Longtime newsletter subscribers will remember that every summer for years I have run a story wringing my hands about what it's like to put together the HoofPrints catalog; It takes a LONG time to put one of these together. I start in the summer - when everyone else is doing vacation stuff and having fun. I am analyzing sales numbers, reviewing submissions, making prototypes, scheduling photo shoots...

...then there's the layout; Imagine having a 48 room house. Go in every room and take away some of the furnishings. Then go shop for new stuff - beautiful new stuff that no one has ever seen before, but that you're sure they will love - AND will make sense with the stuff that you already have. Then figure out how to arrange it all in a way that is useful, sensible, and visually appealing. That's kind of how catalog layout goes. Except I have to keep in mind the tastes of thousands of viewers - people that I've never met (most of them, anyway) Whew! It's a big job and I've done it every year since I started the company in the late 1980's. Until now.

It's SWEATSHIRT SUNDAY! Chilly fall temps are upon us, and it's time to break out the sweatshirts. If you're like me, when you dig this stuff out you notice some of it's looking pretty shabby. Why not give yourself a little pick-me-up and order a few fun replacements?

Here's one of my favorites. This chocolatey brown sweatshirt was YEARS in the making...   A few years ago, while shopping for nothing in particular, I happened upon some fabric that looked like tooled leather. It was expensive, but I bought a whole bolt of it - intending to use it on a shirt design that I had on the drawing board at the time. When the sample was made of that design, it looked terrible. No amount of tweaking improved it, either; much to the chagrin of my embroiderer, who endured my multiple requests to change thread colors and make new prototype sew-outs, etc.

So, sadly, I put my treasure aside. And the fabric "haunted" me - it was the upholstery in a gorgeous Sundowner horse trailer that I toured at a trade show. It's the cover of our Tooled Leather Scrapbook here. Everywhere I looked, I saw this elegant brown floral leather pattern. Still - nothing worked out design wise for the shirt and it was driving my crazy. Here I had this perfectly western, beautiful fabric - and I could NOT seem to make it into an attractive design no matter how hard I tried.

This dragged on for two YEARS! Then, we got a sample sweatshirt in - in this nice dark brown - intending to market it to men. Something made me revisit the forgotten fabric, and this time it was a winner! After that, the designing was easy. It's funny how things fall into place easily when the time is right... I was able to find a company in southern Indiana that specializes in precision cutting fabric using high-pressure jets of water. As luck would have it, the customer service rep who handles my orders is also a horse woman - and she took special care to make sure our H-O-R-S-E letters were cut just right. Then the fabric letters come back here to Alexandria to be carefully stitched onto this lovely brown sweatshirt, complete with the silhouette of a woman and her cantering horse. Whew! I think it was worth the wait.
Click here to see a larger image / order - be sure to check out the embroidery closeup.

Use SWEATSHIRT SUNDAY Coupon Code SS20 and save $10.00 on this shirt today! (offer expires 10/7/13)

It's SWEATSHIRT SUNDAY! Many of you preferred a full zip hoodie instead of a pullover (the un-zippered front was necessary to accommodate the bazillion stitches that it took to embroider the design - which, BTW, is beautifully sketched by artist Lesley Bruce) I found one in this lovely celadon green. It's garment washed, super soft, and ladies cut. We've separated the girl from her name, and her rude horses; she stands alone with her hay bale. To order click here

Use SWEATSHIRT SUNDAY Coupon Code SS20 and save $8.00 on this shirt today! (offer expires 10/7/13)

It's SWEATSHIRT SUNDAY! Here's another favorite: Use SWEATSHIRT SUNDAY Coupon Code SS20 and save $6.00 on this shirt today! To order click here (offer expires 10/7/13)

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2014 Blacksmith Calendar available now + back issues only $1.99 here

of THINGS TO DO
This fun note pad features artwork by cowboy artist Zella Strickland, and we think she's captured the feeling that most women experience when they scan their own "long, tall list" - right down to the "ONO" brand on the horse's left hip! The list is magnetic (so you can stick it on the fridge) measures 9" tall x 4" wide, and has 60 full color sheets for you to keep track of your tasks. To order, click here

Only $4.98 per pair and they actually are pretty nice.
See them here

FREE 2013 Planner with purchase of 2014 Planner
while supplies last here

AND TRIVIA tells us that this plaque is from the Charles Bridge in Prague (circa 1357) It's become popular to rub the dog to ensure that a spouse will remain faithful. Look how shiny the dog is in the picture above, he's been polished by years of visitor's hands rubbing. Order the book with the full story here

I NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM - order the Travel Mug here

On sale here

Check out this brass longear charm and more here

3 Springy Horsey T-shirts less than $10 each here! 

Under $20. here

That's Not Where You're Going - Inspirational Necklace only $14.95 here

Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly
Order here

I love hearing from customers. You can contact HoofPrints owner Gina Keesling via email at gina@hoofprints.com

 

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