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______________________________ Current Auction Hat The
Derby Hat Collection by MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® ______________________________
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Please join us once again for the The
Sixth Annual sponsored by For the sixth consecutive year, MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® and Old Friends are teaming up again for an unparalleled online shopping experience that began November 1st with their "Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby" auction. This unique Derby hat fundraiser is an annual event which features one-of-a-kind couture Derby hats created by Sally Faith Steinmann of MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® to benefit the retired racehorses of Old Friends. The next hat up for bid was created as a tribute to I984 Rebel Stakes winner, Clever Allemont. Rescued from a kill pen in 2008, Clever Allemont was retired to Old Friends in 2009 through the efforts of an amazing team of people who wanted to ensure his safe retirement. He enjoyed over five years as a beloved member of the Old Friends family before passing this year. In tribute, MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® has created a very special millinery design to celebrate his life. The “Clever Allemont” chapeau is up for bid as a special holiday addition to the fundraiser from November 17th through the 27th. Bidding has ended on the “Clever Allemont” hat auction. The next auction hat goes up for bid on December 1st! _______________________________________________________________________________
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Clever Allemont was a horse who touched the lives of everyone who knew him. Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends, states, "Clever Allemont was such a great asset to Old Friends. He was the kindest, friendliest stallion on the farm. He inspired deaf people because he was deaf, visually impaired people because he enjoyed life though he'd lost an eye, indeed anybody who knew what it's like to overcome hardship. People call Clever Allemont a 'rescue,' but it's really the horses who rescue us." Beth Shannon, a volunteer at Old Friends adds, “A triumph of love over greed is what I call Clever’s journey from a kill buyer’s pen waiting for a slaughter auction, to a new life as one of Old Friends’ most loved residents, as a gracious host, kind friend and inspiration to us all. The green of regeneration was definitely one of his colors, and Clever was a horse of many colors, steady, kind, persevering, yet often giving us wonderful little surprises.”
Clearly, a very special hat was needed to pay tribute to this kind-hearted member of the Old Friends family who inspired so many. I decided to create the “Clever Allemont” as a fascinator beginning with an oval base fashioned out of “raw sienna” brown dupioni silk. The underbrim was lined with coppery brown metallic taffeta and edged with a delicate mocha braiding.
Despite having vision in only one eye, Clever seemed to view the world straight on. To reflect his attitude, the entire base of the fascinator was secured to the headband at a jaunty angle. An outer brim ruffle in soft orange organza adds both dimension and a subtle elegance to the entire foundation.
A burnt orange silk rose curl adorns the center of the trim design with a two-tone chocolate button adding accent and sparkle to the rose.
The rose is framed by a layer of chocolate organza bow loops with a second layer of green organza and chocolate silk leaves beneath it.
For a final touch to the centerpiece, a third layer was created out of orange netting dotted with white buttons to reflect Clever's racing silk colors of orange with white polka dots.
Five black silk organza “feathers” provide a playful finishing accent to the centerpiece while beautifully framing the face.
For a final touch, a chocolate brown organza double bow with tails was added beneath the base of the fascinator to accent the headband.
The finished “Clever Allemont” design measures approximately 19 inches end to end inclusive of the silk organza feathers.
As a physical remembrance of Clever, several strands of this sweet stallion's tail hair were braided and woven into the trim of the hat, creating a unique, one-of-a-kind Derby chapeau that captures Clever not only in spirit but in substance as well. The purpose of this amazing millinery delight is to honor the life of Clever Allemont and all of the horses who, thanks to the generosity of those who support their aftercare, now graze in the warm sunshine of Dream Chase Farm for the rest of their lives. "Sally Faith Steinmann's works of millinery art have raised thousands of dollars and a priceless amount of awareness for all these great retired athletes. Their stunning beauty and indescribable originality symbolize what one great artist can do to positively alter the lives of so many deserving athletes." - Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends
Hats
off to you, Clever
Allemont!
__________________________________________________________________________ Bidding has ended on the “Clever Allemont” hat auction. The next auction hat goes up for bid on December 1st! The “Clever Allemont” chapeau was up for bid as a special holiday addition to the fundraiser from November 17th through the 27th. To read more about Clever Allemont, the horse, please click on the following link - Featured Horse. _______________________________________________________________________________ Bid as many times and on as many hats as you like during this running auction. For further information about the eBay bidding process, please contact Old Friends at 502-863-1775. If you don't desire to place a bid on a hat, please contact Old Friends to see about what other ways you might be able to help out at Dream Chase Farm. Freight charges will be at the expense of the winning bidder. Winning bidders, please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery of your hat in order to ensure proper sizing. To view the couture Derby hats from previous auctions, please click on the following - Old Friends Hat Auction Portfolio.
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