Summer Fun from new designers...

The blog is definitely due for a Summer feature and what better time than now to introduce 3 of our new featured designers? Here's a quick peek at our newest designers and a hot summer design from each...
- Summer: Everybody Loves the Sunshine by birdy27

Birdy27 (aka veggie27) is the master of slogan designs. I promised I would squeeze some in and check it out Veg, it didn't take me long! This summer design (which is available with multiple phrases), when paired with the chocolate ringer totally screams vintage. I think it just might be the 70's again every time I see it! The simplicity of the overall design and beautiful tri-color use evoke fond memories of classic iron-on designs.






- Sundown by lucentdesign

Although it's not a vector, I had to pick this one up - Sundown from lucentdesign. I love Japanese art and this design is a really nice twist on the good ol' "rising sun" motif, plus slap in the wings and you've got one hell of a modernization of traditional Japanese styling.
PS lucent, vector this puppy ASAP. It is such a nice design, I hate to see it ruined with digital printing.




- Bikini Girl by undrcentr23

Grab this Bikini Girl design by undrcentr23 and you can have a hot girl in a bikini ON YOU all day long. HA! But, seriously, this shirt is almost an instant beach classic, just add shorts, flip-flops and some shades and get ready for fun in the sun! To be completely honest, open this one up in the t-shirt designer (under "grabbed designs") and play with the colors - the design looks so neat depending on what color shirt it's on. Though I'm not usually into the orange and blue retro ringer, I absolutely adore it with this design - you can match the design blue color to the shirt, and the orange color shows through as hair - she's a fiesty redhead!!

So go ahead, grab one (or all) of these shirts in the Insan Art Store or make your own!

2x the Twisted Pleasure from Shivtees

If there's one thing I love about the designs from Shivtees, it's got to be the consistent theme of twisted sarcasm (I also dig the fact that ALL the designs maintain a very distinct style that is simple yet hugely professional!).

This first design from Shivtees is called "Gingerbread Cannibalism". The name alone is pretty catching. The design itself is SO simple, but has an extremely funny and hardy message. The gingerbread men make this shirt work for Christmas, but the sarcastic tone makes it a no-brainer for t-shirt loving jokesters to wear year-round.

This next design is "Freedom from Prehistoric Oil". I'm always looking for well-executed, environmentally-conscious designs, so this one stood out. However, I think that this design is perhaps a step above the rest of Shivtees' designs. The style is consistent with the rest of Shiv's designs, but rather than simply a play on words, Shiv takes this one and makes it a sarcastic view on a very real, very timely problem. As a design in the environmental genre, "Freedom from Prehistoric Oil" is SO timely and SO original that it stands out miles ahead of the rest of the "Earth Day" pack.

Catch one of these tees at the Insan Art Store or make your own!

the Squid Shop Re-Launch by Insan Art

This may be old news since I re-launched it a week or so ago, but the The Squid Shop is all new and available at www.thesquidshop.com!!!

There is an all new section for photos of people wearing their shirts and hats (and I haven't received any yet!) - for a limited time, I'm offering a free lightweight mens or womens t-shirt with the Squid Shop graphic of your choice to the first person that sends me a photo of themselves (or someone else) wearing one of my Booty Hunter hats while hanging out the window of a broken down car (like Early in the show intro). See the "show off" section of the site for details.

Also new is the "beyond the hats" section. It contains designs inspired by the show, but not from an Early hat. Designs available include the "Sharif Badge" (sheriff star for those who spell correctly) and the "Git Yer Yankee Ass Off My Property" slogan.

AND, IMPORTANT NEWS!!! - Spreadshirt is finally offering white flex-fit baseball caps starting May 30th so in the beginning of June, look for hats available in the Squid Shop!

Get on over to the all new Squid Shop and get yourself some spankin' new squid gear (or make your own!).

Love My Planet by Gladditudes

Well, it is a little late for Earth Day, but Spreadshirt already took care of recognizing "Love My Planet" by Gladditudes for that (this design was featured in their Earth Day 2008 promotion - congratulations Glad!).

This is a really wonderful design, and amongst the plethora of Earth Day designs out there, this one certainly stands out for a reason. Like most of the designs I feature, this one is simple and original. It states it's purpose without any fancy bells or whistles, and though it is available in 2 and 3 color versions, it works perfectly fine in one color (especially a green design on a green ORGANIC unisex jersey shirt!).

As far as I'm concerned, everyday is Earth Day - so grab one of these shirts today at the Insan Art Store or make your own on one of Spreadshirt's many organic products (or non-organic products if that's what you fancy).

Electrodynamics by Insan Art

Well, last week was a busy one again and even though I had figured out which five shirts I was doing, I didn't meet my deadline!

So, to start this week's five off is "Electrodynamics" from me, Insan Art.

This design was inspired by a book a friend of mine was toting around called "Principles of Electrodynamics". I thought that the cover graphic looked a lot like boobs, so I decided to do a design from it. I mean, what goes better together than geeks and sex humor?

Even if you don't think it looks like boobs, it does make a nice geometric/abstract design...lol. The design is also available with the text "I Love Electrodynamics".

So, check it out! It's available at the Insan Art Store and if you don't see something you like, you can always Make Your Own!

A Gilt Lotus Graphics Double Feature!

To round out the week, what better than a double feature from the amazing collection of Gilt Lotus Graphics? With so many gorgeous designs, I have been tempted for a while to feature more than one...

First, on the tank top is "Phoenix & Flower" (two color version). This design flows beautifully and I love how it isn't really constrained to any certain square or rectangle shape. It is a great design, as you can see, to be printed on the lower section of shirts (especially for the ladies).

Next is "Dragonfly Kamon", one of a series of Japanese Kamon (family crest) inspired designs by Gilt Lotus. I did a little research to find out exactly what a Kamon is, and Gilt's designs are a really nice take on the traditional Japanese styling, with a variety of Japanese icons, like Mount Fuji and Cherry Blossoms.

Grab the shirts in the Insan Art Store or you can always make your own.

If you are really interested in these types of designs, I highly recommend checking out Gilt Lotus Graphics!

More Chopsticks from Insan Art

Since I'm a busy bee this week (OK, always) I'm going to do two bulk posts to get five shirts up!

So - introducing the rest of my Chopsticks series! Now, along with the plain chopsticks (from last week) also available are chopsticks with either the Japanese or Chinese characters for the word "chopsticks" and chopsticks with a cute little shrimp! I had also planned to do one with a sushi roll, but my first attempt didn't look quite right, so maybe I'll give it a go some other time.

For any of you out there who are familiar with Kanji and other Asian writing, please let me know if you think that my characters are really, really wrong!

Also, guys, I didn't forget you! There are lots of men's shirts available in the store - I just really liked these 3 ladies shirts and I decided to go for a triple female feature! So, go get yourself some chopsticks (on a shirt, of course) at the Insan Art Store, or as always, you can make your own using our t-shirt designer!

Tribal Flower by Tat2ts

Rounding out the week is yet another beauty from Vic at Tat2ts, the Tribal Flower.

I really love Vic's digital designs and I was tempted to feature another, but I wanted to dig up something tattoo related from his collection. I'm not really into tattoos (I would never get one myself) but I do enjoy the art and design aspect of tattoos - so, I set out to find a design of Vic's that is tattoo is nature, but with a touch of elegance.

Tribal flower stood out to me as one of those designs. It would make a nice, fresh addition to a summer wardrobe (or any time of the year). I love the way this design pushes the boundaries of your normal shirt graphic and is just begging to be wrapped around the side of the shirt. It works nicely on a tank.

Get the shirt at the Insan Art Store or make your own!

Chopsticks by Insan Art

Just a quick write-up for this one since I've got 3 more versions of it coming ASAP - I'll spend more time on them when they're ready.

Until then, this is my "Chopsticks (plain)" design - the text is completely optional.

Check out the selection of Chopsticks shirts available now in the Insan Art Store, make your own OR wait just a few days a see what other chopstick surprises I have up my sleeve!

Right Hand by Van Tribe

Last week Jay (1/one) of Van Tribe Shirts announced to the t-shirt community that his design, Right Hand, was currently being sold in 725 Spreadshirt shops in the US and Canada! Better make that at least 726 since I just picked it up for this feature.

That is a pretty huge amount! Personally, I have designs being sold in 11 other shops at the moment - I'm getting there...

The Right Hand design is another wonderful example of a simple yet stunning design, without a single bit of flashiness. It fits many contexts or can stand on it's own and it is rather friendly and non-abrasive - I'm sure that's why it's been picked up by so many shops!

Grab the shirt in the Insan Art Store or hit up the t-shirt designer and make your own!

My Name Is (Earl)... by Insan Art

So, again, in the most mundane situations I come up with shirt ideas. I was washing dishes the other night and I thought to myself, "I wonder if my husband set up My Name is Earl to record?" (we have the Direct TV version of Tivo, I highly recommend it).

Anyways, since I had t-shirts fresh on the brain and I've been trying to think of creative uses for the Spreadshirt t-shirt designer (aka the Confomat), I thought of this one. It's the basic My Name is Earl logo, minus the "Earl" part.





You can fill in the blank using the t-shirt designer using any name you like. If you're really itching for My Name is Earl, go for it! (or maybe Joy, Crabman/Darnell or Randy). Or you can always put in your own name. (mine looks pretty sniffy! ---> )

The Spreadshirt font "Kabel" (in the designer) is nearly identical to the font used for the original design, so use that one if you're making your own and going for an authentic look!

Get yourself one right now in the Insan Art Store! (and as always, if you don't like what you see in the store, you can make your own!)

(live) evil by Insan Art

These days it seems like everywhere I look I see something that would make a nice t-shirt design. This design, (live) evil, was inspired by a wooden cut-out I saw at a friends house of the word "Live". Someone had flipped it over so that it really looked like it said "evil".

Translating this to a shirt design was too easy to pass up! It's simple enough, but it makes you want to look twice...

...so those of you out there who are dark and naughty, this is the perfect little design for ya'll.

Indulge your dark side and get yourself a "(live) evil" shirt at the Insan Art Store or Make Your Own!

Burning Bush by Insan Art

I mean to write this design, Burning Bush (by me) up right after Easter, but I was waiting for the other design that kind of goes with it (next post).

I was inspired by the movie, The Ten Commandments - I recently finished reading the Old Testament and I was lucky enough to catch only the parts of the movie that I really wanted to see, like Moses talking to God through the burning bush. I thought it would make a neat design. It was my first attempt at such a "complicated" vector design (or at least submitting a design that's so complicated).

Just a note if you want to make your own in the shirt designer - the default color shown for the bush/tree is black, but it is supposed to be brown. Either can work depending on the shirt color you're using.

Get the shirt at the Insan Art Store or Make Your Own!

Popcorn Tub Death by Shivtees

Shivtees has quite the interesting collection of designs - many along the lines of whales brandishing homemade knives (very hilarious and strange) - but, I was absolutely compelled to post this design, "Popcorn Tub Death" because it is just the kind of sick-and-twisted little design that would catch my eye.

I could go on about this design but I think the artist sums it up pretty well in the description (and gave me quite a chuckle): "He watched in horror as his brother's buttery insides spilled all over the floor."

Wonderfully demented humor, Shiv.

Get the shirt at the Insan Art Store or Make Your Own!

Geek Ascii Art by SpokenVisuals

From the extensive vaults of SpokenVisuals' sweet collection of geek/christian designs is "Geek Ascii Art".

I'm not too sure about what to say about this design because it just rocks so hard! I wanted one the moment I saw it! When I have the cash, it's on my list of new shirts to procure.

If you're a geek and know some other geeks, you should definitely pass this one on to the masses for lots of tech-y enjoyment.

Get it in the Insan Art Store, or make your own! (this is a fun one to play with in the shirt designer - ladies, it looks great with pink on black!)

(on) Rappel by Insan Art

Second in the series of rock climbing related shirt designs is "(on) Rappel", by me, Insan Art.

Like the "climbing love" design, this is also inspired by a photo I took of my husband, again "hanging out", but this time, on rappel.

This design can work on it's own, but the possibilities of added text are endless! (I thought the idea of the kids "just hanging out" shirt was cute!)



Get the design on a variety of products ready-to-buy at the Insan Art Store or visit my shirt designer and make your own!

Climbing Love by Insan Art

Whoohoo! Shirt design number five of the week is my own "Climbing Love",
available exclusively from the Insan Art Store at Spreadshirt!

I'd been working on ideas for rock climbing related designs lately and knowing that the "I love" ("I" with a heart) is an insanely popular design on Spreadshirt, I decided to make a climbing version.

The climber featured in the design is none other than my husband, rendered from a photo I took of him "hanging out" at our local rocks. The design works well alone or text can be added using the Spreadshirt designer for your own personal touch!

Speaking of the Spreadshirt Designer (aka the Confomat), those of you new to this interactive tool might not be familiar with some of the available features. One of the most unique options is the ability to pick your own colors for vector graphics (such as "Climbing Love").

As an example, to the right is the default color scheme for the design. When the graphic is chosen within the confomat, each colored section will have a number. Select the section you want to change, then choose a new color for that section from the color palette at the bottom of the confomat window. Your chosen color will automatically update on the design. This option makes it so easy to customize vector designs to match certain shirt colors and your own personal taste. The green and brown version of this design on the shirt above is an example of the changes you can make!

Check out "Climbing Love" and my other climbing designs in
the Insan Art Store at Spreadshirt today!

Tutankhamun Mask by mjrproductions

It's been an exciting week here at Five Shirts a Week! I'm excited to introduce the first official submission to guest designs (Sitar Hero was a design that I grabbed...)

The design is "Tutankhamun Mask" by mjrproductions. I am so happy to promote mjr's design here - it is a great example of a really clean and well-executed vector design.

You'll notice the variation in colors between the two prints on the shirts above. Both are printed using Spreadshirt's flex/vector printing technology, however, the brown shirt on the left features the non-metallic yellow/gold colored flex, while the blue shirt on the right features metallic gold colored flex.

The metallic colors available through Spreadshirt don't really show up properly in their product previews. Lucky for us, the artist has provided this really nice, actual product close-up!! (right)

Design your own Tut shirt today!

Sitar Hero from downwithdetroit

Hi Everyone! I'm proud to announce that I will now be featuring guest designs from Spreadshirt designers here on Five Shirts a Week!

A month or so ago, I had an interesting conversation with a guitarist friend of mine about sitars. He claimed that he would get rid of his entire, extensive instrument collection, all for a single sitar. A day or two later, I was browsing the Spreadshirt marketplace and came across this "Sitar Hero" design, by downwithdetroit. It's a really great idea for a Guitar Hero spoof and it made me think of the sitar conversation I had a few days earlier.

Design your own shirt with the "Sitar Hero" design today at the Insan Art Store with Spreadshirt Designer! You'll find the design under the right drop down menu in the "designs" tab. When loaded initially, this drop down menu will say "top graphics". Click on that drop down and you'll see the "grabbed designs" option. Choose that and you'll see the Sitar Hero design. Too lazy to design your own shirt? You can always visit the main Insan Art Store, where the shirt is available pre-made in 3 organic styles.

Happy designing!

Early Cuyler Collection is Here!

Well, after 3 weeks on vacation (from the blog, only!), I am back and I am proud to announce the release of the Complete Early Cuyler Collection - aka "the Redneck Squid Collection"!!! The collection contains 42 -and counting- designs inspired by the hats worn by Early on the Adult Swim cartoon, "The Squidbillies".

My husband an I adore the Squidbillies. It is totally weird, fun and unusually fresh and raw. In nearly each episode the patriarchal squid, Early, wears a new, hillarious hat (usually, but not always related to the episode). After watching
season one repeatedly I got to thinking about designing the hats. Finally, when season two started airing I decided to do it.

So there you have it. Each week I plan on adding the new design - I had to append 3 designs while working on the project, but the collection is COMPLETE - even last night's design is done!
I have to apologize to the all hardcore fans out there who were really looking forward to their favorite design on a trucker hat. I will explain why some are not available and why most, if on a hat, are different.

In the Squidbillies world, a squid's hat dimensions are something like the size of a piece of paper, 8.5x11, oriented vertically. In the the REAL world, the print area on a trucker hat turns out to be something like 2x5 - that's 2 inches high by 5 inches wide. Not exactly the same aspect ratio!!!

Phew! Enough explaining & back story. The two designs I'm featuring today are the infamous "Booty Hunter", which appears in the beginning of each episode, and the "Firesquid" which also makes numerous appearances during flashbacks to Early's younger days.

Get the designs ready to go on shirts at the Insan Art Store @ Cafepress - or, since I don't have them available pre-made in my Spreadshirt store yet, you could head over to my all new Spreadshirt Designer Store and design your own shirt* using any of the Early Cuyler collection designs - the ONLY complete collection available, currently with 42 designs!

So, get yourself some redneck squid swag, and stay tuned!! Lots of exciting and new things happening around here this week!

* Note: Some designs are not available on certain shirts and most non-shirt products.