Places best described as “a little off the most-trampled tourist track” are my favorite sort of places to travel. The small town of Fagaras, Romania definitely falls in this category and made a great base for a few days of rest and exploration on my way from tourist-packed Sibiu to tourist-packed Brasov. A railroad stop…
In this post, I’ll be showing you how to personalize a blank award ribbon rosette with a custom design, message, or personalization. This method is perfect for creating custom gifts, awards, or to celebrate unique celebration that would be hard to celebrate or find a card for. Using just about any vinyl cutting system such…
Did you know that you can make your own freeze-resistant water buckets, troughs, or ponds using natural materials you already have on your farm? When downed trees toppled power lines and cut electricity, all of our winter housekeeping was put to the test: no bucket heaters, no stock tank deicers, and not even the option…
It’s no secret to anyone who visits my home or business that I love equestrian decor. Even so, I used to be surprised when my birthday rolled around each year and casual friends seemed to always think the perfect gift for me was a picture or painting of a horse. It made logical sense, I…
This delightfully absurd pairing is a bit of your own creation, dear blog readers. 80% of Hawk Hill’s visitors surf in for articles related to A. chandeliers or B. equestrian style and design. I’m naming you enablers, just a bit, because in replying to your comments and keeping my mind brainstorming in these areas I’ve…
This framed horse shoe is one of my dearest possessions, but taking it from the rusty mess I found in my horses’s pasture to this elegantly framed piece took several steps and a bit of creativity. I realized I’ve written a few posts outlining individual steps to take cool-looking rusty metal objects like equestrian bits…
Last Updated: From 2010-2015 Hawk Hill’s stable was inhabited always by a horse or two and I ran a tack store out of a warehouse building on the property that was designed to look like a barn, so it seemed appropriate for both my use of the property and the design of the buildings themselves…
Last Updated: One of the most frequently Pinterest pinned images from this site is this photo, above, from my chicken coop / barnyard, taken in the summer of 2013 (give or take a year), showing a an old leather horse halter that I converted into a hanger for a galvanized bucket of Calibrachoa flowers. The…
Even if you’ve checked out my articles on repairing broken horse halters, sometimes a halter is just beyond repair. Whether it’s terminally broken or just too worn to be safely used, below I’ve collected a few great ideas on how to reuse, repurpose, and recycle horse halters. These re-purposing projects are a great excuse to…
Step by step instructions for attaching an engraved metal plate to a leather strap (halter, belt, etc) WITHOUT using a leather punch or rivet setting tools. Using tools from a standard toolbox, I’ll show you how to attach metal plates to strap goods. Frustrated by the typically huge price difference between buying an item…
When I was a child my daydreams were filled with visions of riding and showing a big grey horse. When I was 23, fresh out of college and making a steady income for the first time, I had the opportunity to make that dream a reality and I spent most of my free time in…
Last Updated: Equestrian decor is practically a love language for me, so as a sequel to Repurposing Horse Halters for Equestrian Home Decor, here’s a mashup post collecting shots from other parts of my blog, showing various ways I have re-purposed and decorated with horse bits. Typically I call my style “Equestrian Inspired” as…
I don’t often tackle a room remodel by myself- I tend to stick to small projects. Not too long ago, however, I took a deep breath and dove into one of my biggest projects: remodeling a tiny bathroom that was cursed with peach tile, peach walls, and an 80’s vanity. Lacking the tools, funds,…
If you love a classic look and equestrian flare, Christmas gifts are a great place to show off this style. Small pieces of equestrian hardware can take the place of a bow to create sophisticated wrapping for your gifts. This year, I raided LuckyPony.com’s hardware department to wrap gifts for my family and…
Last Updated: Last fall a friend purchased a fantastic property with an old 19th century stone barn still standing. When I remarked on the old horse collars resting under a thick layer of dust in the old tack room, she immediately gifted me both. I knew right away I’d make wreaths with them, and thanked…
Each year I try to post a preview of my Christmas decorations before the rush of the holiday season begins- and then a full followup and a few tutorials during the relative quiet season of the weeks following the new year. While I’m still working on a few new decorating projects for Christmas 2014, here’s…
This post updated: In homes built before about 1985, builders often didn’t install wiring for an overhead light in common spaces like living rooms. It was fashionable at the time to have lamps warmly lighting a living room- but in today’s multi-purpose living room, most people prefer a mix: lamps for setting a mood…
