Sneak peeks..

Reins for Ann B.

Bridle I'm working on for myself.  I made the buckles, keepers and the knots. (Those are woven knots, NOT beads)

Bridle I'm working on for myself.  I made the buckles, keepers and the knots. (Those are woven knots, NOT beads)

Robin S's double bridle in progress

Work has been a lot more demanding lately which is a bittersweet thing.  YEsterday, Oct 16th I felt better than I had in a long time.  Just a general overall, I feel better than average kind of day.  Which is the first time I've felt that way in about a year and a half.

Tonight I'm tired, so I'm just sitting and relaxing and recharging.. more studio work this weekend!

Work getting in the way of my Fun!

Work has been very very busy and very intense.  I'm really tired most nights when I come home.  I do try to spend some time in the studio, no matter how short.  Now more than ever I need the comfort of creating things. 

Above is Robin S. 's double bridle in progress.  I'm working on the cavesson now.  The gold on the browband is real gold filled wire.

Busy Busy and Some More Busy!

Hucks Connection V

Marhaabah and JA Urbino

JA Urbino

Half Arabian Costume Class winner

My weekends and weeks have been packed.  More Packed than I like and much busier than I really can keep up with.. but such is life.  THE above photos are from the 2012 Arabian Celebration held here in Louisville, KY last weekend.  It was a thrill to see the horses local again!

I am currently wrestling with my first double bridle in a long long time.. it'll be black and it is for a long time customer..

Last week anthony was out of town so I didn't get anything done in the studio at all.... but I finally had a breakthrough at about 8pm tonight so hopefully the rest will come together a bit easier..

Weekend with a Friend

This past weekend I have the Privilege to spend a few days with Morgen Kilbourn.  In case you live under a rock and are unaware of this really talented lady, Morgen is a Sculptor of equine art.  During Breyerfest this past year, Robin Hudson and I decided to try to persuade Morgen to sculpt a saddlebred of some sort.  Luckily for Us, Morgen Entered the American Academy of Equine Art's Juried Art show and won so Morgen had a reason to come to KY and visit.

Morgen and I have always gotten along via email and she was nice enough to trade a Hazel resin for a couple of bridles with braidwork..  Then last year, 2011, Morgen allowed me to hang out with her when I was at Breyerfest by myself.  This was poignant to me because of the Loss of my dad.  Morgen also lost a parent last year so she knew what I was going through.  We were a bit kismet...  MOrgen will always have a special place in my heart.

Anyway, Morgen drove in last thursday and we spent last Friday and Saturday together.  I want to emphasize how rare this is for me.  I am sickly, moody, introverted critter most of the time.  People rarely are invited to my house, let alone invited to stay a couple of days.  MOrgen was the Perfect house guest and I hope that the night poor RJ's in intercom was muted and resulted in screaming and crying won't scar her for life.!

We spent last friday at Premier Stables and then Willowbank Saddlebred Farm.  In the evening we went to the Art Reception for the AAEA in Georgetown where Morgen won a Prize for best sculpture.

Then saturday I treated her to a non-Breyerfest tour of the Ky Horse park. (We also went to an Irish Draught show but there were only about 6 -8 horses and it wasn't much of a show that day)

I think I wore her out as well as myself.  There was a sickly night on my part due to some weird food at the art reception but luckily Anthony Saved the Day and Morgen was nice enough to not be upset  when I had to RUN to the bathroom and then pass out in bed. (caviar apparently doesn't agree with me)

I sent Morgen home with about 20 Gig of saddlebred photos and hopefully some fond memories.  I know that I will hope that Morgen visits a lot more because I had a wonderful time.

Above are a few photos from our adventures. I'm still getting to know my camera so some things didn't turn out as colorful as I would have wanted.. going to have to read the manual I guess..

On the tack front, I have repaired an older bridle owned by Robin Smith that she's shown with for a long time.  I think it's literally lasted almost ten years without breaking and the buckle that only broke due to wear and use.   I've replaced it with some thicker, tougher but still elegant leather so hopefully it will never break again.  I've also just started on another bridle that will be like that one except in black leather instead.

This weekend is the Arabian Celebration at the Ky Fair and Expo center.. and I'm sure I don't have to tell you that I can't WAIT to see that!

Real Fast! Ann B's Reins

Even though the connectors were made with the same artificial sinew, they turned out lighter because they were so much thinner.  These reins taught me that I could come up with new designs with the thinner braids and I have just The project in mind...

Drivel and change

Ann B's reins and knots that didn't make the cut

Ann B's Reins in progress and a project bridle for me.

Chelsea N's reining saddle set, in the box almost ready to go.

Ann B's reins in progress

Sahara Kitty in the studio.  She's my tack thief!

I've been ruminating a lot about my life.  At my age apparently people change their lives.  I understand why now.  So much has happened to me mentally and emotionally.  Lots of leaps and bound forward.  I finally like the direction I'm moving in, although I'm at the beginning of the path...

Anyway, lots happening in the studio but I'm staying absolutely focused on the two orders that I need to complete before I start to indulge my creativity some more... but these will probably be my best rein set and double bridles yet!  Stay tuned!

Lemme Just bombard you with photos while I'm at it...

The First halter up there is on my Peter Stone Design a Horse arabian.  I bought him specifically for photographing arabian show halters.  His attitude really sets him off I think.

The next photo down is of a breastcollar that I made to match a bridle that I ended up not using at all at NAN.  I'm going to keep it for now though.

The rest of the photos are of various pieces of tack while they're still at my house.  Soon they will be sent to their new owners.

Chelsea N Saddle Set! Finished!

 

Above are photos of Chelsea N's Finished saddle set!  I'm very pleased with the results and I hope she likes it too :-)

Real fast.....

Bridle for the Utterly Horses Hullabaloo

Bridle for the Utterly Horses Hullabaloo

Halter for Mary B.

Halter for Mary B.

Halter for Mary b

I swear I've been busy.  Got the Donation for the Utterly Horses Hullabaloo (in ENGLAND!) done and shipped.  And Just last night I finished up the First of my order backlog - a Western Show Halter for a Victrix on my Valor. (the halter is very adjustable).

I am like thisclose to finishing up the breastcollar for the Chelsea Nichols Saddle.  I had to readjust it a bit after I found that it was just too short..

Next Up is a slew of Arabian Show Halters.

Also, I'm working on a blog article about showing your Model horse Saddlebred in Saddle Seat (it is two words).  Hopefully this will clear up any misconceptions or maybe add to them.. I dunno. that post will take me a while to complete though.

My NAN Photos from 2012 have all been uploaded to my photo website:  http://www.abounaderphoto.com and I'm working towards uploading my 2010 NAN photos as well.

This year at breyerfest I spent a lot of time with different people so I didn't get to get out and photograph a whole lot of things. (and it was desperately hot).

I also went to the 2012 Shelbyville Horse Show Last weekend and shot a few photos there.

More soon when I get a chance to breathe!

Breyerfest "loot"

Left to right: Top row: Halter plates, Robin Clark Bit, Small (awesome!) classic western tree: Second Row Hammered Wired Buckles, Carol Williams Bridle with original CW Bit; Carol Williams bit; halter plates

Glossy bay Stone Morgan modeling my new parade set.

OOAK Stone Performance Horse

One of 10 Braided Mane Stone ISH

Before I fall happliy asleep here, I want to writ about how wonderful this Breyerfest/NAN has been.  I think that I have been showing long enough, and coming to Breyerfest Long enough to actually call many people "Friends".  This year, most of those "Friends" were here in Lexington, KY and I had time to sit and talk to many of them.  I truly feel like I belong to this hobby.  LIke I have a place in it and maybe I've made some kind of Small impact.  I've been given the sweetest little gifts of praise from many people and the gift of them allowing me to connect with them.  They also have given me tips, and hints, and been open with me about their methods of making tack and innovations.  I hope that I gave enough in return. :-)

I'm sad to say that Susan Taylor has stated that her hands are no longer allowing her to make tack, so she is liquidating her inventory.  I wandered into her hotel room tonight to see what she had and wandered back out shortly afterwards with new "Treasures" for my own Tack Collection. ( I collect tack as well as make it because I know the time and effort that goes into it".

The first picture above is my "loot" from her room.  Two Precious Bits hand made out of real silver by Carol Williams of www.riorondo.com .  I have been a long time admirer of Carol's skill and workmanship with tack.  She was a tackmaker before she was a sculptor and her fantastic talent shows through her tack pieces.  I am going to make braided bridles on those bits and I hope that I do them justice.

The Robin Clark (Sister of Ginger Ryals) bits are a rare find now a days.  Robin no longer makes them and hasn't in quite some time.  I acquired more of Robin's bits when she sold out about 10 years ago but I never had any of this kind. (the parade set bit was one of her creations)

The hammered silver wire buckles I bought because I've never been able to make them myself.  NOt because I can't, but because I rarely think about doing so and these are already made.  I think that I aquired a renewed appreciation for things that would save me time after I made my parade set.

The classic sized western saddle tree I bought because I've long wanted to make a classic scale (1/12th) western pleasure set and eventually a parade set.

The second picture down is of the New Morgan mold being produced by the Peter Stone company.  Morgan horses are one of the Breeds of horses that I really love and this guy really just screams morgan to me.  He's also in a nice, "normal" morgan color and I love a glossy model..

The Next picture is a Peter Stone Performance horse with a customized mane and tail as well as a lovely factory paint job.  He is a one of a kind piece.  I have a new eye for "performance" showing so I think he'll fit right in.

The fourth picture down is a Peter stone Ideal Stock Horse Mold with a braided mane and a customized tail.  He also has a lovely paint horse paint job in a nice "conservative" Bay pinto.  I'm thinking english trail with him and maybe whatever else I can come up with.  He also will make a nice halter horse.  He is a one of 10 run.

My "Breyer loot" is wrapped up still but I'll be shooting pictures after I Get home tomorrow.  I really bought a lot more this year than I have in several years

Today Anthony Brought RJ to his First Breyerfest and we really wore him out.  He saw a lot of horses but as usual his favorite things were the birds.  Sometimes a kid just like what he likes and no amount of outside influence will change that. (Trust me, I know.)  So we spent time out by the "Man O War" Statue to see the ducks and geese that in habit the fountain and the little pond near it.

I didn't shoot as many photos of horses this year as I usually do because I was spending time with friends but I still shot a lot of photos.  Unfortunately the Jousting was held inside the indoor arena so my pictures are awful.  For some reason I thought that the jousting would be held outside and that I would be able to get some decent action shots. Not so I'm afraid...  I got some photos of the horses and the "knights" but it was not at all like I pictured in my head. (Course.. what is? LOL)

Well, it's time for me to crawl into bed.. as I tweak photos I'll post more...

Two TOp Tens!.........and a brain fart...

 

After a VERY long day Showing at The North American Model Horse Nationals (NAN) in Lexington KY, I'm thrilled to say that Managed to get two top tens out of three entries!  A top ten in CM/AR Western Trail (Stock horses) and CM/AR Western Pleasure (Stock horses)!  The saddle, should look familiar if you have been wonderful enough to have read my drivel for some time.  It is the "Anthony Saddle II" made in 2005.  I didn't have a true Western Pleasure Style Saddle of my own so Anthony was nice enough to let me borrow his. (With the Stipulation that I not sell it and that it goes back into it's case as soon as it gets home!)  The Bridle is new.  I figured that I would have less trouble with some nice black braided reins with some quick knots so thats what I made.

I think I would've done better in Parade if I had moved my breastcollar forward.  I think I knew that it went in front of the withers but the Jitters from NAN made me forget that.  OH well. there is always two years from now! LOL!

I proxy showed for my Good Friend, Karen Jensen and out of four OF horses she top tenned with three!  That Karen can pick a butt kicking OF!!!

I was even "good" in that managed to work a bit on some of my tack orders while waiting for my classes.

I was bad that I celebrated with Pizza but I will do a tremendous amount of walking today to make up for it. (or at least thats what I tell myself! LOL!)

Reining set

I'm pleased with the way the two part silver plates came out and I am very pleased with the cantle plate.  I have the breast collar started.. just need time to do knots.. NAN next week!  EEP!