News
Designing cool shirts is harder than you think.
Yeesh. What a week, folks.
This is normally where you might see our latest and greatest design, but the sad fact is that I ran out of time to get another new one done this week. Well, no — that's not entirely true.
I actually did have a really nice design completed and ready to go, but upon sending it to Meredith to add to the site, we realized it wasn't optimally designed for printing on a t-shirt.
You see, there's actually a lot of thought and planning that goes into our designs. Creating art for an article of clothing isn't the same as drawing or designing something for a rectangular sheet of paper. It has to be visually interesting to look at up close, but also eye-catching and compelling enough that it jumps out at the viewer, whether they're scrolling through an email, their social media feed, or see it across a crowded room. It has to work with the color of the shirt so it doesn't clash, and it has to take up enough real estate on the fabric that it makes sense and isn't comically large or so small that you need a magnifying glass to make out what it is. So you see, there are a lot of moving parts to keep in mind.
This doesn't mean we completely scrapped the concept; I'll be back at work on it today, and now that we know what needs to be tweaked we should be able to really hit it out of the park and have it up on the site this afternoon! We're no quitters, but we're also not about to put something out we wouldn't want to wear ourselves.
While you wait with bated breath, listen to this week's podcast episode!
We share THREE new customer reviews, as well as a few of our recent Question of the Day posts and corresponding user comments from Facebook and Instagram. We also talk a bit about upcoming episodes featuring interviews with other creative business owners and the rest of the Boredwalk team (among other things.) Enjoy!
And in case you missed it, we're co-hosting the Fun In The Sun giveaway right now with some other cool brands, with a prize pack valued over $650! If you haven't entered yet, click here to do so — it's easy!
We'll be back next week with more new designs, another new podcast episode, and possibly even a new team member (or two!) Until then...
Peace, love, and tacos,
Matt
Boredwalk Community: Beware Litterbugs
Welcome to our weekly Boredwalk Community series, where we ask Boredwalk fans fun questions! This week we're talking to David J. of Mounds View MN, who's looking sharp in a Take Me With You UFO Shirt.
1. What's your actual day job and what's your dream day job?
I currently have no job actually, but was doing various kinds of fabrication with steel and aluminum for the past few years. Now I'm staying home with my two boys and starting college full-time this semester for Machine Tool Technology. My dream job, though, is building themed furniture (Ocean, Rainforest, etc.) and donating a portion of the profit from those sales to conservancy projects. (Ed. note: that's awesome!)
2. What's your biggest pet peeve?
Easy; littering. Don't do it. There are plenty of corporations that do just fine wrecking our planet for us, you don't need to add to it. (Couldn't agree more!)
3. What's a life pro tip the Boredwalk community should know about?
We as a race are all family. Every person you meet carries the same kinds of trauma as everyone else; the only difference is the situation encountered that caused it. That in itself is enough reason to show love and compassion towards anyone you meet. Reality is crazy enough as is; be someone's respite from the madness.
4. What experience would you most like to cross off your bucket list?
To sail on an expedition that's part of an ocean cleanup effort. It's just something I've always felt strongly about.
Outdoorsy? Not us!
Meredith and I also made time to record a new podcast episode for your listening pleasure! This week we shared THREE customer reviews and read a TON of fan-submitted comments to our Question of the Day posts on Facebook & Instagram, dished on the details of our current Fun In The Sun Giveaway (which you and your friends should totally enter to win — just click here to do so), and lamented the dubious grammar skills of PhDs on trash TV gem Married At First Sight.
Things you won't hear on the podcast, but are free to imagine:
• Oliver the cat yakking on the dining room table mere inches from the very laptop I'm typing on.
• The very same Oliver the cat dousing Meredith's phone with a liberal coating of kitty snot. Thank goodness for the magic of editing, am I right? Enjoy!
You CAN despair with us. Probably. If you're cool.
Boredwalk Community: Keeping it Levelheaded
Welcome to our weekly Boredwalk Community series, where we ask Boredwalk fans fun questions! This week we're talking to Allison S. of McKean PA, who's looking sharp in a Women's My Unyielding Melancholy Brings All The Existentialists To The Yard Vneck T-Shirt
1.What's your actual day job and what's your dream day job?
Currently I have two retail jobs because my vocation (working with horses) doesn't pay the rent at the moment. My dream job would be teaching people to ride for half the week and writing low fantasy the other half. (Ed. note: Huzzah for low fantasy!)
2. What's a book you think the Boredwalk community should read?
I am not good with picking one of anything, especially books! Have three!
• Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn
• John Bellairs, The Face In The Frost
• Saki, Beasts And Super-Beasts
3. What's the most useful piece of advice you've ever received?
From my Dad: "You can never be sure in a crisis that anyone will be levelheaded, so it has to be you. You can break down when it's over, but while it's going on you have to keep your head, because it's possible no one else will."
4. If you could have any super power what would it be and why?
Having the metaphysical equivalent of a natural 20 rolled on everything in my life that involves luck.
5. Clear up a misconception (about your job, where you are from, some other topic you know a lot about.)
If you're watching someone ride a horse in the movies and their elbows are flapping up and down, they can't actually ride. Likewise, if they stop the horse and the horse throws its head up, they also can't ride (and the horse isn't happy.) Posture looks like they're sitting in an armchair? Can't ride. Never watch a horse movie with actual horse people, we will ruin it for you :) (Duly noted!)
6. Where can the rest of the Boredwalk community find you?
On Instagram @duamuteffe
We're not team players.
Boredwalk Community: Wearing Fiberglass Underwear
Welcome to our weekly Boredwalk Community series, where we ask Boredwalk fans fun questions! This week we're talking to Rene G. of Austin TX, who's looking sharp in a Hell is Other People shirt.
1.What's your actual day job and what's your dream day job?
My day job is being a data analyst; my dream job is illustrator.
2. If you could have any super power what would it be and why?
Who said I don’t already have it? (Ed. note: Rene told me he didn't want to be too wordy. Clearly he's just being coy to create a sense of mystery...)
3. You can curse your nemesis with a minor annoyance for eternity; what do you choose?
Wearing fiberglass underwear. (That's hardly minor, Rene — that's borderline sadistic.)
4. What experience do you most want to cross off your bucket list?
Prolonged happiness. (Hahahahahahaha! So...are you going to tell Rene that's a myth, or should I?)
5. If you drink: what's your go-to drink? If you don't drink: what's your go to dessert or snack?
Earl Grey iced tea. (Make it so!)
6. Clear up a misconception (about your job, where you are from, some other topic you know a lot about.)
Spreadsheets are sexy. (Uhhh...sure...)
6. Where can the rest of the Boredwalk community find you?
On Instagram @arisde_art
Pass the water — these trolls are making us salty!
Happy Friday, gang!
As you can see above and below, I was successful in achieving my goal of completing two new designs this week. Huzzah! It's nice to be able to go into the weekend feeling a sense of accomplishment, y'know?
That said, it wasn't all sunshine & daffodils in Boredwalkland this week. The good news is that it can only get better from here. Right? RIGHT?!?
(Good grief, I sure hope so.)
Fair warning: we use some pretty salty language in this week's podcast episode, so use your best judgment in terms of headphone usage. We also get a bit political in the first half of the episode, so if that sort of thing turns you off, feel free to skip this one; we won't be offended! Here are the broad strokes:
• A glowing, effusive customer review
• A humorous and brief hot take recap of Night One of the Democratic primary debates
• Railing about some distressing current events
• An epic takedown of a narcissistic social media troll
• Fan shoutouts galore for Question of the Day submissions
We'll have more new designs next week. We'll also have a guest on the podcast, so if you're sick of listening to Meredith and I drunkenly complain about anything and everything you're in luck!
Oh, and if you're in a shopping mood — such as for this sweet new cactus botanical chart shirt — don't forget to save 15% on orders of $75 or more when you use the code LOVE15 at checkout!
I hope you have a great weekend full of sunshine, kitten purrs, and puppy kisses. Or whatever it is that, y'know, "sparks joy" for you! Some people are allergic to those things. Until next time...
Peace, love, and tacos,
Matt
Boredwalk Community: In Defense of Halloween
We regret nothing (except for some questionable fashion choices in the 80s and 90s.)
Boredwalk Community: Putting in the Work Up Front
Welcome to our weekly Boredwalk Community series, where we ask Boredwalk fans fun questions! This week we're talking to J.D. H. of Palm Springs CA, who's looking sharp in a Be the Strange You Wish to See in the World T-Shirt.
1. What's your biggest pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve is when people use the nominative case in a compound object. It's wrong, even if all the cool kids are doing it.
SAY "to Jane and me" NOT "to Jane and I." (You'd never say "to I." Right?)
SAY "to Tom and him" NOT "to Tom and he." (You'd never say "to he." Right?)
SAY "between you and me" NOT "between you and I." (Okay, "between I" would never happen, but by now I hope you get my drift.)
A compound object does NOT prompt a shift to the nominative case, people. There, I've said it. I feel better now. (Ed. note: In case you hadn't guessed, J.D. is a professional writer. More on that below!)
2. What experience do you most want to cross off your bucket list?
I'm the last twig on this branch of the family tree. I've been doing some research and have become a bit obsessed with the idea of visiting the places from where my ancestors emigrated — mostly Ireland (where I've never been) and, much to my surprise, Switzerland (where I've waited in an airport.) I think it's something about being the end of the tale that's making me want to revisit the beginning. I'm hoping to do this in 2020. (Good luck! I have also had the...pleasure?...of overpaying for food in the Zurich airport.)
3. What's a book you think the Boredwalk community should read?
I have the perfect book for the Boredwalk community — The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgalkov. (Get Mirra Ginsburg's translation.) Hilarious, terrifying, heartwarming, blasphemous — basically a Boredwalk t-shirt in book form. (Sold!)
4. Clear up a misconception (about your job, where you are from, some other topic you know a lot about.)
Unless you're a celebrity of some sort, you can't really sell an idea for a novel to an agent or publisher. You have to write the book first — prove you can deliver on your idea. Once you become known as an author, you might find yourself in the position where you land a publishing contract based on an outline or even just an idea, but until then you have to put the work in up front. (This is FANTASTIC advice, and applies to most creative pursuits. Thanks, J.D.!)
5. Where can the rest of the Boredwalk community find you?
Instagram: @authorjdhorn (check this out for cute pix of Kirby the chihuahua, too!)
Facebook: @AuthorJDHorn