Thanks Willow and Ella for sharing a really great way to celebrate Earth Day–what about you? Think on it…you’ll have the opportunity to share it in the comments on tomorrow’s post!
More Fun
From Our Readers: Willow and Ella!
[ Comments Off on From Our Readers: Willow and Ella! | Posted on April 21st, 2011 ]
From Our Readers: Dena!
If any of you missed the pictures Dena posted on the Generation T Facebook page a few weeks ago, well, you simply must check them out. 
To celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary, Dena made the T-shirt wedding gown (project #108 Tying the Knot from Generation T), which she fancied up with a few of her own modifications:
She gathered the top only a few inches in the front and added a corsage of rosettes. Because the skirt tends to get a little heavy (it is made of a whopping 6 T-shirts after all!), she also added a belt. She changed up the back a bit, and stitched her seams on the inside of the skirt. PS: Dena and her daughter Jaden designed the adorable “flower girl” dress together.
Dena didn’t go the whole white dress route when she got married, so this dress gave her that experience. She says, “I felt beautiful in it”–and no doubt comfortable, too!
We think you look stunning, Dena–and it sounds like you had a blast–happiest of anniversaries to you!
[ Comments Off on From Our Readers: Dena! | Posted on March 29th, 2011 ]
Letter to a Young T-shirt
In which I introduce you to a piece of T-shirt literature quite different from the T-shirt literature you generally consume around these here parts. It’s a smart and whimsical ode to the life cycle of a that essential staple of a young woman’s wardrobe: the black T-shirt, in all its gritty, sweaty, scissor-snipped truth, by my friend–and one of my favorite writers–Ms. Emily Meg Weinstein. Here is an excerpt (for which I took the freedom of combining three of my favorite lines from the essay):
“You might be a little groggy from the surgery I performed on you last night, as soon as I brought you home from the merch table…. I don’t want you to feel any pressure, but you are the cornerstone of my entire wardrobe. When I can only bring one t-shirt, you will be the t-shirt…. But you, new black t-shirt, are at the center of everything, and we, new black t-shirt, have only just begun.” –Emily Meg Weinstein, from To My New T-shirt
"Chloe Libre" black T-shirt (aka The Predecessor to the New Black T-shirt, third from left), flanked by Chloe Libre gray, blue, and red.
What’s the story behind your newest wardrobe essential? Thrift store wonder, merch table masterpiece, vacation souvenir, or refashioned rescue from the dresser drawer?
Please share in the comments. In the meantime, here’s to T-shirt love stories and rock & roll!
[ Comments Off on Letter to a Young T-shirt | Posted on March 24th, 2011 ]
From Our Readers: Avery!
In honor of National Craft Month (yay!), Workman Publishing Co. (who published my two books), is featuring projects from some of their top DIY books throughout March. Up first was editorial department member Avery, who shared her process for making the “Banned for Life” headband (project #92 in Generation T). Click through for her full photo tutorial over at the Workman blog.
PS: Note that the T-shirts she used were two abandoned marketing tie-in tees she picked up from around the Workman office. (Keeping everything moving full circle!)
[ Comments Off on From Our Readers: Avery! | Posted on March 23rd, 2011 ]
From Our Readers: Kay!
Perhaps this post should have been from Gidget, Kay’s enthusiastic little Yorkie muse who likes to “help” out in the craft room (sitting on piles of T-shirts while Kay cuts and sews around her), but to be fair, Kay is the actual reader in this scenario.
Recently, Kay invited Gidget to participate in a more active way–as a model for Kay’s newest creation (think pint-sized version of project #33, The Tying Game tank top, from Generation T). Kay grabbed a T-shirt sleeve (yay, scraps!), slid it over Gidget’s head, and marked where the legs would go. She slid the sleeve off (lest she inadvertently give Gidget a haircut) to cut holes at the marks. She then cut open the sleeve on the opposite side (what would be the back), cut horizontal slits along into each edge to make fringe, and tied the corresponding fringe into double knots.
Once finished, Kay let Gidget try on her new Generation T design. The report: Gidget loves it, and thinks it goes especially well with her pink Harley collar. In fact, she loves it so much, that when Kay took it off for just one minute to comb her, Gidget kept jumping up for the tiny tee, barking and snipping until she was wearing it again! Happily T-shirted once more, this fashion plate was ready to vogue-vogue-vogue-vogue all day long.
Love the little punk rock pooch! What a rock star. And I’m spent! ::doggie chin to floor::
[ 1 Comment | Posted on March 3rd, 2011 ]
Happy Valentine’s Day from Generation T!
Here’s to a heart-filled Happy Valentine’s Day (from a goofy, lovestruck Megan at the Red Heart lounge at CHA). To celebrate, here are two totally heartsy, craftsy T-shirt projects for him and her! But if you’re not feeling the T-shirt love today, here are ten quirky, clever, full-of-love DIY projects that we also totally heart:
1. PB&J Heart Thumbprint Cookies via MyKidsMake.
2. Knit Heart Ring via CutOutandKeep.
3. Softie Smoochie Lips via Diana Schoebrun.
4. Sweet Nothings Mini-Megaphone via DesignSponge.
5. Heart Garland via FamilyFun.
6. Vintage Spool Valentine via CutOutandKeep.
7. Embroidered Portraits via CountryLiving.
8. Ch-ch-ch-chia Heart from FamilyFun.
9. Heart Cake via IAmBaker.
10. Love Potion #12 Signature Cocktail via Care2.
[ Comments Off on Happy Valentine’s Day from Generation T! | Posted on February 14th, 2011 ]
From Our Readers: Izzy!
[ Comments Off on From Our Readers: Izzy! | Posted on February 7th, 2011 ]
T-Shirt Art: Woven Team Jerseys
To celebrate Super Bowl Sunday Generation T-style, check out these amazing tapestries woven from sports jerseys by artist Brian Jungen. Beautiful patterns and color combinations! A Steelers-Packers woven mashup would sure look nice–all those bright colors! In the meantime, I’m going to dig out some of my old “home” and “away” team uniforms and start cutting.
[ 3 Comments | Posted on February 5th, 2011 ]
From Our Readers: Jessie!
While I was wandering the halls at CHA in Southern California (more details to come!), there was a surprise Tee Party brewing up north in the Bay Area. It was Jessie’s 12th birthday, and she and six of her pals were quick to dig into a pile of her brother’s old tees (excellent source, by the way), scissors, fabric paints, and copies of Generation T and Generation T: Beyond Fashion (of course) and styled a whole new wardrobe.
They each made a version of Outer Lace (project #16 from Generation T). And, they even choreographed dance moves to stretch out the T-shirt hems into cords!
Fashionably, they used their scrap pieces as headbands, bracelets, and other accessories.
They swapped T-shirt cords so they could each have contrasting color laces down the sides.
And when the birthday girl has an ear-to-ear grin to rival Cookie Monster’s, you know it’s a success!
Want to throw your own Tee Party? Here’s how.
[ 3 Comments | Posted on February 3rd, 2011 ]
T-shirt Folding Robot
You can learn to fold a T-shirt swiftly and neatly, origami-style, in just a few easy moves. Or, speaking of robots, you can get your LEGO mindstorms bot to do it for you! How cool is that?
[ 2 Comments | Posted on January 20th, 2011 ]
