It Is Finished

It Is Finished (said in Aslan voice). I have completed all of my summer homework. Just finished the Pre-Cal packet (don’t you love summer aka school huge packet homework time?).
Which means…….my Native American Doll can be finished! His name is Chogan which means Black Bird in Cree. For anyone who says that model horses don’t teach anything, they sure teach how to research!
Here’s Chogan taped up and ready to paint.

First coat on his face,

Arms and face done,
New hair added ( I really need to get better at making things in a better order!) 

Then he got new eyes. Creepy, huh?

All finished and ready to ride!!

Indian Pony- Pt. 2

Today, most of the doll was made for my Indian pony. I used one of my paradise horses dolls.
To make the clothes I made a pattern. Next I cut it out of chamois,

Then started to sew the legs.

I did trial and error for figuring out how to do the pants. I’ve never done pants before and they are sewn on permanently.

The shirt was much much easier for me. I started sewing,
Then turned the shirt inside out,
Here he is on Starlight.
Next came boots. I used chamois then put tooling leather on the bottom.
Here he is! Too bad I wasn’t patient enough to paint his face and arms, now I’ll have to do that. Then add new black hair. 
I need to figure out a name for him too…hmm…
Part 3 is tomorrow!

Indian Pony-Pt. 1

Today inspiration hit. I decided to make a new, but simpler Native American Costume. I decided to make a Cree Indian Pad Saddle Costume. I got my reference pictures from a bunch of places, but probably the one that helped the most was these pictures from Braymere Custom Saddlery .First I had to decide on the horse. It is the Breyerfest surpise Tobiano Flash, but I didn’t want to make a mistake on him, so I brought out Starlight.

First I made a pattern and cut it out,

Then cut the leather and glued it.

Next came sewing in the details.

Painted in details,
Vala the Saddle! Tomorrow will be the doll!

Bodies

Bodies. Bodies for tack. Bodies for customizing. But which ones are the best for generally working for being versitile.? Which ones are left on the curb? This is a tippy post about OF models that work as bodies.
To find the right body model, you have to figure out the size of models you’re going to be working on. Lady Phase is called the best body model, but if you’re working on something for per say Fox Valley Olvier, it isn’t going to work.
I have found that you need to figure out the size of the majority of your performance models and pick a medium model that way.
Models with huge hunking forelocks don’t work, since the browband will be huge if it’s put on another.

Models without “ears” or ears molded to the mane, aren’t great since the bridle won’t fit.

Models with small forelocks are great.

They also need a well shaped head, or relatively horselike

Once you’ve done that, you have the perfect body!