This just makes me sad that I think I lost my t-shirt design from the weirdest/best comment I ever got on one of my weblogs, when the hard drive on an old laptop of mine gave up the ghost. I guess I can recreate it, maybe, if it’s not backed up. Eesh. Question to Buzz and Courtney: did you guys go with Spreadshirt’s digital or plot printing? courtney: Yay! Our shirt idea is now a reality. Also, credit where it’s due, Cameron did the original recreation of the logotype on the left. buzzandersen: Of all the things the “mass-amatuerization of nearly everything” has brought us, surely the ability to produce and sell t-shirts on a whim has to be the most wondrous. Instead of merely wishing we could splash our in-jokes and niche references across an American Apparel 50/50, we’re now free to do so with very little effort, high quality results, and a no hassle distribution path. It was in this spirit that my friend Courtney and I came up with the idea, years ago, that it would be funny to actually make ironic t-shirts bearing the likeness of the “It’s Happening in Soledad” sign, a roadside landmark which will almost certainly be familiar to anyone who has ever driven 101 South from San Jose, California. I used to pass this sign a couple times every summer on my way to an incredibly awesome swimming hole in the Los Padres National Forest (whose location shall remain nameless), and I always thought it’s sunny tone seemed hilariously ironic advertising a town that apparently didn’t have a lot happening besides a prison. I also thought it was funny, if you take into account the Spanish meaning of the town’s name, that the sign is essentially saying “It’s Happening in Solitude!” All of that said, though, I still think the retro 70s design is cool, and I always thought would make a great, faux-thrift store style t-shirt. Courtney and I talked a bit about producing them, and Courtney even created an amazingly good facsimile of the logo, but we got distracted and forgot about the project until recently, when it popped back into my head for some reason. Courtney had been working a bit with Spreadshirt lately for another project and seemed happy with the results, so we decided to just say what the hell and put up a quick “It’s Happening in Soledad” t-shirt store! So, whether you’re a Californian whose driven past that sign a million times, or just a fan of slightly ironic, rural-themed, 1970s t-shirts, check it out. I think the yellow is my favorite so far, but I also think the authentic look of the white ringer version is not to be taken lightly. Perhaps for our next project we’ll show the East Coast some love and take on the “Trenton Makes, the World Takes” bridge.
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This just makes me sad that I think I lost my t-shirt design from the weirdest/best comment I ever got on one of my weblogs, when the hard drive on an old laptop of mine gave up the ghost. I guess I can recreate it, maybe, if it’s not backed up. Eesh.

Question to Buzz and Courtney: did you guys go with Spreadshirt’s digital or plot printing?

courtney:

Yay! Our shirt idea is now a reality. Also, credit where it’s due, Cameron did the original recreation of the logotype on the left.

buzzandersen:

Of all the things the “mass-amatuerization of nearly everything” has brought us, surely the ability to produce and sell t-shirts on a whim has to be the most wondrous. Instead of merely wishing we could splash our in-jokes and niche references across an American Apparel 50/50, we’re now free to do so with very little effort, high quality results, and a no hassle distribution path. It was in this spirit that my friend Courtney and I came up with the idea, years ago, that it would be funny to actually make ironic t-shirts bearing the likeness of the “It’s Happening in Soledad” sign, a roadside landmark which will almost certainly be familiar to anyone who has ever driven 101 South from San Jose, California.

I used to pass this sign a couple times every summer on my way to an incredibly awesome swimming hole in the Los Padres National Forest (whose location shall remain nameless), and I always thought it’s sunny tone seemed hilariously ironic advertising a town that apparently didn’t have a lot happening besides a prison. I also thought it was funny, if you take into account the Spanish meaning of the town’s name, that the sign is essentially saying “It’s Happening in Solitude!”

All of that said, though, I still think the retro 70s design is cool, and I always thought would make a great, faux-thrift store style t-shirt. Courtney and I talked a bit about producing them, and Courtney even created an amazingly good facsimile of the logo, but we got distracted and forgot about the project until recently, when it popped back into my head for some reason. Courtney had been working a bit with Spreadshirt lately for another project and seemed happy with the results, so we decided to just say what the hell and put up a quick “It’s Happening in Soledad” t-shirt store!

So, whether you’re a Californian whose driven past that sign a million times, or just a fan of slightly ironic, rural-themed, 1970s t-shirts, check it out. I think the yellow is my favorite so far, but I also think the authentic look of the white ringer version is not to be taken lightly.

Perhaps for our next project we’ll show the East Coast some love and take on the “Trenton Makes, the World Takes” bridge.

Source: buzz