Moving Again

As of the end of June, I ended up making a very unexpected move several hundred miles south for health reasons. Everything is in boxes. I'm living in very temporary arrangements. Things are beyond chaotic. It might be a while before I am showing off new tack or custom models again. Hopefully not too long though!

In the meantime, here is the etchie work-in-progress Appaloosa Sport Horse that I was working on just prior to moving. 

Jurassic Manor

I'm having a sick day so why not play with some models and tack?

Well, I never said horse models.

The Best $4 I Ever Spent

I'm one of those weird people that goes into pet stores when I don't have pets. Or house improvement stores when I don't have a house (I have an apartment and it's against the rules to improve it). I am always looking for things that can be repurposed for miniatures.

I found something at Petco. Pet stores often have little cage ornaments and things that can be used for dollhouse embellishments, but often they are pretty expensive. I feel pretty lucky and happy to have found this for $4 and change!

It's just a bunch of sticks stuck together with wires. But it's amazingly versatile, and just the right size...

The wires not only keep the sticks together, they allow them to be curved...

It can take the weight of a Breyer horse! (or in this case, a Peter Stone)

It's a great bridge, and it could be a ramp, a raft, even a jump or a fence!

So many possibilities...my imagination is just going crazy imagining scenarios.

I don't live show, but if I did, this seems like it would be a great performance prop!

English Saddle

I've had a "bee in my bonnet" for a while now to try making another English saddle again. It's been several (years?) since I last tried, and I've gotten a lot more comfortable working with leather and looking at reference pictures. I found an old pattern that a friend of mine had sent me (no instructions though) and sat down with some old leather jacket scraps and skiver, and went to town.

Two days of puzzle assembly later, this is what I had made.

I made a ton of mistakes and it's far from perfect, but I learned a lot! I think I'm finally on the right track. That old scrap leather actually doesn't look too bad!

The Time-Eating Monster

 My personal life has turned into a whirlwind of a mess since February. The first half of March, I was busy with Comic Con, one of my other hobbies. My cosplay buddy had talked me into making a Black Widow outfit, and I also brought my Loki. I had an absolute blast, got to meet a couple of my scifi and film heroes and the woman I was named after. It was amazing!

Black Widow acquires the target

Loki no. You cannot have an army of KITTs.

After that, I ended up on another road trip for a family emergency, but on the way back, I found a little jewel. Who knew there was an action figure museum in a small town in Oklahoma?

I couldn't believe it. Someone with more toys than I have.

The GI JOE dioramas were my favorite.

There were even model horses. And an old Broom Tail! (I used to have a red one)

There was a section of the museum with toys for kids to play with. How could I resist that?

Ouch. They never build these doorways tall enough.

They see me rollin'

After I got back from that trip, I barely was able to catch a breath before some other bad news hit. I don't want to get into it here, but suffice it to say if things don't work out, I could be in some real trouble. So between that and my health issues acting up, I have pretty much had 0 creative muse. Still, I get really bored sitting around worrying. I have a need to be doing and learning even when I feel like crap.

So I learned to make chainmail

Some glamorous bracelets

 and I hung up the poster of Loki that I got at Comic Con

In hindsight, this was not the best poster placement.

Yesterday, I pulled my sewing machine out because it's been so long since I sewed last, that I forgot how much it and I don't get along. I did manage to make a couple of saddle blankets out of an old pillowcase.

The fruit of my frustration

...and then played with my chainmail.

Aviator is so annoyed with me

Eventually, I found something to do with the normal-sized blanket, and I think I'm pretty happy with it.

 

So that's basically what I have to show for the past two months. One saddle blanket. Not quite the amazing body of work I was expecting to be able to produce now that I'm moved in, but it's better than nothing, I suppose!

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!