BreyerFest 2012 - Thursday

After a week of preparation, I left for BreyerFest today. And I left in a pouring (and very welcome) rain.

 So thankful!!

 We are in an extreme drought (two months!) - the corn crop is lost and probably the soybeans, too, so this rain is a blessing, even though it is too late for the farmers.

 My show tubs get preferential seating - no trunk for them! I want them in air conditioning comfort. :D

The rain had actually stopped by the time I reached Indianapolis, but about an hour after I made it to Lexington, the skies cut loose! I sat in my car at the Clarion Holiday Inn North, waiting for it to let up some before bringing my pieces into the show hall.

 Breakables is a show that Breyer sponsors at BreyerFest. It actually was started by hobbyists who wanted a place to show their chinas. Breyer only does a few porcelains and resins, but a few years later, graciously offered to sponsor the show and make it an official part of BreyerFest. I think this is the fourth year Breyer has done so. It has become the largest all-china show in the world.

There are five shows-within-the-show, and I entered three: Americanware, Europeanware, and Original Finish/Cold Cast Porcelain. And, the show was double-judged - halter and collectibility. (Collectibility is my focus in my collection.) My hope was to win a ribbon or two but I did not anticipate doing more than that.

 I felt a little sheepish as I laid out my pieces - they seemed pretty modest in comparison to the other showers' tables. And in attendance were many people who are the biggest names in china collecting: Kristina Lucas Francis (California) and Lesli Kathman (Tennessee) being two of them. Gulp!! Donna Chaney (England) poked her head in to watch a bit (non-exhibitors were not allowed in the show hall) as did Karen Gerhardt (Colorado; the woman who hosted the first Breakables.) And the woman whose table was next to mine was from Puerto Rico -  exhibitors were from all over.

Look who else was there! Beth Dickinson! My penpal since the time I was 12 and she was 10. We are still in contact after all these years. She hails from Pennsylvania. I didn't get pictures, but I sat with Brenda Metcalf and Marilou Mol, and chatted with Liz Strauss and Jackie Arns, too. Lots of long-time hobby friends.

My hopes of winning a ribbon seemed feeble at best but... I wasn't just there for the ribbons. I enjoy collecting, and it is ALWAYS fun to see others' collections!

Like Sue Stewart's, from Texas. This mammoth piece is from Europe. Look how it dwarfs the others on her tables. For perspective, those pieces are traditional Breyer sized.

A view looking from my show table across the exhibit tables. The exhibit tables are in the center of the room, and the shower's tables are on three sides of it. The fourth side had the buffet tables (they provided snacks and a light supper), the silent auction table, and tables to hold the ribbons and awards.

To my surprise, I won the very first class I entered (which was also the first class of the show!) My Hagen-Renaker Sherif won the Arabian Foal class. That qualified him for NAN (the North American Nationals) and a chance at the division championship. (If he won that, he'd be in contention for the Grand Championship of the Americanware show.)

Breakables was an incredibly fast-paced show. Since I was showing in three rings, being organized was a plus and I was grateful that I'd thought ahead and planned my entries well. And to my delight, not only did I win that class, but my pieces won many other ribbons - more than just that one or two I'd hoped for! Because the show was moving so quickly, I gave up recording wins then and there, and simply kept the ribbons and NAN cards with the models when I packed them up. I'll sort them out when I get home and unpack. I know I qualified at least 10 pieces for NAN.

My Performing Misty won her class and was Reserve Champion Pony in Americanware.

But little Sherif was my big winner.

He won Champion Foal in Americanware and then Reserve Grand Champion of the Americanware show! Not bad for a little piece I paid $6 for at an auction! The red porcelain bust was the award for Grand and Reserve. I think it was sculpted by Lesli Kathman. 

The show ran about seven hours. I had thought to stay and wander through the Artisan's Hall or look at the room sales afterward, but I was too tired. So I loaded my car and headed to the DoubleTree Inn and crashed. 

I am still glowing that I did so well.