The Great Lakes Congress Show: Shopping

Second Post of the Day

In addition to showing and socializing, a model horse show is a great place for shopping. And it didn't take me long to reach my own self-imposted limit of spending. (In case you are wondering, it was 6:30 AM when I hit that limit.)

It's all Liz's fault, you know.

She put a couple of Hagen Renaker Circus Ponies out on her sales table.

All were from Nancy Falzone's collection. Nancy is a long time friend and I love it when I get to purchase pieces from her collection. And circus ponies? My favorites?? How could I resist? I bought all three of them.

Besides, variations!! (The blue one that I just bought is on the far left. Look how dark it is!)

Now I have enough plus a few extras so that "when the time comes," each grandchild will be able to choose one to remember me by. (Not that I'm done looking for more circus ponies to add to my collection.)

Continuing the "blame Liz" theme, the next time I walked past her table, she'd put out this piece.

A Stablemate Fighting Stallion for a very reasonable price!

An offering from the 2022 Stablemates Collectors Club, of which I am not a member (because, dontcha know, I don't collect Stablemates) that is a shrunk down vintage mold (which I do collect!) Add him to my stash, Liz, and we will settle up later! (She was busy making her own pile of haversacks on my sales table at the time! LOL)

Like I said, it was 6:30 AM and I'd hit my spending limit. But I could still walk around and look, right? And of course, then I found something else I wanted, something I'd been looking for for years.

The 2001 Jingles Holiday Pony with Sleigh. Still in box! The price was a little higher than I wanted to spend for the piece, but I figured it would not hurt to look at her. (Photo from Identify Your Breyer.)

I received permission from the seller to open the box and immediately out wafted the smell of vinegar. My heart sank - that smell indicates that the plastic of the model has begun deteriorating and the model is shrinking or will begin shrinking soon.

Even worse, as I pulled her out of the box completely, tiny pieces of foam insert clung to her and would not brush or pull off. The owner began working on the foam with a fingernail, then thought better of that and got a wet towel. I watched her work for a bit and she gave me a lowered price for the piece, but sadly I knew that I would not be buying that model. As I walked on, the foam was still stubbornly stuck to the model.

I was done buying new pieces for my collection but that didn't mean that someone might not give me one.

Chris Wallbruch donated all these minis to the Youth Show  and when that show concluded, had Liz put everyone's names in for a drawing for those still left. One by one we were called up to choose a piece. (Thanks, Chris!)

When my name was called, I snagged the Hagen Renaker Dalmatian in liver. I have strong mama-memories connected to Dalmatians and I don't have the liver version of this piece.

As a child, Music City Son Cole was enamored with Disney's 1964 movie, The 101 Dalmatians. ***

As such, he had Dalmatian everything - clothes, stuffies, toys, even a sleeping bag. I also bought him several of the black Dalmatians that Hagen Renaker made that were kept with my chinas. (He even had what he called a "Dalmatian horse" that now resides with him in Tennessee as a treasured memento of his childhood.)

This piece is staying with me unless he tells me he'd like to have it. Until then, it's a nice connection to Cole, to Chris, and to the GLC show. 

Liz also gifted me with some GLC stickers before the day was over. I found a great place right away for one of them.

The seat of my Rollator! Works for me!

There are one or two more things I'd like to share about the show and they will be in tomorrow's post. Jennifer Buxton, this post will have the story I thought you'd enjoy! (Although if you've already talked with Tiffany, she may have already shared it with you.)

Stay 'tooned!

*** While the 1964 movie version of Dodie Smith's classic, The One Hundred and One Dalmatians is good, the book is FANTASTIC. Chock full of that droll British humor and with many characters and incidents that the movie left out. I read it aloud one summer to Cole and Curt, and I'll never forget the evening both boys were rolling on the floor laughing at what I'd just read.

There's also a sequel (The Starlight Barking) which is quite different from the first book and is almost a science fiction story. Both versions are in this book and in unabridged form with Dodie Smith's original texts. Don't miss out - read the book!

The San Marcos Head Up and Head Down Ponies

Here is the story about those Hagen Renaker ponies that Lukie set the red, white and blue Breyers by the other day.

Liz Cory is helping Nancy Falzone sell some of her extensive Hagen Renaker collection. The day before Midwest Mini Mayhem, Liz posted some photos on Facebook of what she was bringing to the show to sell and these two lovely pieces were included.

Lucky enough to see the post as it dropped, and having been looking for this pair in Stablemate size for years, I looked at their prices, and immediately responded that if no one else had already bought them, then I would.

I was expecting the mini Head Up and Head Down ponies; I was not expecting the Designer Workshop pieces! The stickers should have been a clue, but the prices were so good, I assumed they were the smaller version.

I don't have a single one of the smaller, non-circus Head Up and Head Down ponies; every time I find one, it is snapped up before I can get it.

As a result, I acted fast and contacted Liz. The ponies were mine and it wasn't until I opened their box later that I realized I'd gotten the Designer Workshop pieces, not the Stablemate sized ones. 

Immediately I contacted Liz - there had to be a mistake because the price was what I expect to pay for the mini versions, certainly not the Designer Workshop ones.

Liz assured me that the price was not an error and that what I'd paid was what Nancy wanted for them.

Honestly, I could not believe my luck. While I did not get the chestnut pair in the Stablemate size that I have been looking for, I was still very, very happy to have the chestnut Designer Workshop set, especially at such a reasonable price and, more importantly, pieces that came from Nancy's collection.

Include with each one was a file photo and a card on which Nancy had written information about the piece.

I have had the ponies on my photography shelf since I got home. I've taken pictures of them, but I need to make room in the china cabinet where I keep my large Hagen Renakers. There is always a breakage risk when rearranging chinas, so I have been putting off that task.

I have been enjoying having them in my office and out where I can see them. But clearly it is time to put them in a safer place.

There is more to this story. Stay 'tooned!

Great Lakes Congress Pictures

Today Great Lakes Congress is holding its annual December show, always a fun one as it is holiday themed and has a potluck lunch. How I wish I could be there! 

But I already had a commitment today and so I sent my donations and a bunch of haversack orders up to Chicago with Barn Buddy Kelsey in the L bag. (Thanks, Kelsey!) I am hoping that folks will post lots of pictures throughout the day.

Just a few days ago, Liz sent some photos she'd found from the October show. I thought they'd be fun to post here today. If I can't be at a hobby gathering, at least I can share pictures from one, right?

I sold a lot of haversacks that day and was constantly straightening and rearranging my baskets. 

Keeping up with models in two rings is not normally a challenge for me; add in a very busy Mercantile and it became a struggle.

So was chatting with friends although I did get some snatches of conversation in between selling and showing. (That's me talking to Melissa Smith on the far left.)

Despite feeling rather harried, I did have fun and while I brought a very small show string, I still won a fair amount of ribbons.

Of all that I brought, Sweet Amy (named after my very first horse) did the best. 

Most of the pieces I brought were chinas. I love the Cheval Friesian mold and have three of them. 

Two of the three I ordered directly from Johnny de Beer in South Africa where Chevals are produced.

I enjoy having pieces in my collection from various continents. So far I have North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. I'd love to add some models that were made in South America and Australia.

I am bringing my Hagen Renakers out less and less as time goes on. They're smaller and it is soooo easy to snap a leg off. But I did bring this mini drafter to the show.

A lot of china showers have bought pony pads from me. It is always fun to walk around and spy them out on tables and in use. I made all three of the ones in this photo.

Hagen Renaker legend and very early hobbyist Nancy Falzone came as a spectator, joining Barn Buddy Kelsey and me for lunch. It was so good to get to chat with her - we have been friends since the 1990s.

Nancy is beloved in the hobby and especially by the GLC folks. That's Shannon Rodgers, also a dear friend, and Donna Connors who've joined us.

Lunch break over, it was back to showing and selling.

By the time the show was over, I'd sold over half of the inventory I'd brought, the best I've ever done at a venue.

Best of luck to all those heading to the Great Lakes Congress Holiday Show today. Have fun and enjoy that potluck! (Kelsey, can you save me some of your dessert mac n'cheese??)

December 2nd Advent Calendar Reveal

A farm hand ready to go to work.

I've added him to the scene and am hoping that tomorrow I will get the first horse.

Stay 'tooned!

 

Hodgepodge

(Today's post is going to seem a little disjointed as I have several unrelated things to write about.)

Yesterday I mentioned that I was looking forward to going to more model horse events soon, including Nancy Falzone's gathering at the end of this month, and that is true - I love gatherings more than I love shows! 

Nancy and me at BreyerFest, 2019.

But... this is all going to depend on the status of the migraines and whatever is causing me to go numb in various parts of my body. You just can't drive when you can't feel your hands, nor do you want to be picking up chinas, either! And, if your vision is blurring from a migraine, driving is not a good idea, either.

So, I am planning on going to Nancy's, the Clover Classic, and BreyerFest, I'm hoping to go, but ultimately it will be a last minute decision.

Next... the Kentucky Derby! What a surprise to have Mage pull it off. And did anyone else see the "chalky" horse being led down the track?

That's Cyclone Mischief. Look at how sharp and straight the edges of his blaze are! How white it is! The view of that bright white blaze from my television made him look like a chalky horse and almost cartoonish. I had to snap a photo and share it.

This last part is a bit sad and not horsey at all. Still, I want to acknowledge Marie and the heroic efforts her family made for her.

Marie was the sister of two of my former students. She had a very rare chromosomal disease, Ring 14, and was one of only 17 children with it worldwide. Her sisters, young as they were, loved her fiercely and were absolutely devoted to her. The family started a research foundation and have been working to help other families who have a member with Ring 14 and other rare diseases.

Halloween, 2008. Marie's family had dropped by to trick or treat at my home. Marie fell in love with our black lab, Zeus, and followed him around my living room. Zeus came over and sat voluntarily by her for the picture, and Craig happened to snap just as Marie leaned out of her mother's arms to hug him.

Marie passed away Saturday night and needless to say, the family is devastated. I was close to this family and they have remained in touch with me since moving to Texas several years ago. They are one of those families a teacher holds in her heart and never forgets.

Rest in peace, sweet Marie. You were fiercely loved, and you will be fiercely missed. Despite your brief life, you made a difference and brought joy to many. Love always, Mrs. I.

If you want more information on Ring 14, the Dewoodys' foundation site is  here: https://ring14usa.com/?subscribe=success#subscribe-blog-1  

The Collectors' Get Together

Nancy Falzone's get together was pretty incredible. Believe it or not, for the first time in my life, I actually went into horse overload. She has THOUSANDS of china models, and there is glass case after glass case chock full of them in every room of her home! (Nancy is one of the top three china collectors in the world. I soon saw why.)

And almost all of the big china collectors in the US were there. Actually, only one of the "big three" in the world was not there (Ed Alcorn from Florida.) More than once I looked around and wondered why I was invited - I have a nice collection, but certainly not one on par with most of these folks' collections.

 Front (l-r): Liz Isham Cory, Yvonne Rott, Donna Conners, Dawn Sinkovich, Steff Bodamer, Linda Shawhan. Middle (l-r): me, Ardith ??, Michelle Oviatt. Back (l-r): Jamie Rott, Paul Francis, Kristina Lucas Francis, Liz LaRose, Nancy Falzone, JoEllen Arnold.

Nancy's basement had a shelf that went around the perimeter of the room. That shelf was covered in several thousand mini Hagen Renakers sorted by category (cats, birds, wildlife, etc.)

A view of the living room - the pieces on tables are those we were asked to bring for a fun show and tell. (And that was fascinating!)

 One of Nancy's many china display cases.

Kristina Lucas Francis and Dawn Sinkovich were my seat mates on the couch during the show and tell.

Liz Isham Cory, former editor of Breyer's Just About Horses, shares some white bisques she was given by Breyer. They're molds from Hagen Renaker that Breyer was considering using for production. Wow!

Nancy shares some tidbits about a few of her favorite pieces. (How she selected just a few out of those thousands is beyond me!)

Author Nancy Kelly (standing, on right) was in attendance. She is going to include our get-together in the book she is currently working on about hobby history. (She took the earlier group photo.)

She also photographed all our show and tell pieces for her book. This is my West German Steha Circus Pony taking its turn in the photo booth.

What a day that was - certainly one I will not forget. It was great fun being a part of such a gathering. But best of all, despite the "illustrious" group of folks, everyone was down to earth and friendly, and I felt like I fit right in.

Heading Out of Town Again

For the third weekend in a row, I am heading out of town again. This week I am going to Oregon, Illinois, and I am very, very excited about the trip. I received an unexpected invitation to attend a gathering of china collectors at Nancy Falzone's home!

Nancy and I have been friends for years (since the early 1990s.) But still I was surprised to be invited. She is one of three premiere Hagen Renaker collectors in the model horse world, and people are FLYING in to attend this get together, people who are very big names like Nancy.

I'm not a big name. I collect, but never would one call my collection one of the top in the world like Nancy's. Jo Ellen Arnold from the east coast? Yes. (And she's attending.) Liz LaRose (Michigan), Ed Alcorn (Florida), and Kristina Lucas Francis (Tennessee)? Also invited and coming (although I've heard that Ed may not be able to make it after all.)

And if you read the last paragraph, author Nancy Kelly will be in attendance and photographing us for her next book! (She's spending three days with Nancy, interviewing her.)

Needless to say, I was surprised to be invited, but I've got my dish for the potluck (white chicken chili), a door prize (my extra HR Circus Elephant), and a couple of my circus ponies for the photo session.

I can't wait!