back in business

So it has been 1 month since I updated this blog and that is a shame. The good news is that I have solved my keyboard issues and can now update much more often. So, I will get to it and recap the projects I have worked on this month. I focused mainly on painting as I had a growing queue of horses waiting for colour.
Here is my first completed project last month, a silver dapple (chocolate) G3 Friesian SM repaint:

Next, I completed my G4 Arabian SM. This horse has had a minor re-sculpt done on the mane and muzzle and repainted a dark dapple grey indicating the horse is young.

The next horse is not complete but has seen some progress since last update, a custom G2 Warmblood SM repositioned to trot.

Another work in progress, my Classic Andalusian Stallion to Fjord Gelding, is taking colour and slowly evolving.

My last repaint work in progress is the Classic Halfinger mare turning into a dark bay, here she is currently.

This month I have also been lucky enough to purchase a few new horses so I will share the pictures I was able to snap with dwindling sunlight.

Last but not least I will share a few preview photos of my current work in progress, a classic scale western pleasure saddle. This saddle will be up for sale once complete:

New bridles

So catching up with all the saddles I have made in the past month, I have completed some bridles for them! In addition to these two english bridles I have completed a breastcollar/bridle set for my ranch saddle but have not had a chance to take pictures yet, so you all have something to look forward to. Anyway, lets get on to the pictures:

First I completed a dressage double bridle for Salinero:

It features a blingy browband.

The other side:

Here you can see the chain chinstrap:

Next I made a hunter bridle for my Ballou Newsworthy:

Full tack shot: 

I thought blingy hearts would be cute for this pony:

Reins for this bridle are still in progress, I am going to attempt laced reins for this set.

I will try to get some pictures of the ranch set up soon!

Tuesday Updates

I thought I would update you all on what has been going on in the Yellow Bird studio this week. Starting with tack-

Now you might recognize this saddle from my last post but I fixed up a few things on it so I wanted to share it in its final glory. 

I also finished a new saddle, this one is a dressage saddle custom fit for Salinero. Not quite finished in this picture, it will be cleaned and polished before it is ready for show.

I started painting my Gretel as you can see, this girl will be a dark bay. 

My SM Warmblood custom is finally complete and ready for colour!

I am also painting this SM which will be silver dapple once finished.

 Here is my progress on my Endurance SM custom, her dark dapple grey markings are there, now she is almost ready for details.

Last but not least, here is one of my newest additions to the herd who arrived last Friday. 

Back to the tackmaking grind

So this week I have been very busy and back to the tack making grind. First I started a new close contact saddle, it is a small traditional scale and was made to fit the Newsworthy mold. Here are a few in progress shots.
 

Here is the finished product: 

I think it turned out great minus the jagged edge saddle pad, which is just a stand-in for now. I will be making a matching bridle and might be showing this set. 

One of the best things about this set up in the elastic stretchy on the left side of the girth, just like a real english girth. You can see it in the picture below. 

One last shot from far away:

But that's not all I got done, I have also completed my traditional scale ranch saddle. This one has quite a few modifications from a regular western saddle. 

You can see from this top view that the seat and seat pieces are one piece unlike my other western saddles. There is also a tooled leather piece under the stirrup where the billet attaches and I've rounded the shape of the saddle skirt.

The other side...

Stay tuned, I have started work on a dressage saddle!

Custom progress

Progress has been made! Above, you can see my SM Endurance custom coming along, she is now a very dappled dapple grey. I am on the fence about whether her main coat colour is done or not...

I have also made some progress on my SM Warmblood custom, her legs are slowly refining. Pictures really help me see where I want to make alterations, specifically to the right front leg.

New toys!

So, it is January and I have not posted much on this blog because I do not have a computer that types all of the letters so I am stuck updating whenever I can get my hands on my husband's computer. That means I have a lot of updates whenever I can. This time I got some new tools including a set of three pounce wheels and a magnifying lamp! I am really excited for both and the lamp really comes in handy, plus I can take some pretty cool pictures with it like these:

As you may be able to tell my Classic Warmblood Mare is complete and is now a lovely bay, here are some beauty shots:

I was also able to revisit my bosal hackamore and fix the mecate to look a little more realistic:

And I have started a new traditional scale saddle, this one will be a ranch style western saddle. This is all you get so far, stay tooned for the rest!

Classic Warmblood Mare repaint progress

 So progress has been made on the Classic Warmblood mare repaint from grey to bay. The base coat has been done and detail work began. The picture above shows the mare with black details and below is what the mare looks like today.

You can see the details now, she has striped hooves and ermine spots.

And a simple off-centered snip on her nose. I only have her eye left to finish, pictures once complete.