Studio Update

If one thing can be counted on, it's that life happens.  I've had a lot of inquiries about more saddle stands, and I wanted to give everyone an update.  I was planning on making a large batch this month, but the stomach flu, family visiting, and beautiful weather out on the trails have postponed things in the studio a bit.  I'm planning on making a dozen or so by early May, so please be patient with me :) Come June, it'll be so hot and muggy around here I'll be forced to spend more time at my desk, I promise! 
I've recently gotten back in the saddle, leasing a wonderful Quarter Horse gelding named Jasper at a local barn.  Rylie even got to go for a little ride last week.  
Soon they will both be old enough to ride, and days at the barn won't require childcare arrangements, I can hardly wait.  



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Australian Light Horse Set - Part 1

Image
I could write a long post about 2016, and reflect, but instead I'm going to get straight to tack, because I'm so excited to share more about this recent project. I love a new challenge, and I decided to take some photos along the way while making this Australian Light Horse  tack set.  I have a few notes for the next time, but I'm very pleased with how this came out for being a first attempt. This set produced a lot of first for me, one of which being a partially exposed tree that had to be real wood and metal. The second was an Australian style saddle, which I have managed to never make in my 8 years of serious tack making. After making a pattern I was happy with, I started making my tree with two carved down pieces of Balsa wood.  It's a lightweight and flexible craft wood, but next time I'll be using a harder wood and carving more shape into it I think.  Using some brass craft metal (K&S Engineering found at Hobby Lobby), I made some nicks in wh
Read more

English Fitted Pad Tutorial

Image
I often get asked if I will have fitted English saddle pads available in my Etsy store, and since I don't make them very often (it's impossible to make them fit everyone's saddle correctly), here is a tutorial on my method.  I've made them several different ways, but I find this to provide the closest contact with the saddle, while still providing the smooth rounded pad edges of fleece that still looks to scale. First, make a pattern on light card stock.  Cut it out making sure it's symmetrical.   Trace it onto the back of a piece of white fleece.  Then, trace the line with a small amount of Tacky Glue. Lay  a piece of flexible cording (I have used a yarn cording) onto the glue:  After it's dried, cut out the pad, leaving 1/4" of fabric on the outside of the cord. Then clip half way to the cord, every 1/4".  Sew each "tab" down to the underside of the pad, grabbing a small amount of the fabric on the pad underside.  You can
Read more

RF Tack Trailer

Image
  When we bought the house in North Carolina in 2022, I finally had a real workshop.  A leather business that started in my living room down in Florida to make cool tack for my friends, and quickly took over my bedroom and garage, finally had room to spread out.  I'm sad to say Rob's Coast Guard career has once again prompted a big move, and probably will again soon, so I've decided to make things more mobile. This is now the shop of Rachel Fail Custom Tack.   What was once a 4 horse trailer, is now a full leather shop. I even tackled a new lighting technique with this trailer.  I also built a huge frame from totes full of supplies. I'll be getting a weight ticket this week, anyone want to take bets on how much it weighs? I have guesses, but we will see how close I am.  It's been a long couple weeks getting this done, starting from the bare frame. Tomorrow, I need to install the rooftop AC, which after this past week's high temps and humidity, I'm really reg
Read more