Opagon

Thanks all, I am still kicking myself over not double checking the strings. I just assumed that because they were in the box with the rest of the Finished strings that they were finished. It wasnt until I was rolling out the braid that I noticed that something wasnt right. Check and Double check..... I too thought of pulling them but the shape of the reins is oval and I would need to make a new rounder. I am going to try re-rolling them again by hand and see if that helps. To me the gaps are blaringly obvious and really show up on the under three passes while they are held in an arc. I tried to show where the gaps are the worst. I do have a tendency to be overly critical of my work but I think that is a good thing. The good news is that I have an extra of the reins so I am going to make another set for her but this time use 12. Heather

Ok, I was asked to braid on a set of barrel reins. Problem one - the reins had more of an oval shape to them rather than being round. The diameter of the reins called for 10 1/8 strings. Problem two - I grabbed the wrong strings- These hadnt been beveled yet. Problem three - Everthing was nice and tight when the reins where straight but the second I started working and playing with them as they would be if riding with them, the braid began to gap in between some of the strings. Things I liked: the pattern worked really well for the shape of the reins and created a nice feel to the reins where it stayed tight (Under one, over three, under one) and My knots all came out the same size. Comments or ideas?? Heather

After experiencing a Buck in full on Rut and wondering why I placed myself in a tree in the first place, I got a look damn near to what you have carved. The only thing missing is some steam rolling out of the nostrils. Maybe come back to this carving after making a softer and kinder Buck and let the angry theme take it over. I am sure I am not the only hunter to have seen a look like this on a buck in rut. Heather

I haven't used goat yet but I did have a long conversation with the gentleman that makes my strap goods for me. He absolutely loves the stuff. He showed me a pair of childerns chinks that he made up, the feel of the leather was nice, better than I expected. He kept raving about how strong the stuff was. I am thinking of trying it myself in a couple of months. Heather

Crow, You have a great start! My first projects I keep hidden in the barn or gave them away. Keep braiding! Heather

Hi Skip, When I first started I bought precut lace, it allowed me lots of practice and kept less sharp objects around the little ones. The more practice you can find time for the better your knots will look. Helpful hints: Always double check your spacing on your bases before starting your interweaves. You are looking for the space of one string. The size of the object you are tying your knot on is going to determine how many bights you will need before you can start the interweave. I keep a notebook on everything that I braid as a reference. I use a peice of red oak for smoothing out my knots with a little pounding. I first use some leather conditioner that wont affect the color of my strings and use the heat from my hands to make sure everything is rubbed in even. Small knots like the spanish rings I use the butt of my fid to lightly pound and then I shape it up with the flat side of my fid. A good base is important for a good looking knot. In the photo below you will see 2 headstalls 3/4 inches wide. The Knot with the Camel color Roo interweave has One Spanish ring as a base and the Knot with the Orange interweave has Two spanish rings as a base. They both have the same lengths of string but the 2 ring base ends up with a more square apperance. Experiment and practice, write it down and then practice some more, thats how I do it. Hope this helps, Heather

Had some conchos that I wanted to use up so I stuck one on the browband. Let me know what you all think. Heather

I really like the keeper idea... Looking forward to seeing the leash. Nice work

Camel colored Roo with Rawhide accents - Browband is a 12 plait, rest is 8 plait. Just wanted to try something a little different that what you usually see in a fully braided headstall. I still have some tweaking to do and a couple of small knots to add but for the most part I am happy with it. I make a lot of what I call, Braid overlay headstalls and this is the one I finished up yesterday. Thanks for looking, Heather

I concur with Horsehair, if plaiting with 6 and wanting round, a core should be used when working with leather strings.

Jonanna, Thank You!!! for the the community that you are building here. I too was searching high and low for a place to share ideas and learn new things. This site has become an addiction for me and it is one that I hope never to have to give up. The Family feel here is wonderfully warm and receptive. Your post reminds me that everything happens for a reason and I am very grateful that your life story has led you to start this site. Sincerley, Heather

Very Nice work!

Never mind Ross, I just went to your site. I am still pretty green to alot of this computer stuff. Nice stuff!

I did a couple of small Tack Shows this summer and brought along my photo journal along with some pieces to sell to pay for the space. I sold about 60% of what I brought and came away with the impression that if I had more on hand for people to choose from that I might have gotten closer to breaking even. (Gas prices killed me...) I am thinking of the website end and those that always seem to want items right away. I know for myself that certain items are more of a hands on kind of thing. I am currently making all of my "ready to ship" items from the odds and ends scraps and the good parts from some of my OOPS pile. They are mostly braclets, neclaces, key fobs and zipper pulls. At the show I found these items great for getting my card in more pockets and covering lunch but I dont want to be wasting alot of time making tons of them. I have room for storage but I agree with Ross, I do my best work and am more motivated when I am making it for a particular person. My hubby and I are looking to move to a place where I can set up a proper shop (Rather than the dinning room...) and maybe have a store front too. I know if that happens that I want to have select items available at all times but I just havent quite figured out how I want to run the Website part of it yet. Ross, Can your customers pay online? Suggestions and others experiences needed, Heather

I have been reading and rereading the Business name thread quite a bit over the last couple of days as I am thinking very hard about trying my hand at making my hobby a business. My questions to every one that is already in business or also in the process of starting their own is - Do you carry or plan to carry "Ready to ship inventory"? If so how many items/categories do you keep on hand? Pro's and Con's? Would having an example of each item available for customization be of help or an unnecessary step in the process? Thanks in advance! Heather

Thanks for the input Horsehair. I have a couple of other projects to finish up, when I am done with those I will start this headstall idea and see where it takes me. I will try to remember to take photos as I go so everyone can chime in along the way and keep me on the right path.

I love seeing your work!!!!!! Absolutely Fabulous !

I did a little braiding as a kid, simple 3 and 4 plaits, mostly just to pass the time while my Mom would braid up key rings and other small items for gifts. (Always in very colorful suede) Time went on and I forgot about braiding. What really got me back into braiding was trying to find tack with braiding that didnt look like it was going to fall apart. I couldnt afford the good stuff and after looking over some knots and such, thought to myself, "I can do that." I bought some spools of Calf and converted a nail for a fid and went to work. After many swear words and poked fingers I figured out some turks and now with my calluses built up, lots of practice and better tools I am finally making the tack that I wished I could have bought years ago.

Thanks for the comments Allen and Dave, My biggest consern is making sure that the braid is wide enough when flat to have a comfortable feel for the horse. I am scared that if I go to narrow that it will dig in once the weight of the bit and reins are added. If I start with a flat braid go then go to round, How would I seal the flesh side of the flat to keep it from getting fuzzy after use? Or is that not a concern and more of an aesthetics thing? Heather

To all of those that work with rawhide: Here is the idea- I am trying to figure out a headstall design that will allow me to have a flat braid over the crown and then be split into 2 rounds for cheeks. Is a 24 plait (3/32 width) going to be enough? Is there a certain trick in the moisture content of the rawhide that will allow me to flatten it easier? (same or softer than when braiding??) I have been contemplating useing a removeable core, do you think it would work? I work mostly with Roo and have never attemped anything like this before and I want to have a better idea in my head before I reck a bunch of rawhide. Heather

Had a little time away from the kids so I figured I should play with some rawhide again. It has been awhile so I decided on making a bangle bracelet. It measures 3 inchs across the center and feels big to me but I am not a wearer of bracelets. (How does that saying go, measure twice????) Does any one know what the usual size is for one of these?

About two weeks ago a very good friend of mine called and asked if I would have time to make some items in remembrance of her horse that she had to put to rest. She had collected all of his mane and tail hair the day before the "appointment" wanted some small shu-flies for the barn folks where he was kept and a couple of tassles for her bridle. I wanted to make something special for her since I know how much her horse meant to her. Its a surprise, so I hope she likes it.

Charlie, The splits reins in the photo are done in Kangaroo over a 3/4 diameter core. If measured with a flat ruler the core is 1/8 of an inch wide. My cores vary from braided leather, rolled leather to climbers rope depending on the feel I am going for. Hope that helps, Heather

Allen, I made the working cow romals for myself. (I wanted something fancy for the show pen, being a Girly-girl and all.) I have another set linked the same that I have been thinking about braiding on but wanted to make some headstalls first. One of the biggest things that I had a hard time with was the weight. I put on some long pineapples on the first couple of links and then took them off again cause they didnt "feel" right for me. I am open to suggestions on what to put on the next set!! I have a Lace Master that Steve Derricott makes that works well for the amount of lace that I use. I like it cause it's small and I can clamp it onto the dinning room table where I end up doing most of my work. I thought that it was funny that he included a couple of bandaids in the box, Funny until I had to use one. I laughed again later but with a little wince when I tried to pick something up. I try to work with rawhide as much as I can but am a little scared to start a big project until I can get a couple of hours away from the kids. Every time I get started they seem to know Mom's busy so lets get into something. They are really good kids just very active. I really want to make a nice set of romals but I have a gut feeling that once the rawhide is ready my kids will find a way to make me have to stick it in the freezer and try again later. I did try once after I put them to bed but I was so wiped that everything kept coming out crooked. Next year my youngest will be in school so I hope that will inable me to switch back over to more rawhide than roo. (Who needs a clean house when there is braiding to do!!) The last round of just rawhide (other than accent knots) was when I was playing with some scarf slides. If you look close enough you can see which ones I did when I should have been in Bed. I was playing with some dyes and coffee soaks and these are what I ended up with. More practice and I'll get these little buggers just right. Please keep the comments coming, that is why I am here, to learn how to improve. Heather

For my sliders I like to use a 4 bight turk in rawhide. It holds it shape and remains tight allowing me to use Roo or more rawhide as a cover. I have tried Roo as a base but like the rawhide better. Hope that helps, Opagon