I was really, really hoping they wouldn't use Grogar. Gah.  Oh well. I am interested what they'll do with him.

Welcome back to the Arena! I recognize your avatar.

I hope you enjoy your time back here for mental health

Thanks.  Today has been a pretty bad day so it's been lovely to come here and see everyone's welcoming comments. Nothing bad happens in Ponyland

Post Merge: March 19, 2019, 01:43:19 PM

Welcome back Storybelle.  I remember you.



Ponyfan

Hi! I remember you too!  It's nice to see you again

Post Merge: March 19, 2019, 01:50:55 PM

So Happy that your back to the arena! Life and health comes first before anything!

Thanks.  I forgot how friendly people are here. Definitely good for easing me back in after a break from the world.

Welcome back! 

Thank you! Glad to be back! 

Post Merge: March 18, 2019, 12:32:33 PM

Welcome back! Your signature stirred some memories, I remember your NovelDarlings site!  

Sorry to hear you're struggling, but you're right - what would be a better place to start looking for friends than the Arena. We are happy to have you here!

Oh wow, I wasn't the most active before so I wasn't expecting anyone to remember me!

Thanks. It's not been easy but I'm trying hard. Exactly why I'm here: where better to find lovely people other than a MLP site? 

Storybelle was the name of a G3 I liked from the cartoon. She never got a toy but I liked how she was the storyteller and had a cool library. Basically, it felt right and I've been Storybelle ever since. 

Storybelle's top five manga!

1. Sailor Moon. I read this series literally every day. There are very few days where I don't pick up a volume to read a few pages of it.

2.Sakura Hime Kaden

3. Fruits Basket

4. High School of the Dead

5. Vampire Knight.

Right now though, I'm reading another Arina Tanemura series Idol Dreams. I'm not reading much ongoing manga series rn, to be honest. I buy random volumes at comic con and then don't like them enough to pick up the second.

Lidl got crayfish in again! My favourite fishy treat  It may be a small thing but I was completely exhausted from not sleeping and then work was stressful so getting to go home and eat something nice cheered me up.

Your blog looks lovely, good luck with your artist hunt!

Thank you! I've got several ideas to improve it still, as it's not exactly where we want it yet but we're very proud of it. 

Small spaces are tough. My old collection/spare room got turned into a nursery, and while I have the space back now, I can't bear to use it again just yet, so my collection is still packed away for the most part.

I have some merch out (books, DVDs, one-off pieces) because it's low maintenance, and all of that stuff lives on two small, but deep shelves in the wardrobe next to my desk. I have found in the past that using merch such as books and DVDs, old VHS etc as risers for various things is really useful, as firstly it's a matching colour scheme, VHS/DVD's have clear plastic covers so no paint/ink transfer onto hooves or ponies that fall over,  it works as adjustable height risers, and provides more storage. You don't always have room for another tote just for books and DVDs when you occupy a small space. (at least I don't - I have 2 huge totes just devoted to merch already, several for ponies, and now I need space for more totes of baby things until we find our rainbow) I also use decorative boxes for accessories of various gens, so I use those as risers too. It does make it a bit tough to access things when you want to get at a particular book or accessory or whatever, but so is a tote, so it doesn't bother me any more than having it in storage.

I've also seen those acrylic squares put to good use too, having ponies both inside and on top, adding to the available space if you're going for a more minimalist, yet still very well-stocked display look.

Definitely stand your ground with displaying some of your collection though. Of course there will be compromise, but you need space for elements of you. Self-expression is very important for people to be happy!

My only other collection that will majorly battle for space is my several hundred books. A lot of those will be put in the attic for storage but I would rather not do that with my ponies. I'm in England so I don't have to worry too much about heat up there but I'd rather not take the risk.

I intend to! My boyfriend flits between tolerating my collection and viewing it as trash that collects dust. But I think the same about his board games so we'll have to come to an agreement. Luckily, it's a three bedroom flat - not very big rooms but he is having the other, smaller spare room for a man cave. His computer desk and films and so on. This gives me a bit more space and control over the main room.

I'm definitely going to think about some shelving if I can get away with it. I'm not going to get anything until I move in and make up a plan to make the use of the space. 

Post Merge: July 25, 2017, 03:37:09 PM

I have a decent amount of space, but its still small for my collection. One thing I did recently for my G4 ponies was order a nail polish wall rack from ebay. It was around $20, and was able to fit my entire collection! It freed up 2 cube shelves in my shelf, and it is very thin against the wall https://www.instagram.com/p/BVcfAepDSBi/?taken-by=shelvesofwhimsy

I would also recommend those thin picture from shelves from ikea. You could have a number of them around higher in a room and have your ponies stand there
 
I second what others have said about using whatever is laying around as risers I've used post office boxes, checks, rement boxes, mac n cheese boxes and some shoe boxes  If the pattern is very obvious I just wrap them in computer paper.

I also saw recently that someone I follow bought one of those larger cube shelves from Ikea, and then used it as a room divider! It was cool because the back was full of toy "butts" but it still let some light into the room

That is an absolutely fantastic idea! I may have to steal it. I don't have tons of G4s so a smaller one perhaps but it's such a neat, attractive way of showing them off. And if I don't fill all the spaces, it's an excuse to buy more ponies... 

I love Ikea. Terrifying, confusing place but good stuff there. I'll look there first for shelves. I'm interested in using the kallax cubes if I have the space. I saw a really cool picture on pinterest where one of them was used as a small seating bench, with the other shelves on either side. Dual purpose is the way to go. 

Post Merge: July 25, 2017, 03:52:10 PM

I've got very limited space too.
There's a fitted cupboard in my room and I started out with a shelf unit in there but it wasn't using the space well enough - so I got my Dad to put in custom shelves that fit the playsets. Show Stables on the floor x3 with a bunch of carry cases on top (which I love! and have over 20 of.) Perm Shoppe next up with a layer of ponies on top.

The Baby layer has the Lavender Dream Castle - side note, if you disassemble the castle, have the drawbridge part against the back then the right side over on the left in a corner (with a little padding under the non-turret end) with the turrets together and the flat wall behind one of them, then you create a space saving way to display it. Also baby ponies fit the balconies perfectly! My Lullabye Nursery is there too with all the twins in the satin slipper sweet shoppe. The babies are on display mostly.

Next level is the pink dream castle with sub shelves. Top bit that isn't easy to get to is where I keep all the small playsets and accessories along with most of the paradise estate (12-14 ponies to a room.)

It's a tight squeeze and I'm struggling to find room for about 10 variants I recently got over the last couple of years. I still have space above the paradise estate rooms on the top shelf! But that's about it!

If you have the skills to custom build a shelving unit to fit what you need and the space available I find that's the best way. I've been able to attach my shelves to the wall but it's possible to make a free standing unit

Thank you for discussing playsets! I got a lot of ones that I wanted last year, including a Dream Castle in need of a make over and the Satin slipper sweet shoppe but I'm so worried about not having any space for them. Hopefully I can find a way to display one or two and make them pretty with some ponies. 

I don't but my boyfriend does. Maybe if we have the space I can persuade him to make me some shelves - just enough for playsets and some ponies.  I'd love to have the Paradise estate out properly one day but for now it'll have to be condensed.