So... I did a thing.
For years, unique and intricately embroidered garments have been a staple at HoofPrints. The thing with intricate embroidery, though, is that it entails a lot of different colors that take time to thread onto the machines, and it takes a long time to sew. The companies I've recruited to do said embroidery need for their machines to make money the whole time they are running, hence my intricate and time-consuming embroidery was billed for accordingly. Which made the resulting garments more expensive. In some cases they were so expensive that I didn't even bother trying to market them; who would pay $80 for a sweatshirt? No matter how amazing the decoration...
One of my husband's hobbies is following auctions. He has encyclopedic knowledge of the valuation of all manner of obscure things, and has been known to be the winning bidder on some pretty kooky stuff. Stuff which turned out to not be so kooky after he resells it and realizes a tidy profit. At any rate, a cache of commercial embroidery machines showed up at a local auction, and, just like that, HoofPrints is in the embroidery business.
|
|
Never mind that I don't know the first thing about operating embroidery machines.
In my life before HoofPrints, I was a designer at a T-shirt company that had an embroidery department, so I did a lot of artwork that ended up sewn onto garments.
However, the scope of my interaction with the ladies in the embroidery department involved tediously picking colors out of a bazillion choices of thread, the subsequent back-and-forth dialogue that occurred when one of my complicated creations failed to sew as expected; along with determining who needed to do what in order to solve problems, get production moving and out the door to the customer.
Suddenly, I am now on both sides of the dialogue. Conversations I've had with the embroidery supervisor at my former job have been rather amusing. If she and the other ladies ever wished I could stand in their shoes and wrangle with the complicated art that I expected them to sew - that wish is coming true now.
With all this said, things are going pretty well considering my lack of experience, and the fact that the machines are an auction find that were sold as-is/where-is. It was quite a thrill to see one of my most complicated logos (Barn Girl) come to life on the brand new quilted vest.
|
|
The timing is TERRIBLE on this brand new vest.
Unlike the new Lightweight Diamond Quilt Barn Girl Vest (that's below) this one's snuggly warm, NOT smooth / horse-hair repelling, and it's dark colors so the horse hair it doesn't repel will be extra visible. However... it does have a NAPOLEON POCKET!!!
This garment is a manufacturer closeout and if I want them for fall, I must hoard now.
I need you all to help me pick which color(s). To encourage you to also hoard now, I've marked them down to HALF OFF ($30) for a limited time. Once I determine the most popular color(s), the price will go back up to $60.
|
|
|
|
This new vest is made of textured tweed sweater knit on the outside, and snuggly soft fleece on the inside. 100% easy-care polyester, machine wash and dry with no special coddling in the laundry department. We embroider it right here in HoofPrints shop with our own black horse logo. |
|
But what about the NAPOLEON POCKET?
Until recently, I didn't know the name for the zippered upper pocket that sometimes appears on the chest of what are usually high-end outdoorsy vests or jackets.
Situated on the left side, it presents a dilemma as that's the spot where embroidery usually goes. I almost passed this vest by because of it, and I'm glad I did not. The sample I got in quickly became one of my favorites, I really like the way it fits; a little bit trim in the waist, long tail in the back and arm holes just the right size.
And the Napoleon Pocket... not being a purveyor of high-end outdoorsy garments, I'd never owned anything with this kind of pocket before now, and I soon figured out how useful they are. Named for this guy and his famous pose of having one hand halfway obscured into his clothing, it's becoming more common on hiking and cycling jackets. (More here)
This upper pocket is perfect for your phone. Keeps it away from your other pocket contents; which may also contain messy horse or dog treats, hair, and port-clogging hay chaff. If you like to listen to tunes while cleaning stalls, you can wear earbuds and the pocket works nicely to keep the cord in check. If you're traveling, the chest pocket lets you keep important stuff that you want close to your person and easily accessible there; ID, passport, plane tickets, etc.
|
|
Brand new Barn Girl Vest!
The very first job produced on HoofPrints new (used) embroidery machines is the perfect garment for early spring! We're all happy for spring to arrive - the resulting horse hair all over everything, not so much.
|
|
|
|
This new lightly padded, quilted nylon vest is absolutely perfect for these times. It's light as a feather, so you can wear it on spring days that are chilly - without feeling like you're still weighed down with winter garb. For me, this is a biggie; if the sun is out, the birds are singing, and things are starting to green up - the last thing I want to do is pile on my winter coat. Even if it's still pretty cold outside.
This is the first garment I've been able to find that's hay and hair-resistant. Barn debris brushes right off the smooth nylon fabric, inside and out. It's got nice deep pockets, a sturdy brass zipper, and a flattering drop tail in the back to cover your fanny a bit and keep drafts out.
It's embroidered right here at HoofPrints with Lesley Bruce's Barn Girl logo. The color is Moss Green - so shipping is free through March 31!
|
|
|
|
IT'S ALWAYS CHANGING!
Check out what's on the HALF PRICE and One of a Kind Page today
|
|
|
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Gina Keesling started HoofPrints in 1986 to provide helpful promotional materials for farrier husband Rob. Along the way she added a fun selection of horse and dog products. This newsletter is emailed to subscribers a few times a month.
Notable recent editions:
|
|
|
Stuff I'll probably never DIY
|
|
|
I can't get the hang of this yet...
|
|
Tweeting? Not so much... yet.
|
|
|
My awesome customer service reps available 24/7 to take your order or answer questions at 765-724-7004, or email me gina@hoofprints.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
