As I neared my studio 'season' this summer, I thought long and hard about how I wanted to handle potential orders and my work load. I really did think long and hard; I started considering options as early as February and began bouncing ideas off of people in March. I consulted other hobbyists doing business in the same(ish) area, potential customers, past customers, and slowly came to the realization that I can't make everyone (myself included) happy all at once. It was a hard decision, but here it is:
As of 2013, I will no longer be taking regular commission work.
Instead, I'll be focusing on auction and sales pieces. There are a lot of reasons why, but here are the top 3:
1. I often work faster on sales pieces than commissions. We'll chalk that up to an uncooperative muse. The end result is that working faster = more tack on the market.
2. Commissions stress me out. I love them, but they stress me out. I just had a really stressful semester, and as much as I love them, I don't need more stress.
3. I get to work on projects that speak to me. Self explanatory.
I know that a lot of people will be disappointed that they won't have the opportunity to commission work from me, and I know this means there may be a lot of fun projects that I'll miss out on, but given my circumstances this feels like the right choice.
Here's what I hope to do:
Several highly detailed pieces to be auctioned, starting with the parade set that has been languishing in a box and several simpler, saddle-and-bridle pieces to be sold at a fixed cost on MH$P with plenty of advance notice so that interested parties can keep an eye out. I'm going to do my best to offer a fair mix of tack for popular plastics and resins. It's very likely that something for WeeJay, Little Lonestar, Working Girl, Mindy, and the G4/WEG molds will be put out over the summer.
I have other plans, too, like sculpting a western tree and casting it with the help of Rebecca Turner of Solstice Art. These trees won't be for just my personal use; I'll also be selling them, assuming all of this works out the way its supposed to. I'd like to get an instruction manual and pattern together to go with them. I want to try my hand at a few how-to videos, too, starting with the best (well, my way) of tacking up. I want to be really active here on the blog and on Facebook; look for a freebie opportunity in the next few days - the studio page just hit 350 likes and the blog is pretty close to 60 watchers. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy and I'd like to share those feelings as they come along.
State of the Studio
So that is where the studio stands. I'll be cleaning up the website, updating the galleries, and clearing away some odds and ends this week. I have already done a lot of the pre-season clean up and restocking - yay for new toys (I mean tools)! I'm really excited about this summer. It feels like a marvelous jumping off point, and I hope you are all as excited as I am!
Here's to a wonderful summer full of tack, plastic ponies, and creativity!
Showing posts with label updates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label updates. Show all posts
Of Asthma, Aussies, and Asus
or "Why Anna has been AWOL."
I've spent the last week plus battling and then recovering from another major sinus episode, complete with oral steriods, an inhaler, and lots of antibiotics. The good news is that there may be a reason I've had several really bad (dare I say epic) sinus infections: the doctor I saw at the prompt care clinic last Friday suggested that I may have asthma.
Asthma is not outside the realm of possibility and given what I've learned about it in the last week, the diagnosis would make a lot of sense. I have an appointment with my regular physician in a week (sooner if they can get me in) and an inhaler for the meantime. Cross your fingers for me! I'm hoping its asthma; the inhaler I have right now helps massively but makes me very jittery.
I'm trying to get caught up on homework as quickly as I can. My first half semester class is almost over, and I'll have a week or so between classes to get caught up on my full semester class assignments. Hopefully after that's taken care of I can maintain a steady pace and work on tack!
I shipped out the Show for the Cure donation today, and next on the list is another go at the Aussie Stock Saddle. I put the knee blocks on the apoxie tree and made a barcoo bridle before I got sick. The tree is now thoroughly cured. I'm hoping to don a mask (yay asthma!) and finish some last minute shaping and then launch into construction. Fingers crossed the leather tree pattern won't need too much adjustment.
That covers asthma and Aussies...the Asus is my new laptop! I've had my eye on this model since I started scoping them out at the beginning of the year. It's a 15.6" machine with an 8gb memory, 750gb hard drive, i7 processor, and a touch screen! It's running Windows 8 and honestly, while the touch screen is helpful, it hasn't been necessary. Win8 is different and 'quirky' but certainly not the doomsday scenario I thought it would be.
This laptop is a massive leap above my almost 5yo desktop. I can finally run Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign at their full potential!
So there's a quick update. Hopefully I'll have something better to show in a week or so - like a finished saddle!
I've spent the last week plus battling and then recovering from another major sinus episode, complete with oral steriods, an inhaler, and lots of antibiotics. The good news is that there may be a reason I've had several really bad (dare I say epic) sinus infections: the doctor I saw at the prompt care clinic last Friday suggested that I may have asthma.
Asthma is not outside the realm of possibility and given what I've learned about it in the last week, the diagnosis would make a lot of sense. I have an appointment with my regular physician in a week (sooner if they can get me in) and an inhaler for the meantime. Cross your fingers for me! I'm hoping its asthma; the inhaler I have right now helps massively but makes me very jittery.
I'm trying to get caught up on homework as quickly as I can. My first half semester class is almost over, and I'll have a week or so between classes to get caught up on my full semester class assignments. Hopefully after that's taken care of I can maintain a steady pace and work on tack!
I shipped out the Show for the Cure donation today, and next on the list is another go at the Aussie Stock Saddle. I put the knee blocks on the apoxie tree and made a barcoo bridle before I got sick. The tree is now thoroughly cured. I'm hoping to don a mask (yay asthma!) and finish some last minute shaping and then launch into construction. Fingers crossed the leather tree pattern won't need too much adjustment.
That covers asthma and Aussies...the Asus is my new laptop! I've had my eye on this model since I started scoping them out at the beginning of the year. It's a 15.6" machine with an 8gb memory, 750gb hard drive, i7 processor, and a touch screen! It's running Windows 8 and honestly, while the touch screen is helpful, it hasn't been necessary. Win8 is different and 'quirky' but certainly not the doomsday scenario I thought it would be.
This laptop is a massive leap above my almost 5yo desktop. I can finally run Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign at their full potential!
So there's a quick update. Hopefully I'll have something better to show in a week or so - like a finished saddle!
Bright and Clean
I hope that describes the new blog layout. It's not really different, actually, just...tweaked a little, for continuity between the website and blog interface. The links that ran across the top of the page have been moved to the right, for instance. Not much of a difference, really, right?
The website underwent MAJOR changes, though! The previous design went into effect in January of 2010. It had a few tweaks along the way, but remained more or less unchanged until now.
You can check it out in person at www.dreamflitedesign.com. The new website is cleaner, brighter, and maybe a little easier to navigate. Sometimes dropdown menus act a little funny, but the new navigation should be a breeze. Click on the link, and viola! A nifty menu pops down and stays down until you click on it's parent link or another menu item.
This new design is in line with the labels I printed for the new boxes. Same color scheme, same font. New business cards to follow!
I tested the new website pretty thoroughly before releasing it, but there will always be bugs. If you catch one, turn it in at akirby@dreamflitedesign.com or post it in the comments here. Thanks!
For those counting down with me...class starts Wednesday. The clock just ticked over 12 AM, so that's TOMORROW! Yikes!
The website underwent MAJOR changes, though! The previous design went into effect in January of 2010. It had a few tweaks along the way, but remained more or less unchanged until now.
You can check it out in person at www.dreamflitedesign.com. The new website is cleaner, brighter, and maybe a little easier to navigate. Sometimes dropdown menus act a little funny, but the new navigation should be a breeze. Click on the link, and viola! A nifty menu pops down and stays down until you click on it's parent link or another menu item.
This new design is in line with the labels I printed for the new boxes. Same color scheme, same font. New business cards to follow!
I tested the new website pretty thoroughly before releasing it, but there will always be bugs. If you catch one, turn it in at akirby@dreamflitedesign.com or post it in the comments here. Thanks!
For those counting down with me...class starts Wednesday. The clock just ticked over 12 AM, so that's TOMORROW! Yikes!
We Can Do It the Hard Way, Or the Easy Way
Fact: the midwest experiences hot, humid summers that start well before the official beginning on June 21.
Fact: sticky wax has a tendency to smudge, smear, and otherwise become useless in hot, humid conditions.
Fact: Sticky wax that won't hold a bit makes it very difficult to set split reins.
So I did it the easy way.
More than one way to skin a cat, right? I can't say that I'd recommend this particular method on a painted horse or nice OF, but on a body or unpainted horse? Heck yes.
Edited to add: Shoestring Stables uses a twist tie (possibly known as a bread tie) instead of bare wire. What a brilliant idea! The plastic or paper covering provides protection for the horse as long as you don't crank it excessively tight.
In the above photo, I am trying to do a job meant for two hands with one and take a photo of said mayhem with the other. What I've done is dampened my reins with water and then used that weight to help them drape properly. I wrap them around the horn to fall on one side of the saddle and let them dry. When dry, they'll keep their shape fairly well and can be lifted off the horn and placed (with the help of a little sticky wax) in about the same place that a rider would hold them.
Even damp, leather that thin isn't going to have a whole lot of drape to it so I give it a little encouragement. What works really well? Holding both ends above the horn with one hand and using something round and sort of fat (thin highlighter, thick pen, you get the idea) to give the reins a fairly even drape.
Viola! Draped reins, less headache.
As a side note - the near rein has a little crimp in it, just about straight down from the throatlatch. This is because I accidentally soaked that rein. As in, pooling water. I don't recommend that; when they're that wet, attempts at shaping them generally end up looking a little unnatural. Just let it dry out to damp and try it again. Or you can work that little bit of rein around in your fingers after it dries, that'll take care of it, too.
Oh, and another note - my reins are sealed after dyeing. I can't promise that your reins won't spot, discolor, or bleed onto your horse. As with all things - attempt at your own risk. (I've never had anything bad happen, though)
There he is in all of his western pleasure glory!
I've worked extra hours at the print shop this week, been to five or six ball games in four days, and had long music practices at church. I've been going to bed at half-past-exhausted and sleeping later than I'd like. All of that means that this saddle is almost a week past schedule. I'm a little behind on other projects and getting frustrated that this saddle isn't just done already. The pleasure reins were the last thing to make, and I took whatever shots I could while I was waiting for dye to dry this morning. I'll wrap up the session tomorrow morning and then figure out when I'm going to list this thing on Auction Barn. I may hold out and list on Sunday, but regardless I'll post notices in all of the usual places.
I have a few topics for posts in mind, if I can get caught up enough to write them! Hopefully I'll be a little bit more of a regular poster now that ball season is almost over.
Fact: sticky wax has a tendency to smudge, smear, and otherwise become useless in hot, humid conditions.
Fact: Sticky wax that won't hold a bit makes it very difficult to set split reins.
So I did it the easy way.
More than one way to skin a cat, right? I can't say that I'd recommend this particular method on a painted horse or nice OF, but on a body or unpainted horse? Heck yes.
Edited to add: Shoestring Stables uses a twist tie (possibly known as a bread tie) instead of bare wire. What a brilliant idea! The plastic or paper covering provides protection for the horse as long as you don't crank it excessively tight.
In the above photo, I am trying to do a job meant for two hands with one and take a photo of said mayhem with the other. What I've done is dampened my reins with water and then used that weight to help them drape properly. I wrap them around the horn to fall on one side of the saddle and let them dry. When dry, they'll keep their shape fairly well and can be lifted off the horn and placed (with the help of a little sticky wax) in about the same place that a rider would hold them.
Even damp, leather that thin isn't going to have a whole lot of drape to it so I give it a little encouragement. What works really well? Holding both ends above the horn with one hand and using something round and sort of fat (thin highlighter, thick pen, you get the idea) to give the reins a fairly even drape.
Viola! Draped reins, less headache.
As a side note - the near rein has a little crimp in it, just about straight down from the throatlatch. This is because I accidentally soaked that rein. As in, pooling water. I don't recommend that; when they're that wet, attempts at shaping them generally end up looking a little unnatural. Just let it dry out to damp and try it again. Or you can work that little bit of rein around in your fingers after it dries, that'll take care of it, too.
Oh, and another note - my reins are sealed after dyeing. I can't promise that your reins won't spot, discolor, or bleed onto your horse. As with all things - attempt at your own risk. (I've never had anything bad happen, though)
There he is in all of his western pleasure glory!
I've worked extra hours at the print shop this week, been to five or six ball games in four days, and had long music practices at church. I've been going to bed at half-past-exhausted and sleeping later than I'd like. All of that means that this saddle is almost a week past schedule. I'm a little behind on other projects and getting frustrated that this saddle isn't just done already. The pleasure reins were the last thing to make, and I took whatever shots I could while I was waiting for dye to dry this morning. I'll wrap up the session tomorrow morning and then figure out when I'm going to list this thing on Auction Barn. I may hold out and list on Sunday, but regardless I'll post notices in all of the usual places.
I have a few topics for posts in mind, if I can get caught up enough to write them! Hopefully I'll be a little bit more of a regular poster now that ball season is almost over.
Facebook!
Some of you may have noticed the two new buttons on the right side of the blog; one for mailing list, and one for Facebook. That's because I've found two problems with the blogging format.
One: I don't really have the time or content to post every day. I'd love to be able to, it's just not where I'm at right now.
Two: The blog is somewhat limited in it's reach. Not everyone checks blogs frequently; people might miss important announcements!
This is where Facebook and the mailing list (a Yahoogroup created in 2007 that I resurrected) come in. If you want the important updates delivered right to your inbox, the Yahoogroup is there. It's announcement only, too, so you won't be inundated with mail. Sales pieces/commission slots will be announced on the blog, Facebook, AND via the Yahoogroup.
And to make sure this blog post is interesting...here's the latest finished piece! I snapped a rein in two when I was tacking it up for the final pictures on Saturday, but everything's fixed now.
One: I don't really have the time or content to post every day. I'd love to be able to, it's just not where I'm at right now.
Two: The blog is somewhat limited in it's reach. Not everyone checks blogs frequently; people might miss important announcements!
This is where Facebook and the mailing list (a Yahoogroup created in 2007 that I resurrected) come in. If you want the important updates delivered right to your inbox, the Yahoogroup is there. It's announcement only, too, so you won't be inundated with mail. Sales pieces/commission slots will be announced on the blog, Facebook, AND via the Yahoogroup.
And to make sure this blog post is interesting...here's the latest finished piece! I snapped a rein in two when I was tacking it up for the final pictures on Saturday, but everything's fixed now.
And Away We Go!
I got the very last scheduled donation boxed up yesterday, and today it hits the post office. Not a moment too soon, since The Show for the Cure is March 24! This is much, much closer than I am comfortable with, and it was a combination of poor planning and !@#$%^-stupid-boots! Boots can be time consuming under the best of circumstances, and then I had to remake one particular boot twice; once because the tabs were on the wrong side* and again because I dyed it too dark. I also remade part of the five point breastplate to correct some fit issues and lengthened the crown piece of the bridle.
But it's done, thank goodness, and will ship today along with a few extra goodies. Here are a couple of photos:
Now that both donations are out of the studio, it's time to really dive into the next project: a cross country/jumper set for WeeJay! I'll be doing more boots, of course, and another five point breastplate. I finished the figure eight bridle while I waiting for various parts of that last !@#$ boot to dry (and watching Frasier).
Please excuse the poor studio photo - this was taken indoors at night with the flash.
Compare to the two bridles below, both finished in March of last year.
The reins are slimmer on this year's bridle because I've gotten more confident when lacing reins and the buckles now have tongues, but otherwise there's not much difference, is there? I haven't decided if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I hadn't cleaned up the edges on the 2011 bridles yet, if anyone wonders about the light edges on some straps. I have to trim lace for strapgoods by hand and those edges are the result of dye not soaking all the way through. From what I've read, this is a common complaint with Eco-Flo dyes. It's not really a problem for me, though. I dip my brush back in the dye and run it along the edges before sealing.
*Equine legwear is always worn with fasteners (buckles, velcro, etc) on the outside, with loose ends pointed behind the horse to prevent injuries and help keep the protective gear from being torn off by another foot. The boot in question was for the left rear leg; when the tabs were on the outside of the leg, they pointed forward. It would be much easier for something to tear them off as the horse is moving forward, over a jump say, than if they were pointed towards the rear.
But it's done, thank goodness, and will ship today along with a few extra goodies. Here are a couple of photos:
Please excuse the poor studio photo - this was taken indoors at night with the flash.
Compare to the two bridles below, both finished in March of last year.
The reins are slimmer on this year's bridle because I've gotten more confident when lacing reins and the buckles now have tongues, but otherwise there's not much difference, is there? I haven't decided if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I hadn't cleaned up the edges on the 2011 bridles yet, if anyone wonders about the light edges on some straps. I have to trim lace for strapgoods by hand and those edges are the result of dye not soaking all the way through. From what I've read, this is a common complaint with Eco-Flo dyes. It's not really a problem for me, though. I dip my brush back in the dye and run it along the edges before sealing.
*Equine legwear is always worn with fasteners (buckles, velcro, etc) on the outside, with loose ends pointed behind the horse to prevent injuries and help keep the protective gear from being torn off by another foot. The boot in question was for the left rear leg; when the tabs were on the outside of the leg, they pointed forward. It would be much easier for something to tear them off as the horse is moving forward, over a jump say, than if they were pointed towards the rear.
I Made It!
Expect a more coherent post tomorrow; for now, suffice it to say that I survived the huge paper and am grateful that I only have two more (of that magnitude) to do this semester. I stressed myself out about it by waiting until the last minute, but it wasn't too bad. I think. The professor sent out an email yesterday saying that the papers he'd received at that point (I hadn't submitted mine yet) were all done incorrectly. Panic, much? I think I did okay, but this was the first paper for the class so I have no idea how it's going to turn out.
Regardless, I sent it off tonight. There's no getting it back, so I might as well relax, right? I'm in my pajamas before 9 p.m. and cleaning like a maniac. Little things like, oh, laundry tend to get left behind when I throw myself into panicked-paper-writing-mode.
I finished up my Show for the Cure donation on Saturday, though, and was hoping to get pictures but it's been insanely windy the last couple of days. I'm afraid that it would be nearly impossible to keep the model upright during a photoshoot. Winds are supposed to die down, so if I can just avoid the forecasted rain...better yet, I should make a simple photo booth! Shoestring Stables just posted an awesome tutorial that looks perfect for mini aficionados on a budget (cough, me, cough).
Regardless, I sent it off tonight. There's no getting it back, so I might as well relax, right? I'm in my pajamas before 9 p.m. and cleaning like a maniac. Little things like, oh, laundry tend to get left behind when I throw myself into panicked-paper-writing-mode.
I finished up my Show for the Cure donation on Saturday, though, and was hoping to get pictures but it's been insanely windy the last couple of days. I'm afraid that it would be nearly impossible to keep the model upright during a photoshoot. Winds are supposed to die down, so if I can just avoid the forecasted rain...better yet, I should make a simple photo booth! Shoestring Stables just posted an awesome tutorial that looks perfect for mini aficionados on a budget (cough, me, cough).
School!
Class started today, so I'm busy writing due dates into my wall calendar and getting things organized. I actually took the afternoon off of work to get a solid start on this stuff. I'm taking three full semester classes this time around, which is the heaviest workload I've done so far. It's not full time, of course, but if I can't balance work and school I get overwhelmed and go into a tailspin. It's not pretty and doesn't do anyone any good.
Now that class has started, posting may be a little slower. I'm going to try to post two or three times a week, and right now I'm going to schedule Tuesdays and Thursdays as blog days. That will give me several days to work up a topic of some sort and spew out something cohesive, I think. Today will be some miscellaneous updates!
First and most importantly, the raffle ends this Saturday (Aug 27) at midnight central standard time! I'll compile the comments information Sunday afternoon and try to get winners announced that night. There have been 157 comments so far, which is totally exciting! I've loved reading all of them, and you guys have had some great things to say!
I started working on a trade project Sunday afternoon. It doesn't look like much right now, but eventually it will be an upper level dressage set for Dinky Duke. DD is just a little larger than Wee Jay, and is the largest I've gone so far.
The tutorial is officially with my volunteers! I've already heard back from Christine of Last Alliance Studios, and she has pictures of her first try up! She did a brilliant job both assembling the saddle and giving me feed back. We've found one place already that needs clarification and more pictures. Leah at Shoestring Stable is also testing the tutorial for me, and as soon as I hear back from her I'll start revising and putting together a "clean" version. Right now the tutorial is functional, but not very pretty. I want to format it a little bit and enlarge the photos. It's sitting at 7 pages with 11 point type and thumbnail-sized pictures right now, so it's going to be the size of a small novel by the time it's done! I'm going to have to put it in a PDF, I think. Related but not: after using Adobe's InDesign so extensively at work, I find myself extraordinarily frustrated with the limitations of Microsoft Word.
That sort of sums things up for now! Theoretically, the next post will be about going "buckle-less", which is sort of a misnomer since there actually ARE buckles...you just don't use them!
Tutorial Progress
Last night I finished the first complete saddle based on the new tutorial pattern. I found some things that I want to tweak, but the pattern is sound! I'll adjust the pattern and write up my scribbled notes on the process today. The second test saddle will be started today, and I'll refine the directions and time myself as I go along. It could be ready for testing as early as Monday! Release to everyone will have to wait until I get feedback from my lovely test people and make any necessary adjustments, but I am beyond excited!
The black saddle was the first try. Since I hate making anything without a purpose, I added a couple of things during the process so that I can hang on to it for my personal show string. I'll probably include those things as optional steps in the tutorial.
Also in progress for my personal show string is a western show saddle. It's got the most extensive carving so far, and I'm pretty pleased with it. Of course I see things I wouldn't mind changing, but I can always sell it and make a new one for myself later.
The black saddle was the first try. Since I hate making anything without a purpose, I added a couple of things during the process so that I can hang on to it for my personal show string. I'll probably include those things as optional steps in the tutorial.
Also in progress for my personal show string is a western show saddle. It's got the most extensive carving so far, and I'm pretty pleased with it. Of course I see things I wouldn't mind changing, but I can always sell it and make a new one for myself later.
New Design & Finished Stuff
I have such original post names, don't I? I'm horrible at naming these things! Any time I try to think of something clever, I get a headache. If I DO think of something, it's usually stupid. So we're going to take the easiest route and name it something obvious, like "New Design & Finished Stuff". No surprises, just right out there telling you what's up.
A word on the new design...I hated the way that the old one(s) didn't really match my website. Most of my traffic comes from Jennifer Buxton's amazing blog (which I am insanely grateful for!), but for the few who venture over here from my website, I want a cohesive look. I finally found something that works, and I apologize to anyone who lived through the afternoon of playing around! I think I went through four or five designs and variations of them before I settled on this one, and those are just the ones you SAW!
Also, thanks for the response to the new tutorial! I'm plugging away at it, slowly, and hope to have it finished in the next month or so. There was a little hang up with the first test saddle...some genius *cough*me*cough* cut the stirrup keeper slots wrong and didn't notice until she was about to glue the seat on.
So after all that rambling, I guess you'd like to know what I finished, right? I could tell you...but showing is so much more fun!
These saddles are a trade with Kim Beecker of Total Image Equine for two paint jobs. Kim worked her magic on my Mindy and EquinArt cutting horse and I cannot WAIT to get them home!
A note on the english set: all but the bell boots are up there on their own power! If I do it right, the wire-reinforced galloping/splint boots don't require stickywax to stay on. As a tack maker I'm breathing a huge sigh of relief, so I can't imagine how happy those who show performance will be! I have the photos I need to do a walk through, just have to put it all together. Making the boots is REALLY simple, too!
There's a bit of a lag between orders right now, so I'm taking the opportunity to work on my personal show string. After my first live show experience in 2007 or 08, I wasn't very interested in trying it again. I caught the showing bug when I visited AHL last weekend and with an entire year to plan I think I can pull it off! Right now I'm working on a dressage saddle and a western show saddle. It's the most detailed carving I've done so far, and as long as I don't screw it up it should turn out nicely. More on those soon, though, probably tomorrow!
A word on the new design...I hated the way that the old one(s) didn't really match my website. Most of my traffic comes from Jennifer Buxton's amazing blog (which I am insanely grateful for!), but for the few who venture over here from my website, I want a cohesive look. I finally found something that works, and I apologize to anyone who lived through the afternoon of playing around! I think I went through four or five designs and variations of them before I settled on this one, and those are just the ones you SAW!
Also, thanks for the response to the new tutorial! I'm plugging away at it, slowly, and hope to have it finished in the next month or so. There was a little hang up with the first test saddle...some genius *cough*me*cough* cut the stirrup keeper slots wrong and didn't notice until she was about to glue the seat on.
So after all that rambling, I guess you'd like to know what I finished, right? I could tell you...but showing is so much more fun!
These saddles are a trade with Kim Beecker of Total Image Equine for two paint jobs. Kim worked her magic on my Mindy and EquinArt cutting horse and I cannot WAIT to get them home!
A note on the english set: all but the bell boots are up there on their own power! If I do it right, the wire-reinforced galloping/splint boots don't require stickywax to stay on. As a tack maker I'm breathing a huge sigh of relief, so I can't imagine how happy those who show performance will be! I have the photos I need to do a walk through, just have to put it all together. Making the boots is REALLY simple, too!
There's a bit of a lag between orders right now, so I'm taking the opportunity to work on my personal show string. After my first live show experience in 2007 or 08, I wasn't very interested in trying it again. I caught the showing bug when I visited AHL last weekend and with an entire year to plan I think I can pull it off! Right now I'm working on a dressage saddle and a western show saddle. It's the most detailed carving I've done so far, and as long as I don't screw it up it should turn out nicely. More on those soon, though, probably tomorrow!
One Week From Today
One week from today, my second semester of college will be officially OVER! Yay! I'll have all of three weeks off before the summer interim classes start up, and I have BIG plans for those three weeks! I've still got to go to work, but it's only half days. Still plenty of time to get lots of work done!
My priority will be working through as many current orders as possible before the second week of June, when anarchy will reign in my house. That's the week currently set aside for completing the remodel of my room that was started over a year ago. We'll be tearing a couple of walls down to the studs, so my studio and collection will be packed up and moved to safety for the duration.
If I manage to get all of that done, I'm going to take a serious look at my prices. Right now I'm priced well below other mini tack makers and I've had several people mention that I should really raise them. I'm definitely planning to do that, and when I have it all sorted out I'll reopen my books. Once all of that is done, I've got a couple of boxes of OF Stablemates to sort through and sell. The amount of time and effort involved in photographing, describing, and listing 50 or more Stablemates is daunting, to say the least.
If I'm lucky, I'll make a little headway on some pleasure reading. I've picked up a few used books I'd like to read just for the heck of it. One of these days I might even get to pick up War and Peace again!
In "real" life, my new job is going so, so well. I can't even begin to describe how awesome it is. My boss is thrilled with how quickly I'm picking up the newspaper biz and the software they use. He keeps saying that I'm a "fish in water." Is that not the coolest thing ever?! Plus, I only spend ten minutes on the road instead of 40! I've been at work the whole week, and my gas gauge is still reading "Full."
Oh, right, pictures! Here's Heather's finished set for the pony. Please excuse the missing ear and tail...one was the post office's fault, the other mine.
My priority will be working through as many current orders as possible before the second week of June, when anarchy will reign in my house. That's the week currently set aside for completing the remodel of my room that was started over a year ago. We'll be tearing a couple of walls down to the studs, so my studio and collection will be packed up and moved to safety for the duration.
If I manage to get all of that done, I'm going to take a serious look at my prices. Right now I'm priced well below other mini tack makers and I've had several people mention that I should really raise them. I'm definitely planning to do that, and when I have it all sorted out I'll reopen my books. Once all of that is done, I've got a couple of boxes of OF Stablemates to sort through and sell. The amount of time and effort involved in photographing, describing, and listing 50 or more Stablemates is daunting, to say the least.
If I'm lucky, I'll make a little headway on some pleasure reading. I've picked up a few used books I'd like to read just for the heck of it. One of these days I might even get to pick up War and Peace again!
In "real" life, my new job is going so, so well. I can't even begin to describe how awesome it is. My boss is thrilled with how quickly I'm picking up the newspaper biz and the software they use. He keeps saying that I'm a "fish in water." Is that not the coolest thing ever?! Plus, I only spend ten minutes on the road instead of 40! I've been at work the whole week, and my gas gauge is still reading "Full."
Oh, right, pictures! Here's Heather's finished set for the pony. Please excuse the missing ear and tail...one was the post office's fault, the other mine.
Show Photo!
There's not a whole lot to write...I've been really busy with tack, finishing things, packing them up, and doing a little bit of painting on the side. Usually I'm tack only, but I do dabble in pastels occasionally. I'm finally finishing my Dinky Duke up, just have details to do now! No photos of him, unfortunately, but he does have a name! Secondhand Serenade, but no one will ever hear it because he'll never be shown, poor fellow.
This week will be devoted to english homework and finishing up two projects: Shauna's english set and a donation for Red Deer Rebellion. Because I am just that brilliant, I have less than two weeks to wrap up a saddle and the assorted gear that goes with it. I completed the carving this evening, so theoretically it's smooth sailing from here on out. That's in theory, though, so just you wait for something to happen!
Progress Report
It feels like it's been a long, long road on this set. It really hasn't, but everything seems longer when you only get to work on it on the weekends.
As a general progress report, I've got quite a bit of work lined out. I think it'll be enough to keep me busy until June, but I'm never very good at projecting a time frame for saddles or predicting how much time "real life" will take up. I'm keeping my books tentatively open, just in case, but I'm going to work through the 10ish (holy cow!) saddles I have down right now before starting any brand new orders.
And a more specific progress report!
As a general progress report, I've got quite a bit of work lined out. I think it'll be enough to keep me busy until June, but I'm never very good at projecting a time frame for saddles or predicting how much time "real life" will take up. I'm keeping my books tentatively open, just in case, but I'm going to work through the 10ish (holy cow!) saddles I have down right now before starting any brand new orders.
And a more specific progress report!
- Natalie's WeeJay set is DONE. Working Girl needs laced reins, then ready to ship.
- Shauna's WeeJay set is in progress, probably 75% completed.
- Heather's set for the HA riding pony will be started next.
- Morg's Working Girl english set will be started once Shauna's tack is finished.
Something Constructive
I actually did something constructive before work this morning! I took photos of the corrected S4tC donation saddle and all six saddle pads that go with it. The only problem is that my computer is doing strange things...it has a history of oddness, actually, but only recently has it started refusing to recognize my camera SD card. I haven't had time to see if it's just the one card, just my computer, or what.
That issue is prompting me to take charge of my computer again. Despite being the sole user and administrator (or so I thought...) Vista won't let me do certain things. Like remove a piece-of-junk program that I don't want. So today I've got some homework out and I'm backing up files to prep for a deep clean of this monster. Actually...the back up is looking a little stuck too. What fun!
I miss the bright, clean newness of factory settings. I'm almost tempted to restore this PC, but I'm not sure that's a great idea. For one thing, I don't have the disk for Photoshop! Can't lose that, and with a huge car expense/new car looming over my head, can't afford a new version, either.
Just so that this post isn't totally worthless, here's some studio updates. This is just the stuff on my desk right this minute. I know there are a few people on the waiting list and so forth but I keep those files on a flash drive that is currently not connected to the computer, so I can't check or name names.
In Progress
That issue is prompting me to take charge of my computer again. Despite being the sole user and administrator (or so I thought...) Vista won't let me do certain things. Like remove a piece-of-junk program that I don't want. So today I've got some homework out and I'm backing up files to prep for a deep clean of this monster. Actually...the back up is looking a little stuck too. What fun!
I miss the bright, clean newness of factory settings. I'm almost tempted to restore this PC, but I'm not sure that's a great idea. For one thing, I don't have the disk for Photoshop! Can't lose that, and with a huge car expense/new car looming over my head, can't afford a new version, either.
Just so that this post isn't totally worthless, here's some studio updates. This is just the stuff on my desk right this minute. I know there are a few people on the waiting list and so forth but I keep those files on a flash drive that is currently not connected to the computer, so I can't check or name names.
In Progress
- Natalie's WeeJay set: saddle mostly built
- Shauna's WeeJay set: saddle mostly built, bridle started
- Mindy saddle seat set: bridle done, saddle started (will be a sales piece)
Carved Saddle & Website Updates
I finished this commission up over the weekend, though the saddle pad has had some adjustment since then. I also managed to get my website galleries updated! There are new pictures in the English and Western galleries :)
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