Halloween Horses are Here

There are things I like about Halloween and things I absolutely DO NOT. I dislike the macabre side with zombies, ghouls, and gore, but I do enjoy the more innocent side of it with pumpkins, falling leaves, and chilly weather.

I also enjoy most of the Halloween horses that Breyer has put out. (Cryptic is my all time favorite. So well executed!)

Thanks to Shannon Call, I got the two Spooky Stablemates I missed out on when Breyer's Halloween web store had issues. I came back several times to place my order, but the Stablemates sold out before I could get any. Shannon kindly sold me two of hers.

I especially wanted Cornelius. Not that I am a fan of mules or candy corn,

but my favorite blog post that I ever wrote was a Dr. Seuss parody 

that involved Jennifer Buxton's candy corn challenge and Abby.

So, I really wanted Cornelius to go along with that. (I'll repost that blog entry as Halloween gets closer.)

I wanted Mini Nevermore because of the connection to Edgar Allen Poe.

I taught Classic Literature as part of my curriculum and while I did not teach Poe's poems in my classroom (too scary for that age level) most of the kids knew who he was and so he came up quite often in October.

Any time Breyer connects with Classic Literature through a model, I try to get it for my collection.

I was on the fence about Slither and put him in and out of my shopping cart multiple times.

I do not like the mold, but the color and the pattern on him is really cool. (I don't care for the mane at all, but I love how you can see a snake wrapped around it!)

Unfortunately, my Slither has more than a few flaws. Look at that raised foreleg.

See the hair on his fetlock? It's embedded under the gloss.

There is extra plastic between his ears and a gouge out of his ear (on the right in this photo.)

There are random black spots (two in this photo) scattered around.

It's not the end of the world, but it is disappointing, enough so that I wish I had not put him in my cart that last time and bought him.

I have many more new models to share, but I haven't opened any boxes for quite some time. They are stacked here in my office, some all the way back from last May, and it is time to get them out and onto the shelves.

Stay 'tooned!

A Busy Breyer Week

It's been a busy Breyer week and it's only Thursday. 

First, Santino dropped and was available to order. This year's Freedom Series Gamblers Choice and on the vintage Polo Pony mold, Santino comes in three colors, Bay Manchado Pinto, Glossy Dappled Palomino, and Chestnut Blanket Appaloosa. (Lesli Kathman designed the colors.)

Photo by Breyer and taken from Breyer's web site.

I set an alarm on my phone and was able to purchase one, although I see they are still available to buy this morning. 

The Polo Pony model has had issues with the stand in the past; the model begins to lean to one side or forward with time. (Look at the models shown on Identify Your Breyer and you can see a variety of leaning positions.)

I read somewhere that the stand had been improved but I can't find the source to document that. I hope Breyer has improved it; otherwise, Santino will be kept off his stand and lying in a box like my Silver Comet is.

The next exciting moment was that the Halloween Store opened yesterday. Again I set my alarm and hopped onto my computer in hopes of getting what I wanted.

But the store had a lot of issues. At first everything was available. I put Slither in my cart (not a fan of the mold, but I love that green color!) and then went back to get the Halloween Stablemates. I especially wanted Cornelius and Nevermore. But when I went back to get them, their status had changed to "Coming Soon." What??

Photos of Slither and Halloween Stablemates by Breyer.

More clicking around, and I discovered almost all the offerings in the Halloween store had had their status changed as well. (My Slither stayed in the cart, though.)

I decided to come back in a few hours and try again. Not the best idea - almost everything was listed as out of stock and Slither was gone from my cart!

This morning Slither was back up for sale and he is in my cart again. But aside from the two Stablemates, there is nothing else I really want. And if I purchase Slither, the shipping and tax will nearly double his price, and I don't want him that badly. So, my plan is to keep an eye on the site and see if the Stablemates are restocked. 

Finally, the August Collectors Club newsletter dropped Wednesday with a giveaway for Adamek.

One lucky club member will win this piece. (You must enter to win.)

The monthly workshop is making splatter dappled disco decorators with Teagan Davis, and there is a sneak peek of a new web special coming in September. (Adamek and sneak peek photos by Breyer.)

Is Breyer done for the week? I guess we will find out, so stay 'tooned!

(Last day for the give away! Make your guess before 11:59 PM tonight.)