BreyerFest shorts, part two

You would think that after last year, there wouldn't be any funny Clarion carpet pictures left to take.

Jackie Rossi and Heather Malone

You would be wrong.

Maggie Schneider Barkovitz

This carpet is the gift that keeps on giving.

photo by Maggie Schneider Barkovitz

I think this one is my favorite!

Celeste Alvarez-Plitz

Lara Heidkamp writes: Brie Cundiff and I fulfilled our dream of wearing our Shrek Crocs on the Clarion carpet.

By the way, it's not just the carpet that makes this hotel "memorable". Amanda Reed shares this quintessential CHIN experience: Sara Roche and I almost got locked into our own room on several occasions, because the inner door handle popped out a screw. Thankfully we managed to get it back in each time so we could actually leave!

Moving on, BreyerFest is famous for its quirky "celebrity" sightings and meet-ups. Here's Amanda Bowe at the Bloaty shrine.

This is Lisa Esping and Stacy Faraci having a mini Blythe doll meet up at the Horse Park!

Lara Heidkamp asks: Does Cocaine Bear count? I think Jaime Castleman would agree with me that Cocaine Bear should count.

Jaime  definitely agreed. She says: He is so cool! I might be making a yearly visit myself.

Cosplay has become another BreyerFest staple.

Tara Reich as Tina Belcher

This is especially noticeable at the Children's and Youth Show.

BreyerFest Children's and Youth Show staff

For those who miss Breyer's costume contest, the Mojo Dojo Casa Horse event challenged attendees to dress as their favorite Barbie for fun and prizes.

Jackie Rossi, Heather Jackson-Lain and Tara Reich

No surprise, Weird Barbie was a popular choice.

Miki Lancaster as Weird Barbie

Tina DeCaussin writes: Denise Gimmarro had planned to make pink Barbie boxes and dress up for the Mojo Dojo event. I told her, if anything, I am a garage sale Barbie with ratty hair, mismatched clothes and missing a shoe. We stopped at thrift stores along the way, and well, made it happen. We did not win, but I cannot say when weve laughed as much as this.

This year BreyerFest also included an unofficial Furry meet and greet at a local library. It was a hit, and event organizer, Julie Matz, is planning to reserve a bigger room for next year. Here she is interviewing celebration horse, Athenian Lady for TikTok.

Proving that the zaniness of BreyerFest persists even after the event is over, Kenzie Williamson shared this photo from the SeaTac Airport. She says: When I got in last night, Breyerfest shenanigans were still underway. I really wanna know who this was!

Of course, it wasn't long before the perpetrator's identity was revealed... and plans for 2025 were made!

Thank you, as always, to everyone who contributed their stories and photos to this post. We love living vicariously through you!

Signs of the times

During BreyerFest week, the walls of the host hotel are covered with signs. Historically, these were used to advertise room sales.

photo by Maggie Schneider Barkovitz

In recent years, things have taken a turn.

photo by Maggie Schneider Barkovitz

Signs can be about anything.

photo by Jackie Rossi

Or nothing.

photo by Jackie Rossi

And as much as we all need the sales signs, those aren't the ones anyone remembers.

photo by Jackie Rossi

This year's BreyerFest was filled with memorable signs.

photo by Clarice Bone

Kelly Weimer writes: I love the signs that are “helpful” and aren’t selling anything, like this one.

Lisa Smalley also shared a photo of that sign. She explains: I always look for funny signs around the Clarion. My Mom and I spotted a new sign above the water fountain. We stopped and read it, then walked a little bit further, and suddenly started cracking up.

The award for this most memorable sign goes to...

graphic by Maeve King-Devery

The Lost Lamp Pet FBI poster.

Samantha Burnette shares the story behind this one. She writes: My friend, Melanie Gill, and I saw the post about someone's lamp being stolen on Modelholics Anonymous.

I came up with the idea and Melanie made it happen, at 2 AM!

Thanks for the laughs, Samantha, Melanie and everyone else who helped make the CHIN walls so memorable this year!

BreyerFest shorts

Earlier this month, I asked this year's BreyerFest HorseFest attendees to share their best one or two photo stories from Kentucky. Many of the stories revolved around a few common themes, the first of which was achievement.

photo by Sara Bowman

Sarah Pavolko writes: I almost cried seeing my work in print. I have a degree in Creative Writing, but I haven't had the chance to publish in a long time.

Sarah's article in the NAN program

Sometimes the best achievement is just being really lucky. Kenzie Williamson sent this picture of the moment she realized what she'd won in the Studio Thornrose raffle at Mojo Dojo Casa Horse.

She says this one shows the crying that ensued after.

I'd cry, too. Look how amazing!

Acquiring - and unacquiring - was another popular topic. 

photo by Lindsay Diamond

Maggie Schneider Barkovitz writes: I wasn’t there for this, but on the last night of 'Fest, I had to drop off some items in people’s rooms. I told Pam I would let my glossy Get Rowdy go for $100 if need be. While I was out a girl and her mom came into the room. They looked around and started to leave when they spied Get Rowdy. Pam said he was $100 and apparently that made the girl’s night. It was a nice story to come back to!

Heather Moreton shared a picture of one of her glorious bosals with this explanation: I don't have a photo from the moment, but I got to hand a bosal I made.I don't often get to do that. Usually I mail them out, and it was wonderful to see the look on her face. She liked it! Here is a photo of the bosal in packaging.

A few minutes later, Kelly Weimer swooped in with a photo of that exact moment. Magic.

Congratulations, Heather and Heather!

Kelly also shared a picture of her with two of the other hobby Kellys. So fun.

Kelly Weimer, Kelly Keracher and Kelly Marlett

That leads us to the third major theme of this BreyerFest shorts post: Friendship.

Tina DeCaussin and Denise Gimmarro

So many people shared pictures of themselves with their friends.

Tina DeCaussin, Jaime Castleman and Denise Gimmarro

Jennifer Al-Beik writes: I hadn’t been to BreyerFest in ten years. I’ve not been as active in the hobby as I used to be after having my son, but it was good to reconnect with a few friends! I still feel very much outside the current hobby and the changes at the horse park were very obvious. Will see what the next year or two brings!

Jackie Rossi and Jennifer Al-Beik

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to this post. It looks like you all had the best time!

Trade show

Last year, my friend, Tara Reich, made a really amazing mask to wear at the BreyerFest. 

She - and everyone else - was hoping it would bring her luck during the raffle. We all really wanted to see her run across the arena floor dressed as Malanya. That didn't happen, but something arguably better did.

Tiffany asked Tara if she could make a second mask, this time in pink. 

Tara asked Tiffany if she could paint and customize her Truly Jolie resin.

photo by Missy Shaw

The exchange was made at this year's BreyerFest. 

photo by Sue Rowe

In the last week, Tiffany has sent me pictures of the mask hanging proudly on her wall...

and just this morning, Tara shared a photo of Epona being fed apples in her stall by Link.

I love it when both sides think they got the better end of a trade. Congratulations, Tara and Tiffany. I'm so happy for both of you!