Laura's BCC entry

Most of the BreyerFest Best Customs Contest reveals come in the way of pictures. Laura Skillern's took the form of a grainy video straight out of 1996.

Here's the story behind the video and a better look at the "updated" Cinnamon. Oh, how I wish this is how she'd really looked!

The Making of Cinnamon Queen - BCC 2024 entry in the Glow Up division

by Laura Skillern

If I had to pick a theme to sum up my year, it was ‘don’t give up.’

Between my health, my horse Simon’s health, and a number of other obstacles thrown my way, it’s been a lot. But I didn’t give up on Simon, and he got through surgery and now has a clean bill of health. When my back reached the point it hurt too much to lift my western saddle, I got a lighter English saddle. And when I was staring at this horse a month ago, not nearly as far along as I’d hoped I’d be, I kept pushing through.

After starting Cinnamon, it was really hard to get my momentum going at the start of this piece. Like a lot of artists, I get dragged down into the depths of imposter syndrome. I could imagine in my head what I wanted her to look like, but I could also see the gap between what I wanted to make and what I felt I was capable of producing. That gap felt like a chasm. 

I kinda wanted to sit this year out. I wanted an excuse to quit and not confort a project that scared me this much. 

And then freaking Breyer put out a mini Cinnamon, like some sort of sign from the universe telling me to get off my butt and finish her.

I pushed myself to march through the ugly stages and told myself it would all work out in the end even if I didn’t yet believe it (ESPECIALLY if I didn’t yet believe it.) And at the end of this project, I ended up genuinely happy with what I’d done. 

I picked up a couple new techniques along the way. 

I took risks, and stepped outside of my comfort zone. I even tackled the breed type that intimidates me the most. I’m very, very glad I didn’t give up.

So here’s my finished project with nice studio photos, not just a grainy VHS-style video.

Thank you, Laura. I'm also glad you didn't give up. We all needed to see this version of Cinnamon!