To make or not to make

I didn't set out to be a tack maker.

What I wanted to be was a performance shower.

Unfortunately, like so many college age collectors, I didn't have a lot of hobby budget. A regular run, traditional scale Breyer was the kind of splurge that meant I'd be eating Ramen instead of Mac & Cheese for a week. There was no way I could afford the beautiful saddles I ogled in the pages of Just About Horses.

What I could afford was a Western Saddle & Breastcollar Kit from Rio Rondo. I bought one as soon as they came out.

It required some tools I did not have, so I took it home with me at Christmas and raided Dad's garage. He also helped by taking me to local Tandy store and paying for some leather dye. Thanks, Dad.

Truth be told, I struggled with that saddle. I had no experience with leatherwork and probably should have started with a simpler kit. More than once I wanted to quit, but Dad wouldn't let me. I kept at it and ended up with something that - while not great - at least looked like a saddle.

After I was done, a funny thing happened: I forgot all about how frustrating that had been and started thinking about the next saddle. I went over the steps in my head, analyzing what worked and what didn't and the changes I would made to ensure a better result.

I was obsessed.

And I stayed obsessed for a really long time.

I often hear young, underfunded performance showers talk about learning how to make tack in an effort to save money. It's a great idea, and I think everyone who is even the littlest bit interested should give it a shot. There are a lot of free and low cost kits and tutorials available now. This blog alone boasts fifty four posts with the Tack Tips label.

Because everything is easier with support, I also recommend enrolling in a tack making workshop at one of the Breyer events...

or participating in International Model Tack Month.

But let me tell you this: If you try it and you don't like it - if after you're done, you think "never again" instead of "how can I make the next one better" - it's perfectly okay to not make your own tack. In fact, it might be the cheaper option.

I spent a lot money learning how to be a good tack maker. I can't even begin to guess the actual amount. 

That was okay because A, I was obsessed and B, I was able to offset (hopefully) most of the costs through tack sales.

Still, when I think back on it, I wonder how different my life might have been, how much money I could have saved, if I had just eaten Ramen for a year and bought a saddle from someone else.

Joann by Braymere

Yesterday's post got me thinking about all the things I have made using items purchased at Joann Fabrics. 

Then - because I'm generous like that - I decided to share some of them here.

For the purposes of this post, I'm not going to count invisible and generic things like glue, thread, jump rings and craft paint. Instead, I'm focussing on products that make up a substantial part of the finished item. First up, are these wonderful, decorated tube beads.

I bought so many of these over the years. They are exactly the right size for sliding over 3/32" leather straps, and I used them to decorate countless headstalls,

reins...

and halters.

Ribbon - specifically grosgrain ribbon - was another common purchase.

Most of this was used for halters...

and surcingles,

but in the last year, I also I bought a lot for real horse decorating purposes.

Manes,

tails,

forelocks... No part of Olive was safe!

I loved seeing my girl bedecked in bows!

Side note: I will never ever get over those ears. 

They were magnificent.

Speaking of bows... Who could forget the eighty pink bows I bought for my Pink! class entry at Candyland Live 2019? 

Those came from Joann!

Although I'm not really a sewist, sometimes fabric found its way into my basket. This unicorn cloth was completely irristable.

Ditto, this nice Western patterned fabric.

I also made a lot of impulse purchases in the seasonal aisle, including these gourds,

the sparkly poms on this Christmas set...

and this deer. He's really a Christmas tree ornament, but he makes a perfect 1:9 scale giant stuffed animal.

I'm sure I'm forgetting as many things as I remembered, but at least, this gives a glimpse into the contributions Joann has made to my hobby life over the last decade or so. It was a good run, and I will definitely miss shopping there. Farewell, Joann, and thank you for the memories!

I'll make another

On Tuesday, I spent a couple pleasant hours building a simple Western bridle for Regan's Family Arabian Mare.

"That was fun," I thought as I started putting my tools away. "Maybe I should make another one before I go back to painting."

The idea took hold, but what to make? 

I started flipping through my supplies, looking for inspiration. I landed on these Kimberley Smith printed fabric tack sheets and thought, "Yep. That'll do."

And it did.

In truth, this was a much bigger project than Regan's basic bridle. It took a lot longer to make and was significantly less pleasant.

I kind of like it, though.

Although I did put the tools away after I finished, I'm still thinking about the matching saddle parts. It's been a long time since I made a saddle. I wonder if I remember how to do it?

But that's a decision for another day. 

For now, it's enough that I remember how to make a bridle, and not just a very basic one.

Today's photo + Christmas giveaway

Today was an extremely frustrating day on the hobby front. The temptation to walk away was strong. Instead, I made halters. 

Sometimes it's like that.

Here are my three chestnut resin Quarter Horse resins, Love N Stuff, Queen B and Tucker, wearing the new halters. These are basic ribbon halters, decorated with Christmas halter plates designed by Nichelle Jones of Desktop Stables.

Today's prompt for the Advent Model Horse Photo Challenge is Chestnut. This is the official photo.

Although I am pleased with my day's work, I don't actually need three new holiday halters. In the spirit of the season, I've decided to give this one away via a blog raffle. All the usual rules apply: Every comment left on this blog will equal one raffle entry. Old post, new post, multiple posts, it just doesn't matter, but if you're posting anonymously, be sure to include your name. I will choose the winner on Christmas Eve.

Seven down, eighteen to go. Let's hope tomorrow is easier.