It's been just over a year since Red Okie Clay came out, and I am proud to announce that I am slightly over half through the run. In the last letter, I predicted that Okie would take up to two years, but since they are coming out faster now I am pleased to report that they should be done before 2003. When they are almost done, you will receive a mailing on the next mini horse, Hadrian. In the meantime, there is a project that I have been working on for several months. Once upon a time there was a Welsh stallion, named Owynn. He had a mare named Maeve, (rhymes with wave) and a foal named Dare (rhymes with bar). In those early years, 1996 to be exact, I was not skilled in making molds. Trying to make the Maeve and Dare mold, I did a bad job, and the castings were beyond our ability to finish. Only three casting were made from the original mold, one, which I own, was painted a very dark grey fleabit by Kristina Lucas. Two were painted bay. All of these were tests, and the bays were intended to be the color of the run. The two bays are owned by private collectors now. Many months ago I dragged the Maeve mold out, and decided to try again. Because we had sealed the mold and poured a rubber horse master, I was able to remake the mold fairly successfully She still has several areas that must be individually resculpted, but I am able to do this consistently. Dare cannot be offered, because he never had a rubber master made. Originally intending to offer customs on Maeve, I began wondering whether collectors would like to have a Limited Production run instead, and tested the waters by asking seven collectors. They all answered with a resounding YES! So limited production on Maeve began. Enclosed is the photo of the fleabit OF production MAEVE. I will make thirty of them, and offer twenty-five exclusively to the Pour Horse collectors on the list. The offering will come in three parts, to make it as fair as possible. First, twenty will be offered for $350.00 each, postage paid, on a lottery basis. You can, if you wish, send in the coupon at the bottom of this letter to be included in the drawing. Twenty names will be drawn and two alternates. I will draw the names on Saturday, February 23rd, at 6:00 PM Pacific time. I will notify each winner as they indicate on their coupon, and if I don't reach them, I will immediately send a letter. Don't worry, you won't lose your place as a winner. Winners will have three months to pay off the horse. Of course your credit cards and personal checks are welcome. Horses will ship when the balance is received in full. By the time the drawing is held, all twenty will be ready to ship and in boxes. If you don't receive a letter or phone call within ten days, you didn't win. If you wish you may then submit a bid for the silent auction. Three horses will be sold in this auction. You won't receive another notice, so please note that the bids must be received by March 23rd. You can only make one bid, and I will not be opening the bids until that day, so don't call to see if you have been outbid. I will take the three top bids, but those bidders will only pay $1.00 above the next highest bid. So the top bidder will pay $1.00 above the second bidder, and the second bidder will pay $1.00 above the third bidder, and the third bidder will pay $1.00 above the fourth bidder. The winning bidders will be notified by phone or mail, and also may have up to three months to pay off the horse. These horses will also be ready to go before the auction starts. Finally, when everyone knows whether they have a Maeve or not, two more will be put on eBay. Notice will appear on the Yahoo "breakables" list, as well as the Pour Horse announcements list that is run by Cynthia Gardner. If you are not on this list, it's a good idea to join if you have email. Contact Cynthia through the Pour Horse website, www.pourhorse.com. This allows everyone equal opportunity to either win the chance at a Maeve, or bid for one. If you don't want a Maeve, or aren't able to buy one right now, please don't worry that you will be bumped from the mailing list for not entering! Not everyone will enter this drawing, for various reasons. I expect about one hundred to one hundred and fifty people to enter, which is less than half of the list. Just a couple of little items to mention still, I have changed the time frame in which Okies are charged, due to the energy crisis. Now I work for two to three weeks to get a big load of Okies ready to fire. After the bisque fire it takes almost another week to glaze and fire them again, and several days to package and ship them. Loads of up to seventeen Okies are going out this way, but because this is my income I have been forced to charge some Okies well in advance of shipping. I am very sorry that this is necessary, but please don't be alarmed when your bill comes in with a charge and your horse hasn't arrived. If several weeks go by and you still don't have it, please feel free to call or write. I hope to be able to change this way of working soon, but for right now, thank you for your patience. If this really concerns you, please notify me and I will work with you. The Bring Out Your Chinas show will be held this year in Carlsbad, on March 2nd, with a party at the pottery on the third. It is shaping up to be another festival of china lovers. A good time will be had by all! NAN is at Jamboree again this year, and again Pour Horse will sponsor the china division of the Jamboree show. You will receive an issue of Pour Horse Patter with the next horse offering, Hadrian, the mini Dales pony by the extremely talented Sarah Rose. That should be in the fall/winter. I am truly grateful for all of you, my dear friends. You give me the chance to make shiny ponies in the most wonderful country in the world. If you were here, I would give you a big hug. Sincerely, Joanie |
