More Fun

What a pair! New mom Andra and baby are totally rockin’ it refashioned tee style. Both are sporting DIY stitched applique tops inspired by the “Tattoo You” project (#79)from Generation T: Beyond Fashion–and note, mama even made baby’s basic T-shirt from a larger one she had lying around! I love the punk rock heart with the superhero star–it reminds me of a comic book “POW!” I wish I knew what this little superhero was dreaming about!

The base of Andra’s halter is the “Halt Right There” top, project #45 in Generation T, and baby’s drawstring bottoms are inspired by “Antsy Pants” pajama pants (project #57 in Generation T: Beyond Fashion). So comfy cozy…can you imagine a better use for that completely softened and well-worn T-shirt in the back of your closet?

Let’s not overlook that striped hat, which baby wore home from the hospital (inspired by “Top Knot” baby hat, #46 in GT:BF)–it was made from a larger shirt mama scored at a clothing swap from her friend Rebecca. That’s one crafty mama! (And one lucky kid!)

If the delighted blur of a little girl in the photo looks familiar, it’s because you may have seen her around in the recent Thanksgiving post! She’s my niece, and she’s wearing The Little Empress dress (project #58 in Generation T: Beyond Fashion) made from a single adult T-shirt by my dear sister-in-law, who loyally reads the blog, and battled bravely through both her claims of lost sewing skills (not so!) and the flu (note the well-placed box of tissues on the workspace floor below) to make this cute jumper. This particular little empress was so enthusiastic about this newest addition to her wardrobe that she wanted to wear it to bed!

The dress design was featured this summer in Chicago Parent magazine–it’s a great project to make on the cheap for your daughters, nieces, and granddaughters. And, come to think of it, you could adapt the dress to make a full, empire-bodice halter top for an adult!

Margaret, from Texas, writes that Generation T is one of the most visited books on her shelf! (Aww…we love to hear that!) She has always collected different fabrics like T-shirts, denim (jeans), and corduroy, and even though Generation T is all about the T-shirt, she’s been able to take her old fabrics and use patterns from the book to create new things. Attached is a picture of her and a friend visiting New York City. Margaret, right, is wearing a skirt made of three navy blue T-shirts plus a Chinese batik T-shirt that someone brought from China for her as a gift. The skirt she made became a favorite  in her closet! She says, “I love giving new life to tired things.” We do, too!

Happy Solstice! Today we announce the final winner in the Generation T “Ten Days of Solstice” giveaway (as well as celebrate the shortest day of the year–or rather, celebrate that the days of sunlight only increase from here!).

So what was inside pocket #1 of the Final Countdown Pocket Calendar?  The winner is Kayleigh–whose favorite Generation T project is #108, Tying the Knot, the T-shirt wedding gown which she adapted from the first book for a dance class. Kayleigh’s surprise is the vintage patch and pin embellishing set. And the bonus surprise is a signed, brand new copy of Generation T: Beyond Fashion.  Congratulations to all the winners in our countdown (Amy, Elaura, Juliet, Elizabeth, Deborah, Claire, Julia, Lauren, Barbara, and Kayleigh) and thanks to all who entered! Let’s do this again, soon, okay?

In the meantime, make the most of these daylight hours!

Well, now, I’m getting positively giddy now with anticipation. Only one surprise left in the Generation T countdown calendar. But before we get to that, let’s see what was inside pocket #2…  Barbara’s Generation T surprise is the transform it kit with tools, sketchbook, and project bag. Congratulations!

And thanks for all your “My Tunes” entries. Y’all are a diverse crafty bunch, who have recently crafted to the likes of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (The Beatles), “Time Flies” (Lykke Li), “Fireflies” (Owl City), “Poker Face” (Lady Gaga), “Present/Infant” (Ani DiFranco), “Achrayut” (sp?) (Yoni Bloch), “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” (various artists), and more! Me, I was most recently crafting to “The Heart of Saturday Night” (Tom Waits).

To be in the running to win tomorrow’s big surprise* in pocket #1, email me (megan @ generation-t.com) by midnight tonight (EST) with the subject line “T-shirt Love” and the name of your favorite Generation T project. Please, please, please don’t forget to include your mailing address so I can send you the prize if you win!

As it’s been for the last 9 days, when the clock strikes midnight (EST), entries are closed for the day. I will randomly select a winner and announce that winner tomorrow morning.

*Note: If you’ve been following all week, you know which of the 10 original items is left to win, but to keep things exciting, I will be adding a second prize item (yay!) to this final special countdown-to-solstice holiday surprise.

This “10 Days of Solstice” countdown means it’s sure been getting pretty dark around here! Luckily, to brighten everyone’s mood, we’ve been giving away Generation T surprises daily! So, what was inside pocket #3? Today’s winner, Lauren,  will be getting a set of canvas camouflage iron-on letters. Time to personalize!

To be in the running to win tomorrow’s surprise in pocket #2, email me (at megan @ generation-t.com) by midnight tonight (EST) with the subject line “My Tunes” and the name of the song you most recently crafted to. Please don’t forget to include your mailing address so I can send you the prize if you win!

When the clock strikes midnight, entries are closed for the day. I will randomly select a winner and announce that winner tomorrow morning.

Don’t forget, YOU CAN ENTER EVERY DAY! So if you have your eye on a prize that hasn’t been claimed, you can enter again tomorrow!

I’m a huge advocate for giving handmade gifts, but there’s always the time issue–so many gifts to give, so little time to make them! So if you’re not sure you’ll have time to make that perfect something, might I suggest this as the perfect gift for a friend: a DIY T-shirt starter kit. You can easily assemble the pieces in no time with an old T-shirt playing the role of both wrapping paper and gift component. Here’s how:

1. Start with a clean old T-shirt (perhaps one that reminds you of a shared fun time with the recipient!), and lay it face down on your work surface. Place a copy of Generation T or Generation T: Beyond Fashion (or, dare I say, both!), centered, about 6″ to 8″ (depending on the size of the T-shirt) up from the bottom.

2. Wrap the book(s) carefully in the T-shirt, by first folding the bottom of shirt up over the bottom of the book(s).

3. Fold the left side of the T-shirt and T-shirt sleeve over the book(s).

4. Then fold the right side of the T-shirt sleeve over to the left. Accordion-fold the sleeve back if needed so it doesn’t overlap the edge.

5. Fold the wrapped book(s) up against the folded sleeves.

6. Fold the top back of the neckband down over the book package (revealing the T-shirt tag).

7. Flip the package over to reveal the front logo or pattern on the T-shirt.

8. Grab a piece of scrap fabric from an old T-shirt hem to use as gift ribbon. Wind the ribbon around the T-shirt to keep the “gift wrap” in place. (Optional: Use some safety pins if you’d like to make it more secure.) Optional: Get a pair of sharp scissors and tie or slip them under the ribbon.

9. It’s everything your gift recipient needs to dig in right away — what are you waiting for, give it to someone already!

Wow, so many Everests to conquer in the coming year! Here’s just a sampling of what you plan to tackle: learn to tailor, work with any fabric, make a pair of wrap pants from a wall hanging, learn to sew, make creative and unexpected wall art, and many, many more! Believe it or not, I’ve never tried crochet, so that’s my challenge in 2010. But back to the task at hand: What was inside pocket #4 in our “10 Days of Solstice” countdown? We do, in fact, have a winner! Julia, whose goal is to make her own sleeves, wins a Generation T craft tool belt complete with compartments for scissors, seam rippers, and chalk–plus a pin cushion. Sweet!

To be in the running to win tomorrow’s surprise in pocket #3 (we’re getting close!), email me (at megan @ generation-t.com) by midnight tonight (EST) with the subject line “Memories” and a sentence telling me about a favorite T-shirt from your past. Don’t forget to include your mailing address so I can send you the prize if you win!

When the clock strikes midnight, entries are closed for the day. I will randomly draw a winner and announce that winner tomorrow morning.

Don’t forget, YOU CAN ENTER EVERY DAY (even if you’ve won already)! So if you have your eye on a prize that hasn’t been claimed, you can enter again tomorrow!

We’re halfway there! Today’s pocket #5 winner is Claire–her art is inspired by color (“If I see a certain color yarn or fabric, including tees!, I can tell what I want to make with it.”) Well, I sure hope she’s inspired by red, because her Generation T surprise is a packet of red and black collegiate iron-on flock letters and numbers! (These are the numbers I used on the pockets of the Final Countdown calendar!)

To be in the running to win tomorrow’s surprise in pocket #4, email me (at megan @ generation-t.com) by midnight tonight (EST) with the subject line “Everest” and a sentence telling me what craft project or skill you’d like to conquer in the coming year. Don’t forget to include your mailing address so I can send you the prize if you win!

When the clock strikes midnight, entries are closed for the day. I will randomly draw a winner and announce that winner tomorrow morning.

Don’t forget, YOU CAN ENTER EVERY DAY! So if you have your eye on a prize that hasn’t been claimed, you can enter again tomorrow!