Faux Leather

    When I first started making tack I used faux leather to get started. In fact I still have a box of that left. Now I use real leather because I think that real leather is SO much easier to use than fake leather. I know that it's hard to buy, skiver, and dye but it sticks with glue so much quicker. 

    I have told my friends and family about my tack making hobby and of course they never have heard of it. So I tell them that I make miniature tack out of leather. Then I usually bring down a saddle or two to show them what I make. Well yesterday my uncle came over said that he bought me some leather to make tack out of.

    I was super grateful that he thought of me, but it was faux leather. I don't really know what I can use it for.

This is a close up, do you have any ideas on how I can use it? I was thinking maybe doll clothes....

So I got my creative juices running and I managed to sew this little clutch or something like that.

I think that it came out fairly well but now I don't know how to close it. I think I will add a button.

Benji probably has to go to the vet tomorrow. I was cutting his hair for the first time ( my mom usually does it) and I cut his skin by accident. It was only a little cut so we just stopped the bleeding and left it. Well today Benji decided to lick and bite his cut until it tore! So we put on his old cone and bandaged him up. My mom said that he might need stitches. Poor Benji 😢, I feel so bad for cutting him.

Well on that sad note I have decided to enter the Field of Dolls Photo Show! I should start preparing, I only have less than two months to take my pictures. 

Santana rocking his new halter.

Halters, Patterns, and a Dog Friend

    Todays post will be about just little things I did today. First I want to tell you about the tool below. It is called a mini pounce wheel and I use it ALL THE TIME! It makes little stitch marks along the edge of your tack. The mini stitch marks really bring your tack to the next level, so if you don't have this tool I recommend getting one. I bought mine off of Rio Rondo for 9.80 dollars.

    This tool helps to add the little details such as in my halter that I'm making. I know that it might be hard to see but I added a line of stitches along the sides. I will probably show a whole other tutorial on how to use this tool, so keep on the lookout! 

    The pattern for my saddle pattern was just a bit too bulky, so today I also tried tomato a new pattern from scratch. This is actually not as hard as it seems.  You just have to know the saddle parts and what a saddle looks like. I definitely looked at many reference photos make sure that it's in scale.

    So now I'm working on that, I hope that this time it comes out less bulky. Maybe I just have to skiver it better.

In case you are wondering, the dog in the background is my dog Benji. These days because I'm stuck in the house I have been working on training Benji. This has resulted in him following me all around the house.

    I love it because he makes me so happy and keeps me company. He mostly just sleeps though... but I still love him!

 

When Your really Bored

When your really bored you will do some really weird things. A few days ago I decided to treat my dog like a horse. He didn't really like it but ai had so much fun! I misses all of my horsey friends at the barn, and this was the next best thing. So I attached his collar onto two leashes and started to "groom"him.

First you have to start the hard brush.

Remember to never go behind the " Horse" you might get bucked! Instead go in front.

After brushing with the hard brush finish it off with the "soft" brush.

By now Benji was getting a little restless from standing in place.

Look at those big eyes!

After grooming, get the saddle and put it on.

Then get the reins and clip it to the " bridle" a.k.a the collar.

And now Benji was ready to ride.

So we mostly just ran around the house with me clicking my tongue and pretending to ride him.

 

It was so mush fun!

A ride is not complete until you feed your horse some carrots!

Benji was not interested in the carrots,

But the guinea pigs loved them!

So Very Very BORED!

As you might know I recently bought some thin leather. I guess luck was not on my side because it still hasn't come! Due to social distancing I have not been to any camps in a while. Normally I would be exited for these hours of free time a day, but with no leather I can't make any tack! It has been torture to have all the supplies, and free time but with no leather. So I have been desperate these past few days of entertaining myself.

I made some model horse cookies, and I made so many saddle pads. After making like 20 saddle pads I got a little bored of that too. So using some extra felt and a buckle I made my dog, Benji a tie!

He looks quite handsome in his new tie!

So that is what I have been doing for the past few days. The reason I haven't posted in almost a week is that I have literally been doing NOTHING! Although it has been tough I have really been thinking out of the box to learn to make model horse tack with no leather or buckles. I promise to post as soon as the leather comes!