First Ponies of the Year

In early January, I bought all six of the new Breyer Stablemates in the clearware/translucent colors. They're part of the Horse Crazy Collection. I am in love with Breyer's clearware, and so I bought all six from Lynn Luther at The Model Trading Post.

They arrived  last week, and I had them in my bedroom where Addie found them. She asked if she could open them and play with them. I'd bought them as collection pieces, but how can I resist my grandchild? So Addie got to play with two of them - maybe she is a budding horse lover.

Stablemates Horse Crazy - Frosted Green, $3.99

(My favorite mold and my favorite color in this collection.)

Stablemates Horse Crazy - Pink, $3.99

Stablemates Horse Crazy -  Frosted Blue, $3.99

(I like this piece a lot, both the mold and the color.)

Stablemates Horse Crazy Frosted Pink, $3.99

Stablemates Horse Crazy - Frosted Purple, $3.99

Stablemates Horse Crazy - Purple, $3.99

(This is my least favorite piece - I don't like the mold.)

HR Circus Ponies

I love the Hagen Renaker Circus Ponies, partly because I love models of circus ponies regardless, and partly because I find their molds charming. I have two of the very old originals in the gold harness with black manes and tails, and two from the 1980s (one with the yellow harness and the other with blue).

I just added these two from Lynn Lindren. I dickered her down from $57 to $50 for both with shipping included. (Photos by Lynn Lindgren.)

 Head up Circus Pony, $45 asking price.

Head Down Circus Pony, $12 asking price.

Vintage Club Mystery Picture

Where did this picture come from?

It appeared on Breyer History Diva's blog, but she didn't explain just how she got the photo.

In the photo I can see Halo, one of the offerings in the 2013 Vintage Club. (Bottom row, second from right.) I see some oldies but goodies (black Grazing Mare, buckskin QH Gelding, chestnut Belgian, woodgrain Fighting Stallion, glossy palomino Fighting Stallion, and smoke Western Prancer) but the other models are vintage colors on old molds that never were offered in those colors.

She gives no clue as to the source of the photo and assumes the reader has seen it, too.

Interesting to see what isn't included in the photo - decorator colors (although the Shetland Pony, Western Horse, and maybe the Semi-Rearing Mustang are in those), the Family Arab molds, the Proud Arab Mare and Proud Arab Foal, the Racehorse, the Clydesdale Stallion, the Clydesdale Mare, the Clydesdale Foal, Misty, Sea Star, and Running Mare molds are all missing. I don't see the Cat or any of the dog molds (Boxer, Poodle, Jolly Cholly, German Shepherd, Benji, or Tiffany.)

Hmmm...

The Last of 2012's Models

I got this model in... early December, I think, but I never had time to open the box! (Christmas, you know....)

 This is Gus, the 2012 Vintage Collectors Club Special Run.

 He's glossy, and very nice in my opinion. The brown is that root-beer brown Breyer has done on a few models in the past decade, and I absolutely love that shade.

 A shot of the decal on his belly.

And another of the blue ribbon sticker Breyer is affixing to all their Vintage Club pieces. (Another aspect of the club's pieces I love.)

He's far nicer than the pictures in advertisements portrayed. I admit I am a bit surprised - there had been hobbyists who had sneered at the mold, the color, and the price. (Of course, that's a given, unfortunately. There are women in this hobby who seem to need to make themselves feel better by putting Breyer down. Sometimes I wish they had other things to do in their lives besides collect and sneer!)

Gus is my last purchase of 2012 and on an old mold with which I have a connection from the 1960s. Call me a happy Vintage Club collector!

(Gus, $132.00)

VIntage Collectors Club - 2013

I've rejoined for a second year. While it is a little pricey, I have liked each model I received. Plus, Breyer surprised members with several extras throughout the year. Looking forward to what they produce for year two!

Merry Christmas, Trinity!

I got Trinity a paint-by-number Breyer for Christmas.

This morning we set up the kitchen table and began painting.

I was impressed with the time and care Trinity put into painting her model. She kept at it and had a lot of patience as she worked.

The finished product looked pretty good - I admit I was a bit surprised at the high quality of the Breyer model. It's a very heavy resin material, not a light, plastic as I expected. Good to know they are taking such good care of their younger collectors by giving them a nice piece to begin with. Kudos, Breyer!

NAMHSA Regions Map

Years ago, in the mid 1990s, model horse enthusiasts formed a national organization called North American Model Hose Showers Association (NAMHSA). I showed at the first two NANs (North American Nationals) and have several models who have earned National Top Ten placings over the year, some of my pinnacle moments as a collector.

North America is divided up into regions (I live in Region 8) and shows are held on a regional level that allow you to qualify for NAN. I went to two shows this past year and have a bunch of pieces qualified for the 2013 and 2014 NAN (once you qualify, you are eligible for two years.)

NAN will be held in Harrisburg, PA in 2013 and Lexington, Kentucky for 2014 which is where I will go if I decide to show at NAN.

Below is a map of all the NAMHSA regions.