What a beauty little tune this is. Very catchy!! It's by local band, The Purnells. Stormtrooper meets Redcar - definately worth a watch! Enyoy and let us know what you think :-)

PS: You can also find them on facebook.

I love it when my boss says I can write what I want :) I'm not sure what he'll make of my T-shirt designs when he see's this mind.

So, today I want to write about the invisibility cloak / armoured tank that some people seem to believe their cars are.

Why is it that they think they're indestructible as soon as they're behind the wheel of a car? What's with the Incredible Hulk alter ego? It makes me laugh, because if the same person was tottering down the street (on foot) for their Sunday papers, they'd probably never dream of speaking to a stranger that way - just because they cut them off by accident or nearly bumped into them. Okay - I do see why it might be a bit annoying if you've spent a few thousand quid on a car, but what about the idiots who beep their horns for five (to ten) whole seconds just because someone is taking their time trying to manoeuvre out of a parking spot?

Have they ever stopped to consider that the person might be nervous? Might have just noticed a spider dangling from their rear view mirror? Taken a funny turn? You just don't know what's going on in other peoples lives, so have a bit of consideration before you get crazy with the V's and the horn man. I doubt folk in the horse and carriage days carried on like this (I suppose it would be pretty easy to just jump out and clobber someone for daring to insult your driving skills though, no windows, no metal - just you and the elements).  Anyway, I think your car horn is equivalent to your ego - the longer and more often you blow it, the bigger it is. How does a bit of metal and glass change people so much?  Right, so that's my first car issue.

My second one is the nose pickers. I've got to admit, I've been there. You get comfy in your car, heating's on, music is sending you into a tranquil driving daze - and then you suddenly realise your finger is up your nose. It just happens. I don't get this though! Could there be a more public arena to air one of your worst habits? You might as well be sitting on a toilet in a greenhouse in the middle of town. Know what I mean? I just think it sets a terrible example to future generations. Imagine how many people have been picking their nose while driving about today, and then because they were in the car and had nowhere to wash their hands - they just let it go, forgot about it and then dipped their hand into a bag of your salt and vinegar french fries. It's a sorry state of affairs people.

So, you (and my boss) are probably wondering what this has to do with anything here at the shop? Well, I reckon if you've got a cause that you're passionate about, why not wear it on your chest for the world to see? Okay, to be fair - I'm not sure how the two little designs I knocked up here would go down, but you get my drift. What do you get all fired up about? Do you know someone who is always ranting on about the same thing? Well, get them a T-shirt and shut them up, or buy one stating your own views to wind them up even further. I only just realised I felt this way about the whole angry driver-picking nose thing. I could really go to town on passions if I wasn't at risk of alienating the whole of Redcar, and I don't want to push my 'artistic license' too far.

To end this ranty post on a more positive note: An old lady didn't see me sitting on the bus this morning and sat on my knee. Ha. Maybe that's what my issue with car drivers is today.

Peace to you and all your kin :)

Kerry x

PS: One of those lavender tree fresheners would do wonders to cool the heels of all the irate drivers out there.

To design and order your own T Shirt of fire and passion today - Just click HERE.

Hola amigos.
 
We are going to be printing a variety of well known landmarks from around the world onto canvas. So, we're talking the Eiffel Tower, Stonehenge, The Statue of Liberty. Also city skylines and culturally iconic places such as Manchu Picchu. Do you ever wonder about how these things were built? How they got there? Then there's the famous Hollywood sign...has anyone ever tried to nick one of the letters? Is there a security man patrolling the place? Or have they just stuck an electric fence up?
 
It's not just about famous landmarks though. All a landmark really is, is a symbol that holds meaning for you. So, for me - my favourite bench is a landmark (yes, I realise that sounds hobo, and I did once fall asleep on it). Also, whenever I've been away from home (Redcar) for a while and I'm heading back, the sight of the ICI chimneys and British Steel in the distance always makes me happy. I know I'm home when I see them. Not sure how the Teesside skyline would work above the mantelpiece like, but in the right lighting  - it's quite beautiful.   

Last summer, a lady came in with a picture of a hill overlooking the sea and a small island with the sun setting in the background. To me, it was just a nice picture. However, the lady went on to explain that her family had been visiting a cottage there for twenty odd years. Now that they were all grown up and living in different parts of the world, each summer (and sometimes the occasional winter too) they would all come together and meet in this little spot. Sadly, the ladies mother passed away last spring and they scattered her ashes on the small Island near the cottage. This picture clearly meant a lot to her - It represented family, love, memories. She had several more canvases made up for the rest of her family too.
 
So, a landmark can be very personal as well as cultural.
 
I'm doing the Yorkshire 3 peaks next weekend and Ian said I should take a picture when I get to the top of each mountain - near the white monument thingys - and then put each picture onto a small canvas to show my decline over the course of twenty five miles, three mountains and twelve hours. It might be completely vain to have a whole collection of pictures dedicated to myself, but sack it! I'm not gonna be in my prime for ever so may as well revel in it for as long as possible :)

[wahey...check my artwork!]

I'm trying to think about what the people in my life would chose as their landmarks - my mam would probably chose a place called the sheep wash out in the moors (it's actually supposed to be nice by the way, not like grimy sheep getting scrubbed by farmers), she used to go for picnics there when she was little and still sometimes gets nostalgic about it. One of my mates has a secret special place too. She calls it 'viewpoint' and it's somewhere up in New Marske Woods (no, she isn't a dogger!) I bet she'd like that on a canvas actually (note to self there).
 
Anyway, you get my point...everyone has a special place/landmark. What's yours?
 
By the way, you might be drawn to a place where you haven't even been yet, and this might sound mental - but it's scientifically proven that if you visualise something often enough, you will eventually attract that experience into your life (try it). So, a good reason to get down to the shop and get your dream place onto canvas! Just click HERE to get the ball rolling.
 
Right, well I'm off now. Have a good weekend :)
 
Kerry x

Evening, just a quick post to show off todays printing.  These are samples that will be sent out to Teesside University tmrw for Societies within the Student Union to try out.

The two different designs here are the "Teesside University Real Ale Society" or TURAS for short and the University of "Teesside Student Union Horror Society"

The actual designs are pretty simple so there was no charge for setting up the logos for printing.  If you are interested in having your club or societies logo printed onto a garment then please get in touch and we will get you sorted.

Click here to fill out an enquiry form

Cheers, Ian

Transporter Bridge
An unusual depiction of the transporter bridge here! I like it! It's as though you're standing under the water and looking up at it. There are so many pictures of the bridge, both digital and painted - but i've never seen one done like this before. The bridge was built back in 1911 and celebrated being open for one hundred years last October. It has been featured in films and TV shows such as Billy Elliot, The Fast Show and Auf Wiedersehen Pet (one of the scenes was of them taking the bridge down and apparently loads of people were ringing up the council going mad and thinking it had really happened).

Marilyn Monroe
A canvas of Marilyn Monroe which has been designed with an abstract/ scribble effect. Quite arty I reckon. Such a beautiful woman inside and out. She was brought up in foster homes and began her career as a model, and it was from this that she was spotted and got her break as an actress. Because she was usually cast in the role of 'blonde bimbo', people assumed that she was a bit dim, but it's clear that most people who worked with her, either fell in love with her or respected her acting skills (or both). Director Joshua Logan said "I found Marilyn to be one of the greatest talents of all time. She struck me as being a much brighter person than I had ever imagined, and I think that was the first time I learned that intelligence and, yes, brilliance have nothing to do with education".

Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix on fire!
This guy was one of the best guitarists of all time. He taught himself to play the guitar and could play it behind his back as well as with his teeth (not at the same time mind). Jimi is a member  of the tragic 'Twenty-Seven Club' - Legendary artists who died at the age of 27. The 'club' (seems a bit wrong to call it that) includes artists such as Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Brian Jones. Jimi left behind three hundred un-released recordings! He was a left handed guitarist and used to buy right handed fender stratocasters, turn them upside down and re-string them for left handed playing. An eccentric fellow! He was also pretty flamoboyant with his clothing.

Audrey Hepburn
Again we have the scribble effect and in black and white, but with Audrey Hepburn this time. A stunning image of an icon best known for her role in Breakfast at Tiffany's and My Fair Lady. She had originally trained as a ballerina but was told that although she would be successful, she would not make it as a prima ballerina due to her height (5'7") and the fact she had been under nourished during the war years. So she decided to give acting a go. She spent fifteen years in the film industry and became a massive fashion icon - known for her grace and elegance (and big thick eyebrows). Every time I read one of her quotes, I think she is one wise lady . Here is one of my favourites: "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

Well, that's all for today. Let us know what you think about the new designs! Have a good weekend :)

Kerry x

"Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye."
 - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Nice quote that isn't it? So, following on from our 'valentines phase' here are a few T shirt ideas for you, you can just use them as a broad idea of what we do - you can make your own too...make it as personal as you like! Draw your own comic, get your girlfriend to pose like Kate Winslet in Titanic, or get an 'I love....' (what do you love?). For a tenner, you can't go wrong. Get creative people...it's going to be pretty cold this week so if you're not down the pub, get your crayons out.

Have a good one :)

Kerry x

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR CANVAS TODAY


Following my last post about valentines day, one of the suggestions was to put lyrics onto a t-shirt as a gift. Looks like that idea went down well (high five!) as a few people have already placed orders, but instead of the t-shirt - they want lyrics putting onto a canvas. We like this idea a lot, so I'm just going to give you a few more details about it. 

So, lyrics onto a canvas.This is a great idea for a present. Say, their favourite song, something that is special to them. Maybe a song that is special to the both of you? The first song you snogged to or the first song you made up to? (I feel queasy being so cheesy here, just so you know!) You could have any picture you want as the background too. A picture of the band? The album cover? A picture of the person or yourself...or why not go mental and have the two of you together? Could have a sunrise? (Just throwing it out there).

All of our canvas prints are hand-made and stretched over a solid wooden frame. Everything is done in-house here at our shop on Redcar High Street. Canvas printing prices start from as cheap as £20.00 including design work.  Also, you don't need to worry about where to hang it (particularly you posh geezers out there with glass houses) as the ink is guaranteed for 75 years - therefore, it won't be affected by sunlight. If you fall into it while you're drunk though...might not be so lucky. 

If you get orders in to us by the Thursday of any week, we can have your order ready for the Saturday of that very same week. If anyone comes in with a panic on....... because you've left things late - fear not, my boss can usually sort things out.

Our canvas prints are great value for money when you consider the materials and the time-scale we can have them ready in. And lets be honest, a canvas is a nicer present than a bunch of flowers. I reckon so anyway. I always feel guilty when I get flowers (ahem...twice in twenty eight years is twice too much for me thank you. Potted plants are the way forward, at least you're watching them grow instead of die...aaaaaand breath). 

I'd be well chuffed with a canvas print featuring my favourite song lyrics. I think it's thoughtful and there's a bit of effort gone into the gift. 

So, here's a little step by step guide of what you need to do when you place your order with us:

1. You tell us the song lyrics.
2. Either send us the picture you would like via email if it's a personal one or we can find a good image of the band in question.
3. Let us know what size canvas you want.
4. We'll work our magic (check out example above).

We can set a few different designs up for you to choose from and we won't go ahead anything with it until you're happy with it.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR CANVAS TODAY 

Well, that's all for now. Nearly the weekend! :)

Kerry x

So. I've been asked to write about Valentines Day. I'm not the greatest person to give an opinion on this subject as a) I'm single (no cats) and b) I don't have a great track record with the whole romance scene! Still, got a good fifty years in me yet mind :p 
.

First thing's first: Who invented Valentines Day?

Nobody really knows. There are a few theories though. One of them is about a fella called Valentine. He was a priest in Rome back in 270 AD. At the time, the Emperor, Claudious II was trying to round men up for his army but found that those with wives and children were no good as soldiers. So, he did what any decent emperor would do and outlawed marriage. Now, Valentine was pretty miffed about the whole thing, just did not agree with it AT ALL and so he continued to marry young lovers in secret. Claudious found out, went ballistic....and killed him....on the 14th February. Shocking eh?

Like I said, there are quite a few theories out there but this one  is most often mentioned by historians.

While we're on the whole romance history trip, it would be wrong not to mention Casanova, the greatest lover of all time! Some people assume that he was a total rat, but actually, he truly loved women and was a giver not a taker. He was also a philosopher and poet and loved the whole romance side of things. Here is a quote from Casanova himself (obviously, not himself standing in my shop as I type) 'I don't conquer, I submit' (I don't actually know why I chose that quote really...it's short and sweet though).  I'll leave Casanova there for now otherwise I'll go off on a tangent.

Another fact about Valentine's Day - is that the 14th of February is commonly known as the beginning of the mating season for birds. So, if you are single and want to feel even more bitter on this day - just get the old binoculars out and perv on the birds getting it on outside your window.

For all of you that are loved up and wish to show your soul mate/other half/partner in crime/knight in shining armour/little princess (delete as appropriate) just how special they are to you, I have a few suggestions:

You could write a love letter and then get it printed onto a canvas - how romantic is that? Or do you have a photo of when you first met? Or a place that is 'your special place'?

My boss said we're going to do five 16 x 16 canvases (which are usually £40) for half price. BARGAIN! So, twenty quid to give the love of your life something special that will last for seventy five years (other than a child ha). Who needs jewels when you have Redcar Urban Arts man?

Also, you know we do t-shirts? Well how about your lovers favourite band, quote or lyrics on a one? You could have a secret inscription printed on the inside too (which costs a mere £5.50).

Valentines Day doesn't have to be about your partner though. What about someone you secretly admire? Or what about your parents or grandparents? Might be nice to dig out an old photo of them.

All in all. Just spread the love.

And...If you're single and shy - I say treat yourself! One time, I was single and living in a different city, I took myself on a Valentines Day shopping spree and then went to a nice cafe for some dinner. I felt pretty smug until I poured the lot of my drink over myself :-( Ah well. A good looking Italian bloke helped me dry myself off so it wasn't all that bad :-)

On that note...Happy (nearly) Valentines Day.

If you want something personal and a bit different for a prezzie...we're your people.

Tata for now

Kerry x

What do you think of the T Shirts above? 

Nope, they weren't actually drawn by me, but by kids! And this is what they'd look like printed on a T Shirt.

What's my point? 

Well, you know how little kids like to draw you a picture and you end up shoving it in the kitchen drawer? (Hey...what are you supposed to do if you don't own a pin-board?!) Or how about when your niece or nephew has drawn a cracking portrait of you? (massive eyes, massive lips and a stick thin body)...Or check that one of a hand print above, priceless non? (that hand isn't always going to be so small) I think all of these things would be a great idea for a T Shirt / canvas. I especially like the squiggly one - I'd wear that with some jeans - it's cool. Honestly, think about how chuffed your kid would be if you got one of their pictures put on a T Shirt? They'd feel well pleased with themselves!

Another good idea (I reckon anyway) is, when it's a rainy day and they are bored, arguing or being nasty to the cat, sit them down and get them to draw a picture with the promise of getting it printed up. I don't know anyone (especially young people who need all the encouragement that they can get) that wouldn't be proud to have some of their artwork on show, do you? You could also get them to design one for their granny, their teacher...their doll, their dad, best friend or the tooth-fairy. 

All for a tenner!

You know what, if I had a kid I'd get him/her to design MY T Shirts (ha - that sounds like total exploitation actually)...because at least  I'd know it was original and meant something. Also, I'd be able to show the young'uns artistic skills off to all and sundry. If I had a whole brood of them, even better! I'd hold a T Shirt design competition every Sunday. Orrrrr maybe not....

I still think it's a great idea though :-)

Let me know what you think!

:-)

Ta ra for now!

Kerry x