Tattoo Bronc Halter

Vibrant colors, dye or acrylic paint? How did you apply it, it almost looks as if some of the colors were drybrushed on. I'll bet the customer was very pleased, great work!

Thanks! Yes, she was very happy with it! I used acrylic paint and then used a dry brush to achieve the feathering effect on the wings.

Im still trying to improve my artistic painting/dyeing. Solid dye colors arent a problem, antiqueing is getting easier but those darned colored dyes.....its challenging to figure them out.

Yea the dyes are a bit tricky. I used dye for the red bellies on the birds but it is definitely more difficult to control than paint. I'm still trying to figure it out as well. I just got a book for my birthday called "Coloring Leather" by Al Stohlman it has a lot of great info, I recommend it.

I think that is going to be my next book, I am building quite the library between patterns and Stohlman books. I'm going to be doing a pair of shotgun chaps, fitted, then im thinking of tackling a breast collar. I see the Tack in the stores and I think I can do better.

You can never have too many books, right?! The chaps should be fun! I still need to do a pair. They are on my "to do" list. A breast collar is my next project to tackle as well. I've been wanting to make one to match a headstall I made and just haven't been able to find the time yet. Who needs sleep right?

I agree with you about the tack stores. All the tack seems to look the same as it has for the past ten years!

I'd really love to be able to make custom tack, not saddles or anything but breast collars and such. If people want their horses name, designs, flowers or even riding school names to keep track of their tack I'd really love to do that. Only thing is it would take some time to sew, as I do all mine by hand. The gunbelt in my gallery took me about 6 hrs to do just the belt. I havent been to a Saddlery in Fayetteville yet just Tractor Supply, and if I owned a horse I wouldnt be crazy about buying anything in there, you can tell everything is embossed and you can see the foot prints left by the machine.

I have received some sample chap leather from Springfield Leather and it makes me a little nervous because even though the samples are about 4-5oz they seem stiff. I'm sure that if i had about 20sqf id would be different but I am concerened about a custom fit and the thickness as far as movement. Also I have new photos of the new spur leathers i have finished.

Same here! I've been lucky enough to do some award tack for a couple barrel racing series and I love it. I'll post some pictures of the stuff in a bit.

I bet it would take a while sewing it all by hand! I kept my eyes open on Craigslist and found a Techsew GA5-1R that was only used for a couple months for $800. It took several months of "looking" but it was worth it. It sews beautifully, I love it!

Yea it's always a bit nerve racking having to buy a whole hide sight unseen. I've been debating whether or not to with some Herman Oak Bridle Leather.

I used a pair of thick batwing chaps for a year, they were pretty supple. I'm sure if they were a little stiffer than what you would like you could put on a conditioner to soften them up. I really like Bick's leather conditioner. But, like you said I'm sure with more leather it'll seem different.

I'll go check out the pictures you just added.