The Breyer Christmas Blanket and Van Gogh

Although it is a vintage mold, I do not collect the Action Stock Horse Foal mold. I have had a couple come through my collection but, with the exception of Bailey from the Vintage Collectors Club, I have sold them all to someone who would appreciate them.

I just added another to my collection. I didn't really want him, but to get something I did want, I had to buy something and he fit the bill.

Breyer has been running a lot of holiday specials, and finally they had one with the holiday blanket that appeared on the cover of their winter catalog. (Screenshot from Breyer web site.)

 It was so pretty! But it wasn't listed on the website for quite a while after it appeared on the catalog's cover.

It popped up as a special a few days ago - if you bought a traditional model then you could get the blanket for free. I really didn't want (or need) any of the models, but I did want that blanket, so I took a look at what was on offer.

Van Gogh, a 2017 piece was on sale for a good price, but would that piece count as a traditional and get me the free blanket? It was a foal and therefore cheaper than the adult models. Would Breyer let me buy a cheap foal to get that blanket?

They sure did! So, I placed my order.

They arrived this afternoon and I am pleased with both them. The Van Gogh is much nicer in-hand than he looks on Breyer's website. (Or in my photos.) 

The blanket is beautiful and in a soft flannel. Overall the stitching, especially on the bias tape binding, is very well done. The hip darts, though, were not pressed and so when the blanket was bound, one was bound up toward the back while the other was bound down toward the hocks. (I probably would never had noticed that had I not just made two blankets myself.) But that is a quality issue and won't affect the fit.

I am still not sure I will keep Van Gogh, but he was a pleasant surprise. The blanket, however, is staying with me.