101 likely and not so likely sources of inspiration Part 3

This list is for any creative types out there who are experiencing a block, be it writer’s block, designer’s block, songwriter’s block whatever. Get inspired. I am going to be putting it up in sections right here and once it’s complete I may give it a more permanent home.

41. Annoying Tween culture. Those really bad tone deaf auto tuned tween stars who all look exactly the same and come packaged with tons of products done in hot pink and glittery vomit purple turn off 99% of regular people but if you can stand it maybe there is something to be gleaned from this unending trend being shoved down everyone’s throat. (Do not want!) You have to be careful though because in a month all of the stuff will be sitting on the shelves of the local Big Lots right next to stale boxes of High School Musical cereal.

42. Big Lots. Big Lots has totally replaced Kmart as the hipsters secret hangout. Especially since Kmarts are getting hard to find.

43. Products that fall under the category: Why do these products exist? Here is an example. The local Big Lots has Elvis coffee. I guess if you are that into the King you would buy one bag to put unopened in your Elvis shrine room (next to the Elvis guitar popcorn Big Lots also sells), but are that really that many 60somethings named Barbara, Linda, or Judy out there who are going to consistently buy Elvis coffee for their fix every morning?

44. Scrapbooking. There is a ridiculously huge scrapbooking subculture out there and people (more Barbaras, Lindas, Judys and a few Donnas I suspect) are willing to pay 10 dollars for 3 sheets of scrapbooking paper or 400 dollars for some fancy electronic deal that can cut your paper into fancy shapes. By the way I am not making fun of you if you scrapbook (or have a name from the 50s). I’ve done it myself but you have to admit a 400 dollar scrapbook paper cutting machine is a wee bit over the top!

45. Food. The bacon and cupcakes trends may be winding down but be on the lookout for the next hot food trend. Sausage, pepperoni, ice cream sandwiches, Otter Pops, Tandoori Chicken?

46. Past trends you either don’t know about or forgot about. Owls, Gay nineties, Australia, Here is alink. if you can’t remember any.

47. Old viewmaster reels. They are in 3-D! Just like Avatar, only they don’t move and they feature pictures of New Orleans Square.

48. Crazy vintage sodas. Like Nehi or Moxie. I read somewhere that Moxie had a nasty bitter taste like rhubarb or something.

49. Your Hometown. If it is as lame as you claim then maybe you should be inspired by the lameness.

50. Nature. The trees, the waves, the clouds, the ocean, you knew this was going to be on the list somewhere.

51. Roadside culture. Giant dinosaurs, Teepee motels, route 66, etc.

52. Towns with really cool names. Like Twenty Nine Palms, Truth or Consequence New Mexico, and Rough and Ready California.

53. Black Lite Posters.

54. Murals painted on Vans! Unicorns, Vikings whatever get inspired.

55. Hot Rod airbrushing art.

56. Old Toys. Make sure they are cool old toys like vintage spirographs, sit’n’spins and big wheels. No Barney, No Dora the Explorer. Some vastly cooler kid brands include the Snorks, The Smurfs, The Groovy Ghoulies, and the 80s version of Strawberry Shortcake.

57. Art Museums. Make like Cameron in Ferris Buellers Day Off and get absorbed in the art!

58. The Muppet Show. Best Kid show ever but you probably knew that. Also Sesame street when it had cooler Muppets like Count von Count. Pre Elmo. I caught a glimpse of Elmo on the Today show and he is the most obnoxious thing ever. Why was he featured on an adult show?

59. Tiki culture. See if you can find some relics of 60’s era tiki culture that haven’t been torn down yet if not theres always the internet.

620. Googie culture. This was a mid century style of architecture primarily seen in coffee shops.

61. Multicultural Inspirations. Get inspired by vibrant street art, music, open air markets and parades, Mexican food, soul food, hip hop culture, low riders and the like.

101 likely and not so likely sources of inspiration Part 2

This list is for any creative types out there who are experiencing a block, be it writer’s block, designer’s block, songwriter’s block whatever. Get inspired. I am going to be putting it up in sections right here and once it’s complete I may give it a more permanent home.

21. Sunday Coupons. Have you ever really looked at the coupons? There are a lot of goofy products in there like 5 dollar polyester grandpa pants, gardening knee-savers, toe separators, and bathtubs you can walk into. Get weirdly inspired and go take some geritol.

22. Infomercials. If your idea sounds weak try adding a suffix like a-matic or o-tronic. Then it will sound cooler.

23. Bad design. Think to yourself I can do better then go do better. Or don’t do better but feel satisfaction in the fact that you tried.

24. Defunct Disney attractions. As in Mission to Mars, The Mary Blair Tommorowland Murals, and the Carousel of Progress. There is this old Walt Disney World attraction called Journey into imagination that people are just obsessed with. I am more of a Disneyland fan myself and I miss Adventure thru Innerspace.

25. Classic Disney Attractions. As in the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Tiki Tiki Tiki Room. Got a fave, then get inspired. Just don’t directly rip them off Disney has a history of not liking that.

26. Your favorite Band. Do they have a logo? Are they doing any branding or are they anti branding (which is why you like them.) What is their overall style?

27. Your least favorite band.

28. Indie Rock posters.

29. Junk toys from the Dollar store. Good times will be had by many a happy fun child when purchasing these delightful gourmet childrens afflictions. Please to buy one for all siblings in household plus many a cousin. Thank you.

30. Other dollar store stuff. Treasure hunting is fun and you never know what you will find.

31. Stuff from party stores. What’s in this season? Tiki stuff? Have they come up with anything more original than conGRADulations plates and a For Dads and Grads sale?

32. Your favorite song. Put it on get creative.

33. Those weird ass products you see at drugstores. I am talking about stuff like phones with giant numbers and those humongous remotes that really work. Are they supposed to be for novelty or for really confused older people who have bad eyes and are to lazy to get a new pair of Dr. Dean Edell reading glasses at the Walgreens they are currently at? Also what is the deal with those weird rip off wiis that are like 39 dollars and only come with a wii sports rip off. They have a name like GameTyme or Gamewave and the packages are always white and green and wii-like. Are these fun? Is the play anything like a real wii? I’m thinking not but who knows, they make me weirdly curious.

34. Vintage commercials on youtube.

35. The stuff people love enough to plaster all over their cars. These are usually brands. People are really loyal to stuff like Tapout, Independent Skateboard Trucks, Not of This World Christian stuff and Cowgirl Up. Also Norcal, though I don’t know what that is to tell you the truth. (Another brand?)I am not into any of the above personally but They must be doing something right branding wise. Also people with minivans are really really into those creepy stick figure families with names under them. (ummm why?)

36. Skateboarding subculture.

37. Surfing subculture. People have been inspired by both the skating and surfing subcultures since they came about.

38. Straight Edge. This subculture is probably bigger than you think. Maybe you should see what it’s all about. If you get a little smashed while doing your online research I won’t tell.

39. Old cereal boxes. Yum C-3pos.

40. I love the whatever decade on vh1. Whenever these are on you are probably going to get sucked in and watch at least 3 episodes so get out a notebook and be inspired.

T-shirts of the Day: An Olympic Triplecast

This winter you need to have all the hottest moves while wearing your trendy red mittens. So go get yourself a pair and then go rock both the Pemchenko and the Iron Lotus without breaking a sweat. Go for something golden you know what I am talking about! Toepick!

Shirt 1 is brand new for 2010!

If this winter’s big cold sporting event has made you smitten with mittens then rejoice because this design is here. Wear it on the downhill or while you practice sweeping those stones or your triple Sauchau. If your hands are still cold and you can’t find the actual mittens themselves get this design on a hoodie sweatshirt with a nice cozy pocket!



Shirt 2 is inspired by a cult classic sports movie can you guess which one?



Shirt 3 is inspired by another sports movie can you guess which one?



Okay that’s it for now see you on the medal stand!

Olympic Inspired Shirts of the Day

Go for the win!
It’s Olympics time again and that means a shirt for the athlete in all of us. So they didn’t invite you to march in the parade and you didn’t qualify for any sport you can still show your team spirit while you sit back on the couch with a cold one. What's more fun than the thrill of competing in some sport every four years? Watching someone else compete on TV of course. So kick back, grab a cold drink and give yourself an award for all that quality time you spend with your recliner. You deserve it.

Movie Inspired T-shirt of the day!

Saving Ferris is so 1995. It’s time to put away your ska cds and pog collection and save something cute and fuzzy. Save Ferrets! Save one today, take him on a tour of Chicago. He needs to visit the museum, jeer the players at a baseball game, feature him in a parade, and take that ferret for a ride in your friend’s Dad's rare Italian sportscar. Save a ferret today.