8 foot reins in Roo

[Opagon]

This is a set of 8 foot reins in Roo in camel with light green accents. They are an 8 plait in what I like to call my Girly width. Having small hands I like the smaller width. I went to for clips because I switch to different headstalls alot.

The second set is my working cow horse romal reins that I am hoping to be able to use one day. (Need to get my horse back in training.) When I started this project I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I do not use tape under my knots, instead I use a spanish ring knot to get my shape. My final count on the knots was 249. I was so happy to put the last knot on this set that I danced around the house to my Husbands embarrassment.

Let me know if you would like to see more of my work.

Opagon

[SmilinJim]

Of course we want to see more of your work. I know nothing of horse gear but I can still appreciate the talent that went into making such fine leather equipment.

Jim

[Mike Phelps]

Heck yes I want to see more.

If I could braid half that well I be dancing around the whole county!

Mike

[rawhide1]

Opagon Very nice work I like the green accents. I would also like to see more of your work. Mike

[Don101]

Very nice and i too would like to see more, Don

[Beaverslayer]

Very nice work indeed, like the others...more please...

Ken

[Chuckboy]

I don't usually post to many forums, but I could not pass on telling you how nice these pieces are. Thank you for sharing theses pictures with us.

[Opagon]

Thanks for all the nice comments, I really appreciate them. Most of the projects I do in Roo so I can leave it when the kids start being kids. I well try and post some more of my work for everyone to see and give suggestions on. I am hoping to turn this hobby into a business so if you see ways for me to improve my work, PLEASE let me know.

Thanks again,

Opagon aka Heather

[CharlieR]

Great work--keep the pics coming.

[Alan Bell]

Heather, Are you cutting your own lace? Do you do any rawhide braiding? I like the work. Very nice indeed. On the working set sometimes less is more but that is just my opinion others may want that many knots but I would call something with that many knots "fancy". As far as function goes all the links would also take it off what I would call a working set. Not putting your work down just trying to offer helpful criticism. Maybe a better fill of the space would be longer knots with out so many ring knots to add variation. Definitely, keep on braiding. Things really took a change for me when i started making my ow lace and selling items, not just making them to keep.

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

Here I am walking down the street! And children, everything is so sweet

Bob Marley - Caution

[Opagon]

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

[CharlieR]

Opagon--what diameter core, and what material, did you use on your riens?

[Opagon]

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