"Is she really going to write another post about a T-shirt?"
No. Well, yes. Sort of. It's really a post about stenciling.
"Is she really going to write another post about stenciling?"
Yep.
Over the past four years of marriage, I've started a little tradition of making my husband t-shirts for Christmas. He being the ultimate lover of t-shirts, and me being the I-like-to-make-things-myselfer, we really had no other choice.
He served a mission for our church in Taiwan, and was given an enormous wood carving of Da-Mo, who was apparently some Buddhist missionary and the founder of Zen and Kung Fu. I can't say his name correctly, so I nick-named him Mao, which is not at all good Zen. Anyway. In the beginning of our marriage, I really loathed poor Mao. So big. So scary and ugly. But over the years I've warmed up to those bug-eyes, and have really begun to enjoy him for the unique piece of art he is. He's cool.
I decided that he was cool enough to rock a t-shirt, and I made him into a stencil.
I'm not including a tutorial on how I made the stencil, because there are ZILLIONS of tutorials about this (here's one), but really, I just scanned it into photoshop (not really--I used paint.net), and adjusted the color until it was black and white, and then erased and added until it was right. That's it. But don't let my quick and dirty tutorial make you think it was a cinch. It took me hours. But it turned out cool.
This shirt, in two short months, has already enjoyed many many washings because A has worn it at LEAST once a week since then. I'm telling you, he's big into t-shirts.
That is so cute! You are so good to your husband!
I totally remember that thing in the Team House.
You're a good sport, I usually try to hide all of Steve's ugly mission stuff.
I have found myself getting Adam a t-shirt for so many holidays. I have felt like it was so lame, but now I feel good about it knowing he and Allan just need a good t-shirt for wearing. I am going to remember this stencil thing. Adam would just fall over dead if I got his bike on a T for him or something.
This Mao fellow is something! And I totally forgot Allan served in Taiwan! He and I need to discuss that on so many levels. Has he figured out how to recreate the noodle soups? I am in dire need of figuring that out.
Anyway, I'm posting today about t-shirts because you've inspired me to be more thoughtful in my t-shirt choices. I don't think I'll ever make my own, but at least I can do better buying something other than the graphic T on sale at Old Navy, you know?
Somehow "Mao" looks happier on this shirt than he does on the shelf. And I know what he's thinking-- "You go, Girl . . ."
so you totally look familiar to me too. did you go to byu-i perhaps? and, your shirts are soooooo cute! love your tutorials! ive been wanting to do some knit projects for a while, but figure i will just wait til i learn how to use my serger. laura john and i all went to byu-i together, and my husband grew up with beccas husband, and we met over xmas, shes like the funnest nicest girl ever.
I hate to mention this... I'm really the humble type who can let someone else receive their honor and fame and glory, satisfied to live a simple peasant life on a simple Provo hillside... but I am going to make this one exception from my piety to point out that it was humbly and respectfully ME that started calling Mao Mao. That is all.
'tis too true.
p.s. remember how photoshop (or paint.net) is the senseless way to make a stencil, and it's a one click process in illustrator with live trace. yeah, rene, I remember that. yeah, pretty depressing how many hours we wasted using photoshop. yeah, it is. no looking back though, huh mim? yeah, rene. no looking back.
i was actually in rexburg in 2001-2005 ish i think. i lived in camden and lajolla, and worked at the retrix. funny hu. i took money at the door. so maybe you went country dancing someties, or we were in the same ward, or had the same friends or something. or probably just should have been friends any way.
julie
i love this idea. guys are the worst to shop for. can't they ever just be happy with a fun magazine or some headbands? no, it's all about flat screen TV's and ipads. geez:) ps: i mentioned your awesomeness today on my blog!