For the Love of Horses

I am a horse lover.  I was one of those pony mad kids who couldn't walk anywhere without jogging sideways and making strange whinneying noises and snorts like a badly behaved and spirited horse.

I lived and breathed horses from age 8 onwards.  I didn't actually get a horse of my own until I was in my 30's and was living in the U.S.  Little did I know when I bought my bay Thoroughbred gelding, Annapolis, in 1988, he would still be with me 24 years later!

In that time we've had some wonderful times, some success in the show ring, pleasant trail rides and just quiet time together.  Annapolis outlasted two ex-husbands!

Around 2000, Star came into my life.  She's a black Percheron, a draft horse, built for plowing fields or pulling wagons.  As it is, she's never done a day's work in her life and now her sole purpose is to provide companionship for Annapolis, now 33.

Star and Annapolis are inseparable.

The reason I'm telling you this is by way of introduction for the various equine-themed pieces I have created since I've been on Zazzle.

I have an ever-growing range of items in my "Gifts for Horselovers" category.

Wise Grey Mare Mouse pad by 3DDesignsByJayne
Create your own mousepad online at Zazzle.

The first thing I made was this mouse pad featuring a grey mare.  Look closely -- that's NOT a photograph.  It's a digital artwork that I created in DAZ 3D!!  I also made a tile, gift box and an iPad case using this image, and of course it's available as a framed print as well.

Draft Horse Plate by 3DDesignsByJayne
Browse more Draft horses Plates

Unlike the grey mare mouse pad, this draft horse plate is created with a photo. I included it in my store because I just loved the photo of my mare, Star (on the right) meeting Donin, the resident at the new farm I moved my horses to the year this was taken.

Horse and Cat Mousepad - Love Thy Neigh-Purr by 3DDesignsByJayne
Order custom made mouse pads at zazzle.com.

This mousepad, with the cat and the horse, was inspired by an article I saw in a newspaper several years ago.  In Australia, a man had a mare that was known for being bad tempered.  She pinned her ears and bared her teeth whenever anyone went near her.  Then one day, an old ginger tom cat showed up in her field.  She was fascinated and she and the cat very quickly became good friends.  It was like she became a different horse.  She was not only friendly with the cat, but her whole personality changed.  She became a much sweeter-natured horse and much easier to be around.  

This image was also created in DAZ 3D, but I put the resulting render through the "rough pastel" artistic filter in my trusty Photoshop Elements (can you believe I'm still on version 4?)

Quiet Companions Mousepad by 3DDesignsByJayne
View other Cat Mousepads

Continuing with the cat and horse theme I created this image about 5 years ago, when I was still working in Bryce 3D.  (Did I mention I love cats too -- we have twelve cats now, after taking in a cat and her four kittens the summer before last.) 

Galloping Paint Horses Lumbar Pillow by 3DDesignsByJayne
Browse other throw pillow designs on Zazzle.

This is my most recent  horse-themed design.  I called the render "Run Like the Wind" and this design is available on mousepads, iPad sleeves, laptop bags, mugs, pitchers, you name it!  I was so happy with the way it came out!

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There is a wealth of equine art and horse-themed designs on Zazzle.  Below is just a small selection.

This design, from earthwindhorses, won Today's Best on November 19, 2008.  I'd love it if one of my designs could win Today's Best one day!

Heart by Liz Mitten Ryan Poster by earthwindhorses
View other Horse Posters

Annapolis and I won a few ribbons at lower level dressage shows back in the day, so I was really drawn to this poster of a dressage horse from Stephanie Come-Ryker.

intensity! posters by scryker

As I mentioned up above, my own draft horse, Star, has never worked a day in her 20 yrs but I love this poster of working Clydesdales in their harness by designer Kelli Swan.

Clydesdale Draft Horse Team Print by KelliSwan
Get the best custom poster printing at zazzle.com.

What kid didn't love the Black Stallion?  I know I did and this poster, from Vector Graphics really invokes the wild and free spirit of the Black Stallion.

Black Stallion Poster by VectorGraphics
View more Horse Posters

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Anyway, I could go on and on... but now it's your turn.

If you are a Zazzle artist or designer, you're invited to link to your equine and equestrian themed  designs in the Linky tool below. Use Option 1 in the Link Widget on the page of the Zazzle product/design you'd like to add. It will show up below as a small thumbnail and when clicked on, will link directly to your product.

Repeating Abstract Patterns

I just discovered the most amazing app in the Mac App Store.  It's called Pixelmator and is very similar in many ways to Photoshop Elements that I used for photo manipulation as well as digital painting.

I've only been playing with it a very short time, but I've already discovered some awesome filters that my old Photoshop Elements doesn't have -- namely the kaleidoscope filter and the tile filters: Eightfold Reflected etc.

Wow! A program that allows me to make intricate patterns!  I love it!  I may have to make a new Zazzle store devoted to repeating patterns, or perhaps just a section of my 3D Designs by Jayne store.

I'll have to see how things work out. (My day job really gets in the way sometimes!!!)

Here's the first pattern I made.

First, the original photo (resized)

And here's what it looks like with a Pixelmator filter applied (click on the image to see a larger version of it) :

The first product I used it on is a mousepad:

Gold and Black Abstract Pattern Mouse Pad by 3DDesignsByJayne
See more mouse pads online on zazzle.

I also used it on an iPad sleeve.

Gold and Black Abstract Pattern iPad Sleeve by 3DDesignsByJayne
See other MacBook sleeves.

Gold and Black Repeating Pattern iphone 4 Case by 3DDesignsByJayne
Design personalized iPhone 4S case online at zazzle.com

This is so exciting for me -- I've always loved these sorts of designs but had no idea how to create them. Now I can think of a million and one uses for them - sleeves, business cards, pillows, mugs and more.

Of course, I'm a bit late getting to the party (did I mention my day job gets in the way?)

Check out these designs from the talented artists at Zazzle .

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I love the colors in this wonderful mug from DriventoAbstractiona, as well as the fact that the design is much larger than the one I created (note to self: play around with dimensions when creating designs).

Celebrating Blue Series Coffee Mugs by DrivenToAbstractions
View more Abstract Mugs

This mouse pad by mystic_persia really does look like a Persian carpet, with its rich red and gold coloring.

Red Persian carpet mousepad by mystic_persia
View other Floral Mousepads

Repeating patterns like this one by skellorg look great on solid colored armchairs and sofas - it's a way to bring color and life to a room without having to reupholster! 

Alice's Asters II Lumbar Support Throw Pillow by skellorg
Shop for another throw pillow.

iPad Sleeves and laptop sleeves etc are another create showcase for these repeating patterns, like this lovely blue design by SticherladyMandala

Permascope Pattern iPad Case by StitcherladyMandala
View other iPad accessories.

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Now it's your turn. If you are a Zazzle artist or designer, you're invited to link to your repeating pattern designs in the Linky tool below. Use Option 1 in the Link Widget on the page of the Zazzle product/design you'd like to add. It will show up below as a small thumbnail and when clicked on, will link directly to your product.