April 2024 Odds n’ Ends

 

Originally, this post was to be published as Part 2 of the March Odds n’ Ends feature, but surprise, it didn’t make it. So now it is the April 2024 Odds n’ Ends feature, lol. First up, a gofundme initiated by Bernadette Phillips to purchase a memorial plaque for Andrea Gurdon, the Breyer History Diva, has reached its goal. This plaque was be placed in the Kentucky Horse Park, the home of Breyerfest to honor Andrea’s memory and her contribution to the model horse hobby. Instead of a plaque, a memorial bench is to be placed by the BF entrance gate at the KHP. The inscription is to read:

Andrea M. Gurdon
Breyer History Diva
Forever First in Line

 Thank you to all who helped make this possible!

Photo from tripadvisor.com

The March 2024 Collector Club newsletter hit inboxes in the last days of March and it is not terribly exciting. I miss the “My Collector Story” feature, which allowed hobbyists to share things about their collections and how collecting intertwined with their life. That segment was then to be expanded to what was called  “The Collector Club Showcase.” This was to give collectors a broader stage to share things about their models and the hobby, such as “Breyer fanart, photography, short stories, model horse show wins, collection photos, and whatever else your creative mind can come up with!” Since at least December 2021, the Collectors Club newsletter has only provided a feature story, a giveaway, and a sneak peek. Not to say those items are bad, I just wish there was more content in the newsletters. I for one truly miss Breyer’s “Just About Horses,” a former quarterly publication. Now we get *one* issue at the end of each year. I look forward to that yearly issue very much, but I am greedy for more! Moving on to the contents of this month’s newsletter, the feature story is a fully digitized issue of JAH from 1980:

The March giveaway model is RD Marciea Bey:

And last of all we have a Sneak Peek square, featuring a metallic-y gold and blue pattern:

I suppose this decorator is the next installment of the Exotic Destinations, and the shimmery gold and lapis bring the obvious guess to mind - ancient Egypt. Probably a wrong guess, but due to brain drain I’m not feeling particularly inquisitive. So we have to wait for the upcoming reveal.

BreyerWest took place during the weekend of March 15-17, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. It had model horse shows, meet and greets, Stablemate painting, raffles, workshops, etc. BreyerWest also had an exclusive Event Model limited to one per BreyerWest attendee. The model, HD Harkness, was a Breyerfest 2023 Store Special, and glossed specifically for BreyerWest. Glossy HD Harkness is a run of 250 pieces and is numbered the same as the Breyerfest release, with the addition of a capital G for glossy (# 711263G). The cost of the event model was $175 and includes a certificate of authenticity:

BreyerWest featured a display of the upcoming Breyerfest models, along with the latest Exotic Destinations model, Mumbai. In addition to all of those models, the Ambassador (aka Volunteer) model was revealed. The Ambassador/Volunteer model will have three different colors, two of which were revealed at BreyerWest and the third to be seen at Breyerfest. It is the Bluegrass Bandit mold, and she is named Worth It. This sabino mare has been shown in the medium and liver chestnut colors, and in July we shall see the third one. Here are the two revealed colors:

 

Hmmmmmm…oh yes. Since we were just talking about Event Models, let’s take a gander at the Event Models for Breyer’s 2024 Collector Club Event. This year’s event, dubbed Spokes and Spurs, is being held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from May 3-5, 2024. Tickets were available via lottery purchase, and the event, limited to 200 people, is sold out.

There are models exclusive to each event, and while we don’t know what those are yet, we do know what the Event Model and Stablemate are. The Event Model, a run of 200, is on the Bobby Jo/Working Cow Horse mold and depicts Wimpys Little Step, a stunning palomino:

The Event Stablemate is on the mini Clydesdale Stallion and is named Ned. Ned is a black sabino with white and blue bobs, and is a run of 200 as well:

I have to say that I really like these event models - I conga both of them! Arrrrrrggghhhh!!! I will simply have to admire them from afar, or wait it out until an opportunity arises for their potential purchase. Lol, yeah right, but who knows, this is one of those be-patient-and-wait scenarios. That is it for now, and hopefully I can get the next Odds n’ Ends installment up in a timely manner. 

*Photos of Breyer models and Spurs and Spokes logo are from Breyer’s website and social media.

March 2024 Odds n’ Ends

Just a few things to mention from the last days of February that I was unable to get up yesterday. Breyerfest tickets finally went on sale on Monday, February 26th after some delay. All tickets are now digital, so the days of tickets being mailed are gone. You can read about Breyerfest ticket options here.

The Collector Club February Newsletter came out, and it contains a link to the Breyer Blog post remembering Andrea Gurdon. I am happy to see Breyer acknowledging Andrea.

The newsletter feature story spotlights the Bristol mold, which was a 2018 Premier Club introduction. Great mold choice for Leap Year, keeping perfectly in theme. The giveaway for February is Clooney 51 (#10040), a fleabitten grey Westphalian gelding. Collector Club members need to enter the drawing for him by midnight, March 3, 2024 for a chance to win. Good luck to all who enter!

A Sneak Peak square of the second model in the new Exotic Destination series has been revealed:

Some collectors are guessing the upcoming destination may be an island based on the shared image, and I thought the same thing. Probably because it reminds me of this globe:

I wouldn’t be surprised if the latest destination has nothing to do with islands, lol. We’ll have to wait and see where we land next.

Moving on from the newsletter, Breyer is having another giveaway, this one for Leap Year:

This giveaway is a really nice one. Breyer’s website states “Each of our three winners will receive a Leap Day prize package that includes three jazzy jumpers!”  The models include Queen of Hearts (from Breyerfest 2021), Get Rowdy, and Clooney 51. Entries will be accepted up until midnight on March 3, 2024. I believe this giveaway is open to everyone, not just Collector Club members, but I am unsure. Apparently a non-member was able to enter for this drawing. If you are not a Collector Club member, go to Breyer’s homepage and click on the Leap Day banner. It doesn’t hurt to try. Luck Dragons to all of you!

Annnnnnnd, there is one more March 3rd deadline. This one is for the Collector Club Deluxe option, which includes the standard Collector Club benefits plus an exclusive Stablemate and enamel pin. This year’s exclusive SM is the new mini-me mold of Othello, who is also known as Wintersong. Othello, originally a porcelain model, debuted in plastic as the 2007 Holiday Horse, Wintersong. The exclusive SM is named Horatio, and while he mirrors the markings of the first CC exclusive, Heath, they have different coat colors. Once March 3rd passes, only the standard Collector Club option will be available. Here is a photo of the newly miniaturized Wintersong mold, Horatio: 

That’s it for Odds n’ Ends right now. Stay tuned for more as news items crop up!

*Photos are from Breyer’s emails and website.

In Memory of Andrea Gurdon, the Breyer History Diva

 

Our hobby is reeling from the loss of Andrea Gurdon, aka the Breyer History Diva. She passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2024, shortly after receiving her cancer diagnosis. I have been struggling to get my thoughts together regarding Andrea’s passing. It seems impossible to have lost Andrea; it is unfair that the cancer had such a foothold that Andrea didn’t even have a fighting chance. I cannot find words.

Many of us never met Andrea in person (including me), but her incredible hobby expertise and presence through the decades made her an icon. I think I still have a couple of her sales lists from the 1980s, back from the days of SASEs. Her long running blog was chock full of so many interesting things about Breyer’s history (she knew more about Breyer’s history than they did) and models. Her musings were always a great read. Andrea was the person to ask questions to about models, especially those oddballs that would surface. She was willing to educate and share the information she knew. Her vast knowledge led her to write the Breyer Vintage Club COAs. The COAs were outstanding- I have sold a few of my VC models, but I always made a copy of the COAs to keep for myself; the original COAs went with the models. The VC COAs will never be the same, nor will our hobby. The void left by Andrea’s passing will never be filled. Rest in peace, Andrea. You were so special to us and we will miss you greatly.

*Photo is from the Breyer History Diva blog.