I could be moving slower but then I'd be going backwards!!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to those that celebrate it tonight at Midnight!

This is kind of a no real news to say sort of post... other than to complain about how slow I'm moving. It seems as though my time is sooo slim now and so is my energy. I have more energy than when I did when I first started my job but it's still not enough. I rarely get more than an hour or so in the studio anymore but I try to make it count!

I am still working on the bridles for Morgen Kilbourne and I still have Alicia Vogel's matching breastcollar to do. Then Onto the saddleset for Chelsea and a donation for Model Horse Anonymous III.

I had a great christmas that included getting a new camera so that I can take better, more high resolution photos of my tack. I'm looking forward to mucking around with it when I get the time!

I'm also Nixxing my twitter account. I have no time to twitter anymore!! But I am available on facebook under Heather Moreton-Abounader and I may start a group on Facebook as well for my tack. Just depends on if I have time !LOL

So I hope everyone has a wonderful evening and weekend!

Roy Rogers and High Noon

The above photo is owned by Highnoon.com auction company.

Is it really December? Is it really the Middle of December? Crud! I haven't done hardly anything at all in the studio... I've been too busy and exhausted. Well thats not true, I have done a few things. I'm working on another Bridle for my trade with Morgen Kilbourne but that requires "dremel time" and "engraver time" and I haven't had hardly any in the last month.

Also I'm ever so slowly working on refurbishing/re-doing a bridle for my Friend Anna. I made a green bridle for her a long time ago that I now can't stand to look at! My skills have gotten so much better and I understand bridles so much better now. So it must be redone with new skills. Thankfully she is extremely patient with me so I work on it when I can't work on anything else.

In case you haven't heard, the Roy Rogers museum in Branson, MO closed on the 13th. I was so bummed that I didn't make it to the museum before it closed. Definitely an opportunity missed that I will regret for some time. The one saving grace that I have though is that www.highnoon.com auction company will be auctioning off the items from the museum and they are making up a catalog. In case I hadn't mentioned it before I am a catalog junkie. Especially for tack catalogs, and High Noon's offerings are no exception. I have every one that I can get my hands on. Whenever I'm feeling "flat" I flip through one of those catalogs and my head is filled with ideas again! To me, it's worth the investment... I'm hoping that their photos of the sale items will be spectacular so that I can see them in as much detail as possible.. here's to hoping!

I threw my "hat" in the ring for a NAN donation this year. I also have promised a donation to Heather Jackson Lain's Model Horses Anonymous III! This year, I hope to go to the show too.. I haven't been to a model horse show in AGES and I'm DYING to go to one to talk with people!

So thats it for now.. I'll have a bit of time next week to shoot some photos and hopefully get some dremel time so that I can make some things from silver that I've needed for a while.

A little more Blather Regarding the Bridles.

The Blue, Black and White bridle was one that I envisioned almost a year ago in December 2008. it took me this long to actually execute it. I did a little drawing of how I wanted the bit and the bridle to go and then put it in my stack of inspiration and moved forward to other projects... Learning to interweave knots is one of the most gratifying of my skills and I'm so glad that I took that "leap".

The bit is hand made by me out of silver. I also hammered it a bit for the first time and it's more "3-d" than you can see in the photo. I also made the browband a bit thicker so that it was a bit more of an "accent" on the forehead. Maybe eventually there will be a saddle and a saddle pad to match but for right now, it's a stand alone piece.

I want to move towards more pieces that only utilize bits and buckles that I make. Unfortunately, Munchkin doesn't like the sound of the dremel and I can only work with the dremel when he's awake and downstairs with Anthony. Now that I'm working, that rarely happens though. I see so little of both of them now, that I just wait until RJ goes to sleep to work in the studio, and even then I need to do "quiet" things. (Braiding, of course, is perfect for this! LOL!)

The Bridle with the red and turquoise was the brainchild of and belongs to Alicia Vogel who is a really really talented artist in her own right. The bridle is partially a trade for a Jennifer Buxton Dressage saddle. (as if I need another.. I have two others already! LOL! Have I mentioned that I collect tack?) There will be a matching breastcollar when I get to do dremel work again...

The last bridle the brown one, belongs to Morgen Kilbourne. If you read her blog recently, you know that she's really happy to have it, which of course thrills me beyond belief!! I have to say that I really love that Hazel Resin of her's. So versatile really and so much personality in that face! I can't wait to make a set for her of my own! The bridle was a trade towards a Hazel resin and I appreciate Morgen (AND ALICIA's) patience..

There is one last trade to complete and thats with the talented painter, Chelsea Nichols. She is thankfully trading me for some paint jobs on some of my unpainted resins. Her trade involves a western pleasure set and that'll hopefully be started by the new year.. (provided I Stay well and bub is well and I continue to have the time that I have).

The new job is really great.. I'm not just saying that either. So far everyone has been exceptionally helpful and patient with me and in turn I've tried my hardest to learn things quickly and not ask too many stupid questions. I've never been in such a helpful work atmosphere and I'm really enjoying it.. If I have to work instead of being in the studio then this is the job that I want.. It's only a few minutes from RJ's daycare as well.

I have been getting up at 4:30am so that I can work out, then get dressed, then get bub fed and dressed, get anthony out the door and then finally us out the door and get to work Then I get home at around 4:45 and it's time for dinner and then bub gets a bath and finally goes to bed.. so my days are full to say the least!

Next month (er.. tuesday....) Munchkin turns 2!! So big already, I can't believe it! And he's in "Parrot" Mode so I have to watch what I say when driving.. LOL!

Anyway, I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season!!

Not often I have this much of my work laying around!

Before being shipped off to their new owners this week (I hope!) I snapped photos of the three bridles in my studio. The blue and black one will be staying (still need a connector bar on that bit!!!) but the other two are finished! (the curb strap for the blue bridle is finished, just not yet photographed) They look kinda cool all together don't they? Lots of work there...

Whew! Been Too Long since I blogged!

I have still been uber busy with work, working out, RJ, hubby and all of the myriad of tasks i have to do every week. Suffice to say that my Studio time has been ultra slim! I did have some time, every night to at least attempt some knots and I'm happy to say that I'm about 9/10ths away from being finished with Morgen Kilbourne's "hazel" bridle! She has already ok'd the pictures so I am going to share them with you!

Every time I make something, i try really really hard to put in some kind of "crazy" detail that I hope that folks will like. This time it was the tiny browband tassels. I'm very proud of those! I also really like the color combination. I think it was partially inspired by Kellye Bussey's bridle and partially inspired by one of the old "cowboy tack" catalogs.

Look for the bridle in Region X next year!!

Thank you so much Morgen for the Trade and for the Inspiration!!!

slow progress

as always, I'm swamped and exhausted... but I've literally been doing a knot a night! I'm working I swear!!

Right Quick!

The new job has been great but I've found all of my "Free" time has about evaporated. By the time I get into the studio at 8pm I'm utterly exhausted and I can't even interweave knots sometimes. So my progress is agonizingly slow. I owe a lot of people some emails and I'll get to that tonight I promise!!! We had another cold sweep through our house and the house is a cluttered mess... I'm busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest!! so please, if I owe you an email and you want to know whats up, ping me on facebook or send me another email! I'm so sorry for being so pokey and in the weeds!!

Pleased!

Well.. I have to say that today I'm very "pleased"! I finished the headstall for Morgen K.'s bridle and I'm onto the reins. There will also be a tiedown to match. I think this is the first or perhaps only the second "futurity" knot headstall that I've made so I'm happy with the way it turned out. Morgen seems to like it too

Also, I am now gainfully employed! I start on monday. Bad for Miniatures but good for bills!!

another quick update!

Here is a quick update on the latest bridle that I'm working on. It is for Morgen K. to fit her Hazel resin. Seriously, if you even remotely like her, get one. She's super cool and performance friendly and the longer I have Hazel on my workbench the more I like her!

Not much to say... still working in the studio..

I've been incredibly distracted lately.. not by anything "good" either. It's been an emotional hike over the last two weeks personally and I feel "wrecked" and raw. But somehow in these moments I feel more creative. I think its the extreme in feeling of emotions (any kind of emotion, good or bad) that pushes me to be more creative and to really feel what I'm making.

I know, strange words coming from someone who makes little saddles and bridles but as you probably know by now, I consider my work, bonafide art and craft. :-)

There is an excellent series produced by PBS called "Craft in America". Season 1 was extremely inspiring to me and season two so far has made me feel the same. Since I Never seem to find time (or a justifiable reason, other than "I just want to")to actually mingle with artists locally this is the next best thing for me...

The frog above was hand made by an artist at the St James Court Art Show. I am in love with him and I'd LOVE to know the name of the artist. She walked away after I asked if I could photo him and went behind her booth. (couldn't find any business cards either : /)If you know who made this wonderful guy, please please drop me a line because I'd LOVE to give her credit! The details are inspiring and admirable all at once and I have a window seat in the studio that he'd look fantastic sitting in :-)

Bridle Finished!

This is the Finished Bridle for the Trade with A.V. There is still a breastcollar to match it to do but that'll have to wait a bit as I have another project to start today!

I redid one or two of the knots because they didn't have quite the right shape and I managed to make the knot on the connector smaller than on my blue and black bridle. (which means that I'll have to redo the knot on the blue and black bridle )

Current Works in Progress!

Above are in progress photos of a bridle that I am currently working on for A.V. The past couple of months, I've decided to do some trading to get some things that I've really wanted but can't currently afford. So thats why you're seeing some stuff pop up for specific people.

Anywho, this customer wanted some unorthodox colors and although I think it was going along rather "Spiffily" (Thats right, I said spiffily) she was right to change the rein color to something more traditional. See, I am a traditionalist when it comes to braided tack. I like the usual colors so I had to push myself to like the unorthodox colors that were first chosen. Once I did though, I was reall gung ho about it. but then we changed it to the above and I'm glad we did.

The other color for the reins was a dk royal blue. I can definitely see a fully braided bridle in that blue down the road though.

I'm still chugging away on my other blue, black and white bridle. I have the chinstrap on it right now but I'm not totally happy with it. It mimics a real Life Size bridle's chinstrap but Life Size doesn't always translate perfectly down to 1/8th scale.

I still need to find time to do the connector bar and the correct attachment for the reins.. but that'll be after I get everything else done! LOL!

RJ Has been entirely well this week! It's been wonderful for him AND me! He's been smiley and joyful and playful.. and I love that! HI steacher tells me that he LOVES to sit and color and paint and he uses more colors than the others in his class and is very good about picking the colors to use..

Of course, I'm secretly hoping that he'll be artistic like me so that I can nurture him into becoming an artist when he gets older, but I know I'll need to keep myself in check somewhat..

Over to the RIght I've added a link to a new Blog. It is the blog of my "aunt shelley" who is a jewelry artist. (art runs in our family!) She has amazing energy and has always been able to create the most wonderful things.. Her blog is brand new so please stop by if you have the time :-) http://shellydaly.blogspot.com

Lottery Postponed

HI folks!

This is bittersweet for me. While I really looked forward to holding the lottery, I will be unable to do so this year. Yesterday I went for an interview at a software company and so far it looks promising. If I go back to work, I definitely won't have a lot of time to devote to tack until I get into a groove. HOWEVER, I do forsee holding some spots open for a lottery next summer. I am going to do this FOR SURE because I Feel so awful for having to postpone the October Lottery. I also will try to take small orders (Halter or bridle here and there) in the meantime starting about Jan or Feb 2010.

Please forgive me and I Swear I didn't tease on purpose!! I just didn't think I'd be able to find a job until sometime next year!


Heather Moreton-Abounader
Equine Photography and more!
http://www.abounaderphoto.com
Museum Quality Miniatures
http://www.desertnightcreations.com

Thank you

Thank you to everyone that emailed me and commented about how much you liked the bridle. I really really appreciate it... :-)

I don't have any new pictures because my sweet son is sick again.. he unfortunately inherited my weak immune system and has again been a sick little boy... So stay tuned.. more photos when I can get in the studio :-)

OH and Duhh

I forgot that I need to add a curb strap on that bridle too..

Almost Done!

My beautiful new sadeek resin was painted by Janis Whitcomb! Thank you Janis for being patient with my time payments and allowing me to buy this guy!! He is a wonderful model!

I'm almost done with my bridle. I need to add a connector onto the bit (I've devised a way to make it jointed in the middle so that it'll fit just about any horse) and I need to add a popper on the end of the popper rein. I also need to add braided connectors to the ends of the reins near the chains. I think that this chain is closer to the real kind of chains used on Vaquero bridles. It's better than the other choice that I had on the reins...

This is a better idea.......

After Finishing the Previous bridle I realized that the blue and black bridle that I was working was a bit plain and "unfinished" looking. I changed the big "blob" knots above the rings to match the combination on the browband, and I added blue spanish ring knots next to all of the other knots to give it a more finished appearance. I think it looks much better now... :-)

Latest Braidwork bridle

This lovely bridle belongs to Kellye Bussey. She asked me a year ago to consider doing some bradework for her and my schedule loosened up and I was able to. I've been working dilligently on this bridle and I think it's turned out very well.

Unfortunately, with my current point and shoot camera, you can't see all of the detail. The single interweave knots on the bridle actually have two colors, not just one. The black seems to have dominated the brown in pictures. When you hold it in your hands, the brown is very evident.

Kellye picked the colors and I have to say it's a great color combination!!

This bridle was heavily influenced by some black and silver Luis Ortega reins that were auctioned off this year in the Cody Old west catalog.

I'll be back working on my blue and black bridle till September 1 when I have another bridle and breastcollar combo to do!

knots and more turks head knots

ok. I am showing a sneak peek here but I don't want to reveal the whole thing. Not till it's done and the owner has had a chance to show it off a bit.. but here is a sneaky peeky..

"Focus pinky...... Focus...."

I have been having an awful time Focusing on one piece of tack lately. My brain is bombarding me with ideas and I suddenly think that they're ALL good ideas.. LOL! I've restrained myself to three pieces at once though. The Braided bridle below, the bridle above and another bridle with a leather headstall and some braidwork as well.

The Bridle above is to match my Terry Newberry Saddle. Im trying to talk myself out of making romel reins for it but I haven't been successful yet. I am particularly proud of the knot above the tassel. I can't even express how small that sucker is but I am very pleased that I was able to pull it off :-)

Poor Munchkin is sick again this week. He's had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic (yes, another one!) that he was taking for a "suspected" spider bite around his eye. (confirmed by the dr yesterday) Right now his entire body is covered with red blotches. (including is little feet!) so he is home again with me today. Here at home he can get the extra rest his body needs to help "deal" with this.

This of course means that I can't get a lot done but it's worth it to help him feel better..

More In Progress photos of the Blue and Black Braided Bridle...

Here are some photos of it so far. The headstall is basically finished. It'll just need a chinstrap. I'll be working on the reins after I work on another project. I only wish I had added a tad more silver to this one.. Please forgive the forehead tassels, they're really not that messy.. Every knot on this bridle was hand woven by me from thread. Those are not beads and they are not painted on. THe bridle is adjustable on each side and at the poll..

Blurb!

ok.. No pics but a quick paragraph or two...

I throroughly enjoyed the Shelbyville Horse Show, this past Saturday, Aug 1st held in Shelbyville, KY. My pictures aren't as good as last year because there was no sun. Most years, we're DYING in the Sweltering August Kentucky Heat, but this year, it's been more rain than anything. I would've at least liked for it to be partly cloudy so that I could get some interesting light.. but alas, no such luck.. I have a lot of photos to go through but I've tweaked three that I'll be putting up on ye olde Photography blog. I'm also out of practice for photography, which I'll have to fix soon!

Secondly, the Black, blue and white braided bridle is coming right along. I had a setback in that I made the throatlatch too short so that had to be taken apart and restarted but it's (The throatlatch) finished as of 4pm est this afternoon. Onto braiding and making the reins and browband!

There is a strong possibility that I will be able to take a custom order in November and if that goes ok, I'll try it again in January 2010.. so stay tuned!

Hubby Found it!

I have the best hubby in the world.. after I went to bed last night, hubby went up into the studio and searched it until he found the other part of the bridle. I have drop cloths on the floor around my work areas and in one of the folds, he found the bridle piece! SO THANK YOU ANTHONY! I LOVE YOU!!! :-)

!(*#*(&&)(*!!!!!*****&&^^%$

Above, enclosed in red is a bridle in progress to match my beloved Terry Newberry saddle. I was almost finished with the one side when I realized that it was too long. When I went to shorten it and it's mate, I couldn't find the mate. I looked EVEYWHERE for it! I JUST had it and was working on it most of the morning. (RJ took a mega-nap so I actually had some time!) I couldn't believe it. I tore through the stuff on my workbench and it's absolutely no where to be found. I suspect a cat "theifed" it somewhere but i have no clue where.. or it could've been stuck to my clothes.. or ended up anywhere I Guess.. It makes me really frustrated because now I have to make a new one and all of that time I spent on it earlier today was a waste.. SOOO FRUSTRATING!

This has happened to me before, when I lived in the "Highlands" of Louisville in an apartment. I had made one of my first english bridles with laced reins and it totally disappeared. My cat at the time, Max, was fond of playing with the bridles but she didn't eat them. I expected to find it when we eventually moved but it was SERIOUSLY lost. I NEVER found that thing. To this day - three moves later - I have no clue where it is..

The first picture above is what my immediate work bench looks like so you can probably see why I lost it I'm really not a slob. I sincerely like things to be at least somewhat loosely organized but I am like most artists in that I would prefer to work on a project than clean my studio... studio time is so precious that to spend it cleaning feels like a waste!! I Feel that way about house cleaning too but I've been trying to be better about it.. I dont' let anything get "gross" in the house though.. just slightly dusty..

I should REALLY Write this stuff down..

Black and blue braided bridle in progress

I've had problems lately, with the bases knots that I'm tying knots around wanting to come untied. Normally this isn't much of a problem but the rawhide that I'm using is artificial and is slathered in wax. That isn't really a bad thing either because I've had this rawhide since 2000 and it's still just fine to use. So I started literally gluing the knots together but that only partially worked long enough for me to get the decorative knots on around it - which is the goal - and makes the knots stay put -but it still bothered me that the base knot was somehow coming untied.



Today as I was rummaging through one of my work room draws I found an empty wooden match box and it was like "OH DUHHH". I forgot that I normally burn the ends of the knots so that it's all melted together and everything stays put.. So thankfully this bridle is for me because I'm not 100% sure that everything will stay together since I didn't burn all of the edges. It SHOULD though because of the decorative knots around it...



I have a lot to blog about in the way of the Vaquero Exhibit at the Kentucky horse park. I was bad and took a lot of pictures but really, we here in Kentucky do not get any western Exhibits very often and when we do, you can bet yer butt that I'm going to take pictures!!



I wish I had snuck some when the Remington and Russell exhibit was at the Speed Art Museum downtown. I should've especially written down the title of the books they had in the "Lounge" they set up for folks to read..



Well this time I snapped my head off with my point and shoot.. It's so easy now for me to understand and see the influence of the spanish and subsequently the mexcian vaqueros on the old and the modern western saddle. (Especially the Californio Mother Hubbard saddles I'm so fond of!!) Seeing the Mexican Pitadado saddles and the costumes in person answered so many questions that I had!! (I wish I had access to the Californio Mother Hubbard saddles too so that I could see under the mochilla to see it's secrets!) Eventually I am going to make a mexican set complete with silver bit and conchos..



I really daydream now of a hand made, inlaid wooden mexican saddle tree... I really have too many hobbies all wrapped up in making miniatures. Leather, Braiding, Silver working, engraving, sewing, weaving etc.... hehehehehe.. just what I need.. another facet to spend money that I don't have on! LOL



Anywho, I put the western Show halter on ebay because I'm trying to raise some moola for new engraving tools! LOL! URL is here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120453207113&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT



Please bid early and bid often! LOL

rabid for rawhide braiding

After my "pow wow' with Susan, I've been rabid for braiding bridles. I've even seriously entertained the idea of making a life sized braided rawhide or braided leather bridle.. or at least a half size. Granted, I'm only a 4 or 5 knot trick pony (which is totally a just drop in the bucket) but I've seen some bridles that are made with the 5 knots that I know.

The year I entered the Kentucky state fair with one of my miniature saddles, I was beaten badly by some native american artifacts made in leather. I had no chance whatsoever.. but I didn't know at the time. I think that next year I may make a leather braided bridle and enter it in the fair. I may have a shot then.. LOL! I should mention that the Kentucky State fair is HUGE and runs about two weeks. There are a ton of classes to enter, from fish tanks to quilt making to doll houses etc.. maybe my saddle was just in the wrong section.. I dunno.. I do love the fair though..

Ok. back to rawhide braiding. My all time favorite is of course Luis Ortega. He learned from a 104 year old Californian Native American. I found may beautiful things braided by him when I was researching my bridles for the Mother Hubbard Sets.

Modern Rawhide Braiders make everything from Quirts to bridles and breast collars and some even include custom silver. It has dawned on me for sure that eventually I may have to make my own real sized bit for my real sized braided bridle.. but I'm not sure if anthony would allow me to have a forge in the garage.. he balks at a kiln.. I would think that large open flame would be his limit..hehehehe

Some of the modern rawhide braiders that I've admired over the last couple of weeks are;
www.lelandhensley.com
www.natewald.com/
Ray Huffman

And of course, Gail Hought who's books I learned to interweave from. I daydream of having an "in person" class with Gail someday since I really know nothing about making bridles in real size...

There is a guy locally who makes braided bridles so I'd like to eventually talk with him about it too.. I *think* he gives classes..

The progress with my own black braided bridle has been a bit slow, but I've learned a tremendous amount. I really am SOOO gung ho to work on it but Munchkin is Sick today so my miniature braiding will have to wait.. :-)

SOoo much to blog about!

Entrants in the Hat Parade

The Test run "Roxy" mold

The Test run Smarty Jones Mold in Dappled Buckskin

A test run dappled grey Breyer "warmblood" mold

A test run "Salinero" mold that was dappled bay







The Billie Campbell Custom APpaloosa on the "Roxy" mold at the Silent Auction

A breyerfest "Sprinkles" Special run on the "Swish tail" Lady Phase Mold

My current project, a black braided bridle with woven knots and a real silver bit

The last few weeks have been SOOOO busy..!! Between the Trip to Upstate NY and the Trip to Breyerfest, my brain has been somewhat overwhelmed! I'm still tired from it all and it's mindboggling for me to try to put it into words!

Breyerfest for me this year was WONDERFUL except for the Friday Night Holiday Inn Swap meet. As I'm sure that most people have heard, NOTHING was selling this year. This probably shouldn't come as surprise to anyone because few folks have any kind of descretionary income but still, most of the time, the swap meet is lucrative. Not so this year... Although it was quite wonderful to sit and chat with my friends and with folks I hadn't seen in a while, the selling was dismal which means that *I* couldn't buy much either. (I'm still on an epic search for a job!)

As mentioned in my last post, I was able to spend some much needed time with Susan Bensema young on the Thursday of Breyerfest. It was wonderful to sit and talk to her about making tack and about engraving silver using actual hand held engraving tools instead of my Dremel engraver. I think I understand silver engraving better now. I am definitely going to get some of the tools and try to start engraving using them instead. That is going to be next year though because I'm really broke right now! LOL!

Friday was spent in the Breyerfest Special Run "Tent" Line and enjoying the park. I was not one of the lucky folks that obtained a "Gala" but I was able to get a Lady Phase mold "Sprinkles" the Clyde Mare mold Porcelain (love the bfest porcelains!) and the Pink Poodle for hubby. (He collects the breyer animals). I also was able to get a better look at the new "Roxy" mold that was the dinner model. I LOVE Her. I hate the paint job because it's SO Flat! What in the world was breyer thinking on that one? At least give us a sun faded black or even a dappled black! But I definitely see her in some great custom colors and so far I'm DYING to make some tack for her.. (Her head is fuller than the lady phase head so my new halter doesn't fit her - but the braided bridle I'm working on will!)

I did not even ATTEMPT The line for the "ninja pit of death" aka the Friday Morning breyer store rush. I did read however where there were some "Velvet Rope Event" horses and some other test runs left over that were for sale in the store. It ALMOST makes me want to brave the store next year.. almost...

I then wandered over to the Breyerfest Show (with my friends Norma and Karen)to talk to some friends and see what was on the table. MUCH To my delight Robin Smith was showing the Mother Hubbard II set and it went Third in a class of at least thirty other entrants!! Of course I would've rather it had come in first or second but I'll take my "blessings" where I can get them! LOL!!

We thebn ended up back at the Holiday Inn to set up for the swap meet and I did a little shopping.

On thursday Susan had introduced me to Lydia Ernst who couldn't be a NICER person! I wandered back to her room while my friends were setting up for the swap meet. I was able to thumb through her scrapbooks of her tack and I was struck by the fact that her tack is very unique and colorful! Eventually I'm going to have to get a set made by her.

In Lydia's room, she also had some "Real sized" tack that a braider had put some knots on! This totally inspired me to try my hand at some life size tack in the near future!! (Thats another blog post altogether!)

She was also nice enough to look at some bit shanks that I had made and compliment me on my work. I'm definitely a sucker for a compliment. So much of my miniature making is done alone, in a bit of a vaccum so it's nice to hear others' input sometimes.

Friday night, very late (11:45pm!) I drove the hour home from the Holiday Inn and promptly fell into bed...

Saturday I made it to the horsepark by 10:45am and I was ready to get in line and see the sights again! THis year I was able to get all of the special run horses that I really wanted plus one to sell to help recoup the costs of the things that I bought.

We also looked at, and took pictures of the Breyerfest one of a kind test run Auction models. As usual there were some horses that I totally coveted and wanted! If Only I had any extra money at all this year, I'd definitely want to bid. Then there was also the Silent auction with the Billy Campell custom appaloosa on the Roxy mold. I woulda wanted that one for sure!

I was able to get a few photos of the "Real" horses around the park,(http://abounaderphoto.blogspot.com) but I wasn't as motivated this year as I was last year to really "snap my head off" taking pictures of horses. I think I was just tired!

This year, for the first time since 1999, I stuck around for the Auction and the dinner that Breyer Had before the Auction. We didn't have a hotel room at the Holiday Inn North so there was no watching of the room or selling to be done, so we had the time.

The food was great. Seriously, not just because I was hungry either.. and the new KHP Arena is beautiful!!

I LOVED seeing the cake toppers that everyone created. You would have to SEE this stuff to believe it because they were incredibly creative. They just boggled my mind. I do have pictures of them but I haven't had time to tweak them just yet. I put up some of the photos that I have up on my modelhorseshowphotos.com website. (I've been busy working on a new braided bridle, inspired of course, by Susan)

I was somehow unaware of the "hat Parade" contest that Breyer had before the Auction, and let me tell you, that was seriously amusing too! One hat even had a bubble machine and one hat had a horse "jumping" out of the top of it... Our Friend Norma mentioned that next year, if there is a hat contest, she wants to set up a fog machine in her hat! LOL

One of the "Locals", Heather Jackson Lain (from TN)won with her hat so that was really fun to see too! (There was another younger girl from Louisville that won as well but I don't recall her name)

All in all, the auction prices were down which was a nice kick in the teeth since the horses that I wanted the most went for a "reasonable" amount of money (For test runs anyway)... The Salinero and the Smarty Jones molds didn't go as high as I would have thought they would but the new Roxy mold and the Sucescion and Le Fire molds went a lot higher that I imagined..

I wish I could've gone back on Sunday but since I have a little guy, and his dad had watched him for three days straight, it was time for me to stay home for a change. I can't wait until next year.. and anyone want to paint a Roxy for me?

I am currently working on a blue, black and white braided bridle that is to serve as a 'portfolio" piece for my collection. I'm really gung ho and excited about it!! I haven't wanted to do anything else for the last three days except work on it.. I'm going to have to do some laundry though..hehehehe

Breyerfest 2009 Day 1: Visit with Susan Young

Oh Mah Gawsh today was so inspiring and Enlightening!! Susan and I talked tack for Hours and then went "hall Crawling". Above is a photo of "The Master's" Hands. (Susan's hands) and one of her Many incredible creations. SHe and I exchanged ideas and thoughts about tackmaking as well as silverworking, bit making and mecate making - all in miniature of course!!

Then I was fortunate enough to Meet Lydia Auten Ernst thanks to Susan! Her Scrapbook of her work is SO inspiring!! It showed me that I need to keep better detailed notes on my own work as well as better pictures!

Tomorrow are the Tent times and I'll be meeting up with my Close Friends, Robin Hudson, Anna Tackett and Karen Jensen! I can't wait!