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HoofPrints Newsletter
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February 18, 2016
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Quote from the Inspirational Book: Relaxed & Forward
- Relationship Advice from Your Horse by Anna Blake
Folks who are friends with me on Facebook (if you're not, send me a request here) know that I quote Anna Blake - A LOT. So I am thrilled to announce that I have her latest book Relaxed & Forward here on the shelves at HoofPrints. This softcover book is just 301 pages, but it might as well be a million, for all the wisdom contained therein. Each chapter is short; just a few pages, but every single one contains profound words like those above, words that summarize a powerful, complex concept into a memorable, eloquent sentence or two with losing any of the meaning. Anna talks a lot about observing horses carefully, and appropriately rewarding their efforts for good behavior, but some of her best words come when she is talking about things going wrong:
 The gift that comes with bad behavior is a chance for positive leadership. It's a chance to reward his vulnerability and honesty with compassion rather than punishment. Lots of us didn't grow up in homes that ran by these rules, and the help we give our horses heals us a bit as well."
Each copy comes with a fancy ribbon embellished bookmark that's HAND SIGNED by the author. To read an excerpt click here
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$20.00 OFF Horsey Outerwear through 2/29/16
First is the Sweater Fleece Barn Jacket
This versatile tweedy looking jacket is at home in the barn or out running errands. It's made of heavy 11.4 oz polyester fleece, with a sweater-knit face and cushy fleeced interior. It's warm without being bulky. It comes embroidered with HoofPrints own Wild Mare - in a lovely shade of coordinating copper. To order click here
This jacket is loaded with details like comfy raglan sleeves, zippered pockets, neatly bound hem and cuffs, and an inner storm flap with chin guard - this will be the jacket you grab first. Extras shown here are HoofPrints Tooled Heart Zipper Pull, and BARN girl longsleeve ladies denim shirt.
Next is the Ladies Red Fleece Lined Suede Stable Jacket
The last few years have brought slim pickin's in the garment department.
Finding this cool stuff for you all, and making it available at a reasonable price can be a challenge. One of my favorite outerwear vendors has had some troubles and the quality of their products is not as good these days. There are other options out there, but fancy jackets with lots of details don't come cheap. Once I add the horsey embroidery, well, that often puts it out of what is reasonable for most folks' budgets.
That's why I am so excited about this Red Fleece Lined Suede Stable Jacket.
OK, so it's not really suede of the genuine leather persuasion, but you'd never know by touching it. It's made of a high-tech polyester fabric, velvety red suede on the outside, cushy charcoal sherpa fleece on the inside. The two layers are bonded together so this fits like a dream. Smooth, warm, comfortable. How could it get any better? The fabric is 4-way stretch, and it washes up great with no special coddling in the laundry. Two-way zipper unzips from the bottom for freedom of movement. Lined side pockets and top access zip pockets hold all your stuff without being bulky, Use the upper chest pocket to keep your phone close by - you can feel vibrations if ringer is off and/or have easy access for headphone cord. Sleeves are cuffed so you can adjust for perfect fit, right sleeve is embroidered with elegant Cavalero Horse logo.
Above is a fun pic of the Ladies Stable Jacket in action
Fifteen year old Ty Gordon is daughter of R&M Ranch Rescue's Michelle Gordon. Also shown is the lovely Thoroughbred mare Star, one of the ranch's permanent resident rescues. Star's story is here. The jacket comes in sizes S - XXL. BE SURE TO CHECK THE SIZE CHART to ensure that you're ordering the correct size. These run a bit strange in how they are cut. To order, click here
Third is
Mountain Blue Quarter Zip Sweat w/Plaid Flannel Lined Hood
This super heavyweight 12.5 oz. (regular sweats are 7 oz) 80% cotton/20% polyester hooded pullover is loaded with details. It's fashion fleece with zipper placket and one-button closure. Features two side seam pockets and woven plaid trim on inside hood and inner placket. Embroidered with HoofPrints own intricate Horse Legs logo, in thread colors that coordinate with the plaid flannel trim.
Generously sized, expect minor shrinkage - check the size chart online to ensure you're getting a perfect fit. Machine wash and dry; this shirt may look fancy, but it's plenty sturdy enough to hold up to lots of wear. To order click here
 Fourth is a special sweatshirt for farriers Heavy Quarter Zip Sweatshirt Embroidered with Farrier Tools of the Trade Logo This super heavy quarter zip pullover looks sharp and is a hard worker. It's made of super heavyweight 12.5 oz (regular sweats are 7 oz) 80% cotton/20% polyester fashion fleece. Charcoal grey with contrasting black trim on collar, cuffs and waistband and two side seam pockets, it's embroidered with HoofPrints own Tools of the Trade logo. These are generously sized; they shrink a bit with laundering. Machine wash with no special care - the example you see in this photo has been washed and dried on normal settings, and the collar and trim came out as nice and smooth as it was when it went in. To order click here
I got a little carried away when I ordered the Suede Bomber Jackets
last fall. I was so excited I bought almost all the manufacturer had on hand.
This is a great jacket, and I'd like to see a lot more of them keeping folks warm as they do their chores instead of sitting here on my shelves.
So I've marked them down by $20.00! The regular price is a bargain at $49.95 for such a nice jacket, so $29.95 is a steal. I won't lie and say "Get them while supplies last!" as I've already confessed to having plenty. This great price is only in effect until 2/29/16
MORE ABOUT THE BOMBER JACKET: This one's not really suede of the genuine leather persuasion, but you'd never know by touching it. It's made of a high-tech polyester fabric, velvety mocha suede on the outside, cushy oatmeal-colored sherpa fleece on the inside. The two layers are bonded together so this fits like a dream. Smooth, warm, comfortable. How could it get any better? The fabric is 4-way stretch,
AND it washes up great with no special coddling in the laundry. Two-way zipper unzips from the bottom for freedom of movement. Zip pockets hold all your stuff without being bulky and right sleeve is embroidered with Cavalero Horse logo. Comes in sizes M-XXL. BE SURE TO CHECK THE SIZE CHART to ensure you are ordering the correct size. To order click here
This Thermal Sherpa Lined Hood got rave reviews
I was so excited about these details that I didn't picture here the embroidered horse logo that's on the left chest, but instead a closeup of the wonderful textures that this jacket has.
This heavy hooded sweatshirt could double for a coat on all but the coldest days. The outer shell is constructed of thermal fabric, and it's lined with plush sherpa throughout. The seams are fashioned so that a bit of sherpa peeks through, for a casual, two-tone effect. It's cotton/poly blend so no shrinking, and it washes and dries beautifully with no special attention (yes, we tested it). The neck is taped to hold it's shape and minimize scratchiness against your neck. Zipper and eyelets are metal, and the drawstring on the hood is beefy enough to stay tied. We've embroidered it with our wind horse logo. Sizing on these is very generous - so those of you who were needing larger sizes than we normally offer may want to give this one a second look. Sadly, the manufacturer has discontinued this garment; size Small and XL are already sold out in the Turquoise, some sizes are available in Wildberry, too.
HoofPrints customer Jessica P. loves hers:
I received my jacket just 1 day after it was shipped! Awesome!! It looks sooo great and is absolutely the warmest, softest, and best jacket I have ever ordered! Thank you so much! I will be keeping the catalog that was sent to me and placing more orders as needed. I love this jacket! Have I said that before? Lol. Anyway...thanks again and remember you can't always make everyone happy, but you sure made me happy!!"
To SAVE $20 on the Turquoise version (shown), click here. $20 off Wildberry is here
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A BIG STORY that waited 50 years to be told:
Joe - The Horse Nobody Loved
This is a story that was 50 years in the making. All these poignant, vivid memories stayed safely tucked away in author Vicky Kaseorg's brain, until the time was right for Joe's story to be told. One of Vicky's other books I'm Listening With A Broken Ear is one of my all time favorites, so I was beside myself with excitement when I learned that she was penning a horse story. I had no idea what the plot was - but I knew it would be good! Each day, for months, I'd check Vicky's blog to see how progress was coming on her writing. Some days, she shared, the words poured out by the thousands, even though she had the major distraction of traveling through terrible weather from her home in the Carolinas to help out at her parent's house in frigid New York, where her mom was recovering from a serious surgery. That, my friends, is a story that WANTS to be told; one that makes itself easily written at the end of a harrowing day, every day, until it is finished. Having written thirteen books before this one, Vicky tells me that Joe's story had sat there in her memory, quietly waiting for the right time to be told. And apparently, this is it. I had the honor of serving as one of her beta readers, as well as helping with the cover layout. This story is sweet, poignant, funny and very, VERY real. Anyone who was ever a horse-crazy kid will come away from this book with insight, compassion and maturity that will make your heart warm. To order click here
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MORE ITEMS ADDED to HALF PRICE SALE!
Clutter busting continues at HoofPrints
My efforts to clear the warehouse (and my 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 my gain, too. Because I 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. I am currently going through a large stash of samples* - so many wonderful things, it's hard to choose just a handful for the website/flyer. And the rest have got to go! Only one of each available so act fast if you see something you like. The image shown here is what was available at the time this newsletter was sent. All prices on this page are at least 50% off retail.
*A note about the samples - Someone made a comment on the HoofPrints Facebook page that the samples are free to me and implied should thus be priced accordingly. Just to set the record straight - I pay for almost every sample I acquire. Occasionally an author or publisher will send me a book unsolicited, but I prefer to buy these anonymously so if I review and don't think it is a good fit for the product line, I don't feel guilty about not including it.
Half Price PRINTS are here - there are a lot of lovely prints languishing in drawers here that really should be hanging on folks' walls making them smile and beautifying their homes. Fall/winter is busy season here and I don't encourage print sales then - I don't have the extra time it takes to wrap these carefully for safe delivery. Now that Christmas is past, I've marked them way down now to sweeten the deal.
 Half Price JEWELRY is here
The more I got to digging, the more I found. Jewelry doesn't take up much room - suffice to say there is a LOT of lovely stuff that needs to find a new home. Then there's that whole problem I have with the beads. It's getting worse. Stay tuned for details on that.
Half Price BOOKS & Magazine Back Issues here
This represents a major turning point for HoofPrints owner Gina Keesling. This treasure trove of magazine back issues has been lovingly collected and hoarded for many, many years. It's getting to be a space problem, keeping them all stored AND due to the sheer volume of them, along with my busy schedule, they rarely get any attention. But even now, as I go through them to write sales descriptions, I am feeling sad at the prospect of letting go of this vast collection of pictures and articles about all the things I love - Horses, Dogs, Farriery and Blacksmithing, The West, Pretty Western Clothes and Jewelry, Awesome Country Homes, Recipes for Hearty Food, Healthy Living, Spirituality and more. I'll do my best to mention the content that stands out to me in the descriptions. Prices on these back issues reflect the fact that I am still very much in love with them, however they are at or below what the publishers are charging. The current sales list is small, but I'll be adding more as I am able; going through these is a slow process, as you can imagine, I get sidetracked frequently by all the fascinating content that lead me to hoard these in the first place.
The Closeouts Page is here
It features overstocks, items that are being phased out - still lots of good deals to be had there, too
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Here's what we talked about last time
Last newsletter is here ALL newsletters are here
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These just in...
Check out new products here
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When they're gone - they're gone...
Don't miss one you've been wanting - sadly, some favorites have been discontinued with no replacement - see them here
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Horse Eye Necklace
Available in four colors here
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DON'T do it yourself
FARRIER COASTERS
No farriers were harmed in the making of these coasters. To order click here
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MADE IN USA
Secret Box
Nifty little wood box has a lid that fits so neatly that it's virtually invisible when closed. A real deal at only $19.95 here
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PONY GIRL'S ON THE LABEL!
Horse Woman's Balm
A great product that DOES WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO!
Order here
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Courage doesn't always roar...
sometimes courage is that quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "i will try again tomorrow." To order click here
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HoofPrints
BARN BLADE
Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly
Order here
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NEW! Horsey Gift Wrap Assortments
These awesome gift wrap collections were designed by a lifelong horse owner, whose career happened to be in packaging design - so all the details are just right! More info here
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MADE IN USA
Tooled Leather Bracelet
Features braided rawhide, engraved heart and fancy buckle. Only $19.95 here
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It's Back! HOLLYWOOD HOOFBEATS
New updated version includes 10 more years of horse movies - to order click here
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HALF PRICE AND PRINTED IN USA: "Pharaoh's Horses"
20x26 Print with history and trivia article included is available here
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PRINTED IN USA:
This Hug's For You
Equine Sympathy Cards here
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Silver Dog Whistle
Solid Sterling Silver Whistle on waxed cotton cord here
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Message
I love hearing from customers. You can contact HoofPrints owner Gina Keesling via email at gina@hoofprints.com |
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GINA'S BLOG
Fun on the Farm
read the latest happenings in the Keesling household, involving construction, destruction, remodeling adventures and general wreckage here
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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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Above is a scan of some wallpaper border that we found behind some wood paneling that we tore out in the kitchen of our old house. It was crumbling even as I touched it, but I kept it anyway. I wasn't sure why - this was the era before computers and scanners, so I never could have imagined that nearly 30 years later it would end up a beautiful background in a picture in a thing called a "blog".  All over the internet are quotes about NOT looking back.
HoofPrints even carries a necklace that instructs: DON'T LOOK BACK THAT'S NOT WHERE YOU'RE GOING (that's for sale here).
But in the blog post I wrote today that is exactly what I am going to do.
I am going to look back. Again.
Last time I showed you pictures of our house before we bought it, and told the story about how that event came to pass (the purchasing of an abandoned house that was not for sale).
These days, Remodeling, Recycling, Reusing, Repurposing is all the rage. The internet is fairly bursting with websites and blogs full of ideas to facilitate this useful phenomenon. However, back in the late 1980's, keeping old crummy stuff around was not so cool. It was something us poor people did until we could afford new stuff. Or, instead of buying new, we took old, crummy things, and FIXED THEM so they were nice and new again. At least that was the idea. And it was a very messy process that we are still surviving to this very day.
The first step in fixing the old house on the hill was the messiest.
We tore out all the original plaster and lath. The wiring was ruined, the plumbing was ruined, and there was not a crumb of insulation in any of the walls. Laying the studs bare was the best way to gain access to install new wiring and plumbing, and to insulate against the cold. Every single room had a chimney and a (leaking) stovepipe opening. I can't imagine the amount of firewood the previous residents used to stay warm.
Here's our front doorway shortly after remodeling commenced. There's no actual door on it at this point; it's been removed so we could rake the debris out more easily. We started upstairs and worked our way down, so climbing the steps meant navigating this avalanche of plaster, lath and nails.
So... while we were newlyweds, childless career people who could only look forward to the days where our Remodeling, Recycling, Reusing, Repurposing would finally be behind us, little did we know that we'd one day give birth to a son who would willingly start the process. All. Over. Again. SMH <- that's "Shaking My Head".
Wanna read what happened next? Click here
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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 the company 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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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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