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!

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!

Imagine my surprise!  A beautiful friend in Atlanta sent me a new CD for Christmas!  I happen to be an avid music lover & constant seeker of new tunes to seek inspiration and sit to create artwork by.  I love… no… my soul NEEDS melodic, uplifting tunes while creating.  All the notes assist in tapping into the Source and when it’s right… it’s a blessing… and things flow… So, after ripping the plastic off my new CD and right away placed the disk in the CD player of my little vw bug I admired the photos and cool cut-paper artwork throughout the CD… and it was a good bit later for me, the self-proclaimed avid observer of the beautiful ‘details’ in life, before I noticed this happy Sony recording artist was wearing one of our Cutting-Up t-shirts!  Rock-on, sister Francesca!  We are on the same wave… tapped into the same current… connected by sentiments and now a Cutting-Up t-shirt, “Linger in the Light”!  Big thanks to my girl, Natalie, in Atlanta for the amazing find (what a gift!); and, to Francesca for donning our festive tee for her CD cover!  On behalf of the entire Cutting-Up crew, we are so flattered and totally psyched!  (Sister, you look too cute in that tee!)