Hypothekids Tees

HypotheKids is a super cool science program for kids located in a co-working lab space in New York City's Harlem. They asked me to make the t-shirt design for their summer camp for the campers and adults. I incorporated some of the elements from the embroidered patches I did for them in the past. Check out the design as well as the in print process and final tee photos below!

Fry Phrase Pennant Flags

I was on a mission to make some new flags that had text of some kind: a small message or phrase that were more monochromatic but with an outdoorsy camping feel, and I wanted to screen print them instead of color blocking solids like I did on the nautical flags.  I really wanted it to be a project like an art project that didn't just feel like making things to make them; like it was grounded in something.  I was trying brainstorm clever phrases to put on the flags but most of the things I came up with felt arbitrary and didn't really work.

That's when I came across Fry Instant Phrases and short sentences.  The words in these phrases come from an Instant Word List developed by Dr. Edward Fry (1925-2010) from a book he wrote in 1980.  According to Fry, the first 300 words in the list represent about 67% of all the words children encounter in their reading.  They are divided into sections of 100 phrases per group.  The first 100 are the easiest, the next 100 are a bit harder, and so on.  These phrases are ones that children commonly come across when learning to read as well as in writing and spelling fluency.

Reading through these phrases, I could see that a lot of them were common place short sentences (So there you are, He called me, Have you seen it?) but when brought together and read in a sequence they created an interesting narrative that was so loose it was really up to the reader to decide what was happening.  This really got me excited about telling a story through something I was making instead of traditional story making: sitting down and typing or writing out a story, so I picked out my favorite ones and made a list:

I read through the first 5 groups (500 phrases).  I really like how it felt when I paired them up with ones that kind of went together or that had some kind of descriptive chemistry creating a tiny narrative.  I typed them out in Illustrator and chose appropriate fonts that went with each one.  Next I arranged them into color circles with small graphic elements.  Below is the original 16 but as I moved forward I boiled it down to 12 since I would be screen printing each one in a different color (kind of a lot of work, you know?)  It's good to edit anyway.

I used creme muslin which I pre-washed making the fabric so super soft!  I precut the fabric to the approximate size of the flag.  Then it was onto the screen printing which took me about 2 days to burn each screen, print, wash out, reburn, etc. Cue upbeat movie montage music!

Finished! (the printing at least)

I printed 3 of each design and will sell them as editions of a limited run so when someone has one flag, there will only be 2 others like it making it a bit special and rare.  Next I sewed them into flags with pointy bottoms using a thin layer of batting as filler so they would have more weight to them.  I sewed in a loop of fabric at the top to fit a dowel through for hanging.

I bought the dowels at an art supply store, sawed them in half and hand sanded the ends.

I tied white paracord on the ends of the dowels for easy hanging.

 The back of each flag is signed and numbered with the edition.  Here's the first edition finished:

Done!  I hung one of each of them on the wall and took a group photo!

Some individual shots:

The flags are great to hang in apartment entry ways, bedrooms, living rooms, or kids rooms (the phrases are for children after all) to add a pop of color and some subtle style to any room.  Is there one that resonates with you?  They will be for sale at the Mokuyobi Threads booth #159 at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn, NY on June 22+23. And after that in the Zipper Teeth Etsy shop while supplies last.

I hope you had as much fun reading the post as I had making them.

Long Things Zip Pouches

I have searched far and wide for the best collection of long things to illustrate, screen print, and sew into a zip pouch.  Total success.  Lined with a 100% nylon coated poly-urethane (aka it's waterproof) Snag one of these limited edition Long Things pouches in four different colors with matching zippers!  Available in the ZipperTeeth Etsy Shop

All the zippers!

Screen printing action...

Picking out zipper colors.

Sewing time!

Detail shot.

All the colors!

All together now!

Yellow

Fancy green-blue gradient

Back view

For all of your pencils, pens, markers, and other long things.

Collect them all!

Crafty NYC Classes Part 1

Recently I have been exploring the world of crafty classes in NYC.  So many that I had to do a 2 part blog post!  I thought I'd give them a bit of a review in case you were looking to step up your crafty skills and take a class.  

Embroidery Basics Stitch Dictionary- Purl Soho

459 Broome St, Manhattan

Two 2 hr. class - $95

Jessica Marquez teaches this super informative class on all kinds of different types of fancy embroidery stitches.  This class is perfect for someone who has never embroidered or someone who just wants to widen their embroidery vocabulary.  It's a very organized 2 week class (one class a week) that teaches you tons of different stitches and gives you time to practice each stitch.  You are required to bring your own materials but they sell everything you need in the store if you come a little before the class.

You start with a template and learn one stitch at a time.  If you have trouble getting any of the stitches, Jessica is super helpful (and patient).  At the end of the 2 weeks you have your very own embroidered dictionary that you can admire and look back at for a stitch refresher.

The different stitches create different shapes and textures that are each useful in their own way depending on what kind of embroidery project you plan on completing next!

Some of the more complicated stitches from week 2.

Embroidery 2.0- 3rd Ward

195 Morgan Ave, Brooklyn

One 4 hr. class - $65 member, $75 non-member

Artist Iviva Olenick teaches this much more free form embroidery class.  I would not recommend this class to a newbie embroiderer since there is hardly any stitch basics covered and lots more stitch experimentation.  This class is very learn as you go.  Iviva planned class depending on what each student was interested in learning.  

We learned some stitches that some students had requested and then the last half of this 4 hour class was free time for working on your own project you brought in.

She had brought a lot of embroidery books to look though for inspiration or to learn about different stitches.  The best part of this class is that all of the materials were provided but if you're working on a specific personal project I recommend you bring your own materials for work in class time.

I got a new macro lens which is AMAZING for close-up embroidery detail shots.

For free time I worked on a super secret embroidery project that I hope to share with you soon!


High Speed Tee Printing- Gowanus Print Lab
54 2nd Ave, Brooklyn
One 3 hr. class - $80

Corey Fleming teaches this screen printing class which is more about learning to use the 4-6 color manuel press than printing at high speeds.  Perfect for a screen printing refresher, definitely not a beginner course. All materials and ink are provided.  We did a 4 color process print on a white t-shirt but he accidentally burned 2 cyan and 2 yellow screens.  Whoops.  We ended up printing one of the cyan screens magenta just for kicks.  It turned out... interestingly.  Aside from the mix up it's a great course to get you ready to come in and prepare & print your own 4-6 color designs.  Bonus: you get to take your printed tee home although you really won't want to.  I would've rather taken a blank tee.

The End!!  Get ready for part 2!

Screen Printed Pencil Case/Travel Pouch/Bike Tool Bag

For Renegade Chicago I have been working on these AWESOME hand screened zippered water proof nylon pencil cases for back to school which conveniently also double as a travel pouch to put all of your travel goodies in as well as a bike tool bag.  They come in a large variety of sizes and colors including a bunch of multicolor color blocked zip bags and ones long enough to fit a 12 inch ruler!!  No two are alike!!  For sale first come first serve at The Renegade Craft Fair Chicago Sept 10 + 11 11am-7pm both days.  Find me at booth #4!!  If there are any left they will of course be for sale on etsy.  Check them out!!!