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HoofPrints Newsletter
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February 13, 2013
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ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THIS NEWSLETTERFarriers Greeting Cards was started by Gina Keesling in 1986 (in a very small way) to provide helpful promotional materials for farrier husband Rob. Along the way we became HoofPrints.com, too, adding a selection of fun horse and dog products geared toward women of a certain age. This newsletter is emailed to subscribers a few times a month, depending on how often I have something to share. Watch for special sales, interesting stories, uplifting quotes and more.
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 | Detail from Horsewoman's Long Tall List of Things to Do
Note pad - order here |
Feeling overwhelmed?
How to be happy anyway...
According to author Martha Beck, PhD, society these days has evolved in such a manner that folks think they've got to be prancing around gleefully (think: Swiffer commercial) in order to be truly happy. On the contrary, Martha says "True happiness is sustainable delight in the beautiful moments of everyday life."
Martha's article in February's Oprah Magazine How to Find the Kind of Joy that Lasts also says;
"People started telling me to "be here now" when I was about 20. "Great!" I responded. "How?" Be still, they said. Breathe. Well, fine. I started dutifully practicing meditation, by which I mean I tried to be still while compulsively planning my next billion-watt wow. But one day, while reading up on the latest research in positive psychology, I discovered a two-word instruction that reliably ushered me onto the plains of peace when I couldn't force my brain to just "be still." Here it is:
Make something.
You see, creative work causes us to secrete dopamine, a hormone that can make us feel absorbed and fulfilled without feeling manic. This is in sharp contrast to the fight-or-flight mechanism, which is associated with hysteria hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Research indicates that we're most creative when we're happy and relaxed, and conversely, that we can steer our brains into this state by undertaking a creative task. To get a dopamine "hit," make something that pushes you to the furthest edge of your ability, where you're not only focused but learning and perfecting skills. Cooking an unfamiliar dish will do the trick, as will perfecting a new clogging routine. At first, depending on how addicted to mania you happen to be, the excitement-grubbing part of your brain won't want to stop obsessing about over-the-top experiences. It will cling to its fantasies about the next huge thrill, its fears of Suicide Tuesday. Keep creating. As you persist, your brain will eventually yield to the state psychologists call mindfulness. Your emotions will calm, even if you're physically and mentally active. You won't notice happiness when it first appears, because in true presence, the mind's frantic searching stops. In its place arises a fascination with what's occurring here and now. Though this feeling is subtle, it's the opposite of dull. It's infinitely varied and exquisite. The aftermath of a creative surge, especially one that involves a new skill, is a sense of accomplishment and increased self-efficacy-which psychologists recognize as an important counter to depression. Instead of a Suicide Tuesday crash, you're left with the happy fatigue of someone who is building strength. Pay attention to this process, and you'll see that the motivation to be here now will gradually grow stronger than the cultural pressure to seek excitement. You'll find yourself increasingly able to tune in to the delights of the present even when you're not actively creating. When this happens, you'll be on your way to genuine happiness: abundant, sustainable delight in the beautiful moments of ordinary life." Read the rest here
Not feeling creative? Does making something sound like just more drudgery on your "to-do" list? As someone who "makes stuff" all day as part of my job, I've come up with a little different two-word instruction. Mine is "Clean something", and while I'm not a PhD in psychology like Martha, I've discovered that it works as described above for me. Now, I will be the first to reveal that things around here are pretty messy. Some days I think the only difference between me and the folks on hoarders is the fact that messes and disorder really bug me. OK, I'm not as bad as the hoarder people, but it sure could be a lot neater around here.
Which brings me to exactly what I do to help ME feel better. We all have stuff that bugs us - accumulating stacks of papers/magazines, Christmas decorations in February, fingerprints on the fridge door, the overflowing junk drawer(s) - mental note: there's ephemera for scrapbooks in there... Anyway, every so often I pick one thing that's really bugging me, and just TAKE CARE OF IT. If you do this, you have to be careful / disciplined that the thing you pick doesn't blossom into a multi-faceted project that you can't / don't complete and end up feeling worse. Otherwise, insert your little "Clean something" efforts into your day a few times a week. Eventually all those areas that make you feel bad to look at them will dwindle (somewhat) and you'll feel slightly less overwhelmed.
A little more advice: Pick something that you can accomplish in an hour or less. My biggest one here recently took only minutes to do, but hours of mental wrangling to get there... getting rid of the heaps of empty plastic horse supplement containers and lids that were cluttering my barn. I kept thinking there'd be a perfect use for them. But the use never came and I've been looking at stacks of tubs and lids collecting dust for years. The other day I decided "enough is enough!" and I rounded them all up and put them in the recycle bin. Took a few minutes! But now, the little part of my brain that was thinking about what I could be doing with those piles of containers is now FREE to think about other things. And believe me, I need all the brainpower I can get.
Try it. And let me know how it goes. |
On the cleaning...
there IS a limit
I know I just told you to pick something and clean it up, but be sure to be judicious in your choice... which brings us to one of my favorite Lesley Bruce designs: Sorry... I only clean up after my HORSE! This crew sweatshirt is printed with a gal who's happily cleaning the barn... while we know her house is probably in disarray. The preshrunk heavyweight cotton blend crew is super soft - almost like suede, inside and out. We've imprinted it in shades of blue/grey; distressed to look like a worn favorite already. It's starting to sound like a broken record... but this shirt is another one that will no longer be available once the supply runs out. We knew that going into it - but this shirt is soooo nice, I bought what I could get, knowing that the end was in sight. So if you've been admiring this, don't wait to get one - we've put it on sale, while supplies last, for $5.00 off here. It's also available on a T-shirt here.
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Spring cleaning begins at HoofPrints
Contrary to what the sign says - cleaning house can be FUN!
My efforts to clear the warehouse (and my house- house) of accumulated oddball products continues to gain momentum. I've written about it before. The point continues to be, sometimes the space becomes more valuable than the items that are occupying it. So this is where most places say... "our loss is your gain!" Well, check out this super-cheap stuff and BUY IT. And your gain will be our gain, too. Because we need that space on the shelf.
The Half Price Page is here - check this often as they're one-of-a-kind things that will sell quickly and be replaced with whatever else starts to get on my nerves. We've got a handful of the HORSEWORK before HOUSEWORK signs shown here for just $1.99 each!
Our Closeouts Page is here - it features items that are being phased out - still lots of good deals to be had there, too.
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Our embroidered farrier garments are the most technically accurate and detailed available - I guess that sounds a little braggy... but it's the truth. Check out the other designs I found here, and here. Farriers spend their days telling uninformed clients hoof- healthy reasons why there are no nail holes in shoes past the widest point of the hoof (and in the toe) - the last thing they want in an embroidered logo is something depicting that very thing. And what's up with those scary heel caulks that stick out to the sides? A toe clip makes a nice decorative touch - but it's always drawn on the WRONG SIDE of the shoe! (sigh) OK, end of rant.
Before I made the shift to full time Farriers Greeting Cards, my "day job" was creating embroidered logos for customers at RAM Graphics. Along the way I learned a great deal about what makes a good design and what does not. (Heck, I am still learning that. You guys "teach" me by not buying the ones you don't like!)
Anyway, the process by which an idea becomes an image that can be SEWN IN THREAD on a garment is complex. There's a lot of computer stuff - to do with how the machine "knows" to sew - the sequence, tension, etc. But also a lot of organic, artsy thought goes into it. Just because something looks cool on the computer screen DOESN'T mean that it will translate that way to thread. And the color choices can make or break a design. Embroidery has a tactile effect to it that you canNOT very well simulate on screen. Fortunately, my embroiderer (and former employer) is very patient with me - and they work hard on multiple revisions of new designs until we get them just right. The result of this successful collaboration is what you see here.
Shown above is our embroidered legs design. It coordinates with our business card #BC4, too. It's over 14,000 stitches and takes a long time to sew - even though it's just 3" tall. It's available (AND ON SALE - $20. OFF) on a heavy, sherpa lined hooded sweatshirt here.
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 RECAP - From the last newsletter
Here's what we talked about last time:
History, Legend and Lore of Copper + horsey jewelry here
Sterling Silver Dog Whistle here
Business Card for Dog Lovers here
Tales from a Dog Catcher here
Horses and Hope Calendar - each month is an inspirational, framable photo here
FALL GIRL book chronicles the exciting life of a western stunt double here.Amazing Dog Facts & Trivia Book here
PAST NEWSLETTERS - See what you missed! Catch up on the news here
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WHAT'S HALF PRICE?
I'm Still HOT - It Just Comes in Flashes Now Bracelet here |
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ATTN FARRIERS:
Is your business card featured in our directory? A two year listing is FREE with each business card order. We removed hundreds of expired listings this week. See if yours was one of them here |
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WHAT'S ON SALE?
Suede Trapper Hat
See the special deals here |
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What do we like?
CAVALIA!
Impressive liberty performance - horses and humans look HAPPY! Details here |
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Horsey Zipper Pulls
A great way to dress up any jacket, sweatshirt, or purse. Order here |
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Some of our favorite
Christian Horse Books
Horse Tales from Heaven and Heavenly Horse Sense Christian Horse titles here |
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What's on Sale?
No Foot, No Horse Mug here
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WHAT'S ON SALE?
~ Closeouts ~
Select Farrier Sportswear here |
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Message
We LOVE hearing from our customers. You can contact HoofPrints owner Gina Keesling via email at gina@hoofprints.com |
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Find us on facebook
Be sure to LIKE our facebook page - it's where we announce special sales, breaking news and everything else we find interesting. To see it go here |
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Our Current Catalog
Request your copy of HoofPrints Catalog by clicking here |
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Memorable Quote:
| This week's quotes are about CLEANING:
Law of Window Cleaning: It's on the other side. ~Author Unknown
Our house is clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy. ~Unknown
Love is the thing that enables a woman to sing while she mops up the floor after her husband has walked across it in his barn boots. ~Hoosier Farmer
This mess is a place! ~Author Unknown
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Share our emails
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Viral marketing... it sounds bad, doesn't it?
You can ask my husband - a frequent topic around here is that of forwarded emails - and the psychology behind them - just WHAT prompts people to decide; "I am going to send this to everyone I know!".
We receive a lot of them. Some are pretty good, and others are dumb. Dumb in a myriad of ways... Alarmist email rumors that have been around forever - that folks keep sending "just in case it's true" Pictures of someone's butt (or worse) - don't even get me started about the firecracker butt - but at least that one was timely when it showed up around July 4. Christian messages that are uplifting - until you get to the end and you're threatened "if you're not ashamed that you love Jesus, forward this - if you are, then delete." Pictures of cute puppies and kittens (awww)
I enjoy writing these newsletters - and sharing all this stuff with you all. But the fact is, it's also a way to help us stay connected with customers and sell products during the time between catalog mailings (which is only once a year) So I really, really like it when someone new stumbles upon the newsletter and is excited to "discover" our company and the products we offer.
In all my efforts to make the newsletter interesting and forward-worthy - it never occurred to me to JUST ASK you all to send it! Duh. Sometimes the obvious is elusive, I guess. So here goes - my request to ask you to forward our email newsletter to your horsey friends. All we ask is that you please be judicious and only send to folks who might be interested. Otherwise we are no better than the "firecracker butt". Click to get started. (please note - using this form does NOT subscribe anyone to our list - it is a one-time only forward)
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