Sneak Peek

Sneak peeks of the parade set being built.. lots done this past four days..

Parade tack

I have been working feverishly on my parade tack.  Almost nonstop for the last three or four days.. I want to get it to a point to where the big things like designing and "editing" are well behind me.. and I'm almost there.  On Friday I discovered that while I had THREE bottles of dark brown dye, I had NO black.  My parade set is going to be two toned so not having black was a "big deal".  Saturday I was able to make it to Tandy leather and Get some black dye so I'm all set.  I then accidentally dyed some of the pieces too lightly so those pieces had to be redone and redyed.

I really would like to take the time to make everything myself out of silver but I really need to fly in making this so I'm using some pre-made hummingbirds from fire mountain gems.  I'm trying to figure out how to get some color on them instead of just leaving them all silver.. but i do like the silver against the black and dark brown.  It's harder NOT to use real silver than to use found objects and tape for me.. lol!

Anyway, photos when this thing looks like it's supposed to.. and I have to figure out how to make a decent corona pad for it considering it's shape..

Parade set Sneek Peek

This is just working out an idea for the Serapes of the parade set.  I'm trying REALLY hard not to make this set as complicated as I normally would due to time constraints..  That is proving harder than I imagined.  Sue B-Y and I talk a lot about artistic license and about how we want to make things that showcase everything we can do -whether that is warranted or not...  So I'm trying really hard to NOT think of ways that I can make every little thing myself.  I'm trying to stick with Basic Shapes and things that I could maybe buy online pre-made.... but thats difficult too..

The silver tape proved trickier than I previously remember but that may be due to my xacto blade not being as sharp as it could be.  I do have some "maid O metal" but I like the thought of the "sticky" backed silver tape.

I try to keep in mind the "context" of what the climate was during the hey day of these saddles.  The 1930s art deco movement was about simplification of shapes and clean lines..so I'm trying to keep the lines of the leather sharp and geometric..

I have some work projects coming up this week that are very "scary" in that I'm not 100% comfortable with doing them and I've been so emotionally and mentally overwhelmed that I haven't had a lot of mental energy to prepare for them.  It's just hard to focus.  Anthony was out of town all last week and Rj is a smart, Energetic, non stop kind of 4 year old so by the time Anthony came home late yesterday I was completely worn out.  I still am... lol

June 4th will be the 1 year anniversary of my dad's passing.  I'm no where near over it.  My brain keeps chewing on the "impermanence" of life which keeps me sort of in a emotional place.  I am better than I was last year but I'm not 100% ok... I don't know if I ever will be and that is a bittersweet thought.  Good that he was such a wonderful part of my life but hard to chew through the loss. 

I keep trying to move forward though and I'm very much looking forward to model horse showing, furthering my tack making skills, and taking better photos at horse shows..

OH and I want to say Go "I"ll have another" in his Zenyatta like Win in the Preakness!  It's shaping up to look like he may be an actual contender for the Triple Crown.  Hopefully the Trainer will ship him to NY TODAY and start training on that belmont track... (crossing fingers..)

MOre Progress.. slowly but surely

Halter Slots have been spoken for!

THank you Everyone!  All of the slots have been spoken for!!

Heather

Two Slots for Custom Halters (Or a set of reins) Available

Hi Folks!

I've found myself a bit financially embarassed so I'm going to offer two slots
for either a halter or a set of reins. Meaning, two different folks get one
slot and they are "allowed" to order a custom halter or a custom set of reins.
I should be able to complete these items by September at the Latest. (I have a
busy summer ahead as well as the 1 year anniversary of my Dad's death coming up
so I'm giving myself plenty of leeway)

A set of Braided Romel reins is $200
A Silver and Woven Knot western show halter is $170
A silver arabian show halter is $80

There are other options of halters to order but those above are my most popular
items.

The only Stipulation is that you have to pay up front. I never ever do this to
folks but I really need some quick moola. (Some of the other things I had for
sale didn't sell)

For those folks that are somewhat new to my tack: It is Live Showable and
Museum Quality. People have successfully shown my tack at NAN to Championships
and Numerous top tens (in fact, my saddleseat bridles or sets have been NAN
champ or Reserve Champ for 3 or 4 years running) as well as Placing Highly at
the Breyerfest Show (which is exceptionally competitive)

I do not take orders, other than the occasional Slot (like now) that comes open.
The last time I took Orders of any kind was in 2009.

I am offering this to you guys and to my Desert night creations Facebook page
and blog.

I'm going to see how many people are interested and if it's more than two then
I'll hold a lottery so that everything is fair.

I accept paypal and money orders.

Real Fast In Progres Photos of the Reining Saddles

Clean Studio!

After a tremendous amount of futzing, Ive assembled some of the saddle.  Alas everything will have to be tweaked and I am very much not finshed with it.. these are very much in progress photos..