A few months ago, I posted about how I was learning the importance of taking a break when things didn't seem to be going right. In that case, it was my first drastic custom horse in many years. After working on him for many hours that first day, I was disgusted and thought he looked like absolute garbage. A few days later, looking at him with fresh eyes, I was happy with what I saw!
Well, I've just been reminded of the importance of a break. Last week I was attempting to fabricate some tiny pieces of hardware for a tack project I've got going on and I ended up being frustrated. I had managed to make a couple of nice pieces, but each one was a struggle and I didn't seem to be able to replicate them once I'd made them the way I wanted. I need several of these fabricated pieces to make a single item and I was hoping to make a few of these items.. so I need a lot of hardware.
(Sorry for the secrecy... this whole project is a surprise!)
After much struggling in that first session, I put what I'd made so far, along with the rest of the entire project, in my reference book (a tack catalog), put the whole mess on the floor and tried to forget about it for a while.
Today, I decided that I really ought to try again. I didn't want to! However, the deadline for what I want to make these for is fast approaching and I needed to know if I could indeed figure out how to make them, or if I'd have to scrap the whole idea for now and make something else...
Surprisingly.. I was able to make a few pieces with no trouble and before I knew it, I had a small pile going. Best of all, I was having FUN.
This evening I'm off to "Craft Night"; it is a get together of some of the local crafty types. We all take our own projects to work on and sit and visit for a few hours. Tonight I'll be making tiny hardware pieces! I hope to be able to share pictures soon, once they are no longer a secret. ;)
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Almost Wordless Wednesday - Random Burros
There's never a bad time to share pictures of longears, right?
In the summer of 2014, a childhood friend of mine come to visit us in South Dakota. A must see, as far as we are concerned, is Custer State Park - particularly the Wildlife Loop road... particularly the "wild" Burros on said Wildlife Loop. I've blogged about them once before, when I shared pictures of a new baby we came across last spring. Here are a few more pictures of Black Hills Burros.
The picture were taken over two visits, the first set featuring a spunky grey foal who was a silly little guy, always looking for trouble. The pictures with the car are when my friend was visiting and shows off their usual behavior if you stop a car and roll the windows down. My friend and I could not stop laughing as we had burro heads in every window, begging for treats.
In the summer of 2014, a childhood friend of mine come to visit us in South Dakota. A must see, as far as we are concerned, is Custer State Park - particularly the Wildlife Loop road... particularly the "wild" Burros on said Wildlife Loop. I've blogged about them once before, when I shared pictures of a new baby we came across last spring. Here are a few more pictures of Black Hills Burros.
The picture were taken over two visits, the first set featuring a spunky grey foal who was a silly little guy, always looking for trouble. The pictures with the car are when my friend was visiting and shows off their usual behavior if you stop a car and roll the windows down. My friend and I could not stop laughing as we had burro heads in every window, begging for treats.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Monday, January 4, 2016
Quick Post - Stitching Away
Today began with a beautiful sunrise...
...and continued with some stitching!
...and continued with some stitching!
Sunday, January 3, 2016
First Project of 2016 - Lapis Lazuli Saddlepad
My first official project to be worked on in 2016 is a cross stitch saddle pad, specifically another done from my "Lapis Lazuli" pattern.
The first was, what I considered at the time, the best saddle pad I'd made. It sold at the very first show that I offered my saddle pads for sale.
It was inspired by the colors of my favorite semi-precious stone, lapis lazuli, and was the first (and so far only) time that I used metallic floss on a pad. I had pulled the colors right off of a big chunk of lapis that Jeff had bought for me during one of his deployments to Afghanistan.
I was sort of sad to see the "lapis pad" go, but I was very happy to have had the chance to meet and chat with its new owner. I told him that I loved the pad so much, I might make another one. "No!" he had exclaimed, laughing. Well, a little over a year later, I have indeed started on another one (with a couple of small changes). However, this one isn't going anywhere - this lapis pad is mine! :)
The first was, what I considered at the time, the best saddle pad I'd made. It sold at the very first show that I offered my saddle pads for sale.
It was inspired by the colors of my favorite semi-precious stone, lapis lazuli, and was the first (and so far only) time that I used metallic floss on a pad. I had pulled the colors right off of a big chunk of lapis that Jeff had bought for me during one of his deployments to Afghanistan.
I was sort of sad to see the "lapis pad" go, but I was very happy to have had the chance to meet and chat with its new owner. I told him that I loved the pad so much, I might make another one. "No!" he had exclaimed, laughing. Well, a little over a year later, I have indeed started on another one (with a couple of small changes). However, this one isn't going anywhere - this lapis pad is mine! :)
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Horses = Great Start To The Year
While I didn't see any horses on New Years' Day, I came close.
This happened today....
We went and saw the wild horses again!
I'll do a proper post about them in the next couple of days. ;)
This happened today....
We went and saw the wild horses again!
I'll do a proper post about them in the next couple of days. ;)
Friday, January 1, 2016
Happy New Year!!
Just wanted to do a quick post and say:
Happy 2016!
I hope it is a wonderful year for you and yours!
Happy 2016!
I hope it is a wonderful year for you and yours!
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