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A Dream Becoming Reality…
I have always had the desire to become self employed and although I have had several businesses of my own I have always been a hard working and dedicated employee alongside them; after all this was always the wage that paid the bills at the end of the month. I have set up and run four businesses so far in my lifetime and although all of them have not been a raging success, nor survived to be five years old or more, I truly believe I have learnt invaluable lessons from each and every one of them. Since having the desire to become self employed again, I decided to move…
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Starting a project…
When I feel the world is against me or I need to have some ‘me’ time I usually like to go horse riding but these last 4 weeks have been really tough and I don’t have the desire to do anything physical. I blame this feeling partly on the time of year; it’s still winter outside and the dark nights and grey/wet days are having an affect on me. However, to relax most people sleep or walk their dogs but not me I have found that I relax best when I am being crafty. With my newly learnt saddler skills I have been playing with some leather recently by carving…
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Starting Level 3 in Bridle Making…
A couple of weeks ago I attended my fourth week of training at The Saddlery Training Centre. Following my successful completion of Level 2 Bridle Making, I was now to go straight onto Level 3 (in Bridle Making). So for my first practical piece I was tasked with making a stallion in-hand bridle with a fixed nose band, fancy stitching and a clencher brow band. I chose a rich brown coloured leather called ‘Conker’ from the store and decided to use brass clenchers and buckles as well as stitch it in a yellow contrasting thread. I like working with a contrasting thread because if you go wrong it stands out…
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My First Exam…
Firstly, I send my apologies for not doing a daily blog during my recent week in Salisbury. It sure was a tough week for me and I started suffering with anxiety from the beginning which just drained everything from me. When I woke early on the Monday morning I was overwhelmed by nausea. I really wanted to curl up and sleep the feeling off but I knew I had to get up and get on the road before the morning rush. I figured I had worked myself up over the weekend and that it was anxiety setting in and nothing sinister. Following two previous good training weeks I was advised…
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I Made A Bridle!!!
Today was completion (of snaffle bridle with reins) day and what a fab job I did, even if I do say so myself. Don’t get me wrong it’s not going to win any prizes and it’s nothing like what the qualified saddlers produce but I am well and truly happy with my attempt. What do you think? The final item that you have to make as part of this module is a running martingale. This item is what your assessed on during a 4½ hour practical assessment (as well as 2 written papers done separately) but obviously I am just learning all the techniques and the order in which to…
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Training Week #2
Hello… …it’s my first day back at the Saddlery Training Centre today (25th July) and I have picked straight up where I left off in May. If you remember I had completed the headcollar earlier than anticipated so I was allowed to go on and cut the straps for the next assessment piece – a snaffle bridle. I had managed to cut them all to length, shape the ends of each strap and then edge them. I had initially said I was going to finish the bridle at home (to assessment quality) so that I could get on with the practical and theory exams but life took over a little…
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Juggling Life…
Well I’ve truly had a hectic couple of weeks since the last time I wrote. Not only have I had to contend with life in general, looking after my family and being the only one bringing in a full time wage at the moment (which is stressful) I’ve also had to deal with added issues involving my extended family and people we thought were family friends. However since the death of my nan in January these people have shown their true colours. I am disgusted. I tell you one thing for sure, you really don’t need enemies if family friends can try to do one over you. Needless to say…
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Can You Help?
It has been almost a month since I was on my first week of training at the Saddlery Training Centre in Salisbury. Not much has happened since then other than show my head collar off a little that I made (as well as try it on Rouxb); I have been trying to get the necessary tools, off eBay, that I need in order to complete my bridle at home so I will be ready, I hope, to do the assessment in July but this has been difficult… …what I haven’t told you all yet is that in February 2016, almost two months after being accepted onto my Saddler training scheme,…
