I'm doing some sun fading this weekend which got me thinking about this.  I still see a lot of questions and concerns about peroxide soaks and the erroneous belief that nothing can be done for pony cancer.  I thought I'd post what I've observed over the years, in case anyone finds it useful.

Hydrogen Peroxide Soaks

Works well when the pony's pores need to be cleaned out
Often safe on ponies who burn during regular sun fading

Use for:
 - discoloring from scents (works great on discolored perfume puffs, but once their hair fades it's difficult to dye)
 - discoloring from smoke
 - pony cancer
 - large blotchy stains
 - mildew stains
 - sometimes helps with head/body discoloring
 - usually safe for glitter symbols
 - can be used for overall whitening

Downsides
- dries out hair and the hair won't hold a curl as easily after exposure
- may remove pearlized paint (TE eyes, pearly bodies, etc.)
- reports that it hardens the pony's body, but I've never had this happen, my thoughts is that maybe it cleans out the platisizer, which would have leached out on its own anyway
- will damage mechanical parts
- destroys magic message pony symbols
- makes chartreuse hair bleed color onto anything nearby
- you can't cover the pony, so if you decide to expose to sun as well, fading can happen, I've only had problems with pink and red hair fading, not other colors

Does the pony need to be exposed to the sun while soaking?  It seems to me that it works faster when used together, but I'm currently experimenting with this to see if it makes any difference.  In theory, if the peroxide works by cleaning out the dirt that has caused the stains, then the sun wouldn't be needed.

Sun Fading

Works well for staining that has soaked into the pony's vinyl
- pen and ink stains, even sharpie
- highlighter stains, saddle sores, those bright pink marks ponies are so prone to getting
- can be used for overall whitening

Downsides
- fading of hair, eyes, and symbols can happen if not covered, red and pink hair fade especially quickly when exposed to the sun
- if you cover the pony in aluminum foil, this can stain the body yellow

The main reason I wanted to post this, is that I have absolutely cured pony cancer with peroxide soaks and I want people to know that it can be done.  I think restoration is all about doing what makes you enjoy your collection more.  For me, I would rather have slightly dry hair than brown blotches on my pony's face.  Others may prefer something different.

Any restoration technique can cause damage, so whatever you try do it carefully.  I hope this is helpful.

I get requests to do restorations for other collectors A LOT.  I've always worked more than 40 hours a week on top of the usual housework and family stuff, so I never do it as I haven't had time.  Currently I'm off work for 4 more weeks after a surgery and will be going back to work part time after that.  I figure I will finally have the time and the extra income would be nice.  How are prices for this sort of thing determined?  I have a good feel for what I'm good at and what I'm only so-so with, and I can fix up lots of other toys besides ponies.  Is there a market for this sort of thing?

If I could get any help with this, I would really appreciate it.  And yes, I may be posting these for sale, but please don't contact me about it yet as it will be a couple of weeks before I'll be in a position to do anything about it.

Excellent Condition:

Lavender Dream Castle with Spike and most accessories
UK Dragons - green, blue, yellow, pink
NBBE Baby Ribbon
NSS Buttons lg symbols
Ice Crystal
Fireball
all 3 bedtime newborns
Surprise Twins bed and crip set complete with box
Kitchen complete
Blue and pink fancy mermaid ponies
Baby Cupcake and Baby Sweetcake
Red Roses
Edgar
Sandcastle & Shovels
Merry go round Sparkler
All baby ponies and pretty pals (lucky leaf and leafy have all accessories)
Baby Hopscotch
Baby Lemon Drop both poses
TAF Baby Love Melody

With Flaws

Nightlight with regrind on her face
Sunburst - frizzy hair
Thundercloud - discolored head
Surprise Twins Pony - broken mechanism
purple fancy mermaid pony - rubbed tail paint
Diamond Dreams - re-haired forelock (original hair)
Baby Cherries Jubilee - several cancer spots, slight smoke smell
Baby Buttons - one small cancer spot
TAF Baby Dancing Butterflies - frizzy, possibly trimmed hair
TAF Baby Sugarberry - head possibly discolored (not very noticeable)

Rapunzel custom in all purple, great condition, no symbols

Does anyone know anything about them?  I found some at a flea market (I think anyway) and I'd like to eventually sell them, but I know next to nothing about them.  I can't find any on Ebay.  I'll try to post pictures tomorrow.

Thanks!

I don't usually post over here because I don't really collect dolls, but this seemed like the right place to post this.

Several years ago, my husband convinced me to sell off my non-MLP items from my childhood, as all I actively collect is MLP and FSF.  I sold my Maiden Curly Crown at a pony meet.  The girl was buying her for a friend, and payed me more than what I was asking as she thought my price was too low.

I've regretted selling her ever since (she was Megan's friend and Megan has been lonely).  So I decided to replace her with one off of Ebay.  I bought one that had the fabric thingys the pixie tails attach to cut off, because I had cut these off of my doll's dress as a child.  When she got here, she also had the tips of the ribbons melted.  I did this to my dress as an adult, to prevent them from fraying.

The doll herself feels familiar, with her wobbly head and discoloration on her legs.  But this is probably common in a lot of these dolls.

I asked the seller where she got her and she said a doll collector in CA, she doesn't know beyond that.  I live in VA and sold my doll in MD.

I know I can't be the only person to ever do these things to their doll's dress, but isn't it a neat thought that she could be mine?

I thought I'd post this in case anyone finds it useful, as I thought she turned out really nice.  I know I'm not the first one to do it, and I'm not claiming to have invented the technique.  The basis for what I did was taken from the nice tutorial WingsofMasquerade provided for my website;  http://mlppreservationproject.com/misc.html#DreamBeauties

Start with a sad Dream Beauty (I also touched up her symbols):

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Cut her hair as short as you can get it:

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Then use something pointy to push the hair into her body (I used surgical scissors):

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I had some fun with her hair color, so it doesn't exactly match the original:

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The tail is easy enough.  Estimate the size you need (not too big or it won't fit though), fold it over and tie it off with something that will fit into the tail hole (for some reason I didn't photograph this, but it's the same as making a tail for a regular pony).  I used a twisty tie.  It fit easily into the hole and was just large enough to keep the tail in place, as long as it's combed gently.

I've only ever used Dolly Hair.  It splits easily into strands that make nice plugs.  I wanted her to have a nice thick mane so I used three of these strands for each plug.  I tied them off with thread them folded them over and wrapped Scotch tape around the end.  Then cut off the extra tape and thread.  This makes the "plug".

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Then using your pointy tool, push each plug between her neck beads.

Here she is!

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The plugs hold well enough for curling and gentle combing.

 . . . for awhile.

Howdy,

So I haven't been on the boards in forever, I haven't updated my website in months and months and months, I haven't hardly entered my pony room, and all work on turning it into a giant diorama has halted.

What happened?

I want to move SO BAD!!!

My husband and I have wanted to move back to Michigan, closer to our families, forever.  We've tried several times but have always had a hard time finding jobs there.  That's not unusual, nearly everyone we went to college with moved to the east coast for jobs after.  Now he has a phone interview for a REALLY good position in Ann Arbor this Tuesday.  All I can think about is moving.  I'm already collecting packing materials and such as it's the only thing I'm motivated to do.  I think the anticipation is going to be the end of me.  It's 1:00 am and here I am still awake because I can't stop thinking about it.

I can't be the only one.  Anyone else have things that makes you totally a pony zombie at times?

This is a game, so don't anyone take it too seriously.

What's something about MLP you like, that no one else seems to?  To get it started:

I'm a true MLP Fan Because . . . I LIKE the BBE babies!  In fact, I think Baby Frosting is gorgeous!