Erin, No Pinchy!

Happy St. Patrick's Day. What are you wearing on March 17? 
How about a P.L. t-shirt with Erin Go Bragh! Or perhaps a No Pinchy hoodie!

Recently, P.L. was studying up on her Irish ancestors when she came across the phrase "Erin go Bragh!" with a vintage illustration of an Irish maiden raising a traditional Irish flag. In the spirit of the coming holiday, P.L. donned a green dress to reenact the event. 
Ireland forever!

There's also an interesting yet obscure tradition that involves pinching the hapless people who forget to wear green on this day. 
Hey, we say they are already missing out on the fun. Why inflict physical pain as well? 
Especially since seeing how fun and cool you look in one of our "No Pinchy" t-shirts will undoubtedly fill them with envy.

The Artist at Work shop has both designs on a variety of apparel and other merchandise, including our newest items, kitchen mug sets and fun undies in different styles for both men and women.

Erin Go Bragh!

No Pinchy

Our shop at WhimsicaliTees has more new stuff, from baby clothes to adult tees, a sports spirit rally towel, and plushy bears.

Erin Go Bragh!

Hey, No Pinchy!

Don't get yourself in a pinch -- literally! 
Hurry over to Artist at Work or WhimsicaliTees for fun and fabulous St. Patrick's Day gear! 

Choices: Edward or Jacob?

It's at least another month before "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" comes to P.L.'s favorite theater. In the meantime, she's been keeping herself occupied reading the Twilight series. There are only four books, and she just finished book three, Eclipse.

The series is strange and moody and supernatural, yet it has a down-to-earth feeling that appeals to P.L. A teenaged girl who loves Romeo and Juliet and Wuthering Heights, Bella Swan is comfortable telling a story -- in first person, in this case. Set in the woodsy little town of Forks, in the north-Pacific state of Washington, her story tells of her life as the new kid in town. Bella is a quiet girl and a bit of a clutz, yet she is a fresh face that appeals to several of the local residents. One of them is Edward.

Without giving away too much of the storyline, we'll just say that Edward and his family are amazing (even at playing baseball!), they lead us (through Bella) to heart-stopping adventures, and Bella would give up anything to spend the rest of eternity with Edward.

Not everything is as it seems, though.
Bella and Edward are separated early in book two, and she becomes dangerously depressed. Of course, we know she'll be fine, because she's the one telling the story. But we feel for her as she describes a kind of madness she experiences and finds one ally to save her -- Jacob.

By book three, we become torn between these two young men. They are natural enemies, supernatural beings doing their best to protect Bella from danger. That includes each other. Both represent some kind of threat to Bella's well-being, family, and way of life, not to mention (possibly) her very soul.
They could both be the bad guys, yet they are both the good guys.

So, if we had to choose one guy for this Everygirl to love and live with forever, would we choose Edward Cullen? He is handsome like a Greek god, cool beyond belief, with a family whose close-knit love extends to Bella. Or would we choose the noble young Jacob Black, whose father is Bella's dad's best friend, and who loves Bella like a brother until he is mature enough to vie for her heart?
(No spoilers, please!)

Yes, based only on this information, P.L. asks you -- which team would you choose? Cool blue Edward, or vibrant red Jacob? The crystal heart or the wolf from the woods? Vampire or werewolf?

Choose a t-shirt that supports your team. One for Team Edward or one for Team Jacob.




But what if you don't want to choose? Just keep rereading this romance with two young men who love the girl enough to give up everything for her... and get yourself a t-shirt commemorating both of them. What a team!

For more gear about your new favorite hometown, Forks, remember to visit Artist at Work.

Organic tees and a refreshing new SIGG

Organic t-shirts? Yes, of course!
We've had those before -- well, we had one. But now there are more. Seven styles for adults and six for infants, toddlers, and youth. They aren't all the familiar french vanilla color, either. As you see, we have added a touch of color to our palette.

Go green, and go in style, with American Apparel and Econscious organic cotton tees from Lorilei's Artist at Work.

Organic tees seen above:

"I Brake for Kangaroos" Organic Women's T-Shirt (dark) in wasabi

"You're Not the Boss of Me" Organic Women's T-Shirt (light)

"I'm a Lil' Wildcat" Organic Kids T-Shirt (dark) in galaxy

"Fun Police" Organic Men's T-Shirt (dark) in pacific

"Don't Mess with the Tiger" Organic Men's T-Shirt (dark) in olive

"Needs to Sort Her Priorities" Organic Women's T-Shirt (dark) in black

"Baby Wants Ice Cream" Organic Toddler T-Shirt (dark) in black

"I Give Bear Hugs" Organic Toddler T-Shirt (light)

"Team Cullen Vampire Baseball" Organic Women's Fitted T-Shirt (dark) in galaxy

"Lil' Darlin" Organic Baby Bodysuit (light)



While you're being environmentally friendly, take a delicious sip from one of our new SIGG one-liter water bottle. Made from a single piece of aluminum, it is lightweight, yet rugged and crack-resistant. To minimize unwanted tastes and scents, the inside is lined with a water-based, non-toxic epoxy resin that exceeds FDA leaching requirements. The handy ring on the top makes it easy to attach to a D-ring, a belt, a backpack.... Great for taking along cold water on the hot days ahead.

Get ready for summer now. Stock up on comfortable, practical, artistic gear from Artist at Work and its sister shops!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

P.L. is getting into the spirit of the holiday by dressing up like a leprechaun -- or somewhat like one, at least. She's wearing a spiffy green t-shirt here, unlike the garb of most old-world leprechauns. You can try to catch her, but you'd better be quick about it!

Emerald green t-shirts are new at the Artist at Work shops. They're available in three styles for adults: a Hanes unisex style, and two more fitted styles from American Apparel.





Our leprechaun P.L. herself makes an appearance on this women's fitted green t-shirt from American Apparel. She's peeking out from behind the words "Catch me if you can!"
This 100% organic cotton shirt is 4.3 oz. of softness.

"The Luck of the Irish" brings its own charm to this t-shirt, with a heart of shamrocks on it. High quality 100% pre-shrunk cotton, 5.6 oz. of casual fit.

The "I'd Sooner Catch the Blarney Stone" t-shirt shown here is printed on the American Apparel men's fitted t-shirt. It's 4.3 oz. in weight, 100% organic cotton. Ahh.



But how long, you may ask, will this fetching green garb be around Artist at Work and its sister shops? Even the wee folks cannot say. Just the same, Lorilei and P.L. are putting other designs on them in hopes that they will stay for quite a while.

But just in case, better go get one of these green tees now --
else you'll be pinching yourself all year!




"Of Course I'm the REAL Easter Bunny" - unisex green t-shirt
"Earth Day" - women's fitted green t-shirt
"Have a Beary Merry Christmas" - men's fitted green t-shirt

Now Accepting Applications for New Daddy

It's a fact: more and more children are being raised in single-parent families.
Most custodial single parents are female.
You can say kids get married too soon, you can say children shouldn't give birth to children... you can say any number of things regarding this single-parent phenomenon, but it will not stop it from being true.

Teenage pregnancy aside, this can still happen to anyone, at any time. It happened to me, after several years of marriage and three children. Now it is happening to my daughter. Although she is a mature young woman, with nearly 10 years in the US Army, and she first met her husband when they were in grade school together, she has recently become the single parent of her own little boy.

My daughter is braver than I am. When my marriage ended, I said I would never love anyone again. She is in no hurry to be romantically involved, but she isn't going to hide in a shell the way I did.
This design is inspired by my daughter and my little grandson, who both deserve to have someone else to love them. -- Maybe not tomorrow, but some day in the future.

Now accepting
applications for
new daddy.
Please send current
resumes to Mommy

Generally speaking, this design shouldn't be taken too seriously!
But, still, you never know when the right person might see this and arrange for you to meet their husband's brother, or whoever.
There are good men in the world, too, you know -- the kind you want your son to be someday.

Did they say the horses are coming...?

Where are the horses?
They aren't here yet, but it's only a month until....
the horses are coming to Kentucky Downs!

Lanie and Bree are waiting for the horses, but they are anything but patient, as you might guess.
In the meantime, they're stylin' in Horses Around t-shirts.
Lanie is wearing the Somebody Went Horsing Around kids tee in white. Bree chose the Feeling My Oats kids tee in red.

While you're waiting for September 15th, you might want to check out the limited edition Kentucky Downs Thoroughbred racing gear at Horses Around. These shirts will be disappearing soon.

If you're passing through south-central Kentucky, drop in and see the horses for yourself. There's nothing like it for excitement!

T-Shirts for Every Body

Aha! They're here! T-shirts for everybody. Well, almost every body. We won't get too grandiose with our promises, but we will keep trying.

P.L. wears adult sizes now, but she is still delighted by the colors we've added to our kids' cotton apparel. Sizes range from 6 months to 4T in the infant/toddler shirts, and S-M-L in youth/kid tees (up to the adult sizes).

There are also new Plus sizes for women in black or white, with the choice of a scoop neck or v-neck. They are available in sizes from 16/18 to 32/34, in comfortable 100% ring-spun cotton. (Oooh, cozy.)

There are murmurings of more styles to arrive soon. Listen... can you hear them?...
Keep watching here, then. We'll let you know when new styles, sizes, and colors arrive.

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A wonderful world of COLOR

They're here! First, into the masses of white tees at Artist at Work came black tees, followed by more dark colors -- and now an even greater variety of colors!



Women's t-shirts come in a fitted (but not snug) style, with round necklines, in the following colors:
white
light pink
light blue
light yellow
black
red
carribean blue
violet

Additionally, there are three women's v-neck tees in white, heather grey, and black.




As always, we carry a unisex shirt with a crew neck, appropriate for the masculine figure as well. Colors include the following:
white
natural
ash grey
light blue
black
cardinal red
navy blue
military green
charcoal grey
red
brown
royal blue

Additionally, there's a new ringer tee in white with red trim.

Now you can find your favorite designs, printed on tees in a rainbow of colors. But it doesn't end there.
Stay tuned for more sizes, more colors, more styles.

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Don't tie me kangaroo down, sport

P.L. doesn't really like everyone to know she has a soft side. She doesn't understand why I feel the need to inform the world, either, but I think someday she'll understand.

One of P.L.'s admitted soft spots is for animals. Not just fluffy kittens and wiggle-nosed bunnies, but animals she's never actually gotten to touch. Koalas, dolphins, penguins, tigers, kangaroos.... ooh, kangaroos. That particular love goes back a long way, even before visits to the zoo, back to the flannel pajamas she used to love to wear as a tot. They came with a kangaroo cap and a pouch/pocket to carry an adorable toy joey.

We recently saw a picture of a road sign that tickled her fancy. It reminded me of our Tank Xing design at AmeriColors. But instead of warning of deer crossing, falling rocks, children crossing, or even tanks crossing, this photo showed a kangaroo crossing sign.
P.L. loved it. She even wants one in her bedroom. I reminded her that it's illegal to swipe road signs, and it's inconvenient to go to Australia to do so. And it won't help the kangaroos, either. She had to concede on that point.

So we decided it was time for a sign. We created our own, along with the words, "I brake for kangaroos."







P.L. now has in requests for even more kangaroo designs. I'm trying it with different colors, but I know that there will be more detailed illustrations of these fascinating marsupials in my near future.

And when it gets to be a little warmer, maybe we'll even go visit some kangaroos and their friends and relations, at Kentucky Down Under.
I haven't been there yet, but I think it'll be a terrific place to draw.

For now, though, maybe P.L. will be happy with this t-shirt.



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Penguins (purple and otherwise)

Penguins -- they are the new Cabbage Patch Kids. I know Tickle-Me Elmo is waxing nostalgic, and Wii is making a grand appearance for Christmas. But these cute little fellas from down south (way down south) grab your heart strings in a special way.

Remember the waiter penguins who danced with Dick Van Dyke's Bert in the movie Mary Poppins? Remember Chilly Willy in Walter Lance's Woody Woodpecker cartoons?

Even if you see these little black and white birds in person, penguins seem cute, perky, and full of fun. At wildlife parks and zoos, you can watch them slide on ice and dive into their cold pools of water. With movies like March of the Penguins and Happy Feet, it seems more people are really getting to know these natives of Antartica.

I'd been meaning to draw some penguins for a long time. You know how I am -- unicorns, owls, pandas, and other adorable animals.
(P.L. rolls her eyes here!)

I put some ice skating penguins online early Thursday morning. They went "live" later. I struggled with tweaking the section a bit that night, and finally rebooted the computer. When I came back into my store area, I found someone had already ordered a white hoodie bearing this speedy skating penguin.

Wow! Someone was just waiting for this little guy to appear. What luck for both of us!

I believe these talented penguins have been especially commissioned by Saint Nick himself to deliver messages and what-not around the Big Toy Shop. Who wouldn't enjoy a work break with a steaming cup of cocoa from one of these cute little guys? After all, I'm afraid the climate wouldn't suit actual gophers there.

I'm dreaming up stories about Santa's penguin assistants at the North Pole. Poor P.L. is groaning and hiding her head under an Artist at Work throw pillow. (Ooh, my penguin pal will look so cute on one of those!)

I'm already ordering one for a friend. I think I need penguin buttons or magnets to give out in lieu of cards at work. It would be fun to have one on a long-sleeved shirt or hoodie. I wish I knew how to make plushy animals....

P.L. says I'm getting a bit carried away, and she will be forced to pretend she doesn't know me. Ha! Wait till she sees the picture of her wearing her latest tee, with a lavender penguin on it. I can't wait.

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