Breathing Room (Updated)

*Updated*
---The new english and western pricing is up, along with up to date galleries.  I have new prices worked out for saddle seat and endurance, but haven't got them up yet. ---

Unusually, my schoolwork for the week is done several days early.  Normally I'm working up until the last minute, but this week I was able to buckle down and knock it out last night.  I put in my four hours at the newspaper this morning, instead of my usual afternoon shift, and now I have some unexpected freedom!

When I realized that I had the whole entire weekend free my brain froze for a moment.  What on earth was I going to do with myself for an entire two and a half days?! Then my brain kicked in.  I'm going to knock out the new pricing pages today, possibly update the website gallery, and who knows what other little things need to be tweaked on the website.  I'm tempted to redo it completely, actually, because that's just how my brain works.  I get tired of a design after a while and want something fresh.  I have to keep reminding myself that I've built my blog design, business cards, and packaging around the current design and that it's not worth changing everything!

The remodel is moving along at a pretty good clip.  The new drywall has been hung and we've started mudding.  By "we" I mean my dad, of course.  I've helped out, but between work and school he's done most of it.  I'm sure I'll get in on the fun when we start sanding.  What joy.

Here's a progressional shot of the remodel.  We officially started tearing out last Friday night, almost a week later than planned.

And my current digs! Feels more like a dorm room, and I cannot WAIT to have my real room back.  What you can't see here is the treadmill to the left of the doorway, the massive stack of books next to it, and the boxes behind it.

So, that's where I am! Hopefully we can get the mudding finished this week, and I can paint next week!

Boxes, Bodies, and Baggies

I got the last saddles on my desk boxed up! Four saddles in three boxes, and I will be so relieved when they hit the mail.  Well, when they reach their new homes. With those boxed up, I can start boxing up my studio.  I began that process a few weekends ago, by sewing fleece baggies for my small collection of mini resins.

They were really easy to make! If anyone's interested I can post a pattern of sorts, but I made all what...15 of them? Something like that, in one day and one yard of fleece.  That's hand stitching, too, so if you get along with sewing machines it would be even faster.  I'm actually a 'snuggie' short, but the horse it's for is out being painted so I'm not worried.  In the background is The Yellow Cat, seen a few other places in the blog.  He thinks he's helping, but shhh...he's not, really.  Better than The Grey Cat, who decided that the box of fleecy resins would make a great nap spot! I was too panicked to get a photo of that.

And, just for kicks, my body box.

It's a crazy conglomeration of four generations of Stablemates, some Stones, and micro minis in the very bottom.  I'm missing a few Stones, but only ones that aren't practical for tack fitting or had crazy limited releases in plastic.  I have a copy of every Breyer Stablemate mold from the past four generations, with the notable exception of the G1 Quarter Horse mare.  I can't seem to find a cheap one that isn't on eBay.  So far no requests for tack on her, so I think I'm safe.

Tomorrow morning I'll ship what I can and keep packing up my studio.  I need to gather up my tools and everything else that lives on that desk before we start tear down this weekend. If I think about it, I'll try to get some stuff on general organization.

It's Only a Bajillion Degrees Outside

Actually, according to the Weather Channel, it's 95 and feels like 98.  Also according to the Weather Channel, that's about 10 degrees too hot.  95 is also the record high; I'm not sure if we set it or met it today and I really don't care.  It's just too hot.  I get the best photo results outside, though, and that's where I was.

Stickywax doesn't like to stick in 95 degree heat.  It prefers to smear.  This also reminded me of why I really don't like to use Sulser bits: I can't get them to sit right, even when the stickywax cooperates.  They're just a little bulky, too, but then most things for Stablemates are.  I have a few from an old trade that I was saving for who knows what, and I decided to use one on a personal piece.  I may try to offload the others on MH$P.  They drive me that crazy.  (Anyone want 3 pairs of Sulser eggbutt snaffles and a  pair of stirrups? Anyone?)

The 'table' I have my stuff set up on is actually the roof of our outside dog house, which is covered in shingles.  Shingles that are extremely hot.  Rather than melt my arms to the roof, I had to get pretty inventive with ways to prop myself up.  That green thing to the right was pretty handly, but only worked for one arm at a time.  I had to try and land the other elbow on my camera's neck strap, which isn't very big.  Picture someone playing Twister on top of a giant frying pan, and that's a pretty accurate description of what I was trying to do.  It was so worth it, though!

More pictures of this set can be seen at my Picasa album.

Since I already had the dressage stuff out, I shot a few performance photos of my Working Girl, too.
I took 30 some pictures, but failed to notice that after the first 10 or so the stickywax gave in to the heat and the crown of the bridle popped up.  Add to that the usual focus adjustments necessary during the first five or so...and I got exactly one usable photo.  The last 15 are lovely; well focused, a few different positions that actually make sense at K, etc, but that crazy crown piece ruins 'em.

Looming.

I'm a week away from the room remodel.  I'm dreading it, but also anticipating it.  I hate the unfinished, cluttery feeling my room has right now.  On the other hand, I'm not looking forward to sleeping in the spare room next to the treadmill for the next two weeks, or inhaling gobs of drywall dust.  I just know it's going to aggravate my allergies.  I know I've mentioned the remodel quite a bit; I'm sure you're tired of hearing about it.  My room isn't the only thing getting an overhaul, though.  It'll mark some big changes around my studio, too.

First off is the pricing change.  I hate to say it, but everything's going to take a big jump in pricing.  I finally sat down and calculated the average number of hours it takes me to complete a saddle and bridle, and after adding the cost of supplies I have a more realistic value of my time.  I absolutely love making tack, but with so many other things vying for my time it's necessary to make my hobby pay if I want to continue. 

I'm also going to change the structure of how tack is ordered.  Anyone who visits my website right now will see several different options, ranging from simple to complex and including a variety of boots and other accessories.  In the future, I'll offer a few basic saddles and bridles, and provide a list of things that can be added to build exactly what you need.  This gives the hobbyist who needs one saddle to do a lot of jobs more options and will help me to more consistently price the "I want to do X, Y, and Z with this horse, what do I need?" requests that frequently come across my desk.  I will be, as always, available to consult with every customer who emails me so that we can create the perfect set up for your needs.

Unfortunately, that's all a little hypothetical.  I had planned to reopen my books, which closed in early April due to the massive number of jobs on my desk, as soon as possible after the remodel was completed. However, I am now considering them to be closed indefinitely.  I do want to reopen them, but I need a little break before I accept commissions again.  I want to make a few more pieces for myself, even though the chances of attending a live show are about as good as a snowball surviving our current heatwave. (95+ temps all week, not including the heat index or humidity! Yikes!)  Personal pieces offer a wonderful opportunity to test new techniques, try new designs, and to explore my creativity.  I may also sell a few pieces finished during that time; any sales will be posted here and on MH$P. 

During my 'vacation' from commissions, I hope to continue posting on the blog.  I want to show off new pieces as they are completed, and I definitely want to get the tutorial produced.  It was set to go out last weekend, but I couldn't get the pictures edited in time.  Now it has to wait until after the remodel.   Without time-sensitive commissions, I'm also hoping that I can do a few how-to articles to post here.  I still have the photos for Stablemate scale galloping boots ready, I just need to write up the instructions!  I can also use that time to catch up on the unpleasant side of business; book keeping.  I'm so far behind with paperwork that it's ridiculous.  It'll take me a week to dig out from under the pile of receipts, PayPal printouts, and shipping confirmations that have amassed.

I'll be checking my email consistently during the remodel, but blog posting will be sporadic, if at all.  Maybe some progress pictures of the remodel? I don't know yet.

In summing up, all commissions on my desk will be going out early next week, sooner if possible.  I'll notify people via the usual channels when I'm accepting commissions again, and keep an eye out for blog posts and sales pieces until then.  I'll be here for the rest of the week, but next Monday contact may be a bit sporadic.  Drywall dust and paint can do that to a person.

Boxes!

The last two days have been the most fun mail days in a while! USPS showed up on my doorstep yesterday morning, which is unusual since technically we're on the rural route.  I was expecting my Tandy order, so was a little disappointed when the box felt nothing like leather dye.  It was, in fact, my microeconomics textbook.  Not a horrible thing to get three mail days before class starts, especially remembering the fiasco last semester.

I had just resigned myself to waiting another day for my Tandy order to show when UPS pounds on the door.  They must have knocked and dropped the box, because she was halfway to the truck by the time I made it to the door.  It's a good thing I caught them, too, because the box was tiny! This time it was Tandy, and of course I had to open everything and play with it.

This morning USPS shows up on my door again! I couldn't imagine what I'd bought that would be coming all the way from Pennsylvania in a pretty big box, insured and signature confirmation.  As an aside, it is ridiculously difficult to sign those dinky little forms while trying to hang on to a medium flat rate box and the rest of the day's mail. It's a good thing this is a small town, because if someone got suspicious and started comparing signatures, I don't think they'd match.  Very confused, I started working my way through the generous packing material until I hit bubble wrap.  Then, well, I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I squealed.  I think I may have scared the cat, too.  The reason I couldn't remember ordering anything was simple: I hadn't! In the box were the trade horses that I mentioned in the New Design & Finished Stuff post from May.  Kim did a wonderful job on both of them!

This is the beginning of a BEAUTIFUL friendship! I've already got Kim lined up to paint my Stone Chips Jumper when my studio is back up.  These two horses were an excellent early birthday surprise, though I'm sure it wasn't planned that way.  I think I just might get back into photoshowing with these beauties!