Bosal Progress

    The colorful bosals are nearing completion.

    I just need to add reins, browbands, and possibly decorations. I will probably keep most of them, since my first set accidentally turned out in mostly Classic scale and I need Traditional-sized tack. There may be a few for sale later, though. I really, really need to go through my tack pile!
   
    I have decided to sell a few of my cross-stitch pads. They are lined in soft fabric. They're a little thick, but I've curved them so that they fit better under saddles. I can't vouch for live show-ability as I don't show (and I'm just learning to make these), but I definitely think they photograph well. The saddle isn't finished yet, and is not for sale.

#1: $30

#2: $25

#3: $35

                   If you're interested in any of these pads, or in commissioning me for one in your dream color, just message me here or at my Facebook page.

Embroidered Saddle Pads

They're a ton of work, but I really like the end result! I tried out a new stitch and it looks a lot more like a woven blanket-style pad than just straight up cross-stitch.

I tried it again in blue, for a Classic-sized pad.

So cute! If only they didn't take me so long to make!

Colorful Bosals

I really had intended to get more stuff done this week, but we had a snowstorm and I got slightly distracted playing outside. Also shuffling through snow up and down the hill every day for chores is kinda time consuming and exhausting! But I did enough things to completely cover my desk in various projects...

So much going on here. Most of it has nothing to do with tack...

But I finally settled down and decided to make a few of the colorful bosals that were so much fun a few months ago. I had sort of forgotten the best way to tie them, so they didn't turn out as nice...but at least I made them Traditional scale this time! I got five of them started.

I know that most real-life bosals aren't so brightly colored, but I did see some for sale somewhere that were, and it stuck with me. I suppose I'd need to find a reference if I were to live show them, but I don't intend to do so. I just think they're fun!

Ranger Saddles

Two posts in one day! How exciting!
Today I finally made myself sit down and start working on actual tack. My cosplay blog has been getting all the love lately as I'm trying to get a few projects ready for a convention in March...but tack must also be made!

As it happens, I have had five Ranger saddles (aka Scrap Leather Saddles) in my project box for quite a while. They were pretty close to finished...

 

But still required a lot of time-consuming gluing

 

Aside from cinches, I got the two black ones finished. 

I'm using a different saddle horn than I used to, but it's a bit faster and tidier than the method I had before. I've started to simply make a small hole in a strip of leather, and use a black bead as the horn, pushing one end through the hole. It looks odd but it's effective, and cuts down the time and frustration.

These saddles will be for sale as soon as they are completed.

Braymere Photo Challenge

 One of my favorite blogs is having a Winter Photo Challenge and I wanted to enter/procrastinate on my first day back at work making saddles.

This was certainly a challenge, with most of my horses and tack and props still in storage. But it was fun, and hopefully somewhat entertaining!

1. Vintage

Flik, my first ever custom, on the FAS mold, and the First Avenger

2. Nekkid

The emperor has no clothes but who will tell him otherwise?

3. Scale Issues

It's always the morning before the big show that you realize there's a problem.

4. I see spots

Was Liberty always that spotty?

5. Unbridled Passion

Lola and Firefly re-enact The Black Stallion

6. Rare Breed

The Rare "A Dog Used Me As A Chew Toy So I Got Etched All Over Spotted Metallic Warmblood"

7. Portrait

Portrait model of Moondreamer, the horse that taught me to ride

8. Conga

My Silver conga

9. The Great Outdoors

Trail ride!

10. Best in Show

I immediately thought of Sean and Rocky...

Thanks for having the photo challenge and good luck to all who entered!

Studio Setup

           After moving across 10 states in two weeks, I have finally reached the new (to me) apartment. It seems like I move every year or so lately, so I am ready to be in one place for a while!
            It's nice to see my horses again.

Silver conga! Kinda

Running horses are excited to be out of their storage boxes!

               And get my work area set up all in one place, instead of in three places spread out through my room...

It doesn't look like much now, but just wait until the desk is covered in tiny scraps of leather!

Unfortunately, this means that the one barn that survived the Great Redstone Manor Culling of 2014 has to be divided. One of the two stall sections ended up in the Breyer Tower bookcase, and the other ended up against the wall with the barn office section.

This barn is a survivor! It has been with me through all of my moves.

The carpet is brown and old and crappy, which displeases my roommate but makes me very happy.

The big struggle now is locating all of my tackmaking supplies and finding organized places to put them so that I can start working! I would love to start making some more tack again soon, definitely want to get some sales pieces up asap. 

I don't know when Redstone Manor videos will return, as it seems that some of my main characters decided to stay behind at the storage unit and will have to be shipped to me. I might possibly consider making tutorials. Maybe. Mayyyybee.