A Sneak Peek Reveal and a bit of a deviation...oops!

It's Wednesday so we all know what that means.  Are you excited?  hahaha.  I didn't think so.

Anyway...

Breyer did a rather quick Sneak Peek to Reveal this week.  It was only shown on Monday and revealed today.  Maybe that's standard...I don't remember.  Sometimes we have to wait more than two days so it can be confusing.

So, on Monday Breyer showed us just a tiny square...

A lot of people were convinced it was Corbin, the new Irish Draught SM...I just sat back and laughed and all the people who were so certain.  But you know what?  They were right.

Give a warm Irish welcome to our BreyerfFest Fling! Pop-up Souvenir Shop Stablemate model, Eire!

Eire is Irish for "Ireland" and has been derived from the name Eriu, the ancient matron goddess of this incredible island nation.  Inspiring visions of rolling green hills, this eye-catching Irish Draft, mold #5740 sculpted by Eva Rossiter, has been done in green on a clearware model, with a shimmering gold interference and Celtic knotwork shamrocks on both hips.  And if that wasn't enough, this handsome fellow has been topped off with a high-gloss finish.

We hope this stunning little fellow will get your Irish eyes smiling!

I have Corbin and I like the mold so I would like to conga him, but I'm not so sure about a green clearware with shamrocks.  At least it's just one shamrock on each side rather than all over, but I don't collect decorators that aren't a realistic pattern.  I might buy him, though, because he's a clearware, which is kind of neat.  I still have some time to decide.

But that brings me to an "issue" I have.  Space.  I am in serious lack of it, but I'm having a mind-set right now where I want to BUY BUY BUY.  Stablemates aren't a huge issue, it's the bigger ones.  The Traditional size and, to some degree, Classics.  But mostly Traditionals.  I have several that are still in their boxes because I have no room to display them.  I probably would if it weren't for my other passion: Pusheen plush.  Don't know who Pusheen is?  Are you living under a rock?  Hahaha.  Pusheen is an internet sensation that is based on a real cat.  The cartoon version is an overweight grey tabby who really likes food.  Food of all kinds.  She was owned by the family of the cartoon cat's creator Claire Belton.  People who are fans of Pusheen can be amazing.  Guys and girls of all ages and nationalities love this cat and the "fun" people take their plushies out and take pictures...

In addition to plush, there's also merchandise such as shirts, water bottles, a quarterly subscription box and office supplies...

But the larger plush tend to take up a lot of space, too, so my collection of plushies fight for shelf space with my models and if I hadn't fallen down the Pusheen plush hole, I would have more room for horses.  hahaha.  Like with my models, though, I have become more picky about the Pusheen plush I buy.  They come in a variety of sizes from about 2 inches to...I think 2 feet tall.  I don't have those jumbo ones, though.  I wouldn't mind one, I just am not willing to spend the money on one.  Anyway, I try to only buy the 6 inch or smaller ones.  And like Breyer, they come out with new plush quite frequently and like Breyer, I don't have the desire to collect them all, space issues aside.  So I only buy the ones I really like and try to wait and see if it comes out in the "clip" size, which is the 6 inch ones.  It's called a clip because there's a clip on it that you can use to attach to a bag or backpack.

Boy, this blog post took a different direction.  I could talk for quite awhile about Pusheen, but this blog is about model horses.  hahahaha.

I guess I will end this here, then.  If anyone is still around, thank you.  Til next time.

Sneak Peek Reveal and Model Categories Explained...

Splish Splash!

It was hard for us to disguise that the most recent sneak peek from earlier this week was this year's crystal model, owing to the fact that the snippet we shared was, well, completely clear.  WE hope you are as excited about this reveal as we are!

Say hello to Kelpie!

Kelpie-like images on stone carvings have been found in Scotland and date back to 6th century Picts.  In Scottish folklore, kelpies are shape-shifting water creatures that inhabit lochs and pools of water and are most commonly described as horses that can adopt human forms.  While the origins of these creatures remains mysterious, some folklorists have suggested that these water spirits were manifested to keep children away from danger.

Our BreyerFest Kelpie has been done on a miniature 5" crystal version of Bouncer, originally Traditional mold #707 sculpted by Kathleen Moody.  Clear as water, we know our Kelpie will make a sparkling addition to your collection.

Keep your eyes on the BreyerFest Blog!  WE are inching closer and closer to BreyerFest weekend and we still have so much more to reveal!

Well...I think this is quite clever.  The name and history behind the Kelpie is perfect for the crystal model and I can actually envision a shape-shifting horse looking at this model.  I also like that they used Bouncer.  I think it was a perfect choice!  I don't actively conga Bouncer, only having 2 as mentioned in my previous blog entry, and I don't collect the crystal models, but this guy is tempting so I might try to get me one.  We shall see.  I have a feeling my eyes are getting bigger than my wallet.  hahahaha.

So, another thing Breyer has done is explained the difference in the models that will be available during Breyerfest Weekend this year.  Since it's being done virtually this year and a lot of people are being able to "attend" for the first time, there's been a lot of questions about the different models available for the different types of tickets.  I can certainly see why people are confused.

I won't go over all the details because that would just be redundant and a lot to type out when it would be just as easy for you to go read it on the BreyerFest Blog, but I'll give the basics here.

Store Specials are a collection of limited editions that would normally be available to anyone with a ticket.  They will be released throughout the weekend to accommodate different time zones.  Anyone can buy these.

Warehouse Finds aka NPOD
These are models they have collected throughout the year from the warehouse and archive room.  They are generally samples or found inventory of models no longer in production, just like you might find at the NPOD (Ninja Pit of Death).  They will be offered as grab bags with different price points and will have 1-4 models.  These will be limited and you can only buy one per account and only available to 3 Day Ticket Holders as an added benefit.

The Fling! Shops
On-site, these souvenir shops carried SWAG and limited edition event themed models - Greenman, MacKenzie (the plush) and 3 other items not yet revealed.  These are available to all ticket holders.

Special Run
Boudicca, Hamish, the Slainte Surprise, Ash, Grighid & Beltane, Oak, Epona, Thorn, and Lugh and exclusive to 3 Day Ticket Holders.  The Celebration 3 Day ticket holders will NOT have access. 

Something that I am confused by, though, is the "Single-Day example" of shopping the collections.  It says that if you purchased 2 Friday tickets, you can shop the limited edition collections two times on Friday.  You will not have access on Saturday or Sunday.  If you purchased one Friday ticket and one Saturday ticket, you can shop the collections once each day.  I just looked at the ticket page and it says you can purchase other limited edition models and swag.  Okay.  I think I get it now.  I was also confused because it mentioned specific days, but nothing about if you bought a 4 Pack so I was wondering if these were different tickets, but no.  I don't know why the BF blog only mentioned specific days, but on the ticket page it says more about it and talks about the 4 pack. So we're good.  hahahaha.

I am thinking about having a giveaway on my blog Breyerfest weekend.  I haven't decided yet, though, if I will or what I will do / give away.  Obviously something model-horse related.

Well, Monday is Memorial Day in the US and so I have a 3 day weekend.  Yay.  A co-worker friend and I are going to do a special thing at our local zoo called Cruise The Zoo where you get to drive your own car through a specifically laid-out loop of the zoo.  It wasn't cheap, but she said she would pay half.  It was my idea, though, so I'm not going to push it.  We both like the zoo and we miss it being open and even though we won't get to see a lot of the animals, it should still be fun.  I hope everyone has a great weekend and Til next time!

Breyerfest Sneak Peek...

Breyer surprised us this morning with another Breyerfest sneak peek. 

Summer is coming!

We posted a lot of information on the blog yesterday, so we thought we'd lighten things up this morning! 

This sneak peek needs no introduction.

Can you guess who this little treasure is?  Check back soon on the BreyerFest Blog for the reveal!

Well, what is obvious is that it's the crystal model.  I don't remember them showing a sneak peek before of the crystal model, but I could be wrong.  Wouldn't be the first time.  I haven't boughten any of the other crystal models.  They sell out quick and as a store special, are a little more difficult to obtain through a pick-up person than a Special Run.  And none of the past models have been done on molds I am super nuts over so I've never bothered.  The only way I'd buy this one is if it's on Lady Phase, San Domingo or Idocus.  Maybe the Appy Performance Horse or Stud Spider, too.  Yeah.  Just those.  Those have become the "main focus" of my collection currently.  No.  I take that back.  I'm also actively collecting Valegro and Totilas.  Anyone else?  hahaha.

So far, the guesses I've seen have been Forever Saige, Sham (although unlikely since he's a SR) and "maybe the Marwari".  Trying to ID a solid plastic horse is difficult enough, I can't imagine even attempting to ID one that is see-through.  It's hard to get an idea of the orientation of the model.  They've already revealed horses upside down and sideways.  Breyer is trying to make it very difficult for us.  I have also seen speculation that maybe they are doing something sneaky about the surprise models and that maybe they're the 4 molds shown on the different Breyerfest t-shirts.  I hope not.  Though I guess it doesn't really matter since I only loosely conga the Bouncer mold.  I have two: Brooksides Pink Magnum and Icicle.  I'd hoped to add Bilburry, but I didn't win.  Bummer. 

So...I've tried to keep "the real world" out of my blog.  I want this to be "hobby only" and have only vaguely referenced what is going on outside my house.  Mostly comments about my office space.  As we all know, things are slowly starting to reopen.  Some places more slow than others.  Some of the reopenings have made no sense to me because other things that make more sense remain closed.  Like, why are you allowing restaurant dining rooms or hair salons to reopen, but not the zoo?  Anyway, so yesterday I found out that the Cabrillo National Monument has reopened.  Just the monument, though, and the grounds around it.  The lighthouse remains closed as does the gift shop.  This is one of those "huh?" type moments.  I understand the lighthouse since it's a confined space, but not the gift shop.  The gift shop is pretty large and would be easy to enforce social distancing.  Certainly a lot more than the monument itself, which, when busy, sees a lot of people standing in close proximity.   And if the monument can open how come the zoo and Wild Animal Park won't be opening "for awhile yet"?  Anyway, so today I was looking around the web and decided to check the website for my favorite hotel and I saw this...

Reopening June 24th!!!!!  Needless to say, I was quite happy.  I looked up a random date and the room type I get is VERY affordable.  I am going to plan for a trip in mid-September and hopefully the zoo and WAP will be open by then.  If it's not, I will cancel the trip because while I enjoy sitting at the monument and listening to the fog horn in the bay, it's not enough to justify the expense of the trip.  I haven't been to San Diego since 2014, I think.  Maybe 2013, I forget.  I used to go 3 or 4 times a year, but mom moved in in 2010 and that kind of brought an eventual halt to trips, especially as her memory started to decline.  This will be my birthday trip that I didn't get to take last week and while I'll only be gone overnight, I plan to make the most of it.

Okay.  I guess that is it for now.  I hope everyone is doing well.  Til next time.

More reveals and return of Jake the Farrier...

Happy Wednesday, All!  I hope everyone is doing well.  It's getting hotter than hades here, but that's to be expected in the desert southwest.  We have already hit triple digit temperatures and it's just going to keep going up.  Yay!  Did the sarcasm come through on that?  hahahaha.

Okay.  So.  I didn't Sneak Peek these two, but I'm still going to reveal them.  I didn't pay much attention to the comments on Blab about them, but I did notice that at least one person ended up correctly identifying the first model.

First up is Cornwall.  This county in southwest England retains a distinct culture identity that reflects its history and is one of the Celtic Nations.  This part of Britain has rich history and folklore and names among its early rulers King Mark of Cornwall (of the Tristan and Iseult legend) and King Arthur, its flag, St Piran's Flag, is a white cross on a black background.

Cornwall, the grand prize for this year's Best Customs Contest winners was originally sculpted and designed by Sommer Prosser as Latigo (mold #729).  He has been re-imagined in a stunning shaded black blanket appaloosa using the same pattern as his first release in the Premier Club back in 2013!  With mapped spots in his blanket, detailed striped hooves and silver shoes!

Breton.  This is the language of the people of Brittany, a cultural region in the west of France that was inhabited by Celtic tribes-the same tribes of Britons that ultimately peopled the southern coasts of the British isles.  This state's flag, called "Gwenn-ha-du" in Breton, is composed of 9 horizontal, alternating black and white stripes and an ermin canton that is representative of the former coat of arms of Brittany.

Breton, this year's Runner Up prize for Best Customs finalists, has been done on our lovely Lippizzaner (mold #5734) sculpted by Kelly Sealey.  He may be small in stature, but he makes quite the impression finished in a shaded black overo!  First released in 2019 as our Premier Club bonus Stablemates model, this little guy will make a lovely addition to your mini heard.

Well, huh.  I still don't have the original Latigo, not that I've been actively seeking one, but I still want one.  But I would actually prefer Cornwall.  Unfortunately, because he's a contest prize, and a customs contest prize at that, the odds of me getting my hands on Cornwall are quite slim.  Good thing I gave up trying to conga him awhile back ago.  hahaha.  I would like to still get the original Latigo one of these days, though.  One thing I don't like, though, is that the winner gets a Traditional scale while the runner up only gets a Stablemate.  I guess it's good they get anything at all, though, huh?   I wish Cornwall was one of the SR models.

So...Jake the Farrier is back.  I know you all are super excited.  hahaha.  He's got some new digs, too.

"Hey!  who are you?  Why are you wearing my shirt?  Give it back!"

In case you can't tell, the furry creature is a sloth and sloths are known for being extremely slow, which is why Jake is ahead of Sloth trying to get his shirt back.  He ran right past him!  hahaha.

Jake isn't known for being the sharpest tack in the bunch.  He got himself a new dog...sorta...

"Meet Ribbon, everyone!  She's a super rare breed of dog from South Africa called a...spotted Hyena.  Very unique looking, isn't she?  The guy who sold her to me says she will make a great watchdog and gets along with everyone and everything.  She doesn't bark like a regular dog, though, but that just adds to her uniqueness.  I don't know of anyone else who has a dog like this.  I'll be the talk of the town!"

Well, that's it for now.  Til next time...

**edited to add**
The Single Day Stablemate tickets went on sale today so I got me a four pack to ensure I get one of each rather than risk getting multiples of the same.  Unfortunately, I selected the option to pay for shipping rather than the free shipping because I was worried I would miss out by choosing the wrong one.  I tried calling Breyer about a refund after several people told me I should get free shipping, but they aren't answering their phones so I sent an email.  Something tells me I'm on the hook for the shipping.  Bummer.