We picked a name! Boom Town. Thanks to Kellie!
Vintage Harvest Crate Stamp/Label Patches (A Tutorial)
This was my first submission to the SYTYC contest for the theme “harvest.” Here is the tutorial in case you are interested! Thanks all of you who voted!
I love John Steinbeck….I own every book he wrote, including Grapes of Wrath. I love the wooden crates used for harvesting fruit way back before plastic was available. My friend George and his family have owned a grape farm since the 1940’s and I asked him for some of his old wooden crates with the ranch’s stamped logo. I used the wooden crates and some vintage fruit crate labels to create knit patches for girl and boy t-shirts. My two favorites: the “Brother’s Pride” crate label because of the wood grain, and the “American Beauty” fruit label because of the distressing technique I used.
Below is a photo I took at George’s farm. I think it is amazing how much agriculture is grown out here in the desert…..it is all irrigated by canals! You’ll be driving along surrounded by only sand and tumbleweeds and then all the sudden:
Step 1: I took these wooden crate slats and scanned them directly into my computer. I also had a few paper labels I scanned in. You can actually buy an entire CD of copyright free images here if you have trouble tracking down physical labels.
Step 2: Reverse the images on your computer, resize them and the print them onto t-shirt transfer paper.
Optional: If you wish to apply a distressed look (similar to the “American Beauty” label shown at the bottom of the page), lightly scratch off portions of the printout before transferring.
Step 3: Cut out the transfer and place face down onto the t-shirt knit. The trick is NOT to use an ironing board…..you should a hard surface like a table or the floor and place protective brown paper or an old t-shirt on your surface to protect it. Follow the directions of the specific transfer paper you are using.
Step 4: Peel off the transfer backing…..
……and cut out your transfer leaving about 1/8″ of plaint white knit around the edge.
Step 5: Cut out a piece of Wonder Under or other fusible web product slightly smaller than your patch. Note: Do NOT use the fusible web that needs to be steamed in a second step (usually has backing on it)….the steam will affect the ink in your transfer.
Step 6: Position your knit patch onto your t-shirt with the Wonder Under sandwiched in between.
Step 8: Turn the shirt inside out and place over the narrow edge of the ironing board and press the patch area with the iron to finish fusing the patch to the shirt.
Finished!
There are so many designs out there you are destined to find the perfect ones for your little girl or little boy! You can also use the patches for jeans, coin purses….so many possibilities!
Number two reason I LOVE the fall…..
….feeding the giraffes. Number one reason: it cools off. It was finally cool enough this morning (80 degrees) to come out of heat hibernation and go to our favorite place….the Living Desert. It is a mile down the road and when it is cool I take Sienna almost twice a week. I get exercise and Sienna gets worn out.
Sienna is afraid of the adult giraffes….but not the cute little baby.
We usually only stay about an hour and visit different things each time after the giraffe feeding. Today we visited the animal hospital. Below is “Hootie” the screech owl….he has a neurological disorder and his neck twitches. He’s also missing a wing. What a mess.
We always visit the huge train system. Sienna runs around looking for trains and I am amused looking at all the details:
“the wreckage”
“floozies” 
“please wash” On a random note, I think I just found a one-woman-factory for the Sienna t-shirt dress. Seriously, Davida JUST bought the pattern and look how many dresses she has cranked out….I need to learn to sew a little faster 😉