Finished Bridle and New Friends

I finished the Grinch bridle today with lacing the reins and switching out the bit. I didn't really feel like making two sets of reins. This was a fun bridle to make and I can't wait to make others like it. I think for next time I will be using already dyed lace though. This lace was hard to dye evenly so a big roll of already dyed stuff is up my alley when I can. Here are the finished pics on Mr. Grinch:

It looks good on Affirmative but a smaller browband would be better for him

 On to my latest project: Monster High dolls. I know, I know it seems rather silly but there is something about these characters that I like. Lagoona Blue is my favorite because she is the daughter of the sea monster. I love the ocean and always have and the fact that she dresses in teal and has an Australian accent was all I needed. I also really love the Cleo De Nile doll because I love Egyptian history. So long story short I've started a new collection. For now it is just these two characters but watching the cartoon the others are starting to grow on me. Don't be surprised to find them popping in and out of my blog!

 For instance the Skull Shores Lagoona fancied a ride on Pepe Le Pepper! I have no idea if she is the correct size but she seems to fit my Stone TBs better than anything else I have on my shelf. She may require a side saddle because her legs just didn't really want to bend to fit into the trail saddle. I'm thinking maybe a sea themed teal side saddle set would be just the kind of challenge I need when winter rolls around.

Yehaw!!!

Almost finished!

The Grinch bridle is coming along well but I've hit a wall until tomorrow. I am attempting to make laced reins, which is something I haven't done before. When I went to my cross-stitching box I discovered all the browns I had were way too light! So I will be venturing to Hobby Lobby to find something suitable. Pictured below is how the bridle looks so far. I did punch holes in the reins for the floss to go through so it is all prepared. I'm not so keen on adding a second set of reins so I may decide to swap out the bit. I made it so bit swapping would be super easy!

This red brick wall makes a pretty good background, lol

I can't figure out how to do a raise brow band or nose band though. I'm sure I'll figure it out at some point but for now This bridle is looking pretty darn good! I may just have to make a second attempt at an English saddle to match!

Bridle Update

Mr. Grinch's bridle is almost complete. I decided to make it a dressage type bridle instead of a racing one. I don't have any snaffle bits and I'm tired of using plain o-rings as a substitute. So again I had to work with what I had. So far this is what it looks like:

I am still not sure on the length of the cheek pieces, I believe they are supposed to be inline with his eyes. I had thought that they were the right length until I secured all the buckles so they may need a trim down. This just needs reins and he will be all set. I do have one English saddle that I have made:

This was my first and only attempt at an English saddle. I have more experience making Western saddles. I have made a few racing saddles (they may pop up at a later time). The girth pictured actually goes with one of the racing saddles. This isn't totally horrible for a first attempt, much better I think than my first attempt at a Western saddle. It still needs saddle irons and a few more details. I may attempt a second one when the weather turns cold and I don't feel like going outside. He looks pissy like all he wanted to do was hang out in his pasture all day and then somebody came and tacked him up.

Mr. Grinch Bridle

I haven't had much of a chance to do much horsey stuff after Tawas. I did manage to work on a new bridle while my mom visits. I used the lace that I had dyed before going up north and tonight I worked on hand cutting it....which is very time consuming and eventually makes my eyes hurt. But when you've used all the 1/8" buckles you have to be flexible. And it was fun for the cat to watch.

All the necessary tools needed

The results so far aren't too shabby. It may just be the throat latch but it is a start:

I am still debating on just what kind of a bridle this will be. I would like to make it a racing set. I think his crabby attitude might be due to him not wanting to race today. 

Latest Projects

Well the cat wanted to go camping too but we had to leave her home. That didn't stop her from trying to be a stowaway though.

Lily was the HAPPIEST camper! 

Sunset over the Au Sable River

Camping pooped out Moe

Back to work and back to tack making. As I mentioned in my first post I've been dabbling in draft horse tack. My friend Candace got a hold of a Mariah's Boon after Breyerfest 2012 for me and he is the model I used to experiment with. All in all I'd say it was a successful experiment!

This was the first set that I've ever made like this. I had help with Susan Bensema Young's tack guide. A second one soon followed even better than the first. 

I had started to dye some lace before I left and hung it from a light to dry. Not the most sophisticated way to dry but at least out of the way of the cat.

I plan on using to make a nice double bridle for my TB Stone Mr. Grinch. Progress photos will be posted after I make sure the lace is ready. 

A post before Tawas tomorrow

This was the very first model horse I ever got. A Grand Champion named Foxcroft. I can't remember which birthday or Christmas he was for but it was my Nanny that got him for me. He has since lost his rear leg (which as you can see is supported by a hammer head). He has been well loved and a few years ago I purchased his mare and foal to go with him. At one point I had over a hundred Grand Champions but made the switch to Breyer and Stone after I purchased Keltic Salierno. This is my current collection:

This is my favorite and most expensive model, A Valor painted as the very last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed.

In my studio I also have a really cool display that I dug out of a dumpster in June. I automatically thought it would make a really neat saddle display. I have been thinking that it may need a sprucing up with the color of the horse at the top. I have no idea what color to repaint it though. I thought about making it look like Secretariat but still unsure. If anyone has any ideas, please feel free to suggest!

Left: A work in progress
Right: The trail saddle pictured earlier

Left: A neat saddle designed from the Tack Maker's Journal
Right: A fancy saddle I made a few years ago

Two racing saddles I've created from scratch

How cool is that saddle rack?!

First Post :)

This is my first post in my new blog. Everyone seems to be blogging so I thought I would join in the game. I though blogging about my tack making would keep me doing something related to my hobby each day. Hmm, where to start? Well I might as well start with why I named my studio PawPrints Saddlery.

Because of these silly critters here. My Jack Russell Terriers, Lily and Moe.

Usually I'm covered in their dog hair but a name with dog hair in it has already been taken so I've gone with their paw prints instead. This blog might not be tack related everyday but that's okay. It might be filled with dog stories or horse related stories or stories about my boyfriend, Jake. Or even stories about this weirdo:

Eclipse, Jake's cat who on a hot day can be found in my sink!

Okay, on to the tack! I've been making tack for almost four years now. Some of my stuff has been really good, others not so much. I've dabbled in everything from Arab presentation sets to Draft tack. My first ever  piece that I created was from a Rio Rondo Western Saddle Kit.

The results were relatively okay. I thought I had the greatest thing since my first model horse! But four years later I can see how impatient I was and how I had read some of the directions wrong. But my skills have improved!!

Trail saddle made fall 2011 modeled by the amazing Fontana

In addition to making various kinds of tack I also paint horses. I use the pastel method and have been doing this longer than I have been making tack. The first results were okay to say the least. But I was happy with my new skills. In the next few weeks I will post pictures of everything I've made up until now but for now here is a picture of my latest horses.

All of these horses were created this summer for a friend of mine in the hobby world. She plans on showing them this season. I'm pretty excited about that. I haven't had the chance to show any of my customs. I have entered the Breyer paint a pony day via Facebook and managed to win a NIB Sato, which I am pretty darn proud of. I'll post what I won him with another day. I may post once a day or twice if bored. This first post is pretty long but I thought it would be good to introduce myself and some of what I have done.