DESIGN YOUR OWN TEES by Jennifer Cooke: Book Review and Giveaway!

Last month, while shopping the Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco, I met the nicest artist, Jennifer Cooke, owner of raeburn ink. I totally dug her beautiful apparel designs, especially this one with image transferred to the inside of the shirt. While shopping her space, I noticed a book on her table. A sneak copy of her amazing new book, (released only yesterday!) called Design Your Own Tees, Techniques & Inspiration to Stitch, Stamp, Stencil and Silk-Screen Your Very Own T-shirts. I think I spent 15 minutes or more just looking through the pages and was immediately impressed by not only the fantastic uniqueness of the designs in her projects but the simplicity in which each project is explained. Soon after the Renegade, Jennifer sent a book to me, pre-release. Thank you, Jennifer! I’m always so impressed with artists who’s skills and techniques they’ve honed over time to make a living and choose to share them with the rest of us. That’s exactly what Jennifer’s book is all about. There is SO much fun to be learned in her book.

Design Your Own Tees details many different methods of embellishing your own apparel. I can’t decide which to try first! Probably the project from the chapter Rough Edges. I’ll leave you with that tease, you’ll have to buy the book to see what I’m talking about!

I adore the multiple pattern overlays on this shirt:I would have never thought to just embellish sleeves! LOVE IT!Jennifer shares several ways you can print designs to your apparel and several ideas for coming up with your own designs, including funky finds like the “junk” pictured here,to make the fabulous print pictured here!She also shares several very cool designs for you to copy straight from her book.I appreciate her attention to clear and easy-to-understand tips and techniques and explanation of tools to perform each project. Jennifer not only shares techniques, but she coaches you through the artistry of creating your own apparel in your own style as well.

Here is my favorite excerpt from her book:
Love your mistakes.
Printing often goes awry. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve discovered that an “accident” is a lot more interesting than what I’d planned. Maybe you can salvage an imperfect print by printing another image on top. And of course, the beauty of a handmade tee lies in its imperfections.

Don’t you love the way she thinks?!

Jennifer has been so wonderful as to not only share her new book with me but she has also offered up TWO books for a JSIM giveaway! To enter the giveaway, simply leave a tee-related comment on this post with an easy link to contact you if your are one of the randomly chosen winners. Entries close at Midnight Sunday, September 5 and I will announce the winners on Monday.