BreyerFest Week Thursday

 Second Post of the Day

It's the first day of BreyerFest activities, although not officially part of the listed dates for the event. My guess is that next year Breyer will include Thursday and we will grow into a four day event. 

That's hard to believe, says she who was there in the beginning and remembers  the two day event complete with dinner models,  

1991, Dr Peaches,

1992, Mustang Lady,

1993, Turbo the Wonder Horse,

and a big BBQ served for all attendees in tents (that's Liz Cory and her mama, Caroline,)

and model shows being held in the arena! (I was so dirty and dusty after showing there, and so were my models.)

How far we have come in 36 years!

Because I had physical therapy yesterday then an out of town drive to go get the chair Van made for me, and finally with Cole and Henry arriving (more on their visit later), I am behind on yesterday's news from Kentucky. But...

I did see pictures of the Clarion with flooded hallways - apparently they had heavy rains and the hotel was flooding in some areas. (I don't have permission to post names or photos of that; sorry!) Photos also showed that despite the flooded areas, shopping and other events were in full swing.

I was also excited to get shipping notices yesterday from Breyer that both of my Flinkas have shipped. Currently she is scheduled to be delivered on Monday. 

Speaking of Flinka,

where in the world is she? Breyer has posted a key; I'll download that and share it with the final photo tomorrow.

Stay 'tooned!

My BreyerFest History: 1990 - 1994

First Post of the Day

This series has taken me weeks to research and write. I sorted through boxes in closets, I spoke with my dear friend Kathy who went to several BreyerFests with me, I googled, I asked questions on social media...

It is as accurate as my memory and research can make it and is the story of my personal participation in BreyerFest over the years. 

Chock full of fond memories, the series was a beast to write (I wrote NINE entries for the blog yesterday.) However, I am glad that I finally have my BreyerFest memories documented and recorded. 

I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed researching and writing them.

BreyerFest 1990 (Did not attend)

The very first BreyerFest was held July 28 - 29, 1990 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. 

Dr. Peaches, the first Breyer Dinner/Celebration horse.

Only 1,026 were made and I got mine from Karen Beeson, a friend who was attending the University of Illinois at the time and had an extra. Currently he is valued at $100 - $200.

Karen Beeson, Kathy Bateman, Julie Propes, Kay Biberstein, and Chris Wallbruch were all in Champaign-Urbana at the time and it was so fun getting together with them back then! And those friendships have endured and continued despite the passage of 35 years. 

At the time, Karen was a Breyer dealer, and when she got in a new shipment, she'd invite us to come over and see what new Breyer merchandise she had in. We'd gather in her apartment, look, buy, and gab. Very happy memories.

I did not go to the very first BreyerFest for a variety of reasons - I had a passle of kids at home (Cole, the youngest, was just 2) and we only had one income. The drive to Lexington and back, the hotel costs, the tickets to the event... I did not feel good spending our money that way.

BreyerFest 1991 

My first BreyerFest and the second BreyerFest ever held. In an effort to alleviate complaints about travel distances and make the event more accessible to collectors, BreyerFest 1991 was held in four different locations:  June 8-9 in Redmond/Bend, Oregon, July 13 in York, Pennsylvania, August 10-11 in Lexington, Kentucky, and August 17-18 in Pomona, California. 

I attended the one in Lexington, Kentucky, only a four hour drive from where I was living in Illinois.

I went alone. This mom of six (all of whom were still living at home) was happy to have a little silence and the freedom to not have to work around anyone else's plans. The internet and email were in their infancy and I did not yet know too many people back then, anyway. (Those I did know had plans to be there for longer than I wanted to be away from my family.)

The Dinner Model was Mustang Lady (2,500 made), and dinner was served in a large tent on the grounds of Kentucky Horse Park. 

I was thrilled to get her - the Indian Pony is one of my favorite molds of all. She's valued at $250 - $300 currently.

I don't remember a whole lot about the 1991 BreyerFest. It was hot and crowded out at the park. I remember wandering around, shopping at the booths on the concourse, and feeling a bit bewildered at it all. I took a break and sat in the grass under a tree to cool off, and then later pulled a tick off my leg - ick! (I never, ever sat in the grass at the horse park again.)

The dinner tent was crowded and I didn't know anyone, so I sat by myself and just listened to folks talk model horses. But I wasn't lonely - I was in my element!

It's interesting to note that there were no other models to buy aside from 4 raffle models and some live auction models (which varied depended on which BreyerFest 1991 you attended.)

I came home refreshed and hoping that I could go to BreyerFest again in the future.

BreyerFest 1992

To my great joy, the 1992 Dinner Model was on my MOST favorite mold, the Semi-Rearing Mustang! (1,000 made.)

Named "Turbo, the Wonder Horse," he was modeled after a real horse who belonged to a man in the musical group that sang for us Saturday night on the stage in the covered arena. "Riders in the Sky" was their name and they were good. 

My Turbo is mellowing into a lovely cream color on his mane and tail. (Value $150 - $175)

The date was August 1, 1992 and a dinner was held outdoors in a tent again. I don't remember it being quite as hot as it had been the previous year and again, there were no models to buy aside from another raffle that was held.

While I did make it to the Holiday Inn North to shop, that year I spent a lot of time in my hotel - sleeping, reading, and best of all, one very long, luxurious bubble bath. Heaven!

BreyerFest 1993 (Attended)

Things were starting to change as previous BreyerFests had been successful and the event was getting bigger but it was still held at the end of the month (July 30 to August 1.) The Dinner Model that year was Greyingham Lucky Lad. 1,500 were made, a raffle model was produced, and for the first time, a Volunteer model - the PAM in glossy silver filigree. (She's valued at $5,000 to $8,000 now.)

There was a live auction with a whopping 76 lots!

Once again, the Dinner Model was one that I conga - I have 18 Clydesdale Stallions currently. So I was happy to get him. (Valued at $40 - $60.)

This boy has some odd markings, although they apparently were true to the real horse. His off front leg had black running down the back of it...

... and there was a wishbone-like marking under his belly.

Liz Cory and her mom, Caroline, at the dinner that Breyer used to serve. I didn't know Liz back then; she sent me this photo a few years ago when we were talking about the dinners Breyer had served for several years. (Photo used with permission.)

I wasn't quite such a hermit this time - I went over to the Holiday Inn and shopped, bringing home far more ponies than I'd planned!

BreyerFest 1994 (Attended)

By 1994, I was an experienced live shower, having begun in October, 1991. (Real live shows, not the throw-your horses-in-a-bag-and-pedal-over-to-Bobbie-Sue's-home-on-your-bike kind.)

Mountain Mama Jessica and Teacher Daughter went with me over to Indianapolis (we were living in Illinois at the time) for my first real live show and I found a photo album with this notice in it as I was doing research. 

My herd was a lot smaller back then, but it was competitive for the time.

I am not sure, but I think that 1994 was the year I showed in the BreyerFest live show. 

Back then it was held in the covered arena and we had to slog through the thick footing of the arena. Entrants got dirty, judges got dirty, and even worse, the models we'd brought, our best show pieces, got dirty.

My absolute worst model horse memory happened during that show. A woman claimed her model had been stolen off the show table and began running from table to table, looking for it. She spied my charcoal Semi Rearing Stallion and grabbed it right off my table!

Frosty, still beautiful after over 50 years in my collection.

That piece is my favorite Breyer, one I spent ten hours babysitting to earn when I was twelve years old. It was NOT hers. Needless to say, I protested.

I remember Tom Bainbridge, who had been judging, coming over to sort things out. As he approached, she backed down, set MY model back on my table, and said it wasn't hers. 

Eventually she did find her own model, but in the meantime I was near tears, hands shaking, and very upset at having been publicly accused of taking someone else's model. And, to have someone come over and grab my horse like that...

I never learned who that woman was, and while I understand her distress at losing a model, running over to someone else's table and grabbing a model off it is never appropriate. 

Bright Zip, the 1994 Dinner/Celebration model, is not a mold I actively collect, but his beautiful Appaloosa coloring remains a favorite of mine. 2,244 pieces were made and his current value is $75 - $100.

Things had continued to change as BreyerFest grew, although it was still being held at the end of July (29 - 31.) This was the year that Breyer introduced BreyerFest Special Runs and they were keychains! There were four different ones, made out of Stablemates, 259 made of each. The auction consisted of  65 pieces.

That wraps up the first five years of BreyerFest. The next year, 1995, changed everything as the very first NAN was held.

Stay 'tooned!

Time Traveling - Ouiatenon's Thought Provoking Artifacts

Leslie and Rick recently taught a seminar for the Tippecanoe County Historical Association on beads and other artifacts found during excavations at Fort Ouiatenon. 

A bone bead (possibly for an ear bob) in the photo behind her.

Lisa and I attended as did our friend Gretchen (who drove me to and from KZoo this year.)

I had no idea just how much TCHA had in their collection of beads and other artifacts. It was jaw dropping. 

These unusual beads (I thought they were shark teeth; they are not) have only been found at Ouiatenon and one other place. 

Leslie also showed us some green beads that have never been found at any other historical site in the country.

Sewing thimbles which were often turned into jewelry like jingle cones.

Part of a bit.

The top of a chess piece, with the original paint still present in spots.

Some pottery that is mostly intact.

Lots of iconographic rings.

It was a real learning experience for me to hear about these artifacts that have been found at Ouiatenon. But there were two things that gave me the shivers when I saw them.

The Ouiatenon cross. There are two in the collection, and the replica that I wear at events is of the smaller cross.

Mine means a lot to me on several fronts - it was my mother's, it represents Ouiatenon and its history, and my own faith means a great deal to me.

To see the real Ouiatenon cross was sobering and I felt a connection to those who had worn theirs at Ouiatenon, just as I do.

The other artifact that was shiver-worthy was also one that made me very sad. To understand, you need a little history first.

Post Ouiatenton was occupied by the French, then the British, then by the Native tribes who used it as a base to resist further European settlement. As a result of that resistance, George Washington ordered the fort to be destroyed in 1791.

Ouiatenon was burned to the ground and never used again as a fort or settlement.

These beads melted together during the burning of Ouiatenon.

I looked at those and was sad for the loss of the fort but even more so for those who were there and had lost their lives. This mass of beads was witness to a terrible tragedy, and I could almost hear and feel the echos of that horrific day as I looked at them.

Those beads will haunt me the rest of my life.

I attended that seminar to learn more about beads but I came away with a different, broader perspective. I can't change history, but I can work harder to honor it. 

The people of Ouiatenon, be they Wea, Miami, British, or French, deserve it.

The Feast: Tired but Quietly Content

Sunrise at The Feast of the Hunters' Moon is a lovely time of day.

The grounds are stirring as folks are starting their day.

Sunrise over the Wabash is even more beautiful.

I always arrive early and so I get a chance to talk to friends, make new ones, and enjoy a bit of the Feast myself.

Lisa, Leslie, and Frank were out and about early, too. See my next door neighbor on the left? (In the red shirt.) He and his son cooked a variety of foods all weekend over their campfires, demonstrating to people some surprising things that could be cooked over a fire in a cast iron skillet.

Like this delicious, made-from-scratch-cooked-over-the-coals carrot cake that he brought me later in the morning! (I gave him some maple cakes to thank him.)

Lisa had planned to wear her robe a l'Anglaise but it turned out that I made a part of the sleeve incorrectly and that needed to be fixed first. She was so disappointed, but was very kind in her disappointment. I will try again after the Great Lakes Congress show is over later this month.

More strolling musicians came past my tent Sunday. This group is a high school orchestra from St. Louis. Their director was from Lafayette who grew up attending the Feast. As an adult orchestra leader, she teaches her students how to fiddle and then brings them out to experience and participate in the Feast.

Speaking of high school, an old high school friend, Darlene, popped in to see me. I had not seen her since we'd graduated!

Deb and her daughter Theresa came over from Illinois. Deb was a fellow teacher as well as Mountain Mama Jessica and Theresa's Girl Scout leader.

Anna used to live two doors down from me, and when we moved into our home, she was ten years old and came over and vacuumed for me! I'd just had three different surgeries on my left ankle before we moved in and was hobbling around in a cast and on crutches. What a sweet thing to do!

She and her younger brother Ian were especially fond of our dog, Zeus, and Anna was considered the Zeus Fan Club president as so many of the neighborhood kids loved him and would come visit him. (He loved them right back.)

The weather was beautiful and not quite as hot as the previous day, so the day was very busy.

Not only did this customer buy the black and red shirt she's holding (and I made the red shirt he's wearing last year), she gave me a custom order to make another shirt in a different size in the blue fabric.

Mackenzie and her husband are long time customers of mine. Not only are they wearing shirts I'd made, they bought one more and then put in a custom order for a second.

Friends Whitney and Jean are also long time customers and are wearing short gowns I'd made for them.  

It's gratifying to sell something you have made, but when you see it being worn, you know they like it, and that makes me smile.

As they'd done the previous day, Lisa and Frank popped in periodically to check on me. My next door neighbor also brought them slices of that carrot cake to enjoy!

Three generations of family Feasters in this photo! I'm G2, Curt and Lisa are G3, and Ian, Mila, and Lukas are G4. (My mother was G1.) I'm so pleased with how the kids' clothing looks. (Lukas likes his shirt so much, he wore it to school on Monday.)

Of course, everyone got a free maple cake. (Or more... LOL)

Ian plays his new pan pipe while Vanessa, Lukas, and Mila eat their maple cakes. 

After that, they headed off to see the sights and try some of the activities. Curt's family took on a high school group on the Cricket field and won!

Ian trained as a thief in Scoundrel's Alley (run by the Jarboes) and got caught and put into stocks!

I have no idea what card game this is, but I'd love to learn how to play.

Taking a look at some 18th century children's toys. I love the ballerinas above the monkey puppet!

Walking down by the Wabash. (The river is right behind them on the other side of that screen of trees.)

So many things to look at!

This is an ingenious 18th century workbench that can fold down when not in use.

It makes me happy that my family loves coming to the Feast and that the legacy begun by my mom continues on.

About an hour before closing, things calmed down enough that I could slip out and do some shopping. I headed straight to Eagle Talon Traders.

Owner Brandon has been a friend since the 1990s. He has a real eye for fabrics and is the best source for wool that I know of. I haven't known his wife Jessie for that long, but she has become a good friend, too. 

After visiting them, I dropped by Mike and Phyllis Dotson's tent for a quick hello. Mike used to be married to another member of our family, but their divorce was friendly and we have stayed in touch. (He's a Hartland collector, too!) Then I hustled back to my own tent.

I got back just in time. My dear friend Brooke had stopped by to see me. This was her first year as director of the Feast, and that is a huge undertaking and heavy load. Lisa, Leslie, and I had put together that block print bag of some goodies for her to thank her for her hard work and support.

She also bought some of my clothes which is an honor but it makes me incredibly nervous as she is one of the best sewists I know. 

When Brooke heard about the issue with the sleeve of Lisa's gown, she offered to help me fix it and confided, "I have made several robe a l'Anglaises, and I have yet to get the sleeves right the first time." (Thanks, Brooke. I needed to hear that!)

And with that, the 2024 Feast of the Hunters' Moon was over. Craig, Frank, and Lisa helped strike the tent and pack up, and I was home by 7:00 PM.

Tired, but also quietly content. It was a lovely weekend.