Create and Give: A T-shirt DIY and Giveaway by Meg from Art Feeds!

My beautiful friend Meg of Art Feeds is sharing a fun t-shirt DIY today. If you have been following my blog for a minute you may have seen me mention a cool campaign that they were doing back in January for her Birthday, in an earlier blog post. I am super pumped to be collaborating with her on this fun DIY and giveaway!

Howdy! I’m meg and I’m honored to have Amber (who I know as amberZon) as a friend as well as a DIY and simple living inspiration. I also crush on her golden retriever Instagrams daily. Amber and I met in Joplin, MO, where I still reside.  In Joplin I operate a not-for profit, Art Feeds. I’m blessed to be a piece of a hustling and bustling organization that reaches over 2,600 children weekly by offering free therapeutic art and creative education in schools. Watch more about our daily painty chaos here .

Creativity is a part of my daily life, in my job with little hooligans and in my day to day function, all in all, it’s sort of like breathing. In fact, I intentionally create one thing daily. 

At the start of the new year, I posted one item I created per day and gave it away over at my Instagram account @artfeedsmeg in what I called a #createandgive . Although I’m still creating, the demands of our lovely organization and thousands of little artists have put me on a hiatus so I don’t do giveaways as often. But when Amberzon approached me about this blog and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to brush the dust off of the old #createandgive. This is an item I quickly created in an afternoon DIY session for a GIVEAWAY on the blog today.

I never did like just a plain old t-shirt. As a teenager I always found myself cutting, ripping and knotting shirts back into halter tops, shoulder baring tees or tank tops. I was giving plain old tees new life that I deemed better. When I was 16 I learned how to sew, which changed everything for me. I’d find myself  in Urban Outfitters looking at things I couldn’t afford thinking, “I could make this….”, sew I did (see what I did there). But pre-sewing days I’d fashion my attire to local concerts and Summer festivals out of a cut up and re-styled band shirt. Complete with crimpy hair and too much eye makeup. Man, was I punk rock… (insert Reinventing Axle Rose album here)

Today I’ve gone back to my roots. All I needed for this project was a large sized tee, scissors and a sharpie. I used a classic Beatles tee from Target as I couldn’t find anything for my taste at the local thrift shop, but you could make this with any shirt of your choosing.

Here are my materials:

I simply put on the shirt, grabbed a sharpie and found a mirror.

With the sharpie I marked where I wanted all my cuts. I craved a wide boat neck (show that clavicle!) so I added dots near my collar bone. 

I also wanted a deep dramatic backless shirt so I dotted a spot on my back where I wanted the deep swoop (I kept thinking of Warped tour and the hellacious temperatures one has to endure). 

Then I took scissors and cut the two markings, easy peasy. This could be simply done with scissors and a sharpie, but just for good measure I ran the sewing machine around my new seams and tailored the sleeves for a more fitted look.  

Then TA-DA! Ready for Summer, concerts, farmers markets and sunshine in less than 30 minutes.

This is a giveaway! You can enter to win this shirt one of three ways 1.) Leave a comment below  2.) Follow me on Instagram @artfeedsmeg and comment on this shirt photo in my feed 3.) DOUBLE Entry by doing either of the above and following Art Feeds Instagram account at @artfeeds

Thanks for joining me! While you’re hear you should give this girl a virtual slap on the fanny and congratulate her on her recent engagement! I think we are all in agreement it will be the most beautiful wedding ever, with an even more beautiful marriage.

*Photo credit to the mega talented Kevin Deems of Kevin Deems Photography

Super cool party people bid you a super cool adieu

Xo

meg

Our Engagement Story

As promised in a former post, I'm sharing our engagement story. We have had a quite a few people ask us to tell the story of the proposal so I thought I would just share it here. 

Dylan and I have wanted to get married for a while now but we both wanted the parents blessing over the whole deal so I already knew next time Dylan saw my dad that I  would know what would follow. I was a little bummed because that would take away from the mystery and surprise of proposal, I love surprises, but nonetheless excited to be with Dylan in the end.

I flew out to Missouri to be a part of my best friend Josh's wedding. Dylan needed to stay in town for a fundraiser our church was doing.  The thought had briefly crossed my mind that he could surprise me out there but then they announced that he was doing a live painting during the fundraiser, so I knew he wouldn't be showing up. My mom had invited all the siblings and significant others over for a birthday dinner for me on Sunday while I was in town. She had been acting funny all day but I didn't think too much of it.

My parent had come back from the grocery store and started on dinner. I had come in to see if there was anything I could help with and to talk with my grandma, who was visiting for a little bit. My dad had rushed in  with the trash gathered from around the house and tied it off real quick like he was in  a hurry. He then handed it to me and asked me to take it out. I remember thinking that this was odd because my dad always takes the trash out, but I  wasn't doing anything so I said sure.

As soon as I shut the door to go through the garage to head to the back yard my parents started rushing my sibling and grandma out of the kitchen and living room to the back sun room yelling "Go! Go! Go!"
I didn't hear this.

I opened the back door and turned to the left to head to the trash can and I hear a voice behind me say my name. I jumped. I spun around and Dylan is sitting on a little bench my parents have nestled in between some bushes and trees in our side yard. I told someone later that I was more shocked at the sight of Dylan in my parents back yard than I was of any stranger in an alley way in Pittsburgh. My only words were, "What are you doing here?" repeated several times in different tones as the realization that he was actually in front of me was settling in. He laughed and said a few things as he got up to walk over to me, and told me he flew into Kansas City that morning and rented a car and drove down. He was hugging me and said, in a really slow and shaky voice, "Amber I love you so much." I pushed him away from me and said, "Wait! Is this happening right now?!" Haha.
He  backed away got down on one knee and proposed.
I quickly asked if he asked my parents. He reassured me he had and I said yes!

We were hugging each other and he said "you know your family is watching us right?" haha I turned around and I saw a bunch of hands waving in the windows and my dad raised the window and asked if I said yes. My sister was videoing the whole thing, I'm kinda glad she did.

Dylan had talked with my dad a few weeks before and let him know there was a surprise for me that he was working on and my parents had a hint of what was to come. When he got into town he met my parents in a grocery store parking lot. They barely said hello and Dylan barked out "I want to marry your daughter!" haha My parents laughed and talked to him a bit and when my dad asked him if he loved me he choked up.
Hearing this story was the only time I teared up during the whole proposal time. It was so sweet!

The picture below is how Dylan imagined it would happen, with me walking over to him on the bench and being surprised and maybe crying.

Instead it turned out with me in shock by a trash can with trash at my feet. hahaha whatever. It makes for a better story right? 

My friend Melisa was watching Em, she sent me this picture the next day when we were on our way to the airport. So sweet. And for the record, Yes, she will be in the wedding. Scoff all you want haters, it's going to  great!

So that's it folks! Dylan and I are officially in wedding planning mode and if you follow me on pinterest then you may be a little annoyed with me right now and all my pinning of ideas. We have discussed some ideas and DIYs to share on the blog that is wedding or just party related but we'll let that evolve later.

-Zon

Life Update

I don't know about the rest of the world but I feel as if I have never seen so many flowers blooming in the spring as I have this year. It's beautiful! Especially since the weather has finally evened out. So pretty!
Life has been a little crazy lately, hence why my absence on my blog. 

I am almost positive this was the most beautiful tree in Pittsburgh this year.

Found this sweet skull on a street trashcan. I can now say I have a collection. I have two!

Emma is just being Emma and being cute and stuff.  She is finally accepting her dog bed. 

I flew home to be in my best friend's wedding. I was a co-best man or maybe just best woman. Such a fun wedding! I think Joshy and Bethany are just great together. All the fun photography was by Mark.

It was great to hang out with friends and catch up. House shows and bonfires are the best ways to spend  time with friends in my personal opinion or just bonfires will do.

Loving on little kiddos and experiencing what it is like to hold a baby koala. haha What a snuggler.

Oh and Dylan flew out to Missouri and showed up in my parents backyard with a ring.

I said yes!

Full story to come soon. I promise.

-Zon

Rad Friends Doing Rad Things: Seth LeDonne

This next friend that I'm sharing with you is hilarious! This post is also a fun way to raise awareness of his art and a fundraiser he is doing for a trip this summer. I am happy he is allowing me to share his artwork with you and the awesome exhibitions he has been a part of. 

Seth LeDonne

Multi-Media, 2-D, performance, presentations, film, writing, etc

Southwestern PA

I started playing with legos. Making films in high school. Going to a University’s Art Program that was pretty decent. Slummin it.

I draw inspirtation from youth culture, yesteryear, nostalgia, centimentality, the holy spirit, community, houses, friends, words, appropriated and reinterpreted ideas.

 Honestly some of the most influential people creatively for me have been Ed Templeton, Jim Houser, Harvey Pekar, David Shrigley, David Berman, I mean those are all so apparent though. My dude Ron Copeland has mad work ethic. My little brother has always been sick at art and music, in a natural-talent-apathetic way. 

I'm usually in a basement studio, sometimes in a café trying to develop a more sustainable practice. I am growing weary of a 5 month mess enveloping a 1 month exhibition. Needing to be more organized. 

I definitely feel my art serves a purpose. I generally am trying to be positive. To be a beacon of joy is a goal. Community has always been a big part of creativity for me. I like the idea of educating. I think we are all teachers and have practical skills.

Biggest obstacle creatively will forever be time management.

I want to see more expression and less process in the future. I have always favored quantity and want to continue producing more but in more accessible way to wider audiences.

I would probably advise everyone to take risks. Reduce the overhead of your living expenses. Devote time to art and to other artists and people in general. Be honest in life and in your work. Take good care of yourself and start eating right.

I am currently working on a limited edition three color screen print to fund my trip to Chiapas Mexico.  Gotta get my cake up. Oddly enough I have been writing descriptions of courses that I feel my friends could teach. Writing a little bit of prose type stuff I guess. My whole life is a project  so I am really trying just to get organized and become more mobile and less tied down so I have more time to create this summer. Gotta get the magic while it’s there.

Seth is doing a special fundraiser campaign to help with his trip to Chiapas, Mexico this summer with our church. The above print is what he is selling through his indiegogo and I think it is absolutely awesome!
He explains it a little more in the video below. I was recently watching his fundraising video and dying laughing. He's just a funny guy and super nice.

Please consider helping him out by going here to support his art and his desire to serve this summer in Chiapas.

To view more of Seth's work you can visit his website.

-Zon

Mason Jar Planter DIY featuring Christen of Two Happy Hearts and Kylie from Midnight and Dawn

Mason Jars, DIYs, cute twin bloggers... What could be better?! I am really pleased to share this DIY today by two super sweet friends that I really love watching and seeing what's going on in their lives via blogs and social media. You can't help but like all the cute things that they share. Their blogs are full of pretty inspiration and cuteness.

They collaborated together to share this fun DIY on amberZonbie today and I am tickled to share it with you.

MASON JAR PLANTER DIY

Supplies Needed:

3 Wide Mouth Mason Jars (Quart Size)

4'x5.5" piece of wood (We used pine)

Drill

3 Screws - 5/8"

3 Potted Herbs (We used Rosemary, Parsley, and Leeks)

Extra potting soil

Pipe Clamps

Rocks for draining

Step 1 - Drill a pilot hole through the pipe clamp and wood. The screws will not go through the clamp without this pilot hole.

Step 2 - Screw the pipe clamps into place.

Step 3 - Place the mason jars in the clamps and tighten. This will give you an idea of what size your pipe clamps need to be. It will make things easier when the time comes to put the planted jars in! Then loosen just slightly, in order to take the jars out.

Step 4 - First plant the rocks, then the extra potting soil, and finally the herbs.

Step 5 - Place the planted jars in pipe clamps and tighten!

Extra tip - Our Dad suggested putting in a safety peg to help support the weight of the plants. He drilled a hole in the wood, directly underneath the jar, and hammered a wooden peg in place.

How to hang - There are a few different ways to hang this planter, but we chose a rope and wall hook. Make sure your hook is strong enough to support about 50lbs., to be on the safe side. We drilled two holes at the top, fed the rope through (back to front), tied a knot in the rope ends, and cut off the excess. It was a simple approach, and we really like how it turned out!

Enjoy your new indoor herb garden! Just make sure your herbs get sunlight and water ;)

To see more cute blog posts by these two cuties you can visit:

Christen at Two Happy Hearts

&

Kylie at Midnight & Dawn

and their cute shop as well!

Thanks so much ladies!

-Zon