Breyerfest Closeups: Remaining Stablemates Club Releases

 Greetings, readers! Well, we've reached the last of our Breyerfest Closeups for this year! The thrilling conclusion is...the rest of the releases for the 2024 Stablemates Club! Behold! 

Here we have all the colors of Miguel, the gambler's choice for this year. I don't collect the Stablemate Donkey mold, so I don't need any of these for my own collection, but I do like the blue one.

The placements of the Stablemates may vary a little bit in these photos, because the floor shifted as I was taking photos of them and caused them to take an unfortunate tumble all over the table. 

They sure are cute, though. 

I'm a little surprised that none of them are glossy. You'd think the blue one would be, at least.

Next is Dylan. I'm guessing he's the August release? I don't think they'd release the gambler's choice this early, but who knows. 

He's pretty, and while his paint job is slightly better-executed than the very similar Phineas from a couple years ago. 

Next is the optional release for this year. I guess I only got one photos of these guys. Oh well - the color is nice, but I don't need the mare or the lying-down foal, so I hope I get the one I want. Insert grumble about gambler's choice stuff here.

Last is Augustus, the final release in this year's club. I like him! He's like a spicy little drafter.

I love his swishy tail! 

That's all I have for today. Let's hope we get more exciting Breyer news soon! 

Blue Zeus and Petra selections!

 Good news, readers! My Blue Zeus model finally arrived! Okay, he came last Friday, but I haven't had a chance to get photos of him until today. Behold! 

What a beauty! 

I'd gotten a shipping notice for him, but erroneously thought it was for my Llywellyn because the website said Blue Zeus was still unfulfilled. 

I'm definitely grateful I got this guy when I did, because it looks like the warehouse is doing a repeat of the Lafayette debacle, where the orders printed out more-or-less randomly and people who ordered after the original allotment was sold out ended up getting models right away, while people who ordered before ended up having to wait until December.

I'm grateful I managed to get one at all, really, what with all the warehouse issues I've been hearing about lately (crushed boxes, open boxes, crushed open boxes, boxes with no tape, empty boxes, orders arriving with everything but Blue Zeus, orders arriving with one model and the rest of the box full of bird seed/dog treats/cat food/underwear, damaged models, orders not being shipped at all despite it now being 2 weeks since Breyerfest ended, Breyer shotgunning out more releases without resolving the previous shipping issues first, honeycomb wrap not being honeycombed properly, Stablemates shipped in bubble mailers, orders containing Blue Zeus being delayed until December (including anything else in the order), probably more stuff I'm forgetting). Let's hope this is the event that makes Breyer finally dump CCG for a better warehouse. 

As for my Blue Zeus, he was pretty good in the quality department - I didn't see any major issues. He'll look great on my shelf with the rest of my Firehearts. I hope the warehouse gets people's orders sorted out soon, because it sounds like things are a disaster right now. 

In other news, the selections for Petra went out today! Check your email or your Collector Club account to see if you were drawn. With the new website came an update where you can click a button on your Collector Club Home page to see if you were drawn. Nothing here, unfortunately, so it looks like I'll have to grab one on the secondary market. Congrats to all the winners! 

Breyerfest Closeups: Antonia

 Greetings, readers! It's time for another Breyerfest Closeups post - we're drawing closer to the end! Today's model is Antonia, the second Collector Club release. Behold! 

What a beauty!

I like how her tail changes to gray/black halfway down. 

From a distance she looks dark bay, but up close she's definitely lighter than that. 

I wonder when she'll be available to buy? Based on the last couple of years, it should be sometime in October. Hopefully early October. 

A little bird told me that this model was designed by Sommer Prosser and named for a friend of a Breyer staffer. A pretty name for a pretty model! I can't wait to purchase her. 

That's it for today - check back tomorrow for another Breyerfest Closeups post! 

Featured JAH - 7/27/2024, Nov/Dec 2001

 Hello and welcome to another edition of Featured JAH! We're finishing up another year with Nov/Dec 2001 - let's get started! 

On the front cover, a horse looks out a snowy barn door. Cute! On the back cover, the resin Chesterfield makes his debut. Legend has it that this was the original Lonesome Glory sculpt, but Breyer wasn't fully happy with it so Kitty did another sculpt, which became the Lonesome Glory we know and love. 

In the Editor's Column, Stephanie assures us that no one at the Breyer office was injured in the 9/11 attacks, and announces the first Breyer collector event, the 2002 Breyer Premier. There's also a Who Am I? that serves as a teaser for the upcoming Spirit movie and Breyer tie-in products. On page 3 is a news roundup. 

After skipping an article about Lipizzaners, on page 6 is an In Memoriam for two well-known figures in the horse industry, and on page 7 is Letters to the Editor. 

After skipping the 2001 Breyer Retired List, on page 10-11 we have an article about the Cisco Kid and portrait model Diablo.

After skipping the 2001 Breyer Tour events list, on page 14-15 is an article about Rocky Mountain Horses featuring the Rocky Mountain Horse resin that was only available through JC Penney. 

On page 16 we have an Artist's Eye article by Tom Bainbridge, and on page 17 is the information about the 2002 Breyer Premiere. 

On page 18-19 we come to an article about Norikers, probably inspired by the porcelain Noriker on the Othello mold.

This week's centerfold features...this...reveal...which I thought was pretty silly back in 2001, not being a huge fan of plushies and all. But the plushes have endured in one form or another ever since then, so clearly someone's a fan! 

On page 22-23 we have an article about decorating with model horses.

On page 24 is the conclusion to the decorating with model horses article, and the conclusion to the Cisco Kid article. On page 25 we have a Collector's Corner featuring Alexandra Fitzgerald - I wonder if she's still in the hobby? 

After skipping a Breyer scrapbook and Horse Trader (the last page of Horse Trader cropped out), on page 33 is the rest of the Rocky Mountain Horse article. 

After skipping Breyer jr., on page 36 we have a book review of Blackjack by Ellen Feld (with cover art by Jeanne Mellin Herrick), and on page 37 is the first part of this week's Vintage Point article, featuring the Classic Keen mold. 

On page 38-39 we have the rest of the Vintage Point article. 

Oddly, the Vintage Point article wasn't the very end of this week's issue - the reveal of Naughty and Nice was instead! I've been racking my brain to try to remember if I bought (or tried to buy) this release when it first came out, and which one I got if so. I don't think I had the money at the time, though I did get both of the colors later on (and then sold them even later on). The Fjord is nice, but I needed the shelf space, a tale as old as time. 

That brings us to the end of this week's issue - check back next week for Jan/Feb 2002! Getting started on another year. 

When it rains, it pours!

 Whew! Yesterday was quite the day for news. Not only was Petra revealed, but this month's Collector Club newsletter was also released! I was at work, so didn't have time to post about it. Better late than never! Anyway, if you're a Collector Club member, check your email to read the newsletter. There's a Breyerfest recap, a Cyrus and Solana giveaway, and this "batty" sneak peek! 

Since we've obviously already seen the Traditional Halloween model (Beowulf), this must be the Halloween Classic! Can't wait to see what it is! I'm thinking this guy, if only because then I wouldn't have to buy it. Guess we'll find out in August! 

Petra!

 Whoa, that was unexpected - we have a new web special to enter for! Say hello to Petra! 

From the website: 

We have one last Exotic Destination to visit for the year, and it’s a beauty! The ancient city of Petra in Jordan is rich in archaeological history. Famed for its rock-cut architecture and cultural heritage, it is now protected as a World Heritage Site.

Designed by artist Sommer Prosser, Petra's red dun color is meant to reflect the unique stone hues of this ancient city, which is often called the "Rose City" for its color. His splendid coat is complete with a dorsal stripe and leg barring. This stallion features “Petra 2024” in gold on his belly.

 

What a beauty! Sommer Prosser has done it again. 

 

I definitely need to get one of these guys! Good luck to everyone entering. The entry deadline is Monday night, so don't dawdle! 

Breyerfest Closeups: Horatio

 Greetings, readers! I have another Breyerfest Closeups post for you today - let's take a look at Horatio, the Deluxe Collector Club model for 2024! 

This model is a shrunken-down version of the popular Othello sculpt with a modified tail. 

He certainly is handsome! His paint job is a gray version of the Heath release from earlier this year. I like how his tail now looks like it's being ruffled by the wind. 

In this photo we have a better view of the Deluxe Collector Club pin as well as Horatio. 

I'm definitely excited to get my Horatio! They'll be released later this year (hopefully not in January or later). The color looks really nice on him, despite Othello having appeared in gray many times before. I wonder what they'll do with this new Stablemate mold in the future? Perish the thought...

That's all I have for today - check back later for another Breyerfest Closeups post! 

Edit: I forgot to mention Breyer's Christmas in July sale yesterday. Check it out here - most of the good stuff was already gone by the time I saw it yesterday, but there's still a couple fun items! 

Breyerfest Closeups: Auryn

 Greetings, readers! I've been on a roll lately with all the posts I've been making, so let's keep things going with Breyerfest Closeups! Today we're looking at Auryn, the new Classics/Freedom Series unicorn! 

He's cute! Let's take a closer look.

He has a dark purple/light yellow color scheme, which seems different from what we usually get. 

His paint job seems fairly intricate for a Classic, too. 

I don't collect the Rearing Stallion, so I don't need to get this release, but I like the shade of purple/violet they used on him. 

Not sure when he'll be available to buy, but probably not until later in the fall. 

That's it for today - check back tomorrow for another Breyerfest Closeup! 

Nope

Huzzah, a second blog post for today! A bit of an unexpected reveal today - Bandalero, the third Premier Club release for this year! 

From the email:

Bandalero, a Criollo stallion, was sculpted by Morgen Kilbourn, an artist known for her dynamic poses and faithful breed portrayals. Bandalero’s unique pose is a high-speed lead change, a maneuver which is useful in a variety of competitive events. His loud blood bay sabino coat was created by finishwork artist Heather Bullach as her first design for Breyer. And now you get to select whether you would like a glossy or matte finish on this stately stallion!

Taking a look at the model...well, I like his tail, and the color is nice...but not so much the rest of him. My copy won't be staying with me! Sorry to Morgen (yet again). It's fun that they're letting us pick his finish, though - although that may not be so fun for the people that want both!  

Breyerfest Closeups: Beowulf

 Good news, everyone! Now that we're done with the New Arrivals post, we can keep moving right along and get started with Breyerfest Closeups, the series of posts I do every year detailing the new models revealed in the Collector Club tent at Breyerfest. It didn't seem like we got as many new reveals this year as we usually do, but I'll keep trucking along with the ones we did get. Today's model is Beowulf! 

Breyer had a number of these models available in the Breyer Store during the event, and they all sold out (unsurprisingly, as the model was highly-anticipated). 

You may recall that there was some controversy over this model back when it was first released, after it came to light that parts of the design were lifted from an existing design that was originally used as a tattoo. The designer of said tattoo surfaced on Blab and confirmed that the design was hers, and then we didn't hear anything else. The model is still in production, and Breyer commented on a Facebook post (or was it Instagram?) that an agreement had been reached with the original artist, so (hopefully) she was compensated for her work. 

I don't collect the Semi-Rearing Mustang, so I won't be getting this guy, but I wanted to get some detailed photos of him for the blog. I like the slash marks on his face and neck. 

I wasn't expecting him to be so vibrantly red in person - he seemed like more of a brownish-red in the promo photos. 

That's it for today's post - check back tomorrow for another Breyerfest Closeups!