City of Portland

With very few hours to explore in Portland, I headed out to meet up with my friend Susan Beal, who’s teaching a bead and button jewelry-making class this week at Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) as part of their 1) “Summer of Making” program series. 2) I briefly stopped in at her classroom to to meet some lovely makers and look upon some beautiful samples of projects from Susan’s books (Button It Up and Bead Simple).

3) Beads and 4) buttons…I can’t get enough. This was my fix since I didn’t end up making it to one of my favorite stops, the Button Emporium and Ribbonry, before it closed this evening.

5) Thanks, Susan, for a West Coast Crafty shout-out earlier today!

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6) After lunch, I was off to the bead store to pick up some supplies (it’s not all T-shirts with me!) for some birthday presents I’m working on. Then off to do some local thrift shopping before heading to Powell’s tonight! (I stumbled across founder Michael Powell’s star on the Portland “walk of fame,” below — the “Bookseller to the World.”)

[ Comments Off on City of Portland | Posted on July 20th, 2009 ]

Adventures

Renegade Craft Fair San Francisco

Renegade Craft Fair, left coast style! Though I’ve participated in Renegade Craft fairs in Brooklyn and Chicago in years past, this year I found myself strolling through the aisles of Renegade San Francisco for the first time. 1) A week after the inaugural Los Angeles Renegade Craft Fair, the San Fran event was also indoors (hosted at the Fort Mason Center Festival Pavilion). 2) I loved the DIY spirit behind this friendly chalk owl that welcomed everyone on their way in.

Many of my favorite art, craft, and design champions were out, from the very talented fellows from 3) Campfire (you’ll see some of their T-shirt seconds coming up in some of my projects!)–my sister stocked up on two new T-shirts; to the 4) ever-fabulous My Imaginary Boyfriend (love her prize ribbons!)…

…To to 5) Portland’s Bossa Nova Baby (though I missed seeing Cathy with all the rush, I was quite smitten with her scissors cozies!)–here’s an iron-on patch from her Etsy shop; 6) I bought a belated birthday gift for my niece at Chalkboard Tees (complete with a bag of chalk so she can get creative on her T-shirt–albeit temporary!)…

…To 7) Ed Roth from Stencil 1 (who you might remember has the book that inspired these brownies) at the 8 ) Rock N Roll Crafts booth.

It was great fun, crowded, and a beautiful day outside, too, so I got to brunch with my friend Catherine and later picnic in the park nearby with more friends (hey Karisa, Greg, and Aelo!)

All in all, a great day–a great spread of more than 300 designers from all over, lots of money well-spent on handmade goods, and yes, signing off, that’s 9) farmer Megan with her pitchfork and pail, her prizewinning pig, and also her prizewinning hot dog sister, Ariana.

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[ 3 Comments | Posted on July 19th, 2009 ]

Media

View from the Bay, San Francisco

Yesterday afternoon, I met up with hosts Spencer and Janelle of View From the Bay, for a great segment of refashioned fun–they even had mannequins to dress! We had a lot more time for this segment, so got to show off a bunch of different projects that you’ll find in the book! Click through the link to see the segment, and here are some photos from behind the scenes….

1) While I waited in the lobby, I happened to catch my friend Kathy Cano-Murillo (otherwise known as the Crafty Chica) on one of the silent screens in front of me, sharing a glitter-fabulous project with viewers! 2) Then I had to head to the studio to dress the mannequin they produced to tape the B-rol for the segment.

3) I added the no-sew Tic Tac Boa as an accessory and then the camerman filmed it so we could use the footage later in the segment (with live voice-over commentary).

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4) Peter helped get the mannequin ready with another look (those arms were hard to get on and off!). 5) This show comes with a studio audience. I think it looks a lot more intimidating when all the seats are empty! Bring in the people!

6) Ready on set! (Don’t those T-shirts that they put up for the back set look awesome?)

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7) And we did it! Halter top transformation complete. Thanks, Janelle and Spencer! 8 ) And it wasn’t so scary, even under all those lights with a big studio audience!

[ Comments Off on View from the Bay, San Francisco | Posted on July 18th, 2009 ]

Adventures

City of San Francisco

A whole weekend in San Francisco for interviews, book celebrations, picnics, and craft fairs equals a whole lot of fun. My friend Jay gave me a tour through North Beach which brought us to the 1) landmark City Lights bookstore where readers are invited, “in person and in books, to participate in that ‘great conversation’ between authors of all ages, ancient and modern” (a quote from co-founder, Ferlinghetti). It’s an iconic place among independent bookstores and publishers. When the store first opened, its shelves were stocked exclusively with paperbacks (which was unheard of at the time); in 1957 City Lights was part of a first amendment case argued in court over alleged obscenity Allen Ginsburg’s Howl and Other Poems; and it has always been known as a hub for progressive politics. I liked the paintings and signs over the shelves with announcements such as 2) “We Love Books” and 3) “A Kind of Library Where Books Are Sold.” I bought a copy of Haruki Murakami’s What I Talk about When I Talk about Running.

Dinner in the Pacific Heights neighborhood was a delicious blend of good company and good food. 4) Jennie, Hyun, and Steve show many different ways to use my Generation T scissors (monacles, anyone?). 5) Haley, a freelancer who worked on some of the illustrations for the Generation T product line, and me!

6) Triple A: Ariana, Ari, and Ali 7) Me and Beth (you may recognize her from the first book!).

Renegade Craft Fair tomorrow!

[ 1 Comment | Posted on July 17th, 2009 ]

Media, T-shirt Projects

Take the Plunge halter top on Threadbanger

Another visit from Threadbanger means another tutorial for you all! Here’s Take the Plunge halter top from the new book, Generation T: Beyond Fashion. Enjoy!

[ 10 Comments | Posted on July 17th, 2009 ]

More Fun

Are you in the Ithaca, NY area?

If so, mark your calendars for July 29 — right around the corner! There’s going to be a Tee Party in your ‘hood at the Tompkins County Public Library. Though I won’t be there (I hate to miss a party!)–it looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun! Here’s the post from the Ithaca Journal.

Event allows teens to transform a T-shirt

The Tompkins County Public Library invites teens to try their hand at recycled fashion design with a T-shirt transformation Workshop at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, in the Library’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Inspired by the book, “Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt,” by Megan Nicolay, teens will transform used T-shirts into revamped articles of clothing and/or accessories.

No sewing skills are required and instructions will be provided. Teens should bring at least one T-shirt to transform, but are welcome to bring several. This is a free workshop for ages 11 to 17.

For more information, contact the Youth Services Department at 272-4557 ext. 275 or visit www.tcpl.org/teen.html.

[ 5 Comments | Posted on July 17th, 2009 ]

More Fun

Win a Book at Cutoutandkeep.net!

Well, this is exciting! Some of my favorite DIYers over at Cut Out and Keep are holding a contest, and they’re giving away three copies of my new book as prizes! Check out the details here, and post a project (at cutoutandkeep.net) to enter. And hurry–the contest closes August 15!

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[ 4 Comments | Posted on July 16th, 2009 ]

Media

Treehugger.com

Yay, Treehugger, for a lovely review today! I’ve pasted it below, but read it here, too, for a free, downloadable tutorial for the Pinup Girl halter top!

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by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA

Grab those shears and kick your sewing machines into gear because Megan Nicolay, author of the 2006 bestseller Generation T, is back with more ideas—a staggering 120, to be exact—for repurposing and reinterpreting the humble T-shirt, from ill-fitting promotional freebies to memory-laden concert merch.

Nicolay’s sophomore endeavor, Generation T: Beyond Fashion ($15.95), bleeds new life into the burgeoning wardrobe-refashion movement, which couldn’t have come at a better time for both pocketbook and planet: An estimated 11.9 million tons of textiles were generated in 2007, accounting 4.7 percent of total municipal solid waste, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In contrast, only 2.5 billion pounds of post-consumer textile waste gets recycled, leaving plenty of fabric gold in them thar landfills.

Nicolay one-ups herself in Beyond Fashion, moving from ripped and restitched togs (though you’ll find plenty of those, including maternity tops) to home accessories, pet gear, and the cutest hipster babywear this side of Williamsburg (the animal-eared hooded towel and superhero cape are completely inspired.)

Skillwise, projects run the gamut from easy-peasy no-sew to intermediate, and the illustrated step-by-step directions—along with tutorials on knotting, sewing, braiding, lacing, and embellishing—are a cinch to follow. Don’t believe us? Download the first project, a cinched halter, right now for free.

One thing’s for sure; you’ll never look at a ratty T-shirt the same way again.

[ Comments Off on Treehugger.com | Posted on July 15th, 2009 ]

Media

Cafemom.com

This just in! Cafemom just posted a little something about the Pinup Girl halter top yesterday. That top has been getting a lot of play lately, and I think it’s because it’s so freaking easy. Seriously, it’s a great project for on the go because you can make it in about 30 seconds. No, really, I have!

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How to Transform Your T-Shirt

July 10, 2009 at 7:00 AM by Cafe MicheleZ – Comments (3)

Photo from Generation T

Ah the t-shirt — a perfect example of comfort that never goes out of style. You can dress it up or down and it goes with just about everything as Cafe Suzanne writes in her ode to white tees.

But what if you wanted to mix it up a little bit? Maybe there’s even a stain you need to hide? You can keep the comfort of the tee, but craft it into something more unique.All you need are a pair of scissors! And some tips from Megan Nicolay.

Megan wrote Generation T Beyond Fashion: 120 New Ways to Transform a T-shirt. Um hello! Amazing!

I love to do this with old rock t-shirts and I have just cut and tied and designed as I went. But how cool is it that there is a book to do the thinking for us?! I love the gathering you can do (step 4 below) if you are working with a shirt that is big for you.

transform your t-shirt