July 2, 2009. Off and Running, and it's a squeaker!! After promising sales tack for what feels like months and years,
we finally got our act together and FINISHED the Best most Beautiful Black/Red/White Bosal Hackamore ever, just a few days ago! There is an eBay auction going on Right Now for this Hackamore -- it closes July 10. It is my hope -- how precious and untried, hopes -- to find a happy owner for this piece and deliver it in person at BreyerFest. I've tried to cover most of the possibilities in the auction text. If it doesn't sell (!!) I'll take it to BreyerFest anyway.
Click here to get to our eBay auction. This time I think I got it right!
The horse shown to the right is Stone's National Foundation Quarter Horse resincast, "Lowry Star Jr." sculpted by Kitty Cantrell. I confess at once that I cut a slot in his mane/forelock, in order to have the headstall and throatlatch lie properly. In my own herd this horse is named "Incorrigible."
What you won't find on eBay is the full story of how this gorgeous piece came together. If you've been following this page you may remember the stunning Black-and-White twisted-thread mecate that was finished in March of this year. I had been spinning (twisting) thread for mecates since 2000 (thanks again Judith!) but I hadn't paid enough attention to the base ply of the individual threads. When I finally worked out that it was important, I had to figure out how much of which gauge of thread to use for the right size for Traditional. I did a 4-strand first, then attempted the 6, resulting in the famous 6-part Black-and-White. These two mecates can be seen on our Sneak Peeks page. The Black-and-White, I smugly announce, is being kept. Of course I wanted to do it again.
The very next one begged for color, so I tossed in some red. I had discovered new gauges of thread at Jo Ann Fabs. Very confusingly, what was once called "Topstitching" was now called "Heavy," and what was once called "Heavy" was now called "Button and Craft." In addition to these two sizes I got a third that was much smaller. I started out with yards of thread and hand-twisted them until they were as tight and smooth as I wanted. Other model tackmakers have used pony hair, dog hair and llama hair for mecates. It is true that the real thing is "frizzy." Yet model horse tack is all about artistic style, and I just plain loved my sleek smooth twisted thread results, never ratty-looking. For the first time it was strong enough to withstand the tremendous handling of its own creation.
This picture is close-up enough for you to see the slant of the ply in all of the parts. Each of the 5 strands is made up of 3 pieces of thread, and of course the checkered one -- the black-and-white one -- is made up of 4. It takes several hours to make the checkered strand. As with all our white horsehair, the tassel is made from dental floss. The tying of the mecate to the bosal is described in our book, the Guide to Making Model Horse Tack; it is a boiled-down version of the full scale way.
The Heel Knot was very difficult. Every time I do a Heel Knot I think it's going to turn out the best ever, and they do; and then I find something I think I should've done better. This particular Bosal is the second to have a hand-shaped leather core for the Heel. We aren't twisting the cheek wires together anymore, a solution I'm not altogether happy about, but I could not cover up the lumps successfully. This Heel knot has a base of 7P 6B with two double interweaves, and then has several other rings woven in. Yes, the concho on the end was made from one of Rio Rondo's sterling discs (probably a decade old) and engraved. I do feel I have a lot of work to do on engraving, but at least I can claim "all silver has been coated to resist tarnishing." Thanks again to Heather.
The headstall was inspired by one I'd seen in an old saddlery catalog years ago. It had a thick, almost stuffed, appearance, yet was striking in its simple design: very effective. I have translated that design to one-ninth, Traditional scale. In theory, the browband and throatlatch can be removed, leaving only a 'hangar' crown, and you will have a splendid Show Bosal. This piece has the added benefit of working "button-and-slit" fasteners on the cheekstraps (yes they are also braided and tied thread!) so that the bosal can be replaced with a bit if desired.
Apologies for the offside cheek button appearing a bit high on the horse's head in this picture. It has since been slid down a wee bit. of course this horse is "Matriarch" by Carol Williams but in my own herd she is named "LaJewell" and that is what she is! Painted by Katie Richards.
It is time to talk about BreyerFest and what lies ahead for the Timaru Star II. As those who follow my Tack Orders page know, we are creeping up (how GLACIALLY) on another Tack Lottery. This event, which happenes every two years, determines who gets to order my tack and what pieces are made. You will be glad to know I am thinking of accepting entries (wish-orders) during BreyerFest. Just tell me what you want; you don't have to pay right then and there; in fact I wish you wouldn't. On the good side, you won't have to pay until the piece is made, which can take up to (drum roll) two years. On the bad side, the prices are locked in from the start. Historically TSII tack has been underpriced. "Quality does not cost so much as it pays." Discover for yourself what a difference QUALITY model tack will make to your collecting and showing.
See you at BreyerFest!
This is also a good time to post my one and only sales piece, a Spanish Mosquero. It is the one seen on the RIGHT in this picture. We are offering this incredible bit of braidwork for $100.00 postage paid to the lower 48. It should fit larger Spanish-breed resincasts, and has a hook on the back to fit over the browband.
Don't forget to visit our Tack Orders page, where all the latest details on the Lottery and our other policies are listed, and where the Order-0f-Go, the schedule of tack orders to be made, is constantly undergoing changes as progress is made.
(BEN-sum-uh) (TIM-uh-roo). My eBay name is timaru-star-ii. This page updated every two to three months, approximately.