Liz Ebanks Teaching Portfolio: Couture Custom T-shirts

DESIGN YOUR CUSTOM T-SHIRT
Written by: Liz Ebanks
National Art Teacher Award Recipient

Exclusive CUSTOM T-SHIRT GALLERY-Click on your guest pass to our Animoto video http://lnkd.in/5r6miX

6-12 yrs. old with a parent; Teens and Adults welcome
Materials Required: Please, bring your light colored 100% Cotton T-shirt
Materials Provided: Latex Gloves and Permanent Fabric Markers supplied.
Tampa, Florida
Max # of spots: 20

You guys are the greatest fans! My dog feels like such a supermodel when he wears his customized t-shirt to holiday parties. You should see him strut down Bayshore and Old Hyde Park. This trend setter is ready for Hollywood. With that swagger the pup must think he's won Best In Show at the National Dog Show. The little stud muffin shakes his tail on the catwalk flirting with everyone in Tampa. As the birthday guy he couldn't be prouder to invite families to celebrate their fun fashion style with us in the design studio! My dog just loves to snuggle over the holidays in his soft handcrafted cotton dog t-shirt. This rocker inspired "Heart on Fire" designer t-shirt expresses his passion for the red carpet as a fashion model. At any gala the rich colors celebrate his outspoken personality. My doggy loves the chic custom tailored fit of fine dog couture made exclusively by his pet parent. He can't wait to shake your paw as an emerging fashion designer.

Can anyone learn how to
HANDPAINT & DESIGN T-SHIRTS
like a pro in my class? Masterfully, my
2nd grade student Naja learned to
control liquid color mixes in this phenomenal
painting on her t-shirt. Never make your
color palette muddy again w/ these techniques..

T-shirts are an American Classic. with a twist for any birthday party, camp, museum, or art gallery. They are affordable, fun, and fast mileage making pieces that capture memories. Discover how you can create patterns, layer colors, and movement when you customize your t-shirt in this first class fashion studio. Children, teens, and parents work along side each other in small classes of 5-20 students to crate works of art. Choose your favorite colors and let your imagination soar. Explore how simple permanent markers can transform your white cotton t-shirt into a wicked shirt with color bleeds and blooms that pop out. Safe non-toxic fabric markers are my favorite bcause, the colors are lightfast. Behind the scenes we will create dramatic tie dye patterns and free hand designs. We will discuss how to create stylish patterns and resists using anti-fusant to make unique batik designs, rubber bands for star bursts, and Traditional Shibori Wrapping.

What drawing techniques do my talented young artists explore in making HANDCRAFTED T-SHIRTS in the studio? Grabbing a fistful of markers participants layered festive colors in a cross hatching pattern in the abstract composition below.

The kids challenged the adults to join in
the fun and draw with their left hands
on the collaborative piece.

Let's take a tour together of what my talented students have created in the workshop. "At Liz Ebanks design headquaters teamwork and laughs are the mission." Everyone has a left hand in participating and trying new things while learning to collaborate on an original t-shirt. One of the exciting things is that this class is cost effective and perfect for schools to practice working in buddy pairs. Effortlessly, parents show they care by tauntly stretching the t-shirt over a piece of cardboard to provide a smooth drawing surface. The difference is kids nominate parents to dare to draw with their left hand with an updated color palette. Families pull together to beat the clock and cover the treasured shirt. Look at the fantastic t-shirt design that came to life when everyone plays with the markers to create these amazing t-shirt designs.

When you spray, pour, and drip the solvent you can achieve different hand painted effects by rotating your wearable design while it is wet on an unwrapped plastic covered broom. Tilting the painting provides a direction for the dye to flow. Decide if you want to let your t-shirt air dry so you can add more to complete the design. Challenge yourself to let your talent free flow as a fashion designer. Before your eyes the fluid design will dry in minutes just like your custom painted sneakers when the humidity is low.

Then discover how to lock in the fabulous color with heat. Rock the runway as a creative with your customized t-shirt.

Showcase your talents by creating a collaborative watercolor underpainting to leave with the gallery. Transform your wardrobe into something phenomenal with us.

"Miss Indepedence"

Stiletto Extreme Makeover Workshops

Book your Custom T-shirt Workshop in Tampa, Florida with Liz Ebanks or request your favorite design be hand painted on a
t-shirt for your pet or for someone special via email: liz@rescueteam.com

If you enjoy this post you may also like my post on CUSTOM DESIGNING SNEAKERS below:
http://lizebanksartgallery.blogspot.com/2011/10/secret-to-reinventing-your-shoes-on.html

TIP #1: Get the most out of class by printing up a free t-shirt template off the internet. Then, select which of your designs will be your favorite to paint during the workshop. Sketch, paint, love.

TIP #2: Sew basting stiches to secure your pleats before class so you can focus on dyeing your T-shirt. This will provide you with a time advantage when creating fabric dye resists.

TIP #3: Research how to alter a standard t-shirt shape with limited sewing.

TIP #4: Use several layers of Elmers glue overnight to completely penetrate the fabric as anti-fusant. Let all of these layers dry completely overnight before dyeing the fabric during the workshop. Add your unique design in class. Then, gently wash your treasured t-shirt design by itself in non-chlorine bleach and cold water at home to remove the water soluble glue.

PET TIP #5: Consider inquiring with your vet if a pet t-shirt would help deter your cat or dog from pulling on your baby's stitches after surgery.

LAUNDRY TIP: Safeguard the allure of your destinctive handcrafed t-shirt by washing it only with like colors in cool water using non-chlorine bleach. We will discuss how to heat set the design during the class.