Viking BreyerFest, Denouement: Signs and Loot but no Glossy Flinka

On Saturday after the raffle, Sarah and I finally made it back to the CHIN to do some more shopping and to hopefully find friends we had not yet managed to track down. As usual, the room sales signs were abundant and excellent.

Check and check

We didn't get through the whole hotel again this year nor did we find everyone, but one of these years we'll manage it. We really need to add a couple of days to our trip to cram in everything we want to do---maybe Breyer can organize a strictly social day where all we do is meet in a big room with food, drinks, and maybe Stablemate painting or coloring, and we just jabber and do art all day long. That would be fun!

On Sunday morning, we rolled out of Lexington and had an uneventful drive back home. I stayed over an extra day on Monday just to relax with my family, take loot pix, and box up my new ponies to send home to myself in Chicago. Other than the BF special runs I bought, most everything else was inexpensive. 

I am slowly filling in some gaps in my collection of nostalgic 1980s special runs I missed out on (because I was a kid not yet tuned in to the hobby). So I was especially pleased to find the 1984 JC Penneys special run grey Appaloosa Performance Horse for only $30 on Saturday evening. It's a model I've wanted for years, but the right one just never came along at the right price and time. I was really delighted with this bargain. 

Sorry, not unwrapping the antlers

All in all, it was an excellent BreyerFest although it flew by in a blur as it always seems to. I wish I had more time to hang out with my sister and family and the friends we only see once a year. (Can we all go back right now and do it again?)

As I mentioned in my last post, the only thing I really hoped to get at BF this year was a glossy Flinka. Alas, my diorama contest entry was not a winning one. I think it was perhaps too serious with its historical bent and needed more whimsy. But nerds gonna nerd, what can you do. 

My entry was called "Just Fjord Your Information" and it represented young Auslaug and her pony Tuppa giving a presentation about Scandinavian horse and pony breeds at the Hjemkommst Festival in Moorhead, MN, my home state. There really is a seaworthy replica of a Viking longboat in the museum where the festival is held. Auslaug was named for one of my great-grandmothers, and Tuppa was the Norwegian nickname my grandfather called my mom as a little girl.

I customized and painted the pony, made the doll dress and pony bridle based on historical Viking-era artefacts, and I painted the Viking ship my SO sweetly 3D printed for me. I did at least end up with a cute custom Fjord model for myself even if I didn't get a glossy Flinka, and I learned the valuable lesson that making doll clothes and tack is largely outside of my skill set. I marvel at the people who have the patience and nimble fingers to do these things well!

I really, really wanted a glossy Flinka because I conga the Astrid mold and have all of them outside of auction models so far (matte Flinka pictured above)...

All 4 Astrids are different: 2 glossy, 2 matte, rosy toned, 
cool toned, and one is chalky

...so I'm going to have to start saving up to buy a glossy Flinka to make my ancestors proud and keep my little herd complete. If you happen to be selling one and are interested in steady monthly income over the course of most of a year, please hit me up! 

Viking BreyerFest, Part 3: The Park, Ponies, and Pretty Things

On Saturday, we slept in a bit before getting properly caffeinated for the day. We then made a quick run to the park to buy raffle tickets and pick up our celebration models and special runs. 

We usually go in the back way behind the covered arena so we don't have to look for a parking place in the lot and then traipse all the way through the park over to the covered arena. 

While waiting in line to buy tickets, we admired the silent auction items on display.

Glossy versions of the Scandi Surprise horses

Cassowary test for the Birds of a Feather series

Lovely customs by Karen Gerhardt

A factory custom test Foalzilla with a flippy tail

Glossy Flinka diorama contest prize model, the only model I 
really wanted at BF this year

Saturday raffle model

 

Sunday raffle model

While making a quick sweep through the arena vendors, we spotted Öjvind performing with other Gotland ponies. He's so tiny! Breyer featured him on the new Highland Pony mold this year which was a must buy for me.

We headed back to our hotel at that point to grab a quick lunch and leave our models in our nice cool room. We had hoped to spend part of the afternoon at the CHIN before taking a shuttle back out to the park for the raffle. However, none of the shuttles operated until about 5pm, so we opted to just kill a few hours at the park instead. It was a hot, humid day (although honestly not as bad as many years have been), so we thought doing some things in the air conditioning like checking out the gift shop and museum would be a good idea.

In through the front gates this time

After you pass through the gates, you cross over a pretty stone bridge which usually spans a mostly dry creek. This year with all of the heavy rain, the creek was burbling and full. 

Before we made our way to the visitors' center and gift shop, we took a detour to stroll down the shady avenue to pay our respects to Man O' War.

The most hallowed patch of ground in Kentucky

Then, after mostly behaving ourselves in the gift shop...

We didn't do this, but we definitely laughed

 ...we were pleased to see the auction models still on display. Not that we had the means to do anything more than ogle them, but they were fun to see up close all the same. 

My favorite piece

Wouldn't kick this one out of bed for eating crackers either

Not my favorite mold, but the pattern is stupendous

As we left the visitors' center, we passed by this giant photo frame with blue Lexington... 

...which, having given my sister the book Horse by Geraldine Brooks, reminded me of something I wanted to show her in the museum. Criminally, she has not yet read the book, so seeing the real Lexington in person probably fell a bit flat, but I nerded out enough for the both of us. The museum has been rearranged a bit since last we visited, but it's always a treat to see this hoary old legend of the turf. (The book is a fictionalized account of Lexington's life, but it's a terrific read. Kleenex required.)

When we entered the museum, a group had been out front demonstrating how horse hair pottery is made, and as we left the museum, the celebration horse, Flinka the Fjord, was there donating some hair to the project. We were delighted to have the opportunity to photograph and pet her. She was so flipping cute!

The sky was getting overcast by this point, and it was time to make our way back over to the covered arena for the raffle anyway. We followed some of the park's mounted police and detoured through their barn en route.

Oliver, a past BF celebration horse

Obligatory barn kitty

A very cute, on theme jump we passed near the covered arena.

We bought our usual $20 worth of raffle tickets (which used to get you 22 tickets but now only gets you 16), and to the surprise of absolutely no one, we did not win. (Although someone else who bought only $20 worth of tickets did get drawn, so it's not completely hopeless.) But I really never expect to be drawn. When you're only 1 for 37, it's more about masochistic tradition (and donating to a good cause) than anything else. 

The raffle crowd

This post ended up being longer than I planned, so I'll leave things here for now, and I'll share the wrap up and loot pix in a day or two!

Viking BreyerFest, Part 2: Breakables and the Open Show

After showing two days at the BreyerFest Open Show last year and doing both Breakables and the Open Show the year before that, we decided not to show at all on Thursday this year. Sarah and I and our parents found that two days of showing and early wake ups was too tiring, and because we only had 3 full days in Lexington anyway, we didn't really want to spend 2 of them in a show hall. 

So instead, we had a leisurely breakfast on Thursday morning and then ran a few errands to lay in provisions for the Open Show on Friday. After lunch, Sarah and I headed over to the CHIN to check out Breakables, see friends, and shop. We were glad to have some time to chat with our fellow clinky-fan friends at Breakables, and as always, there were a number of lovely models on the show tables.

Stunning Nymphenburg Zebras

A beautiful rocking horse grey Beswick Shire

As I mentioned in my last post, rumors have been swirling as to whether or not the CHIN, which is becoming a Delta-by-Marriott hotel, will remain as the host hotel for BF, and if so, if they will continue to allow room sales next year. We don't have answers yet, but the hotel is undergoing renovations, and based on the (more or less) finished rooms we saw, it's going to look very different next year. We took some photos for posterity.

Entrance to the 500 and 600s with its infamous carpet

The main lobby as seen from above

 

A typical current hallway

The newly renovated rooms were in the 300 and 400 wing, and I found them harshly lit and austere. Not at all the same comfortable, tacky-but-welcoming vibe of the CHIN of old. 

Still the old carpet for now

Also not a fan of blond wood

The 4am wake up on Friday morning drove home the real meaning of the Norwegian maxim "up and not crying."

We forced ourselves to set up our collectors classes without any caffeine in our bloodstreams, a feat of rare strength, let me tell you. We were both thrilled to have winning entries, and we were grateful to sip on some sweet, sweet bean water as soon as we were done. 

My Western Horse and Pony themed entry

 

Sarah's variety entry

The show moved along at a very fast clip this year, so neither of us had time to take many pictures, but we had a very good day even with the intense pace. 

After the show, we were all tired and hungry, so we ordered a pizza and decided to tuck in early. 

More shopping, Flinka in person (in equine?), the horse park, loot, and more in the next post!