Tooling It

Today I tooled my very first piece of saddle leather. After looking on line for how-tos I used a fellow hobbyer's blog, Riversong Musings, and used her how-to on tooling leather to help. Then I used the extra sheet in Rio Rondo's western saddle kit for the pattern. All in all I'd call it a pretty good first try!

Also, Happy New Year!

Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover...PT 1

Well, for this post I defiantly am.
I've always loved Marguerite Henry's Misty books since 3rd grade when my teacher read Misty Of Chincoteague to my class. I'm not sure if teachers still do that, but I know for my class my teacher did! So I've made quite a collection of the Misty Ponies over the years slowly finding the models.

Even though I have enough to have a generic collector's class entry, you normally want to add more to them to give off some spark. So slowly but surely I've been adding the books to the collection. But not any books. I've been trying to collect the original covers. The original covers, to me, look nicer, shows that you've put a little effort in than going to the neighborhood bookstore, and normally matches the model better.

Friday, I gained a hardback copy of  Sea Star. I work at a book store and saw it and asked about it, and it was given to me! Thanks again! :) Plus if you're coming to NAN you may like to stop by: Cupboard Maker Books

It isn't a first printing,

but still the book's cover pretty much matches the pose of the Breyer Sea Star.
Instead of having to open the paperback to the picture of Sea Star, it's right on the front of the hardback.

Now the Paperback, after some researching, seems to have the original cover,

And may be a first printing, but I need to do further research to confirm that it's a first printing, paperback copy.

Well, that's all for now for the Misty Ponies.

Western Tree

Today I made a western tree from Carrie Olguin's Western Saddle Trees book.

Here's the product.

I found that the directions in the book were very easy to understand and it included clear pictures of what to do. I'm happy with the tree and can't wait to finish the saddle!

Tack Books

For Christmas, I got a variety of model horsey related things. I got tack making supplies, but I also got books for making things. They were all written by Carrie Olguin of Kerioke Entertainment. Now I did own another one of her books already,

which helped me a great deal with learning how to make an English Saddle. But I got three more! The Sidesaddle, Arabian costume, and western trees how-to books.

 Be ready for a mini book review of some of the books as I make stuff from them!

The Body Dilemma

I have a problem.
I have this horrible habit of starting projects and never finishing them. Model horses allow for me to continue this bad habit. Of all of the customs that I've made, I can count on my hands the number I've finished. It would take my toes included and probably some other body parts to count the number of models I've started and not finished.
Normally what happens is that I have a vision. I get excited about said project and literally just dive in without researching the amount I need to.
Since the idea was based on merely an inkling, the fire quickly burns out and the started model meets the graveyard of burned out horses.
Here are the main "project" horses. Some of them just need to be prepped. But some of them need alot of help. *cough-cough-Silver-cough* and others just need minor re-sculpting *cough-cough-Saddlebred Yearling-cough* Since I'm on Christmas break, I'm hoping to take down the number in project horses and at least have some of them be prepped at least.

Organizing

My tack and customizing table is horrible. I just keep on packing more and more on top due to not being able to make anything. Now being off for break, I am now free to be creative. And seeing that I finished my remaining homework (a paper) I literally am free!
But my table needed organizing.

All better and organized with everything being in its rightful place.

Merry Christmas!

I want to wish everyone a merry Christmas! Hopefully you enjoyed it and relaxed while spending time with family.

RIP

Wanted to say RIP to the murdered children and others in the Sandy Hook Tragedy. My prayers are with the families.

Here's one of my favorite poems that was written by an unknown 13 year old boy before he died. My mom is the one who first showed me it and it's one of her favorite poems too.

I'm Spending Christmas With Jesus This Year

I SEE THE COUNTLESS CHRISTMAS TREES,
AROUND THE WORLD BELOW.
WITH TINY LIGHTS, LIKE HEAVEN’S STARS
REFLECTING ON THE SNOW.

THE LIGHT IS SO SPECTACULAR,
PLEASE WIPE AWAY THAT TEAR.
FOR I AM SPENDING CHRISTMAS
WITH JESUS CHRIST THIS YEAR.

I HEAR THE MANY CHRISTMAS SONGS,
THAT PEOPLE HOLD SO DEAR.
BUT THE SOUND OF MUSIC CAN’T COMPARE
TO THE CHRISTMAS CHOIR UP HERE.

FOR I HAVE NO WORDS TO TELL YOU
THE JOY THEIR VOICES BRING.
FOR IT IS BEYOND DESCRIPTION,
TO HEAR AN ANGEL SING.

I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU MISS ME,
I SEE THE PAIN INSIDE YOUR HEART.
FOR I AM SPENDING CHRISTMAS,
WITH JESUS CHRIST THIS YEAR.

I CAN’T TELL YOU OF THE SPLENDOR,
OR THE PEACE HERE IN THIS PLACE.
CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE CHRISTMAS
WITH OUR SAVIOR, FACE TO FACE?

I’LL ASK HIM TO LIGHT YOUR SPIRIT,
AS I TELL HIM OF YOUR LOVE.
SO THEN PRAY ONE FOR ANOTHER,
AS YOU LIFT YOUR EYES ABOVE.

SO PLEASE LET YOUR HEARTS BE JOYFUL,
AND LET YOUR SPIRITS SING.
FOR I’M SPENDING CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN,
AND I’M WALKING WITH THE KING!

Saddleseat Prototype

Here is the Saddleseat prototype! It isn't pretty, that's for sure, but I know know how everything will fit together. I didn't make a girth, add stirrups, or anything "extra" since this is my first time trying out the pattern. One of the biggest errors I see is that I need to make a long skirt longer.

Models always lose against pets

When I came home from school today, this was the surprise I got.

Yup, that was the 2011 reserve custom champ at the Breyerfest C/Y show.

Buckbeak may have been able to beat the controversy surrounding him at the show, but he couldn't win against four paws of kitten-ness. And cute-ness I must add.

The Culprit who was covered in the green scenic stuff

Shockingly, the damage wasn't too bad. Most of his talons are gone and a huge crack in his front leg, but that's the worse. He was made out of crayola clay which is not very strong.

What I have noticed about crayola clay, and it may be true about other similar clays, is that is defiantly has a short life span. After about a year or two, the clay begins to crumble. So glad that I now use  Apoxie!

Model Horse Performance!

After hearing alot of praises about the Model Horse Performance magazine, I got a subscription to it! And it came today.

I have to say, that all of the praises were right! This is a really cool magazine and I can't wait to get more  There's also  a side saddle how-to plus a halter tutorial, so I can't wait to try those out.
After the cancellation of JAH, it's cool to have a model horse magazine again.

Cuttin' and Dyein'

Today was cut out and dye day.
I use tooling calf leather. I like it better than the out right tooling leather. The tooling calf leather is more flexible.

And this is my favorite tool to thin leather with.

So even though the leather is already thin, it doesn't hurt to get it as thin as I can without cutting through all of the way.

Pieces cut out.

Then dyeing and drying. The pieces look weird because they're on the grain/rough side. 

Pattern is Done!

The Saddleseat pattern is finished and read to be tried out!

Patterns

At the Ride For Pride Show, I noticed that there was one performance class that didn't get alot of entries. That was Saddleseat, the gaited horse class. Now Saddleseat tack really isn't made to be used in any other class. It's made exclusively for the gaited horse class, unless you have a really really creative explanation to use it in something else. Saddleseat really isn't on the top list of diverse types of tack.
So I'm going to try to enter into a "smaller" type of performance class to see how my tack fares. Yup, I'm going to attempt to make a Saddleseat set.
Google images is like a tack catalog so I got plenty of pictures of all the different views of the saddle. It has much straighter flaps than a Huntseat saddle.
 I drew and used multiple drawings and cut outs to get it right. That's the patience part of tack making. Get the paper drawing right so that no leather is wasted.  Better to waste paper than leather!

I only have the top flat and skirt done, but so far is looks like it could be a saddle!

Nanowrimo

Yesterday, at 3 am, I completed Nanowrimo or National Write a Novel Month. To complete it, you have to write 50,000 words in the month of November. I did it, ending with 50,041 words!

The next step is editing my story, but that shouldn't be as intense as writing it! Feels kind of weird to not have a deadline looming over my head, but if you enjoy writing, I highly recommend doing Nanowrimo. 

Even if you didn't participate, the forum has tons and tons of valuable and helpful information! 

                                            National Write a Novel Month Website

The Day After Turkey Day

Hopefully everyone had a great Thanksgiving, and enjoyed the food and family time!
I went away to see family in New Jersey, and it was fun.
So today was not a real studio day, but I did do something sort of productive!
I get magazines such as horse illustrated and various others that I have picked up over the past numerous months. Normally , whenever I get a new magazine, I read it and then cut out the pictures I want for my photo binder. I have gotten kind of behind on cutting out pictures.

I pick pictures for multiple purposes. Some are great for markings

and others are great for poses. I could have a whole binder full of gaited horses.

I also cut out cool names!

The funny part? I haven't even gotten through half of the magazines!

How To Sculpt Those Moving Manes

In honor of today being my last day of school, here's a how-to!

How to Sculpt The Moving Mane

Ingredients:

Horse

Wire

Super Glue and Baking Soda

Apoxie
Sculpting tool

First find reference pictures of what you want the mane to look like. This is the most important part. If you don't have a reference picture, how will your model turn out right?

Now I use wire that you can buy at a craft store. You do not want it to be flimsy like a noodle, but you want it to be loose enough for you to be able to move it but stiff enough for it to hold its shape.

Next, with a marker, draw where you want the holes to be. Then drill them in. They do not have to be deep.  

Cut out the number of pieces of wire you want in the length you want. Make the wire pieces longer than what you need. It's always easier to chop off than to add on. Hold the wire with your hand while you pour super glue in. Then sprinkle baking soda onto the super glue. Repeat until all of the pieces are done. 

Take out some Apoxie and put it onto the wire. You do not want a ton. Just enough to cover the wire. Here is where you figure out how long you want the mane. Only use Apoxie to cover where you will want the hair to go.

Here comes the patience part. Let the Apoxie  harden/ cure. 

Here comes the fun part! Mix some Apoxie and roll it into fat noodle shapes. Layer it onto the cured Apoxie, in the direction of the hair.

Using water, I blend the noodle shapes.

Now I get out my sculpting too. You can use anything from actual tools made for sculpting to paper clips. It all depends on what you like. This is what I used for this

Press into the Apoxie and make divots in the general direction of the mane. This is not the detail part. This is just to keep the mane from being in one shape. I smooth the mane with a stiff paint brush dipped in water.

Now here comes the detailing part. 

You can use the same tool or something different. It's all up to you. Look at your reference and start drawing into the mane in the direction of the reference. Don't go all in the same direction. Vary it a bit. Have some strokes be long and others be short. Once you are done, use the paint brush to get rid of the extra bits of clay and smooth it down.

There ya go! You have a flowing mane!

Birds of a Feather

Diablo had his feather sculpted. He is just getting more and more Friesian-y (made up a new word) each day.

Just loaning body parts

Diablo has gotten his mane and tail taken off. I though about resculpting a completely new tail, but he needs it to balance, plus why sculpt a completely new tail when you have plenty of OF ones? Using body parts from other models, keeps the custom light. OF parts stop the custom from becoming a hunking brick.  Anyone guess who the tail is from?

Then apoxy was added. Silver is really fined boned, and while Friesians are not Shires in conformation, they are much more bulky than Silver.

The Silver Lining

Silver is the word. At the Leesport show, I bought three Breyer Silver bodies. I have started hacking up one (that sounds healthy doesn't it?). This guy is going to be a Friesian stallion rearing. Has anyone noticed how whenever a Friesian is in a movie or a book it is seems alot of times to be named Diablo? I  just think of the Saddle Club (the original cast ones) where the one Friesian was called Diablo. And the Diablo series, by Gabi Adams, the Friesian is also named Diablo. So guess what my Friesian's name will be? Yup, Diablo.
 My Silver body's head was a little off. Someone did not have his head lined up. That was OK since Silver's head really isn't the look I was looking for. I did think about resulpting it, but I have plenty of bodies that were willing to loan their head.

So first, the heads were chopped off and the new one attached using foil, supper glue, and baking soda.

Poor Silver :)

Anyone guess who the new head came from

 Outline of the feathers were then added.