Look! I finished Something Part 2!!

Real silver and real woven knot show halter

Look! I finished another thing!  I'm kinda proud..   I'm pushing and pushing myself to get back in the studio. My problem is having time and energy but I'm pushing!  I started working on a Tennessee Walking horse Bridle and a saddleseat bridle but I was just so tired and my skills were rusty.. So I needed a pickmeup in the shape of things that are easier and make me happy to do!  It also reminds me that I can do these tiny things and i'm pretty good at it :)

Look I Finished Something Part I

So around the end of may, early part of june, I started experimenting with making real holes for the browband and the noseband of saddleseat style bridles.  At first it didn't really work because I was still using needles to make the holes.. then DUH I figured out that I could use a mechanical pencil to punch the holes with my cutting mat underneath.  So the above halter has white behind the maroon piece and those are real holes punched in.  I did fill a couple with white paint to make them stand out more but all in all I really like the effect!

 

I am trying to push myself to get more studio time and blog time, so hopefully there will be more posts!

Two posts in one week! Holy Cats!

Hi again!

Real fast I'm going to list out the things I have going on currently:

Single Mom

Working to keep myself current in my career as being a "Older" working woman in the tech field- this means online learning as much as I possibly can.  Currently going through codeacademy.com to learn to script in python and wading through a Linux Essentials course.
Photography For our Mims - still have like 1,000 photos to go through from June
Miniatures - working on two halters.  Upping my game in the silver work and learned new knots.
Pool twice a week- going to vegas to play pool in a Tournament in August!

Excercising - doing 3.6 miles to 4.8 miles 4 days a week.  I've put on about 40lbs and now that I've literally chewed through whatever emotional thing I needed to, I want the weight gone and to feel better.

Know what that adds up to?
I'm tired. SO. Very. Tired.

I did the "low key" Breyerfest this year. Bought only 3 or 4 things for me. (Much more for the boy).  Didn't bring anything to sell because my entire collection is currently packed up because 1. flood and 2 3 New Kittens/Cats (Going forward referred to as "Cattens") and I didn't have the energy to unpack it all and sift through.  I didn't even bring my "big dog" camera.  Just hung out and did some stuff but I found my inspiration again and that was seriously priceless.

But i'm trying. I'm trying to find a new normal after the divorce and I haven't quite figured out who I am now.  Pretty sure most people go through this..  Don't even get me started on dating.. oy. just.. ugh.. lol



Anyway  Happy July! and here are some Pretty Photos From Our Mims

Lets Do this! Breyerfest week 2018!

As always I started Breyerfest Week on monday with a Visit from Susan Bensema Young .  Susan has been my longtime Mentor/Sensai (as my Son so astutely called her).  Some years Sue and I just talk about work we're doing or others' work.  Some years she comes and I actually learn something.  This year I was able to attempt a Fan knot and a nosebutton Knot that I'll be using in the future for my bosals.  (In progress nose button knot above)

If that weren't enough, Sue showed me how to sharpen and properly use a hand held "graver" and "Silver ball".  I took short videos of each so that when I go to work on my silver practice I can see exactly how I should be working.

I am very inspired after this visit.. I'm looking forward to making a new bosal with the new nosebutton and fan knots that I learned.

The next two days, Tuesday and Wednesday I mostly cleaned up the house and just kind of relaxed.

Thursday was the day that RJ and I made it to the Clarion and met up with Jesse Tackett and Anna Tackett.  At the Artisian Hall that night, This happened:  (remind me to wear makeup when taking pictures.. lol)

Photo Courtesy of Morgen Kilbourn

In the Middle of that Ball of Talent  in green is me (the least talented here!); Then Morgen on the Right and Jennifer Danza on the left. Sue is in the back with the hat.  We were having a great time and I'm so thrilled that we got this shot!!  Also we had the usual room sales and that's always fun to do because sometimes you see long lost friends wander in :)!

On Friday RJ and I had our first SR tent time.  While we were eating lunch waiting for our tent time, completely by Co-incidence, we met up with Candace Curtis as we were sitting under a tree!  She and I Talked about the horsepark changes and Breyerfest this year.  This year Breyer used a lot more of the park than in the past.  The SR tent and the line where one waited for their SR Tent time was much bigger- an actual tent store this year with more checkout stands. It all went very smoothly and quickly. Much Better than in the past !

Left to right:  Candace Curtis, RJ and Me.

RJ

RJ has started to collect Breyer horses. Not as rabidly as I once did of course But I'm happy for any commonality with my kiddo.  So He was after the Red Smarty Jones and the checkered Newmarket.   The first number draw was in our favor and we were able to get both of the horses he wanted the first time through!  I told him it was a Breyerfest Miracle! lol

RJ's Red Smarty and his Blue Checkered Newmarket.

Another RJ find bought by his Friend Jesse Tackett as a Gift for him

Some More of RJ's Breyerfest Loot!

and two more!

RJ's ever growing collection.

Saturday RJ wasn't feeling well so I ventured around the park by myself.  I didn't have as good luck as I did on Friday- I was further back in line. So No special surprise horse for me that day but I did manage to snag a Glossy Sierra Rose and a Glossy Straight Bet. (both are on ebay because I have no idea what OF's are worth anymore)

My Breyerfest Loot included Getting my painted Mulenette Resin from Jennifer Danza and my UPnova from morgen. I also managed to get a Takeshi Sticker, a Westpoint medallion, a Cary Nelson Halter and a Niki Button Akhal Teke bust!

As always my life has been waaaayyy too busy for me to reasonably handle but I jut keep trying day by day. This vacation was REALLY great for relaxing and not stressing out too much.  I'm hoping that moving forward I'll start making more tack again.  I can't wait till nexdt year though!

The Annual "Whoot I love living in Louisville, KY this time of year post"

State Of Honor

Sailor's Valentine

Sailors Valentine

Gunnevera

Hence

Hence

Lockdown

Untrapped

Untrapped

Gunnevera

Fast and Accurate

Fast and Accurate

Practical Joke

Mccracken

Gunnevera

Unfortunately I only made it out to Churchill Downs' Backside once this derby season.. it's just been very cold and rainy : /  and I have a hard time getting to sleep and getting up early these days.  Here are some photos of some Derby and Oaks Contenders - shot by me... enjoy!

I'm better.. and i'm trying :)

I finally got the reins completed on my braided bridle. That weird piece over to the left is the connector for the reins.  I had headaches and shoulder aches this morning and most of today so I was not as productive as I would've liked.  Low pressure weather really wreaks havoc on my body.  So I had to take headache meds and it made me unable to create a good knot so I just stopped.

Hope that you have a great weeked!

Braidwork Journey

Early Braided Bridle

Early Braided Bridle

early Braided Bridle

Anna Tackett's Revamped Bridle

Blue N Black Bridle Owned by Susan Bensema Young

Model HOrser Anonymous donation owned By Robin Smith

Model HOrses Anonymous Bridle Owned By Robin Smith

Nan Donation Collaboration between myself and Susan Bensema Young

Today, I decided to Teach my Son how to do knots.  I realized as I looked at his eye hand co-ordination and his lack of ability to make things with his hands, that his school no longer teaches art and crafts.  Most schools don't. Budget cuts I suppose.  He also doesn't like to "color" (I would color for hours at his age).  His brain is like mine and that is a WHOLE LOT Of sitting around for long periods of time focusing on one thing for our brains.  Coloring is a monumental task for him.  I've learned to focus my ever busy brain by making things with my hands, or drawing.  He doesn't have that luxury... yet.

I also find that he spends a lot of time on his Ipad and reading. But we don't do a lot together. I want to change all of this and mentor him in engineering things with his hands.  I think this is a valuable life skill.

I realized as I was teaching him the spanish ring knot of three passes that:

1. I broke up the whole knot into parts and only moved onto another part when I had the first part down.  That seemed to help him.

2. I taught myself to do knots when I was in my 30s... so he'll have a jump on me.

3. I am teaching him much more than knots. I'm teaching eye hand co-ordination,  focus, dealing with frustration (he was in tears due to frustration but we worked through it) and perserverence.

4. I love spending time with him like that. No Tv. NO music, just talking and learning.

Just now, I asked him to do the first part that we learned today- and he did it in seconds. He was SO PROUD Of himself!  He even asked to learn more tomorrow. :)

I'm hoping that in the future he'll want to do more knots and maybe I'll learn some new ones on the way too..