4 Takeaways I learned from the Book "Thread's Not Dead: The Designer's Guide to the Apparel Industry" by Jeff Finley:

Back to basic in times when AI invaded our designs. In today's blog post, I would like to share to you the 4 takeaways I got for the book Thread's Not Dead: The Designer's Guide to the Apparel Industry by Jeff Finley. But before that, I would like you to check this design here with discount within 48 hours. This design is the result if the ideas I got from reading the book. Grab it here. 

Now without further ado here the things you can learn if you read the book:

1.  Strive for a hand drawn design or something that looks like a hand drawn illustration. This means that if you know how to draw then by all means draw but don't be discouraged if you can't. As long as you can make your design looks like a hand drawn you are doing it right. Fortunately, I know how to draw and paint. Even when I am not yet starting a print-on-demand t-shirt business, I was already drawing a lot of subjects (buildings, woman, anime, and flowers). I was also hand lettering a lot which means I am drawing letters. When I read this, I felt I was back with my first love which is drawing. When I was starting out I was relying on AI for my clip arts. Now, things will be different moving forward because I don't want a design that can easily be copied by others using the AI website. I want a personal touch in my every design even when it would take me a while to do it. 
2. It's the Brand that sells. Capitalize on developing a t-shirt brand. "The most important thing in branding," according to the boos, "is consistency (design, website, packaging, social media presence, the way you talk, email signature, verbiage on website. The number one thing to remember is you are setting and meeting customer expectations. Work hard to make the entire customer experience a great one that consistently please and exceeds their expectations. Make sure all your designs look like they belong together and aren’t a smorgasbord of various design styles and themes. Be human in your branding and marketing. Craft a story behind your brand and put a face and voice to the company that customers could relate to. Cultivate relationships by doing things like surveys, allowing customers to vote on designs, showing them the process of taking design from sketch to shirt, and even showing them how a shirt is printed.” I am planning to dig deeper in branding my t-shirt design soon. 
3. You design must have meaning to the one who will buy it -- your target audience. The book said, "Have a solid idea and purpose behind it. It should mean something to your client or customer. What moves them and makes them feel good?" The design you are seeing here as an example is intended for the gardeners. Why I come up with this? It's because based on my Pinterest Analytics, most of my audience are looking for gardeners design. So I give what the customer are looking for. However, I would like to create also for Book Lovers because I am both a gardener and a book worm. I believe that in order to create a great design, the designer also like what she's doing. She herself is also proud of wearing what she created. 
4. When you are just starting out, you must focus solely on perfecting your design and nothing else. I fall short here because instead of focusing in designs I busy myself finding another means of earning online because I want to quit my job. I think of affiliates, copywriting, opening more store in different designs etc. I overload myself with more side hustles that I forgot I should be creating and sketching more. I have no focus and I open am overwhelmed. 

Now, I want you to take a look of this design and let me walk you through in my new process that is aligned from what I learned from the book. 

This design is  hand drawn starting in this sketch here--a pencil sketch to plot all of the needed elements. Then, I trace it with a red ballpen so I can see the letters in photoshop. 

The next thing I've done is tracing each element using a brush tool in photoshop. 

After that is re-arranging of letters, it's spaces in between and kerning. Then I proceed to cleaning. I erased all the unnecessary lines made by mistake as well as some dirt around letters. As you can see here, I already colored the letters.

As someone who's not very well trained in color combinations, what I do here is to find a t-shrit onlne with my intention color already executed in the design. I don't want to think too much about the color combination. I just need to find one that's already working and selling then use it. In the above screenshots, you can see that the background is white while below, the background I used is black, This is because I want to make sure that my design works in both light and dark t-shirt.  

The below screenshots shows how I added lines and arrows pointing to a flower in the middle to avoid white spaces. The flower that I created here was also coppied and placed below near the dog drawing because there were awkward spaces there.

This is not necessary but I do it anyway, I placed a "stroke" around letters to make the design pop-up even better in dark background. I don't know but I like doing this because this final touch make my design look like I don't draw it myself 😅

I made some few more adjustment like adjusting the arrows, the plants and the flowers, erasing those extra-elements that looks more as distraction to the design.

Then, it's ready to be posted in Teepublic and gifted to the gardeners in our lives. The niche is the "Plant lovers" cross niche to a "Dog lovers" in typography style with doodles and kawaii. See in real life:

I hope you learn from this blog post. What do you think of the design?

Berry Yourself in Good Vibes! – Cute Strawberry Lover Design!

Being inspired to create a t-shirts collection for women, I come up with this design. Designing this t-shirt does not come on a whim. I've been contemplating about it for the past week. 

Every week's a realization. This time I realized that even when I am creating t-shirt designs for every occasions or holidays, I still did not define the gender of whom I really want my design to be. 

Now I know that my t-shirt designs should be for women. It should enhance the femininity in them. Make them stand out. And of course, the funny design should make them smile. Sprinkling it with inspiration to make them keep going despite of the challenges. 

Grab this design here.

Speaking of challenges here's the latest story.

Yesterday, I meet agents to help me secure a property. I brought my family to meet up with them. The day went smoothly at first until the afternoon comes when my husband and I has to sign a hundred of documents for the condominium that we're vying for in Alabang. 

By 6:00 PM, we're still not through signing. Then at around 9:00 PM during the last interview, I failed because they said that my salary isn't enough to buy a condo unit costing around Php 2.2M. One of the agents said, "We can't push any further." Suddenly it became clear to me why I wasn't able to secure a property on Acquired Asset.

Check this out!

My heart sank in desperation. I knew that my salary is enough if they would consider the allowances on top of it. However, they said it's not included. My mind suddenly becomes cloudy in hopelessness. Will I ever get a property? If not now, I know that my age a year or two from now will also go against me to loan a Pag-ibig Fund. 

We're heading back home inside my agents' car when I mentioned out of nowhere that the salary capacity can also be based with the price of the property nit just age. I asked, "Is there a  property with much lower cost than the one I failed to buy?" Then all of a sudden, Lady Agent said, "If that's in Imus, then there is." Imus is a little bit far from Taguig. I said, "Then I'll get one from Imus."

That's the end of conversation, I was able to reserve the property. Just a few steps more and I know I'll have it. 

Sticker's version and matching products here.

What I can't remember which put me in total ease was what the Lady Agent said, "I believe that God will direct you in a place where you are more suitable to live. I believe that what happened was Him being in control of the situation." I heard it from Papa before when  we first transfer to Makati then my husband lost his job. He said, God will not bring you there if He has no plan for you. And that has been my prayer also, that God would direct us in buying my very first property. 

The process had been tedious and sizzled with doubt. In between, I thought, buying property isn't for me. I am old and the salary that I thought is large enough suddenly becomes not enough.  

Yet, the ending of this story proves that when God opens the door, no one can shut it. Just a month ago we're in Imus, Cavite looking for a house. We already had a glimpse of what will going to happen. 

God knows we've been through a lot of troubles renting a house. God knows all of my sacrifices in raising my family. I believe that it is Him who is at work here. I may have many options and wishes, but for as long as I'm sure that God is there with me all along in choosing my best property, and He allows me to get it, then I have nothing to worry or feel guilty about not getting anything else. Ito talaga ang para sa amin. 

Who wouldn't create an inspiring funny design in this situation? When you are down, you'll tend to look for something that will inspire or encourage you to keep going. Such is the "Berry Yourself in Good Vibes! – Cute Strawberry Lover Design"

Cap and matching products see here.

It add a berry sweet touch to you and your loved ones life with a design featuring a plump strawberry standing confidently in a swirl of golden jam! Topped with the feel-good phrase “Berry Yourself in Good Vibes!”, this design is perfect for strawberry-loving girls who radiate positivity and good energy wherever they go.

Whether you're headed to a farmer's market, a summer picnic, or just vibing with friends, this cute and vintage-inspired design brings the fruit-forward flair and upbeat attitude. With playful colors and a charming retro vibe, it’s a must-have for anyone who believes in staying sweet and sunny — no matter what.

And since this is a new design, you will receive a discount when you purchase within 24-48 hours. 

Until next for my designs and life's update. 

7 Meaningful Celebrations in April that will Help you Find the Best Gift for your Loved Ones

 April is a month bursting with energy, renewal, and a myriad of celebrations. Whether you’re looking to honor traditions, promote awareness, or simply have a little fun, understanding the history and significance behind each holiday can inspire thoughtful reflections—and creative designs. Below is an in-depth look at seven April holidays that span spiritual, cultural, environmental, and familial themes.

These designs are available in my Happy Easter Collections

I took the time to write about this because it's April, although my designs for this month were usually done three months prior. 

For the customers, this will give you ideas about the gifts to give in every occasions, holidays or events for April. For the designers like me, these holidays and occasions are the ones you should be focusing on for designs if you are in print-on-demand to increase your income. Much as I want to separate the two of you in my content, I can't help but still provide tips for my fellow designers. 

To the readers of this blog, you may notice that I removed all of my personal blog posts. I would like to focus on designs here and share personal things only if it's relevant to the blog post. Yeah, I will not give it up altogether because I know that sharing myself in a personal way can build your trust on me and the designs I am making. 

Now without further ado, here are the different occasions for the month of April. I believe that by understanding its significance and essence, it will be easier for us to find a meaningful gift to our loved ones. 

Easter

History & Origins:
Easter is one of the most significant Christian holidays, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Although its exact date varies each year, it is traditionally observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. The holiday evolved from earlier pagan celebrations of spring’s renewal and fertility, which were later incorporated into Christian doctrine.

Significance:
For Christians around the world, Easter symbolizes hope, renewal, and victory over death. Traditions include sunrise services, festive family gatherings, and the iconic egg hunts—each element representing rebirth and the promise of new life. The blending of sacred and secular customs offers a rich tapestry of narratives ideal for inspiring both spiritual and playful t-shirt designs.

April Fools' Day

History & Origins:
The origins of April Fools’ Day are not definitively known. Some historians trace it back to the 16th-century shift from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, which moved the celebration of New Year's Day from April 1 to January 1. Others point to earlier European festivals characterized by humor, pranks, and role reversals. Whatever its roots, the day has long been associated with lighthearted mischief.

Significance:
Today, April Fools’ Day encourages people to embrace humor and playful tricks. It’s a day marked by harmless pranks and witty exchanges across cultures. This holiday’s spirit of fun can spark creative ideas for cheeky, irreverent t-shirt designs that add a moment of levity to everyday life.

World Autism Awareness Day

History & Origins:
Observed on April 2, World Autism Awareness Day was established by the United Nations in 2007. The day builds on decades of advocacy by the autism community, aiming to increase understanding and acceptance of individuals on the autism spectrum. Symbols such as the puzzle piece and the color blue have come to represent the complexity and diversity of autism.

Significance:
The day’s core message is one of inclusion, support, and celebration of neurodiversity. It’s an opportunity to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote acceptance. For t-shirt designers and buyers, incorporating symbols and empowering messages can create apparel that not only looks great but also resonates deeply with advocates and families seeking a sense of unity.

Earth Day

History & Origins:
Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970, during a time of growing environmental activism in the United States. The movement was fueled by the public’s concern over pollution, environmental degradation, and the need for sustainable practices—a sentiment that soon spread globally.

Significance:
Earth Day has become a rallying call for environmental protection, raising awareness about climate change, conservation, and sustainable living. Iconic imagery featuring nature, animals, and environmental slogans are popular. Designing t-shirts that celebrate Mother Earth—whether with vintage eco-art or modern sustainability motifs—can be a meaningful way to support the movement.

National Pet Day

History & Origins:
National Pet Day is celebrated every year on April 11. While its origins are more modern, the day was created to honor the unconditional love and companionship that pets bring to our lives. It serves as a reminder to appreciate our furry (or feathered, or scaled) friends and to adopt, nurture, or support animal rescue initiatives.

Significance:
This day is a favorite among pet lovers and is often marked with social media shout-outs, pet parades, or charity events. T-shirt designs featuring cute pet illustrations, heartwarming messages, or humorous quotes about pets can appeal to a broad audience—from proud pet owners to animal welfare supporters.

Patriot's Day

History & Origins:
Patriot’s Day, observed on the third Monday of April, is primarily celebrated in Massachusetts and Maine in the United States. The day commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, which marked the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. It stands as a tribute to the courage and resilience of the American patriots.

Significance:
This day evokes a sense of national pride and remembrance of the struggle for independence. It’s celebrated with reenactments, parades, and historical commemorations. T-shirt designs that blend modern patriotism with historical elements—such as stars, stripes, or colonial motifs—can be highly appealing to those who cherish American heritage.

National Siblings Day

History & Origins:
National Siblings Day is celebrated on April 10 as a day to honor the unique bond between brothers and sisters. While the holiday has gained more recognition in recent years, the idea of celebrating sibling relationships has long been present in various cultures through informal family gatherings and shared traditions.

Significance:
The day highlights the importance of familial connections, shared memories, and the often humorous dynamics between siblings. It’s an ideal opportunity to create t-shirt designs that reflect sibling love—whether through inside jokes, matching designs, or heartfelt messages that celebrate the beauty of these lifelong relationships.

Final Thoughts

April is a vibrant month where diverse celebrations coexist—from the profound symbolism of Easter and Earth Day to the playful spirit of April Fools’ and the heartwarming observance of National Siblings Day. As my design customers, tapping into the history and significance of these events can help you find designs that are not only visually appealing but also rich in meaning.

By integrating a deeper understanding of these holidays into your creative choices, you have the opportunity to find designs that resonates emotionally, honors traditions, and unites communities. Whether you're looking on spiritual motifs, humorous graphics, or heartfelt messages, each April holiday offers a canvas for thoughtful expression and innovative design.

Happy April, and here’s to celebrating all the colors and stories that make April so special!

T-shirt Design #3: Cute Dart Bullseye Dogs Team Member

Hit the mark with this adorable dart-themed design! Featuring a cute white cartoon dog wearing a collar and hankie, proudly standing in front of a bullseye dartboard with a dart in red, green, and yellow, this fun cartoon illustration is perfect for dart lovers and dog enthusiasts alike. Whether your part of a dart team or just love playful designs, this one is a real winner!

This design is part of the 100 intentional designs I am making this year, and it's based on research. I am careful now that every design I am creating has a basis when it comes to trend, what's selling, and what kind of design people are actually looking for in the net.