A Pattern-kind of day...

I received an order for a Cross-country saddle with the works - figure-8 bridle, breastcollar, running martingale, and boots all around...so, I've spent the last hour or so working on the pattern:

Hopefully you can (kind of) make out the printed picture of the saddle this will be a replica of: the Pessoa Blyth Tait...it looks heavenly comfortable, and I hope I can capture it in miniature - this will be the most specific saddle I've ever had to make! *crosses fingers* Hopefully it will come out good...

2011 Treasure Hunt Revealed...

I don't know how many of you are on Fallen Leaves or Model Horse Blab, but I saw this and just HAD to share:

From what gossip I've heard, it's an Eberl arabian mare - here is the link to the FL post:
http://fallen-leaves.net/forums/orginal-finish/there-2011-treasure-hunt-t27541.html?sid=39ee20374780e7d36a610565d454b089


But, if you don't want to go there and sift through the 9 pages (and growing), here is the brief summary from Tommy @ Geddie's Toys:


Hi All,
I just got off the phone with my sales rep and sent out a newsletter to our members.
Here's the details-
The Models are called ThunderStorm which is a Black with half a stripe and a snip and 3 white socks. Partly Cloudy is the Dapple Grey Pinto and then Sunny is the super cool Palomino with 3 hind socks and a star/ half stripe.
The fourth Free model is named Rainbow and we can only guess at what that means! MAP Price is going to be $44.99 ea.

They 'should be' ready for dealers to order around the begining of March. The mold will only be available this year and then will be 'Locked away in the Breyer Vault until 2016"
Of course like last year, dealers will receive random assortments and we can't order just one color.
Unfortunetly ,I am anticipating these selling out early like the Drafter TH did last year and Breyer 'running out' for extended months. I'm crossing my fingers they see this coming too!

Tommy


Above quoted from his post on FL, contained in the link above.


Now, do I really need MORE horses? *Sigh*...oh, hey, I have leftover shelf space *wink*...

...It's Complicated

Okay, so you remember my new Roxy model, right?

...and you remember my last post...

...Hmmm......



Should I show you?


I guess I can....

So, won't you agree with me when I say that...this change was for the better! I hand-cross-stitched Lexi's blanket, and the saddle was really quick and easy - even though I was running out of glue, I twisted and pulled that tube until I had squished every single drop out of it.

Oh, and I finished some SMB boots for her, too...

I plan on getting a bridle done soon - beaded with a nice bit - and then I'll photograph the whole set-up and you can drool if you want to... :-)

Destruction!!

...name says it all....


Think you can guess what happened here?

I know, I know - crazy saddle destroyer I am!

I've heard that it takes a true artist to destroy your first work of art to make a newer, better one - and that's what happened here...

My VERY, VERY first western saddle - yup, you guessed it - has been demolished so that I can create something totally new and WAY better...

Watch for my newest creation!

How to Make a Breyer English Saddle Part Two

Here is part two for anyone who's interested in my "how-to" series on YouTube!

Finished! YAY!!!

Ooooo-KAY! Andrea's TWH saddle set is finished!

The browband on the bridle was a bit of a pain, but I conquered...look at that pretty, shiney browband!

This will all be shipped off to it's owner on Monday - WITH insurance and Delivery Confirmation!!

My latest Trade...

...was for the saddle set I finished previously:

In return, I was shipped this GORGEOUS girl:

The WEG "Wimpy's Little Chic" LE 1 of 500 model!

Sorry, pic heavy, but I'm VERY happy with her - she is in perfect condition- now I want to increase my shelving and add the JAH Conn. "Spot On" to my three-horse Roxy conga...

Guess I can just keep dreamin'...

TWH Set is Nearing Completion...

Okay, drumroll please............






Andrea's completed TWH cutback saddle!

Bluegrass Bandit is a tough cookie to fit a saddle on, but I think I did okay...

Hope you like it Andrea!

Another project...or two

I picked up the Breyer Ground Training set yesterday:

As you can see, one of the cones is broken - but it's not like I don't have glue to fix it with or anything. The lunge whip, cones, poles, lunge line, and side reins are the best parts of this set, and the surcingle is okay, but the cavesson noseband leaves something to be desired...

*sigh*................Yeah. So, I think I'll be "customizing" this set to make it more...lifelike.

The Pony Saddle for Andrea...

...is now finished!!

I also got my pretty Grand Teton poster for a photo showing background...I think it looks pretty spiffy!

This picture above is a close-up of the elastic end on the girth.


Now, the bridle:

My Flash pony has a REALLY thick throatlatch, so the buckle came down really low on his jaw, but I'm pretty sure the Stone pony's throatlatch is a tad smaller...

As always, click on the photo to enlarge. I'll be cutting and dyeing the pieces for the TWH set tonight and I might get part of the bridle done too...we'll see if the fam wants to watch a movie instead of watching me play with leather and tools!


I hope you like your set Andrea!

A Poem for Horse Lovers...

I had to write a poem for an English assignment, and I had to choose between a sonnet, ode, or a Japanese tanka...so, I wrote this sonnet with all true horsemen and women in mind:

My Stallion

A Sonnet by Alex Noble

Stallion shining in the night,

His coat like onyx glimmering bright.

Wells of wisdom are his eyes,

His tail flowing like ebony dye.

Many wish to tame this steed,

Though they seek him with a need.

I ask him softly on a hunch,

And readily he gives me much.

Whenever I ask, if I say please,

He fulfills my request with ease.

The others watch in disbelief,

But he obeys to my relief.

This to say, with soft word and hand,

My steed is the finest in the land.

~Sam, my OTTB - he's not a stallion, but he's just as poweful!

Completed Pony Saddle

Here is the nearly-finished product - a saddle to fit the Peter Stone pony.

So far, this is the nicest saddle I've made - considering the fact that I've only made five or six saddles ever. Oh, and ignore the rubber band - it was helping the flaps to take shape.


Once I get the bridle done I'll post again - or if I find something else worth sharing!

Progress...I guess

I actually had more leather here than I thought...

Now, I just need my lace to get here so I can make the stirrup leathers and billets, and the extra tooling leather so I can make the girth...


I also got the hardware from TWMHC for the two sets today...I sticky-waxed the bits to their respectivley-sized models:

Also, the stirrups - Pony-sized for the pony set and a Traditional-sized set with removeable treads so they can be painted without having to worry about smearing paint on the iron itself.

Now I just need to figure out which colors on which stirrups...

Slow Going...e.g. Saddle Tree

Soooo.....I feel like a slob, but I can't really get much done until I get my Rio Rondo order to work on my latest-and-GREATEST tack order, but I managed to do the tree for the Stone pony's saddle:

I know, I know, not much to look at, but I took photos of my progress and made a slideshow for YouTube and all of the people there who requested a tutorial:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OA-Bz2oVZM


If my order would get here sooner, I wouldn't feel so....useless!!

My...productive?...day...

Today I had the priviledge to make a pattern for a customer's order - a saddle seat-style saddle and Tennessee Walking Horse bridle for Bluegrass Bandit and a black English set for a Stone pony...

Surprisingly, the pattern was fairly easy to make - I think I'm getting better at it, that's why - but the only "problem" is the fact that - this is Bluegrass Bandit we're talking about. And anyone who has owned or seen a Bluegrass Bandit model knows how hard it is to fit her with tack because of her beautiful but ill-positioned mane...

I guess that's not so bad.....


Anyways, here are some photos of REAL tack that I will be making the TWH tack after: