Week of January 29th

A few new projects, first up is the previously mentioned pink and white braided Lady Phase halter, now on eBay:




Next is a custom order for Kristi S., she wanted a braided halter for her Breyer Classic Duchess in a buckskin colorway, and gave me free rein as far as color. I chose electric blue with mahogany lace and silver hardware, and I love the result:




And last but certainly not least is a Weymouth bridle for the Breyer Keltec Salinero mold, a custom order for Jennifer A. She wanted a bridle like the one featured on my bridles pricelist, but with light blue crystals instead of light pink:




I am very pleased with the way it turned out, and because of this order I've found a new source for Swarovski crystals! She sells just about every color under the sun, and her prices are much better than Hobby Lobby's.

If you're interested in ordering a bridle or a halter like the ones pictured, you can click on any of the images above to go to the pricelists.

In the works is another braided halter, as well as a silver stock breed show halter with red Swarovski crystal embellishments!

Stay tuned!

More braided projects

This time it's a halter for the Stone Ideal Stock Horse(click on the image to go to the auction):

(EDIT: it's been sold, now the link will lead to the pricelist on my MH$P page)



This is four strand flat braid again with four strand round on the throat and lead. I went with whiskey(love this color!) leather join straps as well, which adds a nice contrast.

I'm also taking custom orders for these, go to my MH$P page for prices.

In the works is a pink and white halter with gold hardware for the Lady Phase mold, and an electric blue halter with silver/chrome hardware(mold undecided, probably the ISH as well). Pics to come soon!

Week of January 13th, 2008

Taking a break from crystals and leather bridles this weekend, I decided to experiment with some of the braiding methods shown in Susan Bensema-Young's book that I hand't tried yet. This bridle has a "half round six" braid for the crownpiece and the browband, with the ends of the crownpiece done in two three-strand braids:



The noseband is four strand flat braid with another three-strand braid on top for the nose rings. The four strand flat, I've found, is no more difficult than the round version; and while the half round six is a bit more frustrating and complicated, it is much more forgiving and it's easier to correct mistakes. So you will be seeing more braided bridles in the future.

This bridle is available for sale on eBay with a matching bareback pad, you can go there by clicking on the photo below:



Here is another bridle done this weekend, this one was done on the spur of the moment as a matching piece for a bareback pad I already have up for sale:



This one uses the four strand flat on the crown and bit pieces, and four strand round on the ear loop(all DMC floss). The reins are three-strand using black waxed linen thread and pink DMC floss.

You can see the eBay auctions for the pad and bridle by clicking on the photo below(link will take you to my eBay store, these are seperate items):



That's all for this week, stay tuned for next time!

Week of January 6th, 2008

Last week was a good eBay week, with my "plain" barn halter selling as well as my Swarovski crystal foal halter(which is going to Australia!).

On to my latest projects! Since the peridot browband didn't sell I decided to go ahead and build a bridle with it. I was in the mood to do another bitless bridle for Wintersong, so I extended the ends a bit so it would fit the mold, and added some round stud spots. The reins are again braided DMC floss, this time I used the "straight colors" method. I think I like the look!

*EDIT 01/07/08 It has been sold! The link will now take you to the CM order pricelist for these, in case you were wanting one and missed out!*



I also finished another custom order, a dark brown Western Pleasure show bridle for the Zippo Pine Bar mold(shown here on "Wanderer", an "Impress Me Shannon" #1166 issue):



The bit is a RDLC "Texas Star" sterling silver bit, buckles are Rio Rondo, and the beads are from Hobby Lobby.

Stay tuned for next time!