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!