Custom Beadwork Care
How to Care for Your Custom Beaded Horse Tack and Dog Collars - by Cindy Walker
Hand beaded items are very sturdy really and with proper care can last more than one lifetime and be can handed down to your children and grandchildren. Certain things must be kept in mind however. The beads are made of glass and are very tiny with a hole through the middle, so they can break if rubbed or banged too hard. The threads the beads are woven on are thread that is smaller than standard sewing thread but it is very strong nylon and the bead work has multiple outside warp threads that have been sealed to make them more durable. But they can still break if put under extensive pressure like if a horse rubbed his head on a fence, trailer or stall or if a collar is scratched excessively by a dog.
I guarantee my work as far as humanly possible and will be happy repair anything that comes loos under normal use, and will attempt to do minor repairs if it is damaged, but keep in mind that while bead-work that has been damaged can almost always be repaired, this is time consuming and costly.
I have been putting beading on tack for about 25 years and I have never had any of my beading come off or even come loose, under normal use, from any tack or dog collars that I have beaded.
Simple precautions are all that are needed in order to protect your investment
· Do not leave beaded halters, bridles, headstalls or collars on dogs or horses when they are left unattended.
· Do not leave a horse tied with a beaded halter or headstall as horses tend to rub their heads on things and this will destroy the beadwork.
· Do not leave a dog unattended that is not used to wearing a collar or scratches a lot as excessive scratching can destroy the beadwork.
· Bead-work on nylon tack can be hosed off or washed by hand with gentle detergent if needed and hung up to dry in a warm, dry place, as long as it is not left wet for extended periods of time it can be washed repeatedly.
· Bead-work on leather can be vacuumed or brushed with a soft brush to remove dirt or dust and oiling the tack can be done as long as the oil is not applied heavily to the parts that have the bead-work and the oil is allowed to dry thoroughly.
· Tack that is wet – leather or nylon should be hung in a dry well ventilated place and allowed to dry completely.
My work is guaranteed and if under normal use (see above) any beading comes loose or undone, I will gladly repair it for you if you return it to me.
I hope you will enjoy your custom beaded item for many years and if you have any problems or questions please feel free to e-mail me
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Cindy Walker ~ Ghost Horse Studios / The Beaded Saddle 2010
