller is older, vintage probably means in the 1940′s-’50s. If the seller is younger the vintage can mean in the 1960′s or even possibly the 1990′s. One man’s vintage is another man’s antique depending on the age of the seller.

Personally, I don’t consider the 1990′s vintage, and even the 1980′s is stretching it a lot.

If you decide that a vintage rocking horse is not what you are looking for after all, never fear. There is a plethora of websites offering up the full range of what is available in new rocking horses today. They are priced very reasonably as well.

Once you have purchased your rocking horse, make sure that children under 4 do not ride it unsupervised. You will want the children to have a safe ride and to have fun.

Julie Chrisler writes articles on a wide variety of topics. You can find a great deal of information about rocking horses on her blog www.RockingHorseReview.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Chrisler

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History of the Rocking Horse

admin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:29:37 +0000

By Margaret Tye

Whenever I think of rocking horses I immediately picture a classic spring mounted Victorian horse, but toy horses have been around for much long, dating back as far as the Egyptians.

The earliest English toy horses were not rockers, they had a round barrel body and were mounted on four wheels. If the child’s legs reached the floor they could propel themselves along. The children would mimic the jousting contests held during medieval times. Simple hobby horses, with stuffed heads mounted on a broomstick, were also popular for centuries.

The first actual rocking horses, mounted on a bow shaped rocker, appeared during the seventeenth century. The earliest example is a crude elm and soft wood horse dated about 1610 and reputed to have belonged to Charles 1. This rare horse is now housed in the V & A Museum of Childhood in London. Over a period of time bow shaped rockers became more elaborate and realistic in appearance . The carved wood was covered with gesso, rubbed down to a smooth finish, painted and then fitted with full harness and saddle. Wealthy families would use these horses to train their children to ride.

Rocking horses became very popular during the 19c when Queen Victoria was very taken by a grey dappled horse manufactured J. Collinson of Liverpool in 1851, fuelling the desire of many middle class families to own one. This is the design that most people envisage when they think of rocking horses.

Although Europe led the way in the development of the rocking horse, it was an American, J.P.Marqua, who, in 1871 invented a safety stand with the horse suspended on a static frame with swing irons. European manufacturers were quick to recognise the advantages of this design. It removed the danger of the horse tipping over or fingers and toes being trapped under the runners.

With the advent of modern technology it became possible to quickly produce beautifully carved and highly polished wooden horses.

Recently there has been a revival of interest in rocking horses. Specialist companies
are producing horses to rival the finest earlier mounts. Although these cost several thousand dollars, they will undoubtedly become family heirlooms. Of course there are less expensive models using a wide range of materials, from stuffed plush to plastics, and costing as little as 20 dollars. A small price to pay for the hours of pleasure a rocking horse can give.

Margaret Tye runs a website promoting educational toys and a rocking horse site where you can view some of the best rocking horses available.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margaret_Tye
http://EzineArticles.com/?History-of-the-Rocking-Horse&id=1480862

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