Fabric Paint? Seriously?

Is it possible to make anything cool using fabric paint? If you had asked me that question a couple of months ago I would have said no, not in the 21st century. Since this past holiday season however, I have changed my tune. I am officially singing the praises of the unfashionable medium and I am here to share my new accomplishments.The first time I used fabric paint was on a birthday present for my sister. The girls and I went thrift shopping to pick up some oddities that we could personalize for Aunt Miche. We found a white baseball hat in need of some ornamentation. The result is a sherbert-splashed hat with Mexican folk art birds. The perfect piece for one that need be reminded of warmer days. For those inspired to paint their own hat I would warn that soft, round objects are not the easiest to paint unless you have the confidence of a two year old.The second time I used the paint was on a jacket for my mom. It was something she originally found at a thrift shop as well. To start, it looked like something that maybe Elvis would have worn if he were alive in the 90’s. When she told me of her idea, that it was the perfect base for some painting, I wasn’t sure if I agreed. But she had the vision, so I thought on it for almost a year and decided I’d give her a Frida tribute jacket. The work certainly went beyond that of any apparel I have ever decorated before. In her new digs she is certainly a walking piece of art.In case it is not obvious, Lila and Nina were not aloud to help with this project. I did this work while they were at school. And thank goodness for daycare! This piece took 18 hours without a pair of toddlers trying to get in the mix. This jacket also contains two hidden quotes from Frida. The first, under the collar reads, “I paint flowers so they will never die.” The second, on the inside of the back reads, “I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that yes, it’s true, I’m here, and I’m just as strange as you.”
And, if you can believe it, we still had time before Christmas so the girls and I decided to paint Phil his first dad-shirt. The girls gave a Quiksilver t-shirt some tie-dye handprints. I’m not sure if they got more joy out of making the shirt or seeing Phil wear it.Here is the point in the article where I will now shamelessly offer my services. I’m confident I can paint (pretty much) anything on anything. So if you have a project in mind give me a holler. I work cheap. And I only have two projects lined up for 2018.

Happy New Year!