Wow! It's Been Another year!

Life Update & Focus 

Recently, I was diagnosed with ADHD for the second time—and understanding how my brain works has been a complete game-changer. Over the last two months, starting treatment has given me a level of focus I haven’t had in years. Looking back, I realize I’ve been playing life on hard mode for a long time! Reading up on it has given me so much clarity, I’m excited to get more time in the studio!

A quick note on custom orders: I am still unable to accept custom commissions right now, as my schedule requires flexibility. However, I always welcome ideas! If you have a suggestion for a future piece, feel free to drop me a line anytime at tackmaker@gmail.com.

Over on the right, there is a sign up button, to get an email every time I post on this blog. PLEASE join it because this is how I will be announcing sales of miniatures from now on! 

I have also created a line of horse breed coloring books and Horse Breed Specific coloring pages using my own Equine Photography. I have both digital Copies and Paperback copies.  Currently there is an Arabian Coloring Book, An Akhal-Teke Coloring book and a Saddlebred Show Coloring book.  Coming Soon are a racing coloring book and a Friesian coloring book.  Coloring has now become a great way to relax and is very popular!

Preview of what coloring pages are available on etsy- These are all digital:

Current work in progress:

I have always been an admirer of rawhide braidwork there is something about it that is distinctly hand made, and honest.  The reason that I use "off white" thread is becacsue I think it's the closest thing I can find to mimic the look of rawhide in miniature.  A few years ago, I decided that my bosals didn't look "real" enough and I needed to learn to do a proper nosebutton, like the real thing.

I taught myself a basic casa knot.. and it occurred to me that beacuse of the structure of the casa knot, I could learn how to do a real nosebutton!  I have slow since been trying to learn how to interweave those casa knots with the same color.  For me, this is exceptionally difficult.. in fact it's taken me two years to learn how to do! 

First I made a bridle with a brownband.  This bridle is known as "The Culprit".. and I finally finished it after two years of trying in 2023!  Unfortunately because of the timeframe it took to finish that bridle one side is darker than the other from my hands..I am keeping this one to show what I can do. (I very rarely keep my own work.. lol)

The Culprit Finished!

The bridle below however, will be for sale!  I was going to do another browband bridle but, the browband I created started "leaking" dye(?) onto the threads and turning them brown.  I switched to commercially dyed leather and changed to doing "ear pieces" instead.  

This bridle already has braidwork on the check pieces, and on the ear pieces and there are little knots with tassels on the end of the reins.  I am working on putting tiny tassles on the ear pieces and then I intend to also make a breastcollar to match.

This bridle thankfully is going  much faster than the last one.. I don't quite remember when I started it but it was earlier this year.  I'm really in love and proud of the way it looks with the full long knots on the cheek pieces..  It's taken me years to be able to get to this point with braiding these.

Thank you so much for reading and Stay tuned!!