|
|
|
Hollywood/Arena/Modern Click on the Picture # to view the picture. Click the back button to return to this page. The costumes are listed from newest to oldest to show progression (and improvement, I hope). Failures (or less than show quality) are part of the learning process and I like to display those as well. Long Full Skirts With Jockeys Tree 2 style I made this one to show how much better this saddle works with jockeys to cover the stirrup exit. The doll is wearing the complete costume designed for the book. I really like the way this one turned out. This was the last arena costume I made for the book.
Notions Panel Build-up 1 Tree 2 Style Since I made doll clothes for one of the sample costumes, I decided to include the patterns in the book. The are pretty simplistic clothing. This doll has a robe and sandals that I made (the rest of the costume is basically the Princess of Arabian doll from Breyer). The saddle is a notions build-up sample. It came out just fine. The roly-poly FAS gets a chance to strut his stuff. Oh, I remember the day when this mold was the performance master, winning the championships. That was a long, long, long time ago.
Notions Panel Build-up 1 Tree 1 Style I don't want to leave the impression that using my tapestries, or any tapestries, is the only way to make an Arabian Horse costume. This one is made up of found items, border ribbon and so on, glued to fabric and then assembled. Aside from the stirrups which I did make by hand, the rest of the items are from found notions. The tassels are made from rayon embroidery floss (which I found to be less than cooperative) and Christmas tree tinsel. This was a simple build-up and it came out much better than I had hoped for.
Gypsy I had originally made this one in white (Cha Cha Cha, below) with shorter panels and a different technique for the tassel stacks. With that experience behind me, I made another one in a slightly different color scheme. This one is a keeper. Of course, I have so many of those now, who know. I may make yet another one day and sell this one.
Silver Blue Moons Okay, so I'm not in love with this one. It was just an exercise in how to make a Tree 2 style, long panel Hollywood/arena style costume without using jockeys for the stirrup egress. It's okay, but I've made others that I love so much more. After the book is published, I will send this one off to eBay. Or you can make an offer now and I ship it when I am done taking the pictures (I need this one for my proposed cover that I can't shoot until I have all of the costumes constructed).
English Saddle - Brown Blanket Variation Here is an example of the common construction type found in the Real Horse Show world. The saddle is a covered English saddle and the bridle a standard double bridle. The rest of the items are embroidered and decorated fabric. With a rider in the seat, the saddle is completely covered from the judge's view. I'm certain this construction type helps meet budget concerns as well as safety issues. Even though this is very realistic, I am not advocating this construction type for our model horse show world. We don't have the same restrictions and I feel this limits creativity.
True Blue Back in the 70's I created a blue velvet costume for my H-R Zara and entered her into a photo show. She also performed in Western and English (I found those pictures too). She took Reserve for the show (don't know how much competition she had). Anyway, I've been trying to perfect that blue velvet costume every since. And here is my best yet. (BTW, the last picture is the photo entry for Zara aka Blu Desert Sunne). I don't think I will ever sell this costume. I've been dreaming about it for almost 30 years. Now that I have it, I'm keeping it! Good thing this color looks good on any color model! I did add jockeys since the stirrup leather egress looked rather odd (see picture 10 for the change). I still need to add a noseband.
Cha Cha Cha Prototype I couldn't imagine Orkid in any other color costume now that he's worn this one. This is just a prototype so it is for sale. I plan to make another with a different skirt pattern and a few other changes that I will keep just for his guy. A few years ago I went to the Arabian Horse Show in Scottsdale AZ to get pictures of the Arena costumes on the real thing. One of the costumes that I remember had a combination of fringe and tassels and the entire costume never stopped moving. So, I've wanted to make on like that ever since. I just needed to find the right notion to use as fringe. Well, I think I found it. This is actually yarn, not a notion. I only have about another 75 yards left over in the skein!
Red on Max Here's one I finished on 10/24/07. It was supposed to be a test prototype for a new Hollywood style tapestry pattern, but it came out so well, I'm keeping it (until I make something that I like even better). All of the tassels are hand made and I used bead bell caps for the tops. The red and gold braid for the seat, reins and bridle is a purchased Christmas trim (I love finding good holiday trims for these costumes). The bridle headstall is adjustable as the braid is actually covering the strap that is attached to the bit. I'm still working out the stirrups pattern. This version is the third possible stirrup pattern.
Early Red Prototype This one has factory made trims. Trims are the most time consuming part of the costume, so using found notions helps to speed up the process. I like this one and plan on keeping it. I don't think it will ever make it into the show ring. But it's pretty and nice to have on the shelf to look at. As I get further along in the prototyping process, I'll have to start making the tassels and fringe. But right now it's about saddle construction and dimensions. The poll covers (front and back) are too large. The saddle seat is also a bit too large (it sets on the loin area). The other issues I need to address are all of the other Arabian models out there. So far I'm fitting the Stone Arabian, the most popular in the show ring. The saddle and poll cover parts are not entirely suitable for the Breyer Proud Arabians. Huckleberry Bey has the wrong gait for the class (stand, walk, canter or hand gallop are acceptable gaits) and I don't even own a Khemosabi model at present. I've heard that the Sham mold is not considered a Live Show Quality mold (even read a post from a judge who flat out said, "Leave your Shams at home!") so I'm not certain I will even bother trying to fit that mold. My eye sight has gotten so bad that I can't make tack for the smaller scale models.
Polly-Pink-Fly-Swatting-Tu-Tu Prototype Too bad the horse is a boy. I thought about using a bassinette instead of a saddle tree (and call it Baby's First Horse Costume), but couldn't find one in scale. This saddle has a different type of tree shape that I have seen on full-size Native style saddles. I don't like it. I prefer a more close contact style tree. The stirrups are hand made from cardboard and fabric. I think I have the scale right, but the assembly this way depends upon the fabric taking well to the glue. This fabric shows glue stains. As I get serious, I'll have to start making the stirrups out of metal, I think. Or find a way to trim the stirrups and hide the glue. Well, it's still early in the prototyping process. I'm keeping this one. It won't got to any shows. It's just pretty to look at.
|
