Are you a "Decorator"?

In other words...do you like decorator horses?  You know, the ones that aren't your standard-looking ones.  They might be an unusual color or pattern or they might even be see-through.  Recently I was looking through Blab, as I often do, and I came across a thread entitled "I want to see pictures of your collection!!!"  Now, I've looked at this thread off and on, but never really paid much attention to it, but for some reason I did a few days ago and what I saw gave me the idea for this post.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of un-realistic colors on my models.  Never have been.  But I do have a few in my collection.  I got my first decorators courtesy of the 2013 Breyerfest.  I had ordered pickups of two new Stablemate sculptures, Dungaree and Chrome...

I'm not sure what attracted me to the mold, but I knew I had to have them, regardless of their blue color.  Well, Dungaree is blue, Chrome is not.  And it was a total bonus that they came in these cute little pouches that looked like pockets, but this post isn't about packaging.  lol.

I was gifted a Twill by some wonderful blabbers who knew I was a big Lady Phase fan

It was definitely a pleasant surprise when I received her in the mail.  Totally unexpected and brought tears to my eyes.

Also in 2013, Breyer released a set of 3 decorator colors of Lady Phase and called it Mother Lode because they were gold.  This also caused a big thing that ended up crashing their website.  Only a very limited number were available and you couldn't choose which of the 3 you got.

model equus

I was going to buy one, but then I changed my mind.  The price they gave I thought was for all 3 but it was per model and at the time I thought it was too expensive.  I should've just gotten one because they've sold on the secondary market for 4 times that much.  Not that I would sell it anyway.  My collection is like the Hotel California:  once a model "checks in", it never checks out / leaves.  The only exception is if I sell it before it ever even comes to me, like a web special.

 In 2014, I added another decorator when I had Glimmer picked up...

and was able to purchase the special Silver Anniversary Misty model on the Breyer website...

That one caused quite an uproar because I don't think she was available to those in attendance, but I could be wrong.  I think only a certain number were made, though.  I will have to do more research on that when I'm able to access IDYB.  For some reason, the firewall at work now thinks that website is dangerous to our system so it blocks it.

Over the years, the only decorators I've acquired have been painted by someone and not Breyer original finish decorators.  I've tried winning specials, but have been unsuccessful...unless I was entering for someone else.

Some people really like decorator models, which is how this post came to be...the thread mentioned at the beginning.  A Blabber posted her collection of Clearware models for us to all drool over.  I didn't drool much, but I liked how she photographed them and could appreciate that part of it even if I can't fully appreciate the models themselves.  Now, if they made clearware of the ones I collect, that *might* be a different story.  I don't know.  I'm not the type of collector who has to have every color on their favorite mold, but that's a subject about congas and a totally different thing that will be discussed some other time.

Kim G is the owner of these horses and has graciously granted permission for me to use them here.  There were a lot of photos to choose from and I didn't want to overwhelm everyone with a bunch of pictures so I chose my favorites.  I hope everyone enjoys them... Maybe she will post a comment here and tells us a bit about her collection such as how long she's been doing it and what appeals to her about clearware models...

For starters, I think I like this grouping the best.  I like the color blue and I like that there's that one in the middle that is only considered on the blue spectrum because of his tail.  It stands out in a cool way amongst the others that are predominantly blue

And...a group photo...I believe she said this wasn't all of them either...

They're all so colorful and pretty.  Not quite a rainbow, but a better one.  Thank you for allowing me to share, Kim!

So what about the rest of you?  Do you collect decorator colors or are you more of a realistic color person?

I have a three day weekend from work since Monday is Labor Day.  Maybe I will finally get in and straighten up my collection.  They've been neglected for far too long.  Happy Friday, everyone!

Desk Herd...

Most of us have heard the term "Carpet Herd".  Basically it's your first models that you played with, likely on the floor as you galloped them around your room.  Well, this post was GOING to be about my desk herd...

Currently, I have these 4 Stablemates keeping me company at work

and these 2 under my desk...I haven't decided what I'm going to do with them, yet, even though they've been there since...oh, I don't know...November, I think?  hahaha.  One of the molds I don't care for at all and the other one is okay, but I don't want the one to get lonely.

I'm lucky in that where I work, I've always had my own desk (no sharing) so I've been able to have stuff out and not worry about whether someone else might not like my decorating choices.  In the past, I've had a desk where I could put a larger model because there was a shelf...

I suppose I could put a larger model on the desk I have now and I'd considered bringing Oliver to work, but I haven't done that yet.

With this, I got to thinking about a mini barn to have on my desk, just to make things more interesting and this is something I found...

witchychick

Problem is, even something that small and simple could get me into "trouble".  I would get too distracted making the box look fun and such.  Coming up with accessories and moving them around.  Well, that's when things started to go south.  Next thing I knew, I was moving from looking for photos of desks with Breyers on them to looking at barns...

The ones that looked the most realistic appealed to me the most...obviously...

knb studios

pintos & more

model horse jumps

And I especially love the ones that have detailed interiors...

breyerscs

breyerscs

But heck, I'd be happy with just a plain ol' barn...

Although I have always coveted this Breyer stablemate barn...

But I have no barn. I never have. My parents have always been supportive of my model horse hobby, buying me models when I was younger and never making me feel bad about collecting them as I grew older. My dad was a cabinet-maker my entire life (although he was an airplane mechanic before I came along), but for some reason he never offered to make me a barn to keep my horses in. It wouldn't have had to be fancy like this one that doubles as a bed frame

but something simple would've been nice. When we moved from my childhood home into another one, he even picked out my room for me because one whole wall was nothing but shelves and they thought it would be perfect for my models. For some reason, though, it never occurred to him to make me one. Oh well. I haven't given up the possibility of owning a barn. Just something fun to use for pictures or "play". Yes. I'm an adult, according to the year on my birth certificate, but I still like to play. I once read a quote that I have always believed to be true: "You don't stop playing when you grow up; you grow up when you stop playing." I've seen people on Blab say they have to leave the hobby because they're about to turn whatever age and it was time to grow up. I both laugh and feel sorry for them. If they think they need to put models aside because they're turning 24 or 26, they're in for a very boring existence. I may act childish or child-like, but I do know how to adult and I will do it when it's necessary. But when it's not necessary, why can't I have fun?

 So how about any of you? Do you have any kind of barn? I'd love to hear about it.

Grails...Do you have any?

I don't mean have you obtained any of your grails, although that would be great if you have.  What I'm asking is do you have any?  Are there any models out there you covet, but don't have either due to the rarity of the model or the price when you do find it?

Oftentimes I will see posts on Blab from someone saying they need to sell some models because a grail became available and they needed money for it.  I have also seen a thread (or two?) asking people what their grails are.  I never really considered myself to be a person who had grails until 2014 when I saw a picture of Zydeco, from the Breyer collector event Big Easy Bash.

Only 12 were made of him and I have never seen him for sale on the secondary market.  I'm sure I'd never be able to afford him if he ever did appear.  I'm not real sure why I like him so much.  He isn't very fancy or flashy.  In fact, he's actually kind of boring-looking.  Bay with a single coronet.  I don't even know what kind of facial markings he has, if he even has any.  So why is he my grail?  Yes, I conga the Totilas mold and there's other one of a kind models I don't have, but I'm fine with that.  I have other models who're flashier than this guy, but still I want him.  Not that I'm willing to spend oodles of money on one.  I'm not real sure what my top price would be.  2nd in line and much more obtainable if I want to spend the money on him is Man of the Hour.  I've already shared a photo in a previous blog post about Breyerfest, but I like him so much I'll put him here, too

I'm not a huge fan of "color roans" (strawberry roan, bay roan, blue roan), especially when it comes to models since I don't like the super dark faces, but Man of the Hour is just amazing-looking.  Flashier than Zydeco and definitely more obtainable, but he is 2nd behind Zydeco as far as wantability.  Yes, that's a word.  I just made it up.  hahaha.

I also have several small, more affordable "grails".  I'm not sure if they can be considered that since they're more obtainable, it's just having the money for them or them being available when I have the money.  I'm not going to start at the top of the list because my 2nd top is another Totilas mold.  It's Rialto

I actually won him, but I sold him to someone else because I didn't really have the money for him when the contest winners were notified.  I would like to obtain another one in the future.

The top of my mini grail list is Acadia

I conga Valegro and I so wanted Acadia when he was a web special.  I already had one collector club membership, but I bought 3 more just to have more chances.  I entered daily on all 4 accounts and did not win nor was I selected from the wait list.  I was so disappointed.  A couple of months ago I almost bought one that was at what I considered an okay price, but decided I wasn't really in a position to buy him at that time so I told the seller I had to cancel.  They don't seem to come up for sale very often and I worry I won't be able to get him when I have the money I'm willing to spend.  I like paints and he's not a very flashy paint and that's fine.  I like the subtleness, which is almost contradictory because of Zydeco, but Acadia has lots of chrome on him.

Other models I would like are in no particular order and none of them are particularly easily obtained and I have only seen one up for sale a couple of times.  That would be the black paint Stud Spider

I would prefer him with the truck he originally came with, but I'd be happy with just the model in good condition for a good price.  I almost bought one once.  A couple of years ago.  It was just the model.  Before I bought him, though, I asked on Blab if the model was worth the price the seller was asking.  In the end, I took a pass.  I think I've seen him up once since then, but I don't look daily or even all that often.  He's almost identical to Banjo, whom I have, but the color is different (banjo is palomino paint) and I conga Stud Spider.

Dixon is another collector club special that is unobtainable.  She comes from 2016's Chasing the Chesapeake event and was a table model, I think?  The thing that makes her more unique is that she was done on the retired Halla mold rather than the slightly redesigned Bolya one.  I don't think I've ever seen her for sale, but again, I don't look frequently.

Last, but not least, is C'est Bon

He was the Early Bird Raffle from 2015 Breyerfest, which would probably put him up near the top for being unobtainable like Zydeco and Man of the Hour.  I like the minimal paint, like with Acadia.  I've never been a huge fan of paints with lots of white on them, although I couldn't tell you why.  It's just not something that appeals to me.

So tell me...do you have any grails?  Have you ever been able to achieve one?  I'd be curious to know.  And who was it?

My Place In This Hobby...

I have been in this hobby for a long time.  Since I was about 8 years old.  Back then, my involvement was mainly trying to convince my parents to buy me a model.  Back then, a Traditional was only about $5.99 and a Classic was...$3.99, I think?  Back then they came in cardboard boxes and were encased in a plastic bag and had a great little catalog

by Triple Mountain Model Horses

The catalogs were "almost" as good as the models because you could see what was available and make your wish lists of the ones you wanted, whether it was for Christmas, your birthday or just because you wanted it.  I usually fell into the latter category because I didn't want to wait until a gift-giving holiday to get a model and I didn't want to save my allowance for it.  I wanted it NOW.  In fact, I remember a funny story.  Well, it probably wasn't very funny at the time.  Not to my mom, at least.  I wanted the Misty of Chincoteague model and our local toy store had her in stock.  Now, to me, $5.99 was a very reasonable price and I was trying to convince my mom to take me to the store, which was less than a mile from our house, and buy it for me.  She wouldn't.  I don't remember if she gave me a reason or it if was just "no".  We were sitting in the kitchen and I started saying things like "It's almost 5 o'clock.  The store will be closing soon."  Every couple of minutes I'd make some kind of comment about the store or the model and it drove my mother crazy.  I don't know where my dad or brother were at the time, but they weren't home.  Eventually, my mom had enough and said if I didn't stop, she was going to go into another room.  I must've said something else because she left the room.  Sure showed me.  And that was the last time I did that.

Over the years, I still collected models. Usually getting them as gifts and sometimes buying them myself with my allowance.  I started attending live shows and even went out of state 3 times to attend a show.  It was during one of those shows that I experienced my first (and, so far, only) earthquake.  In Las Vegas, of all places.  Talk about an adventure.  hahaha.  While at a show in Oceanside, CA I met Sarah Minkiewicz and became enamored of her customs.  I was quite envious of her talent and have wanted one of her models for years.  I attended local shows whenever I could and it was at those local shows that I came to know Kathleen Moody.  This was before she started sculpting for Breyer.  She even came to my house one time for a "home show" that was popular back then.  They were just mini shows people would have during the year, in between the big annual one.  Anyway, I was always chasing that coveted blue ribbon.  Even a red one was great, but I preferred blue.  I didn't get many, but when I did, I was so happy.  I think I only won a Grand Champion once and I actually still have the trophy and the model that won it.

Then there came a period of time when I didn't have a car to go to a live show and I kind of fell out of the hobby.  I was living on my own, but my horses were packed away because I didn't really have room to put them up.  For about 15 years I barely even thought of model horses, let alone bought any.  Well, fast forward to 2014 and I somehow discovered Model Horse Blab.  I'm not sure what made me start thinking about models again or why I went in search of a model horse message board, but Blab got me excited about them again and out came my tote of horses.  Some were in bad shape from being stored on their sides and in plastic wrap for so long.  Due to my chase of blue ribbons, my once full full of models had been reduced to a Rubbermaid tote.  I'd kept only ones that were show-worthy and got ride of the ones with flaws.  Boy do I regret that now.  Ironically. most of the models I had left were no longer show-worthy either.

With the discovery of Blab, I started collecting again and was excited about the hobby, just like I had been as a kid.  I learned about congas, even though I already had several mini ones (I just didn't know it was a "thing") and Peter Stone models.  Well, I sort of already knew about them, but since they weren't sold locally, I'd never seen one, let alone had any.  I loved the short mane/short tail ISH mold and began doing the Design A Horse program until they started getting too expensive, even for the simple customs.  I struggled, though, to find a good fit for me.  Something to do with the models that I enjoyed doing.  I tried taking fun pictures

The girls terrorize the barn animals

It's not so funny when the animals bring reinforcements

but it wasn't enough.  I saw other photos that were so much more interesting than mine.  And better dolls.  I wasn't going to spend a bunch of money for a doll to play with, though, so I stuck with the Breyers and their big heads.

I even tried making tack...not to sell, just to add to my models

My first halter wasn't too bad.  Maybe a bit snug, but not horribly so.  It took me several hours to make it, though, so I set it aside.  The next time I tried to make one, well, let's just say I haven't tried again for awhile.

I even tried painting...but to say that was a disaster would be a huge understatement.  There is no photographic evidence of that mess.  hahaha.

Gradually, I began slacking off again.  Something would happen and some of my models would fall over and it wouldn't be a priority to fix them back up again

Currently, I have models all over the place, both boxed and loose.  Some are wrapped in bubble wrap and some are just lying around.  I went from a "put the horses neatly away" to putting them on any available flat surface.  I don't really have a place to put them so I just don't mess with them.  I *want* to, but I don't know what to do with them.  When I was on vacation last week, cleaning them up was one of the things I wanted to do, but I didn't.  Sometimes I look at my shelves of models and wonder why I spent the money on them and how can I get rid of them.  But then a new model will come out that I like and I'll want to buy it as quickly as possible.  Right now I'm waiting to see if Breyer is going to have any Breyerfest left-overs for sale and if they do, which ones because I want a couple.  Of course, the two I want are super popular and sold out each line time so it's no likely they'll even be available.  And since I have to get them through a friend, due to me not buying a 3 day ticket, there's always the chance that I won't be fast enought or be able to reach her in time to get them when they do become available.  And then we are back to "where will I put them?" hahaha.

I don't show, live or photos, anymore.  I don't make tack.  I don't customize.  All I do is buy them.  Is that enough to sustain me in this hobby?  I know people who've "left" the hobby.  They don't buy models anymore, although they still enjoy them.  I just don't know.  I need to find my place again and be happy there.