Say Hay There To Gem.Emerald.Toys! Let's Talk All Things My Little Pony...

So what's causing all the happy neighs over here at TruffleShuffle right now? Our totally awesome, brand-spanking-new My Little Pony clothing collection!

Seriously retro, even just seeing our latest styles is like stepping straight back into our childhood bedrooms, but in the coolest, most TruffleShuffle way possible.

You know how much we just love bringing back those amazing memories and sprinkling a little bit of that magic into our everyday wardrobes? Well, this latest exclusive collection is doing just that and more.

Rocking cutest tees, snuggly ruffled sweaters that are just begging for cuddles, and dresses that are basically pony perfection. Total statement pieces you'll love to get your hooves on!

Because we're total MLP geeks, we jumped at the chance to have a good catchup with our blogging bestie Gem who has the most incredible Instagram page, gem.emerald.toys, that's pure MLP and retro toy heaven.

So, to celebrate our super fun new collection, we caught up with Gem for a quick Q&A all about her passion for all things My Little Pony.

My Little Pony is clearly such a big part of your life and has been for years now. How did you first become a My Little Pony fan?

I was maybe around 3 years old when I was given my first ponies… Cotton Candy and Peachy in her grooming parlour are the first I remember owning, and then Rosedust the Flutter pony and a couple of the sea ponies as bath toys!

I always loved them, and they went everywhere with me. I took that little grooming parlour along to play with every time we visited friends and family.

As an adult, collecting began around ten or so years ago when I wanted to have all my childhood favourites back. I's kind of escalated in the last few years though - these little plastic ponies are addictive!

What is it about My Little Pony that you connect with and still enjoy today?

I really don't know exactly what it is! There's just something about their little faces, the shape of them, the cutie mark designs, the smell of them, the feel of them in your hands, no other toys compare.

The Generation 1 ponies were made for soooo many years, Hasbro really got it right!

We're all about nostalgia and celebrating the things people grew up with. How much do you think nostalgia feeds into your collection and fandom?

Oh massively! Nostalgia is such a powerful emotion, even now receiving a pony in the post I have bought online, or finding one 'in the wild' at a charity shop or toy fair is the BEST feeling! That joy takes me right back to being a child again, every time.

Do you have a 'holy grail' in your collection or something you'd love to get your hands on? The one piece you've been searching for, or the one you're most proud of owning?

My Grail ponies change ALL the time! Once I manage to find one, there'll be another to take its place on the list! I have a wish list at all times and it's constantly being updated!

Every single pony in the herd is very much loved and treasured, but I'm rather fond of my Italian and Dutch ponies and my Macau Jenny - they're just so beautiful and the way the eyes were painted on in different countries was so different. I would love to add more of the Macau ponies to my collection one day.

Do you have a favourite My Little Pony character? The one you'd totally be besties with?

It would have to be either Cotton Candy, just because she was my first pony ever when I was small, and she's my favourite pony from the OG six. Or Glittering Gem - she's a Brush'n Grow pony - she shares my name and she's also pink (my favourite colour) and has a sparkly jewel on her forehead. She's a bit 'extra'!

Is there anything you think being engaged in the My Little Pony community has taught you?

I've learned a lot over the years about restoration techniques and different parts of the collection from the community, but the main thing is I LOVE the MLP community - I've connected and made friends with so many awesome people from all over the world.

We may all be very different and sometimes there are language barriers, but we all share this one love that many might think is bizarre but it bonds us all. It's lovely to have, especially when your other friends and family members don't quite get it, or think it's a bit of an odd thing for an adult to be collecting!

We totally love your bright and colourful style! Have you always had this style and would you have any words of wisdom for anyone who wants to embrace a more colourful world and maybe wants to?

Thank you! I've always dressed colourfully and been a bit rainbow-obsessed.

I did dress solely in 1950's style clothing for many years - swing dresses and petticoats all the time. Now that's generally just saved for things like weddings and parties.

I don't have time to dress up these days - I'm too busy running pony spas in my kitchen, haha.

I also obviously love the 80's, so 80's style and of course the awesome t-shirts, hoodies and sweaters from TruffleShuffle are my go-to for most of the time now.

Can we just say a HUGE thank you to the lovely Gem for taking the time to chat with us and sharing her passion. Always amazing to hear about the things people love.

If you've not already, totally go check out our exclusive new My Little Pony t-shirts, clothing and more to find your perfect new pony piece for your collection.

Don't forget to give Gem a follow too for even more MLP magic!

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