Lauren was lovely enough to attend one of my book tour events in the Seattle area in summer 2009. Last spring she hit up Chapter 4: Kid Rock, in Generation T: Beyond Fashion, for all her baby showering needs that season. Here are the pretty sweet gifts that she stitched up:
Playing Footsie baby booties (project #48).
Baby Back Bib (project #53).
Baby Back Bib (project #53) with appliqué.
Too Cool for Drool burp cloths (project # 50) with colorful zigzag stitching.
[ 3 Comments | Posted on January 18th, 2011 ]
Warm wishes for a cozy Christmas and congratulations to Dia, who will be receiving the Rock the Tote tote bag (project #84 in Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt) pictured here as her Christmas surprise!
I made it using a turquoise blue “Caribbean Polka Cruise with the Stars” T-shirt and a bright yellow “2008 Theatre Camp” T-shirt that I found in a Florida thrift shop earlier this year! After stitching it up, I added two punk pins I made — because even bags need accessories.
How inspiring to hear all of you sound off on everything you’ve been busy making — I especially like to hear that so many of you have been using crafting or baking as a reason to spend more time with family and friends. Because as often as DIY can be a solitary activity, I love to craft with fam and friends, too (when I’m not crafting for them, of course!). I took a cookie baking class recently with my friend (no photos — everything was gobbled up too quickly!), I attended a chocolate truffle-making class with my husband last week — the results of which we’re sharing with his family today, and I’m sitting down with my niece to construct a batch of “Cheeseburger” cookies this afternoon. (I expect the sugar high to last through the New Year!)
So, I still have a few projects I’ll share after all the presents have been unwrapped on this end, but in the meantime, visions of your craftivities dance in my head: lots of T-shirt aprons, felted goodies, knitted dishcloths, ornaments, wreaths made from old Christmas trees, a pair of crime-fighting wrist cuffs with lightning bolts on them, scarves, gloves, cereal box wallets, fused plastic bag crafts, Kindle cozies, sculpted animal figurines, photo ornaments, baby hats, jam, hand lotion, pet toys, soap…and more! Oh, and let’s not forget all the baking, too: muffins, pumpkin gingerbread, macaroons, banana bread, rum cake, chocolate truffles, loads and loads of cookies, oh my!
Happy, happy Christmas, and to all a good year ahead!
[ 5 Comments | Posted on December 25th, 2010 ]
Inspired by the Softie Spiral Headband project I posted in November, reader Rachel made these beautiful ornaments from coiled scrap strips of T-shirts. A colorful Christmas tree and a candy cane to trim the tree or tie onto a gift! Rachel reports that they were super quick and easy to make and that she’s really loving her discovery of green crafting. We’re loving it, too!
Happy holidays — and don’t forget, you have until midnight tonight (EST) to enter the Generation T Holiday Giftaway!
[ Comments Off on From Our Readers: Rachel! | Posted on December 24th, 2010 ]
Whew! It’s been busy over here in the Generation T workshop. We’ve been cutting and pinning and sewing and gluing up a storm in preparation for Christmas morning (projects which we hope to share with you post-Christmas — alas, there are too many gift recipients following the blog that it’d give away the surprise!). We’ve also made a little something for you! But, the thing is, it’s a surprise until Christmas day (you know, like Christmas!). So, your gift will be revealed (unwrapped, if you will) on Christmas and we’ll mail it the following week.
To enter the gift-away, leave a comment (on the blog or on Facebook) sharing a DIY element you incorporated into your celebration of the holiday season. Did you bake cookies? (I did — lots!) Did you make a salt dough menorah? Stitch up some stockings? Make a wine cozy to deliver that bottle of New Year’s Eve champagne in? Did you make tomato sauce from scratch? Inspire us! Limit 5 total entries per person. Entries will be accepted until midnight on Christmas Eve, EST. We’ll announce the gift and and choose the recipient at random on December 25, 2010!
Happy holidays, Megan & Generation T
[ 48 Comments | Posted on December 21st, 2010 ]
Okay, maybe I’m partial to a couple of books in particular (see far right, nudge–nudge), but I think books are just swell to give any time of year. The places they live–libraries, local bookshops, your own shelves–are some of the most magical places to visit, too. I’ve bought books for a number of people on my gift list and likewise, I hope there are some nice page-turners I can unwrap and ring in the New Year with. In a hyper-gadget-y world (oh, yes, I have a few myself), here are 10 reasons I think books make great gifts:
1. A book doesn’t need replacement batteries.
2. A book doesn’t need to be recharged.
3. Books are non-allergenic. (As long as they’re not from your grandpa’s dusty attic!)
4. A book allows you to hold a whole world in your hands.
5. A book is portable entertainment.
6. A book is a great conversation starter.
7. A book lets you travel without leaving your chair. (…or futon or love seat or couch or bed or other comfy-cozy spot!)
8. A book can teach you something you didn’t know before–a new skill, a new story, a new word.
9. Books won’t rot your teeth. (Though some of the totally sweet results might…)
10. A book is a gift you can open again and again…and again….!
And here’s what some other readers and writers have to say…from Dan Brown to Danielle Steel to Sandra Boynton to Valerie Bertinelli to Al Roker to Nick Hornby to Alec Baldwin and beyond–check out some of your favorite authors sharing why they think books make great gifts. What about you? Do you love books? Why?
[ 4 Comments | Posted on December 10th, 2010 ]
A few weeks ago we stumbled upon an awesome post by Vicki, aka the DrunkenAtheist, who recently set off on what she calls an “epic craft adventure” of T-shirt crafting redemption (goal: to restore her confidence after a failed T-shirt hack). Editor’s note: There are no failed hacks, only opportunities for a new, better hack! For her journey, Vicki made the Rock the Tote tote bag (project #84) from Generation T.
In preparation for her big adventure, Vicki armed herself with three T-shirts (two of them pure zombie, for the two sides of the bag, the third a plain gray for the straps), a copy of Generation T, and her trusty sewing machine.
Result: one sweet zombie tote and crafting confidence regained.
Photos courtesy of DrunkenAtheist.com.[ Comments Off on From Our Readers: Vicki! | Posted on December 1st, 2010 ]
The T-shirt was originally named so for its shape. So what happens when the shape of the T-shirt is recast to match a particular letter T? Designers Masashi Kawamura and Itaru Yonenaga experimented with that very notion. Inspired by five classic typefaces — Baskerville, Calson, Cooper, Courier, and the sans serif and oft-celebrated Helvetica — they teamed up to create these five refreshing takes on the standard T-shirt.
Baskerville
Which nouveau T-shirt is your style?
Photos courtesy of masa-ka.com.[ Comments Off on Typeface T-shirts | Posted on November 29th, 2010 ]
Thank you so much to everyone who entered the Facebook fan giveaway! Thank you to all who make things with your hands. Thank you for your patience while I was busy cooking a massive Thanksgiving feast for friends and family (and fixing a website database glitch that prevented me from logging on yesterday!). And thank you for sharing what wonderful things you’re thankful for these past few days:
Patience and understanding, thimbles shaped like watering cans, crafty families, beautiful golden leaves outside, long weekends, things you’ve learned, dance, chocolate, a warm place to sleep, friends…and more!
Congratulations to our two winners Nicole (who is thankful for “my BFF/sister, best-est supporter of all my crazy ideas!”) and Alison (who is “thankful for my sweet baby boy”), who each win a copy of either Generation T or Generation T: Beyond Fashion (winner’s choice!), a pair of Generation T scissors (for all their T-shirt refashioning needs), and one “A T-shirt is a Terrible Thing to Waste” T-shirt.
And, of course, the thing that got this most recent giveaway started — thanks for following us on Facebook! Spread the good T-shirt word among your friends — there’s another party to be had when our ranks swell to 3,000!
From Generation T, we hope you all enjoyed a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving.
[ Comments Off on The Winners! | Posted on November 26th, 2010 ]
Awhile ago I posted some projects from my friend Sonya, who had been making T-shirt projects with the girls at UCLA Family Commons. One young lady, Kate, hasn’t slowed down with the T-shirts. Check out the red and pale blue apron she made from Generation T: Beyond Fashion (“Central Cooking,” project #41) — perfect for cooking up delicious feasts in the kitchen this holiday season!
P.S. Holiday gift idea! Make this apron, wrap it up with a box of cookie mix and a wooden mixing spoon or spatula, and you’ve got a great gift for the aspiring baker — and, no doubt, you’ll reap the hot-out-of-the-oven rewards!
[ Comments Off on From Our Readers: Kate! | Posted on November 22nd, 2010 ]
I broke into a spontaneous dance party when I realized it’s time to celebrate again because this T-shirt army is growing! Less than six months ago, Generation T Facebook fans numbered less than one thousand — now we’ve doubled that! So thank you to all of you who’ve recently joined the ranks — we’re so glad you’re here.
To celebrate this very special milestone (rolling over from 1999 to 2000 “likes” — I mean, it’s practically as big as the millenium change), I’m giving away two special gift packs that include: a Generation T “A T-shirt is a Terrible Thing to Waste” T-shirt (size L), a pair of Generation T scissors, and a signed copy of either Generation T book (winner’s choice).
In the spirit of the season, just leave a comment telling us in 10 words or less (short and sweet!) what you’re thankful for today. Your best friend? Your comfort insoles? Warm soup? Your most recently finished DIY project? We’ll choose two winners at random and make the announcement on Thanksgiving Day.
Me? I’m thankful for all of you and the T-shirts you save (the T-shirts thank you, too). And here’s to spreading the love like!
xo, Megan & Generation T
[ 99 Comments | Posted on November 19th, 2010 ]
Download and print these paper gift tags to print and attach to the projects you make from Generation T and Generation T: Beyond Fashion!
Smart. Fun. Easy-to-use. Make sure you’re well-equipped as you tackle your next craft challenge.
