Van Gogh & Breyer Christmas Blanket

Although it is a vintage mold, I do not collect the Action Stock Horse Foal mold. I have had a couple come through my collection but, with the exception of Bailey from the Vintage Collectors Club, I have sold them all to someone who would appreciate them.

I just added another to my collection. I didn't really want him, but to get something I did want, I had to buy something and he fit the bill.

Breyer has been running a lot of holiday specials, and finally they had one with the holiday blanket that appeared on the cover of their winter catalog. (Screenshot from Breyer web site.)

 It was so pretty! But it wasn't listed on the website for quite a while after it appeared on the catalog's cover.

It popped up as a special a few days ago - if you bought a traditional model then you could get the blanket for free. I really didn't want (or need) any of the models, but I did want that blanket, so I took a look at what was on offer.

Van Gogh, a 2017 piece was on sale for a good price, but would that piece count as a traditional and get me the free blanket? It was a foal and therefore cheaper than the adult models. Would Breyer let me buy a cheap foal to get that blanket?

Van Gogh, #1775, 2017 - current, $15.99 with blanket, Breyer 11/2018.

They sure did! So, I placed my order.

They arrived this afternoon and I am pleased with both them. The Van Gogh is much nicer in-hand than he looks on Breyer's website. (Or in my photos.) 

The blanket is beautiful and in a soft flannel. Overall the stitching, especially on the bias tape binding, is very well done. The hip darts, though, were not pressed and so when the blanket was bound, one was bound up toward the back while the other was bound down toward the hocks. (I probably would never had noticed that had I not just made two blankets myself.) But that is a quality issue and won't affect the fit.

I am still not sure I will keep Van Gogh, but he was a pleasant surprise. The blanket, however, is staying with me.

Walker-Renaker Stubborn Horse

I have wanted one of these for a long time.

Stubborn Horse, #944, $23.00, Walker Renaker, 11/2018, Ruby Lane

Breyer History Diva called this piece "Horse of a Different Color," while it is listed as "Stubborn Horse" in other places. I have also seen the manufacturer listed as Freeman-McFarlin, but most sources agree that Walker-Renaker produced it. (Photos from Google Images - it's too dark to take photos as I write.)

The body is very matte and has a bit of a texture to it, but the mane and tail are glossed and very smooth. I love the pink, yellow, and blue flower chain!

I am most definitely not beginning another collection-within-the-collection, but if I found more of these Walker-Renakers, including the cows, I wouldn't say no!

Wish and Wonder - 2018 Christmas Mare & Foal Set

I love Breyer's blankets, so I was disappointed when they posted the 2018 Christmas Mare and Foal set and there were no blankets on the models, just a shiny satin gift bag.

Unsure if I wanted the set or not, I held off purchasing them for a while but the set proved quite popular with collectors and then it went on sale. I also had a discount code and so I took the plunge.

I am glad I did - the set is quite nice. (And I am not fond of the Misty or Stormy molds.)

Wish and Wonder, #712279, $44.50, 11/2018, Breyer.

Using the Misty mold for Wish, they made her a chalky by spraying a white base coat before painting her.

I like the effect that has on the piece - she has a textured coat already, and with the additional layer of paint, she looks more realistic to me. Her dapples are nice, too.

This is the first time I have ever liked a Stormy. I think he looks very appealing as Wonder in his chalky coloring, parrot mouth notwithstanding.

And since I wanted blankets so badly, maybe I can get some fabric and make those after the holidays when I have a little more time.

In the meantime, I am happy with my newest purchases.

A Boatload of Blankets

Having just bought nine blankets off eBay, I thought it might be a good idea to go through my blanket tub and see just what I have so that I don't make duplicate purchases. (Which has happened before, but the extras make good donations.)

Four of the nine I ordered are here (the last five were sold in a lot) so this is what I have thus far. I'll do a separate blog entry on the lot when it arrives.

 The tub is getting full but I can still squeeze a few more in.

Breyer has done several types of packaging. I prefer the kind on the left as it is compact and sturdy, protecting the blanket, but the open-blanket style in the middle allows you to see both sides of the blanket at once, good when there is a different motif on each side. But it also takes a lot more storage space in exchange for that clarity.

The sealed plastic bag on the right allows you to see both sides of the blanket but it is very flimsy and not as protective of the contents.

Having said all that, most people open the packaging and use the blanket; very few like me actually collect the blankets themselves and keep things intact. So, I do understand Breyer's various methods for packing those blankets.

Susan Bensema Young's eagle eyes spied these next four blankets on eBay and sent an email to tell me about them. I checked with her first to be sure she was not planning on bidding on them herself before I snapped them up.

This green turnout blanket also came with the model! I already have Karinthia, but will check it against my other for variations. If there are any, it will stay with me. (Photo by eBay seller.)

 The blue turnout blanket didn't come with the model horse. (Photo by eBay seller.)

As you know from the variation post on Stud Spider, the brown canvas blanket came with the Stud Spider and both are staying with me.

The blue canvas blanket is in remarkable shape considering it was first produced in 1977 and is one of Breyer's earliest blankets. (Photo by eBay seller.)

Now I am looking for the red canvas blanket to complete my collection of the three different blankets produced in canvas. (Photo taken from Identify Your Breyer.)

A few blankets that came with models remain on those models - Milo, Crystal & Crispin, Eve & Claus, and Vixen & Blitzen - and will remain so instead of going into the tub. Personally I like them on the models.

As for the lot of five which I am still waiting on... They have not been mailed to me as of this writing. I won them on November 11, and the seller messaged me on November 16 through eBay and apologized for the delay. She said that she would mail them and send me the tracking number the next day, November 17, but I have not received that tracking notice yet nor does it show up on eBay. No explanation was given for the delay, but I am willing to give her the benefit of the doubt at this time. If I haven't received a tracking number in a couple more days, I'll check back with her and see what is going on.

Collecting Breyer blankets is fun, and a big thanks and shout out to Sue for her help in finding many of these!

Circus Bridle Rosettes

I do not collect bridle rosettes... I do not collect bridle rosettes...

But here is my latest pair.

I'd been watching this pair on eBay for a long time, but the seller wanted $125 for them. That's more than I am willing to pay.

Even though my favorite color is orange. Even though I collect circus ponies. And even though Craig, whose hobby is genealogy, has traced his lineage back and discovered that P.T. Barnum's mother, like Craig's mother, is a Fairchild and that he is a distant cousin.

So, I bided my time and as the seller renewed the Buy It Now, I would renew my watching status.

 But when the seller finally changed from a Buy It Now to a bidding auction, I decided that I would see if I could win them.

And I did! For much less than the original $125 but still for what I consider a fair price for the seller.

I do not collect bridle rosettes... I do not collect bridle rosettes... I do not... Well, there is currently a pair of Monon Railroad ones up for bidding. My family and the town I live in have strong connections to it. I think I will start watching those.

Hasty Horses Circus Pony

(Busy week for me - I am subbing in two different schools and mentoring a new teacher in a third. I finish up tomorrow afternoon and will be back to daily posts. While I have missed blogging, it's been great to be back in the classroom!)

I had not heard of Lynn Haste and her Hasty Horses until last week. I was doing an online search for circus ponies and this photo popped up.

It reminded me a lot of the old Precious Moments figurines in its chubbiness, lack of detail, and nearly all-white coloring. The price was very reasonable and so I ordered one. I was very curious as to what it would look like in hand.

The pony arrived in a blue box with the Hasty Horses logo and a factory label.

There was also a signed COA. Apparently the piece was produced in 2004. The information online said that it was made of porcelain and that this was the last piece left. It also said that she had originally planned to sculpt a circus rider for it but had never gotten it done.

Hasty Horses Star, #4700104, $25, 2004, 11/2018, Lynn Hasty/Etsy.

There is a label on the underside of the base with the model's number, date, and the sculptor's name and label.

 He's cute, but he's also pretty unremarkable. Still, I am glad to add him to my collection.

Stud Spider and Canvas Blanket

I wanted this brown canvas blanket but had to buy the Stud Spider, too. Not a problem since the price was only $15 for both.

Brown Canvas Blanket, $15 w/Stud Spider, #2360 (1979-1980) or #2380 (1979-1981), 11/2018, eBay, Dawn Pinto, Jasper, TN.

 The horse is very white. That blanket must've protected him from yellowing.

His spots and sock also vary when compared to mine.