our fabulous t-shirts, our jaunty dog 'danas, and the fun of making things that make things

I hope you're already acquainted with the terrific t-shirts and dog 'danas in our Shop!  Just wanted to give you a peek into the making of the shirts because it was so much fun.  If you like to make stuff, and you've never been to a screen printing operation, I highly recommend such a field trip, if your local shop doesn't mind.  My local shop, Inner Sense Screen Printing, is an unassuming building in Searsport, Maine, where Tim here (pictured above in a blur of highly professional screen-printing proficiency) has built a thriving shop.  Tim graciously let me hang around for a couple of hours, which was great because watching each perfect print come off the screen was toooootally addictive.  You can't watch just one!  If you have read The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, you'll know what I mean when I say that this little field trip makes a great Artist Date!  Fill the well!  Get inspired!

To me there is something about "making a thing that makes another thing," whether it's a screen or a rubber stamp or a mold for casting, that is so very delicious.  It's different than just making a mark directly with a pencil or brush, isn't it?  Unveiling that "second thing" (the print, the stamped impression, the cast object) is like unwrapping a gift every time!  Like turning a bundt cake out of the pan!  If you think you could get hooked on screen printing, check out the awesome book Print Liberation by Nick Paparone & Jamie Dillon with Luren Jenison at http://store.printliberation.com/blogs/book

OK, so maybe you don't *quite* have the space for a home screen printing operation.  Maybe carving your own rubber stamps is more your speed!  Geninne Zlatkis makes gorgeous stamps (and lots of beautiful things), and is kind enough to demystify the process in her online video tutorial: http://blogdelanine.blogspot.com/search/label/handcarvedstampstutorial  Once I start carving, I tend to go until every rubber block, scrap, and eraser in the house has been used up!  Thank you to my super-fun cousin Meagan for telling me about Geninne!

We interrupt this blog post for a Public Service Announcement from your local screen printer:

(The duct work seems like as good a place as any to post that little word to the wise, right?  Works for me!)  But wit and charm notwithstanding, I'm really glad I checked out my local screen printing shop because 1) for the quantity of items I could afford to buy (like, NOT 1,000!), I got a better deal than I would have gotten online at a place like Vistaprint, CustomInk, or CafePress; and 2) Tim patiently answered all my questions about fabric weight, dye processes, font choices, how to make the most of the printable area on the shirts, etc.  And I knew if there were any problems, Tim would make it right.  Shoot, unless your local screen printer is really exceptional, just call Tim!  (207) 323-2683!

I now conclude with my favorite photo from my field trip to Inner Sense Printing:  Tim's desk.  Dude, we are of the same tribe.