“Daydreaming is okay, even better if you
can make something lasting out of it.”
―Leslie Dean Brown
***
Remember that daydream I shared with you a few months ago? The one about a lettered line of shirts, and a mission to help families hoping to adopt?
Well, I’m finally getting closer to making it happen this week. I registered a domain name for it a couple of years ago, so I guess it’s about time, huh? 😉
Obviously I love letters, and I’ve really developed a passion for laying them out on shirts. (When I think “big picture”, I get excited about the idea of branching out into other kinds of items too- but I’m going to start with shirts and see what happens from there!)
Soooooo, I’m thinking I’d like to introduce one new t-shirt design each month, and I’m thinking it’ll just be a 2-day (pre-order) sale each month because I want to be able to manage it myself, and I want to make sure folks can get their shirts within two weeks.
I’m thinking each month’s design will come on a variety of colors, and will be available in:
– unisex shirts (like the “Daydream” and “Here I Am” shirts I sold back in May)
– ladies cut shirts (these are more form-fitting)
– children’s shirts
I’m also thinking crew necks, and v-necks.
And because God also gave me a passion for adoption, He’s also got me thinking that a portion of the proceeds from each month’s design will go to help knit 12 families together each year!
Here’s a sneak peek at the one I’m putting out there for August:
It’ll be available in S, M, L, XL and XXL on blue, green and gray t-shirts. Here’s an example of those colors (with crew necks):
(Those are the ladies cut shirts, by the way, and they are very form-fitting. For example, I wear a small in the unisex shirts and a large in the ladies cut.)
And here’s an example of the design on crew necks:
(I’ll post info and photos that show the unisex and children’s shirts on the website when it’s up.)
I’ve had a lot of requests for the “Daydream” shirt lately too, so I’m going to make those available again in the August sale as well.
I’m also going to include a third design because, well, let me just tell you this story.
This is 7-year-old Mati and her parents, Billy and Suzanne.
Billy and Suzanne also have a (9-year-old) daughter named, Julianna. She’s on the tire swing on the right in the photo below:
They are such a precious bunch, y’all.
We were eating lunch with them after church a few weeks ago, and Mati overheard me talking about my Glass Half Full t-shirt with Julianna. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her get up from her chair (on the opposite side of the table) and start to make her way over to where we were sitting. I was showing Julianna a picture of the design on my cell phone by the time Mati made it around to our side. “Can I see?“, she asked over my shoulder, just a little louder than a whisper.
I turned my cell phone toward her, and I swear, I could almost hear her creative gears kick into overdrive. Within seconds, she was headed back around the table to her seat. When she got there, I heard her tell Suzanne she had an idea for a t-shirt. I saw her cup her hands around her mouth and whisper that idea into her Mama’s ear. I saw her eyes…no…her whole face light up as she waited for Suzanne’s reaction. And after that, I saw her get up from her chair and share it with her Daddy, the same way, too.
I was sooooo intrigued, and when there was a break in the conversation I was having with Julianna, I looked across the table and asked Mati what her idea was. In her little raspy voice she answered, “It would be a t-shirt with a lemon on it, and inside the lemon, it would say: Life is NOT a lemon.”
Boom.
She is 7, y’all!!! 😀
That was such an inspiring moment to see. (Can’t wait to encourage my own kiddo to be creative!)
She talked Billy into helping her lay it out on the computer that night, and I knew I wanted to have them printed as soon as I saw it.
So I did. 🙂
All the proceeds from Mati’s shirt will go straight to Mati, and I’m so excited to have her as my launch pal in this adventure. 🙂
August’s sale will start this Wednesday (July 30th), and like I said, it’ll only be open for 2 days (July 30th and 31st), so that I can tally up the order and have the shirts printed and shipped by the end of next week. (August 8th)
I’ll share the name of the website in this Wednesday’s blog post, and you can find all the details about the new adventure and the t-shirts themselves over on the site when it’s live.
Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to try to make something lasting out of this particular daydream. ((hug)) I’m looking forward to giving it a heart-y whirl! 🙂
Shelley Wetton
I can’t wait to buy these…for myself and as sweet gifts. We need more of your Southern spirit out in California. 🙂
Jan
LOVE the graphics!!! …I live in 3/4 sleeve and long-sleeve v-neck t’s – hope you may be able to add styles when you get it all cookin’! (Mary’, Urban Farmgirl, has shirts that are SO comfy – it’s a great brand, whatever it is! )
With a sleeve-length option and a comfy shirt, I’d love to be a charter member of “Layla’s shirt of the month” club!!
🙂
Susanne
Thank you for giving more detailed sizing info (like unisex S = ladies L). Which do you prefer?
Layla
I prefer the unisex shirt on it’s own, Susanne, but I’d wear the other one if I was layering it underneath another shirt or jacket. 🙂
Katherine
Love, love, love the glass half full shirt. This is what my husband says to me all the time!
Layla
Thank you, Katherine! I love that your hubby says it all the time, too! 😀
Lisa
I love the ladies v-neck t-shirt! So cute Layla and Mati’s shirt is adorable too! Love that you are venturing out to new paths. xoxo
Kathy
Congrats! Got mine ordered and am anxious to get it. And anxious for the upcoming T’s. It feels good to have a shirt to share a positive message AND give to a good cause. You are a very special lady!
Melissa R
Stickers!!! And maybe a tote bag. I NEED Life is Not a Lemon on a sticker!!!
Amy F
So cute!! I love little creative people! And I am SO bummed, I was traveling when this posted and didn’t get to read it. I will be keeping my eyes peeled for future shirts, I’d have loved one of EACH of these.