THE GODDESS IJADA

The following Custom MLP was created by Stripes during the summer of 2001 for the Ice Feathers' summer contest.

Backcard Story

Once a Latin goddess, she was written out of mythology because she morphed into a pony (her own choice – she believed them to be the most beautiful of earth’s creatures). As revenge on the city of Troy, her birthplace, for disowning her, she cast a wish that the city would never prosper. Although she did not predict an exact fate, she was partially content when the Greek forces captured the city in 1200 B.C.
Her powers are unlimited. While still recognized as a Latin goddess, she reigned over the lithosphere. During this time, she placed all the jadeite into the earth. Whenever it was mined or eroded in the future, thus revealing the precious stone, it was as if she was giving birth.

Evidence of past belief in Ijada:
Jade was once thought to have the ability to influence the weather when it was thrown with force into water. It was used by the ancient Greeks as a charm believed to prevent eye infection.

“A mean or tired horse; a worthless nag.” Chaucer.

Evidence that in the present day & time, inhabitants of the earth have lost their belief in Ijada. They no longer fear her, but instead consider her as a worthless symbol anymore. Yet, she still controls them unknowingly.

“To make ridiculous and contemptible.”
“To exhaust by overdriving or long-continued labor of any kind; to tire or wear out by severe or tedious tasks; to harass.”

Ijada’s control can be seen by changing people when they behave as if they are more than what they are. They become, most commonly, tired and cruel.

“To become weary; to lose spirit.”

To those who are the most selfish, overly self-confident, & overindulged, she punishes them by giving them renal colic. This renders them the above definition.

“The Mayans wore jade amulets to protect against bladder and kidney problems. ”

Apparently only one of the historically great groups of people, the Mayans, was intelligent enough to begin believing in Ijada again throughout history. It is sad that the culture has disappeared. Perhaps they could have saved the world from Her wrath.

The above definitions used for the Backcard story were obtained from dicitonary.com

Production Analysis

Without design, I began to birth my pony. Her Backcard Story came before her, so I went with the flow…whatever inspired as I picked up the paintbrush and dipped it in the paint, I let flow from my fingers.
The Goddess Ijada is my second custom ever. She is the first one whose head I have disembodied and who hair I have replaced. I have also completely painted her body – not one spot is original white Sundance color.
My first step was to remove the paint – the Sundance symbol and her eyes - with acetone nail polish. Next, I attempted to rip off the head since it was already halfway loose, however, the parts that were still attached were stuck on very well. I first tried poking the area where the head and body met with a needle but that was very unsuccessful. I used a razor blade, which was efficient, but I had accidentally cut some of the plastic instead of where it met. Not so bad though, since its not noticeable from the outside.
Then, began the hair removal. I cut the hair very close to the roots then used a small, long pair of pliers to rip out everything from the inside of the pony. The curve of her neck proved this a royal pain, but it worked out well in the end.
I then prepared the hair: three different green-coloured thread. I cut much up initially so I did not have to cut more during the process. I ended up using two rolls completely and still I hoped I would have enough. First, I strung the tail, the easiest step fo the process.
Next, I began with the acrylic paint. Since jade has many shades within the stone and overall, I decided to use many colours. I had five, but two of the colours turned out to be the same, even though they were made by the same company and had different names. Nonetheless, I painted random patterns, three coats, touch up, and complete. For the eyes, I outlined them in a light grey for contrast. Pony eyeliner, if you will. Then I painted the inside icy white and followed on top with two coats of iridescent paint. I thought that the sparkling, pupil-less eyes would fit her Goddess persona. I painted the bottom of her feet a unique coour - The name is "jade" - the only "real jade" colour on her.
Finally, I strung the hair. The most tedious of work I have done so far, I love the result. I used three stands through each hole. The colour combination within each hole’s strand varies. Since I did not have as much of the lightest colour as I did of the other two, I used it more towards the front to provide some dimension.
I am very pleased with the pony. I am very proud of her, even though my boyfriend said she looks like Rambo-Pony without the hair (because of the camouflage pattern – I didn’t intend it to be that way!).

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Once a Latin goddess, she was written out of mythology because she morphed into a pony (her own choice – she believed them to be the most beautiful of earth’s creatures). As revenge on the city of Troy, her birthplace, for disowning her, she cast a wish that the city would never prosper. Although she did not predict an exact fate, she was partially content when the Greek forces captured the city in 1200 B.C.
Her powers are unlimited. While still recognized as a Latin goddess, she reigned over the lithosphere. During this time, she placed all the jadeite into the earth. Whenever it was mined or eroded in the future, thus revealing the precious stone, it was as if she was giving birth.

Evidence of past belief in Ijada:
Jade was once thought to have the ability to influence the weather when it was thrown with force into water. It was used by the ancient Greeks as a charm believed to prevent eye infection.

“A mean or tired horse; a worthless nag.” Chaucer.

Evidence that in the present day & time, inhabitants of the earth have lost their belief in Ijada. They no longer fear her, but instead consider her as a worthless symbol anymore. Yet, she still controls them unknowingly.

“To make ridiculous and contemptible.”
“To exhaust by overdriving or long-continued labor of any kind; to tire or wear out by severe or tedious tasks; to harass.”

Ijada’s control can be seen by changing people when they behave as if they are more than what they are. They become, most commonly, tired and cruel.

“To become weary; to lose spirit.”

To those who are the most selfish, overly self-confident, & overindulged, she punishes them by giving them renal colic. This renders them the above definition.

“The Mayans wore jade amulets to protect against bladder and kidney problems. ”

Apparently only one of the historically great groups of people, the Mayans, was intelligent enough to begin believing in Ijada again throughout history. It is sad that the culture has disappeared. Perhaps they could have saved the world from Her wrath.

Production Analysis

WIthout design, I began to birth my pony. Her Backcard Story came before her, so I went with the flow…whatever inspired as I picked up the paintbrush and dipped it in the paint, I let flow from my fingers.
The Goddess Ijada is my second custom ever. She is the first one whose head I have disembodied and who hair I have replaced. I have also completely painted her body – not one spot is original white Sundance color.
My first step was to remove the paint – the Sundance symbol and her eyes - with acetone nail polish. Next, I attempted to rip off the head since it was already halfway loose, however, the parts that were still attached were stuck on very well. I first tried poking the area where the head and body met with a needle but that was very unsuccessful. I used a razor blade, which was efficient, but I had accidentally cut some of the plastic instead of where it met. Not so bad though, since its not noticeable from the outside.
Then, began the hair removal. I cut the hair very close to the roots then used a small, long pair of pliers to rip out everything from the inside of the pony. The curve of her neck proved this a royal pain, but it worked out well in the end.
I then prepared the hair: three different green-coloured thread. I cut much up initially so I did not have to cut more during the process. I ended up using two rolls completely and still I hoped I would have enough. First, I strung the tail, the easiest step fo the process.
Next, I began with the acrylic paint. Since jade has many shades within the stone and overall, I decided to use many colours. I had five, but two of the colours turned out to be the same, even though they were made by the same company and had different names. Nonetheless, I painted random patterns, three coats, touch up, and complete. For the eyes, I outlined them in a light grey for contrast. Pony eyeliner, if you will. Then I painted the inside icy white and followed on top with two coats of iridescent paint. I thought that the sparkling, pupil-less eyes would fit her Goddess persona. I painted the bottom of her feet a unique coour - The name is "jade" - the only "real jade" colour on her.
Finally, I strung the hair. The most tedious of work I have done so far, I love the result. I used three stands through each hole. The colour combination within each hole’s strand varies. Since I did not have as much of the lightest colour as I did of the other two, I used it more towards the front to provide some dimension.
I am very pleased with the pony. I am very proud of her, even though my boyfriend says she looked like Rambo-Pony without the hair (because of the camouflage pattern – I didn’t intend it to be that way!).