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!!