Cutting-Up’s Artist Blog

In our Cutting-Up offices we have had a box…or two… for “damaged t’s” ~ a t-shirt that has a run or a tear in the fabric.  So, one of the last days of our recent January Atlanta Market Colleen said “You know that box of damaged t’s…? It is so nagging me… We have to do something with those.” Sometimes you just have to say your problems out loud & they find their way to a solution… And, In our current environmentally conscientious state of reduce, reuse, recycle…we decided to reclaim our damaged t’s to make something adorable. What girl doesn’t love something adorable?  So, back in Dallas, just before this January Gift Market Colleen (wah-lah!) created a Cutting-Up t-shirt scarf created from reclaimed Cutting-Up t-shirts. Girls - seriously - we took so many orders on the cute little  boogers that Colleen literally cleared out the damaged t-shirt box!

So, if you’ve found a t-shirt scarf to purchase from a retailer in your area - know they are something very special & of limited availability. You should also know you have something created out of a cool need from a girl creative enough to come up with a fun solution to her perplexing problem.  So, before you throw away your old t-shirts - consider giving them a shred and a tug and a twist and see what kind of cool scarf you can create!  If you have any questions about the process… call Colleen. 

Um, Colleen - my BFF… am I going to get a t-shirt scarf? I really NEED one!

Consider Yourself 

Colleen & I have known each other forever (forevs!)…our families know each other’s families… and we have truly become members of each other’s families. So despite the fact that Colleen & I have been on the January trade-show-a go-go (Atlanta, Dallas & New York)… we were looking so forward to a very special day in February ~ when Colleen’s baby brother, Brian, married his girl ~ Jill (who we LOVE!)

The entire event was amazing ~ the brothers were groomsmen & Colleen & her sister did readings for the ceremony. Brian, now a Major in the United States Air Force, (Snap!) & his bride Jill had an intimate & formal wedding - soldiers with swords at arms - the whole deal.  The ceremony was beautiful & a fun-filled, relaxed reception followed. It was a magical & happy night ~ one where everyone danced ~ to everything ~ all night.  It did not matter if the DJ played “The Twist” or “My Hump” ~ we were there to stay… and stay we did. It was a memory making eve ~ one where your cheeks hurt from laughing so hard at each other & smiling because you love everyone around you so dearly.

Anyway, I caught the bouquet. (Thank you Jill!) Jill really threw it right to me… but I did catch it… that counts, right? I would like to say Colleen & I staged the dramatized photos below of the catch & moments of pure joy & relief that followed - but I think the images are more a manifestation of the truth - albeit a smidge exaggerated.  “no no drama… we don’t want no drama…” - Black Eyed Peas

If you’re reading this, consider yourself a part of the Cutting-Up family. And, if you’re a member of the Cutting-Up family - then you’re a part of our families too. Colleen & I are both uber happy to be able to share these pics with you. I hope the love & happiness of this cozy eve ooozes out and flows from our lives into yours. Let the happiness flow baby…let it flow!

A friend from college surprised me recently with this amazingly special photo of herself with a group of her friends on a girl’s weekend all sporting the Cutting-Up “Faith” t-shirt! The pic was so touching to me… immediatly welling up with tears of joy and gratitude. The “Faith” t-shirt is a special shirt to all of us at Cutting-Up since the apparation of the Virgin Mary.  And, look at these beautiful women… most mom’s themselves, no doubt!  Mother Mary… Full of Grace… and special friends along life’s path… What a special gift this photo is to me. I could not feel more overwhelmed by the depth of this photo! I LOVE your pics!  Thanks for sharing this moment of your life with me Karie Java! One Heart, One Way! xo! 

I love color… colorful people, colorful lives, colorful stories.  I’m completely inspired by all kinds of people & their unique, off the beaten path, stories.  If we are open, we live  life as both teachers and students. So… I was certainly fascinated recently listening to an NPR interview  with Robert Diggs, a Hip-Hop artist better known as The RZA (pronounced “The Rizza”). The RZA is best known for his influence to the Hip-Hop culture via the Wu Tang Clan, AND he’s recently also written a book called, beautifully: “The Tao of Wu” & after hearing the interview I had to buy the book to read it for myself. 

Not accustomed to some of the intensities of The RZA’s inflections, my first reaction was to reach to change the station… but then something great happened… The beauty of his thoughts held me hostage to listen beyond the inflections. (I loved the pleasant surprise!)  So, The RZA begins his story under difficult circumstances. Robert grew up in the hardened projects in NYC. In one of his profound insights, The RZA reflects on the experience as comparable to that of a lotus that only grows in the mud… and the projects were his mud. It is just so beautiful to me how The RZA, at such a young age, craved greater meaning from his circumstances, as he grew up (in reflection) The RZA is responsible, apologizing for his his behavior, seeks the lessons, acknowledges where his ego was involved, & works to continually evolve and move toward his source, to bring light to his life’s experiences to help guide others. His brilliant collective body of work is a gift to the world. Yo… check out his book, for real! It’s truly spiritual! Let us know what you think!

You gotta’ love the Fall in Texas.  On this bright & sunny Saturday afternoon Colleen and her family stopped by to bring me a new TCU t-shirt in support of a family friend, the TCU punter, Anson Kelton, AK 47! (Go Frogs!) So, here are the Coopers… You know, just out, running errands… together, stopping by Aunt Jo Dee’s… I LOVE this family! Truman picked this truck out before his 16th b-day & the fam agreed on the good-buy. It’s the first time I’ve seen anyone besides Colleen or Gary driving! We all love the Jimmy!  Man, ain’t she a cutie??!!!

Colleen says…”That’s right, boy-eeeee… whose your mama?!!”

If you’re lucky enough to live around Fort Worth, the days leading up to the match-up between our TCU Horned Frogs and Utah were electric! And, while our local DFW community was a-buzz awaiting the fall game day festivities, I was blessed not only to have a special date for game-day; but, also to start Saturday with the sight of this bouquet - bright & beautiful, Gerber Daisies… my favorites…  (I love this picture too, reflecting the giver in the glass.) Frog Fans celebrated the eleventh win this season! Big thanks to the Frogs for providing the venue for a night full of fun, great memories for over 50,000 fans!