Elsa's "first" Saddle

[RonaldSe]

WOW!!! THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL SADDLE!!! GREAT JOB!

[mulefool]

That turned out real nice, never would have thought it was a first. I always thought those Celtic designs would look neat on a saddle and yours turned out really well. Chris Tornow

[LilStarr]

Beautiful Saddle and just love the back of the seat!

Very impressive!

It is a blast working on old saddles! I miss them from

Oregon we lived down in Bandon!

Pam

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

Elsa, first from an old Vet, welcome home and thank you for your service! Second that looks really good and you obviously have retained what you were taught. Last, you should see if the VA will cover some of the cost of getting you started in the saddle making business as transition rehab for your PTSD. See your veterans advocate, and if you don't have a good one, go to your local chapter of the VVA, it is not just for Vietnam Vets. they are there to help all Vets. Once again, welcome home!

Bob

[Wild Huntsman]

This looks really good! The edges all look clean and the designs are beautiful! Well done. :D

[Elsa]

Thanks so much everyone! I haven't done much since finishing Spirit's saddle. Collecting stuff for my shop but is seems like other parts of life keep interfering with getting said shop set up. Thanks for the input Bondo Bob - The VA has already denied me Voc Rehab because I'm 100% S/C and "don't need it". I would sincerely like assistance from them to set up what they're calling my "significant hobby". I have 27 old saddles begging for rebuild and no funds on the horizon. Trying to pare down other responsibilities so I can push forward on my focus on leatherwork. Perhaps I'll contact the VVA as you suggested. I know one of the best sites for peer support for going through the nightmare of the Disability System is from HadIt.com, which is primarily Vietnam Era Vets. If I could spend several months interning under Jesse Smith I'd do it in a heartbeat. Of course, that would leave lots of time to go out and play cowgirl with Sharri too. :-) I have my GI Bill left unused, but there's not much out there for leatherwork. Jesse will always be my favorite teacher and mentor. Maybe somehow I can get the VA to help me keep my skills sharp and figure out a way to help me fund continued training with Jesse. I can dream. :-) I'd just be happy for a leg up to actually be able to get things going out of my abysmally too small "shop" (also known as the front porch - 20' X 9', but better than nothing!).

[tetoteto81]

Very good job