Letter Art: Screenprint

 

A sign and t-shirt that I “printed” – with much oversight, rather in the manner of a child helping to make cookies. “Nice…” is, historically, a city slogan and, lately, a mural. The Yellowhammer is the Alabama State Bird.

Today is even more off topic than the usual run of Sunday posts. Late last week, I took a screenprinting class at MAKEbhm. I figured I’d use a blog logo as my print and the result as a post. Turns out making your own design is the intermediate class. Oops. No time for plan B.

Did learn a few things that I already knew.

I work better when I know why. Once I understood the relation of the screen to the surface, my paint scraping became more effective. Why do I need to ride with my heels down? Why do my hands need to be up [Dueling Disciplines]?

I am more technical than artistic [Put Down the Hammer, Pick up The Paintbrush]. Years ago, I took a workshop at SCAD. I was miserable. I don’t speak artist. At the MAKE workshop, the instructors were happy to indulge in minute discussions over the behavior of the paint, the thickness of the screen, and so on. Ride Hard. Yup. Fix your body position. Yup. It’s a matter of style. Huh? Flair. What? Je ne sais quoi. Moi? (Did you know David Ogden Stiers was on Broadway before he was in M*A*S*H?)

No matter where you go, there you are. [Spring Fitness]

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Referral Saturday, Equestrian Bloggers Facebook Group

Today is for those of you who blog about horses.

Sophie Tunnah of Team Tunnah Eventing Team Tunnah Equestrian (updated Sept 2020) has started a Facebook group for Equestrian Bloggers.

The main concept behind the group is for knowledge sharing – so anything from people asking for tips & support on reporting on your blog through to more technical question to implement elements like Twitter cards across your blog, for example.
Team Tunnah Eventing: Equestrian Bloggers Facebook Group

The goal is not to collect hits/likes/followers, although that happens. Instead the goal is to ask questions and support other bloggers. For example, Eq Bloggers is starting a monthly blog hop for the last Monday of each month. Stay tuned.

Years back, I was part of an online professional writers’ group. It was awesome. I had someones who understood when it was 2am and I was waist deep in a 2000-word article on the correct use of the twiddlethumper. Plus, they had real advice when I had a real question. The social media landscape has changed and most of our careers have transmogrified, but it was fun while it lasted. I’m hoping for a similar group here.

If you’d like to join, please send the admin a request.

Previous Referral Saturdays
Adieu
Snark-o-licious
Cover Girl
Horseback Reads
Accidental at Heart

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Foto Friday: Instagram August 2017

August Instagram from @rodneyssaga.

Previous July 2017

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Driving Through Ohio, Guest Photos

Driving Thursday

When Coach Kate traveled to Ohio, she stopped at several driving-related shops. As one does. She was kind enough to let me use her photos as a blog post. I really oughtta give her Assistant Producer credit for Driving Thursdays. #vicarioustravel


Woodlyn Coach Company, Mt. Hope, Ohio, USA.
Henry Hooker phaeton, restored by Ivan Burkholder at Woodlyn Coach Co.
“That’s my father, Jack Bushman, standing, by request, with the Singer sewing machine, so you could see how large it was. It’s an original Singer Dash Machine model 67-1 for sewing patent leather over metal rod frames of carriage dashes and fenders. Ivan does all sorts of restoration work for cart, carriage and coaches.”
From Woodlyn Coach. “Half of my purchased pair. These are placed in the doorway of a carriage house/barn so that the wheel couldn’t pass too close to the doorway and catch the hub on wall. They are made of cast aluminum.  Heavy, but not as heavy as cast iron.  Ivan has the mold and can make more if someone else wants a set. ”
Wall of driving bits at Bowman Harness Company, Mt. Hope, Ohio, USA. Ironically, they did NOT have Milton’s new bit.
“These horses were at Bowman Harness. There was a steady stream of English and Amish in the shop.”

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

My Version of Retail Therapy

Saddle Seat Wednesday, Sorta

I tried to take a dressage lesson. Does that count?

The call went out several times. Who wants a lesson this month? It began to sound as if they would not have enough people. Given the lack of work Rodney and I have suffered this summer [Lately], a lesson would be an exercise in rediscovering the basics. If it was a matter of having to cancel for lack of interest, I said would be willing to give it a go in the backyard. Alas, the clinic was able to fill without me. No lesson this month.

Sniffle.

Plus, this confirms what I had supposed. I will not be able to continue these dressage lessons [Leg Yield] until I can figure a way to haul His Bulkiness around.

Sigh.

What does this have to do with saddle seat? At Winter Tournament – back when I remembered how to ride saddle seat – I was tied for High-Point Adult from Stepping Stone Farm [Results]. The prize was a $50 gift card.

I have been saving it for a special, preferably saddle seat, occasion. After finding out about the lack of lesson, I decided that LEGO therapy was in order. What better way to spend saddle seat prize money than as a consolation for another discipline crashing down around my ears? I give you, Ninjago City, Review.

My new toy, with help from two guys at the LEGO store. Yes, they know me there.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Milton & Me, Redux

We are quietly examining the schedule for suitable places for Milton to start showing with a cart. Yes, yes, many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip. It’s all tentative and progress-dependent.

One factor has become obvious. Greg doesn’t have the time. He’s busy working. (Go him!) If he’s to have a competition horse, I will have to work said horse during the week.

I don’t know how I feel about that.

I don’t know how I feel about that while my own riding continues to tank.

Or it could just be August. I hate August. [Hello September]

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Trailer Training

More stand lessons [Here We Stand 2013, Rodney Lately 2017]. This time, we are standing near/in the trailer.

Since the incident [Dubious Future], Rodney gets goofy when he leaves the pasture. When I went to get him for the farrier, he refused to leave the field. He broke his ground tie while I unchained the gate – he never does this – and ran to the far end of the pasture. When I hauled him back up, he would stop every 50 feet, ‘Don’t wanna.’ Walk. Pause. ‘Ain’t gonna.’ Walk. Pause. He thought he was headed for the trailer. Once out, he kept staring over his shoulder. Trying to keep his eye on the hideous white box?

First remedial session: No. Not hysteria, just no. Got on with inducement in the form of showing him the buggy whip. Second remedial session: no inducement, front feet on. Third (or maybe the fourth? I’ve lost count.) remedial session: stood on trailer eating hay. Backed off. Got on. Stood on trailer eating hay. Backed off. And so on.

In the Department of Silver Linings, it’s nice to be doing something I’m good at. Riding? Show nerves? No idea what happens inside my own head. Teaching a horse to be a happy-loading pony? I got this.

Update, another post about this session [In Chains].

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott