A Haunted Ship on the High Seas

Tilteed is saying goodbye to 2010 and welcoming 2011 with a new Limited design by Jewelwing (Tasha Chapman) called Ghost Ship Dream. Available for only 72 hours, Ghost Ship Dream ($12) features an eerie ship sailing on a dark, moonless night. With only the stars to light their path, the ghostly sailors makes their way to an unknown destination. It doesn’t seem like anyone would want to cross paths with this ghost-commanded ship anyway. One can only imagine how awful the encounter would be. Only if you’re lucky would you survive to tell the tale.

Jewelwing, Tasha Chapman, ghost, ship, Tilteed

When asked what inspired her to create this t-shirt design, Jewelwing answered the following:

“A Van Gogh quote I read. He wrote in a letter to Paul Gaugin that said, “In my mental or nervous fever, or madness – I am not too sure how to put it or what to call it – my thoughts sailed over many seas. I even dreamed of the phantom Dutch ship and of Le Horla…” I wanted to draw that ship.”

And she did a successful job in capturing the essence of a phantom ship. It’s spooky, yet it invokes your sense of curiosity. I know that I want to learn more about the ship and its crew, but I also know that I would never want to be standing face to face with the vessel.

Pick up your copy of Ghost Ship Dream, Tilteed‘s last shirt of 2010 and first shirt of 2011, before it disappears at Noon Pacific Time on Monday, January 3!

The Very Greedy Caterpillar Eats Everything in its Path

Over the weekend, Tilteed released this month’s contest winning t-shirt design. The Very Greedy Caterpillar by Wotto (Craig Watkins) is the latest addition to the permanent shop catalog at Tilteed. The design is a fresh twist on a popular children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This greedy caterpillar not only eats fruit but also things that we don’t consider to be edible, including a Magic 8-Ball, a wallet, a cactus, and even a ghost!

Tilteed, Wotto, Craig Watkins, caterpillar

In his new interview, Wotto describes his process for The Very Greedy Caterpillar:

“This piece has been knocking around my sketchbook since early 2010. I wanted to do something with that character because the book was read to me many times as a kid. I also wanted to show, in a subtle way the perils of greed. It started the same as most of my work, a doodle in my sketchbook. Over time I added in more details and then finally I worked the design up in illustrator. I cut some of the original elements and added in new ones. I also took out the bright colors of the book because I wanted my piece to be a sharp contrast. Not a parody that just tweaks a small area but a parody that takes the guts of the artwork and runs away with it. As with all my pieces I wanted it to have a dark element and also have enough detail so that each time you wear it you find something new.”

Head over to Tilteed to get your copy of The Very Greedy Caterpillar ($12 pre-order/$18) and to check out the rest of the interview with Wotto!

Two Tall Monsters Just Hanging Out

Inner-Monster is back at Tilteed with a third limited edition design called The Odd Couple ($12). If you’re familiar with his artwork, you’ll know that Inner-Monster enjoys creating monsters and robot-like characters. Sometimes he’ll also throw in buildings or people, the former being the case in this particular Tilteed Limited shirt.

I’m loving the couple’s expressions. They look like they’re a bit confused about their whereabouts. Either that or they’re just trying to blend in with the world, although that isn’t working out too well since they stick out like sore thumbs.

Inner Monster, Tilteed, robot, monster

When asked to explain what the t-shirt design is all about, Inner-Monster responded with the following:

“I always had a fascination for tag teams. Most of my favorite movies have two main characters. I sometimes feel that the presence of two characters reinforces their personalities. Even if they are pretty much the same, standing side by side, it gives them the opportunity to be more noticeable. The odd couple is also a reference to a great album by Gnarls Barkley. I love his sound.”

So there you have it, The Odd Couple is a shirt featuring two giant skyscraper-like monsters that also references the album where the infectious single “Crazy” came from. A new shirt goes up tomorrow (December 25) at noon Pacific Time, so you have until then to pick this cool one up at Tilteed!

Who Knew that Planes were Just Giant Seesaws for Clouds?

Say hello to a design that will instantly bring a smile to your face! The Seesaw in the Sky ($12) by Jay Fleck is the current Tilteed Limited design, and it’s full of happiness and good fun. Cute clouds? Check. Smiling faces? Check. What more could you ask for? The design is printed on a royal blue shirt, which is surprisingly a first for Tilteed. Knowing that adds to its coolness factor a bit!

Jay Fleck, Tilteed, airplane, cloud

Flights would be much more interesting if you got to look outside and see clouds outside having fun like little kids at recess. This is especially true for those extra long international flights. Who knows, maybe after being on a plane for so long, you may already imagine that clouds are living things capable of treating the sky like a ginormous playground. That’s probably much better than if these delusional thoughts were true, though. If clouds actually enjoyed seesawing on aircraft wings, then flying would most likely turn into one of the most dangerous methods of transportation. Not good!

The Seesaw in the Sky by Jay Fleck is available at Tilteed only until tomorrow (Thursday, December 16) at noon Pacific Time. After that, a new limited edition design will be taking its place on the front page.

The River’s Alive!

Have you ever thought of the river as a living, breathing being? It seems like something that would only happen in the movies or in Greek and Roman mythology, but what if you took a trip to go hang out by the water and a giant liquid creature introduced itself? My reaction would be to scream and run away, but maybe you wouldn’t be as freaked out. For all I know, this ferocious looking water serpent could actually be harmless. I still wouldn’t risk shaking hands with it, though.

Mark Skipper, Tilteed

Printed on what is probably my favorite t-shirt color available at American Apparel, The River’s Fierce Ascension ($12) by Mark Skipper is unique in so many ways. First of all, there aren’t very many designs that will work on this particular shirt color. This illustration, however, is perfect against the mint background. This cool shade makes the setting look very calm and peaceful, which is very fitting because this river completely contrasts those vibes.

As a little fun fact, you may be surprised to learn that Mark Skipper is a tattoo artist by trade. We can see that he’s also a very talented digital artist!

The River’s Fierce Ascension by Mark Skipper is available at Tilteed only until noon Pacific Time on Monday, December 13.

What Has Pinocchio Done This Time?

Most of you probably know the story of Pinocchio, the wooden puppet created by Geppetto who wanted to become a real boy. One thing that he’s well known for is his nose; it grows longer every time he lies. Why am I talking about Pinocchio? Walmazan’s Tilteed Limited design called A Hard Winter ($12) features this character!

Walmazan, Pinocchio, Tilteed

So what exactly happened here? I don’t know the real answer, but I can postulate…

Pinocchio, Tilteed, Walmazan

If you look at the portrait of Pinocchio resting above the fireplace, you can see that his nose is super long and that it does not even fit in the shot. Maybe throwing Pinocchio into the flames was an act of kindness. Perhaps something happened that made his nose grow so much that he could no longer function as a little wooden boy, and this was for some reason irreversible. If this is the case, I can definitely see Geppetto sulking in his favorite seat as he watches his “son” perish in the flames. Jiminy Cricket, on the other hand, could be reaching out crying “Nooooooo!!”

Another idea that I have is that Pinocchio turned into such a troublemaker in trying to prove to others that he was just like any real human. He was stealing left and right and setting everything but himself on fire. This was definitely not the son that Geppetto had wanted, so this was his very last option. Sure, it’s difficult to see Pinocchio die, but if he didn’t do this now, real humans may end up in the very same predicament.

Check out Walmazan’s A Hard Winter ($12) at Tilteed and create your own version of the story!

Taxi Whale Coming Through!

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… a flying taxi whale?

whale, Plushu, Tilteed

A taxi whale. That’s exactly what Tilteed has in store right now! Bad Ass Taxi Whale Roaming the Sky without Lucy nor Diamonds ($12) by Plushu is the current Tilteed Limited design. First off, isn’t the title amazing? That alone grasped my attention before I even saw the design!

I’ll admit that I haven’t seen many animal/vehicle hybrids besides the Catbus from My Neighbor Totoro or the obvious Beetle where the insect meets the car. It’s refreshing to see an artist with such a wild imagination! I’d probably be deathly terrified if I ever saw a giant whale with wings smoking a pipe and soaring through the sky, but it’s undeniable that it would be an incredible sight. I’m hesitant about taking a ride in the taxi whale, though. Wouldn’t that involve being eaten, basically? It could just be a taxi whale for krill. Yeah, maybe that’s it.

Bad Ass Taxi Whale Roaming the Sky without Lucy nor Diamonds by Plushu is available at Tilteed until tomorrow (Wednesday, December 1) at Noon Pacific Time. This two-color design is printed on a lovely seafoam shirt, one of my favorite American Apparel blank colors. It’s also quite fitting for the whale to swim on a seafoam tee, don’t you think?

Uberkraaft and Tilteed Partner Up for a Good Cause

Although the tragic events in Haiti are no longer fresh in people’s minds, UK artist Uberkraaft (Matt Williams) believes that the country’s needs should still be in our thoughts. Because of this, he has created a limited edition design for Tilteed where a portion of the profits will be donated to Hope for Haiti. For each copy of Old Skuul Kuul ($12) sold, $4 will be going to Hope for Haiti.

skull, Haiti, charity, Tilteed, Matt Williams, Uberkraaft

This is what Uberkraaft has to say about why he chose this organization:

“Firstly, there’s a natural tendency with terrible disasters like those that have hit Haiti to drop out of people’s consciousness as soon as the initial shock is over. Haiti seems to be a particularly neglected country in terms of aid & support from the international community, disaster or no disaster, and to be completely blunt it kind of disgusts me. Because they have little in the way of produce & commodities that interest us, we appear to think it’s ok to neglect & ignore what’s going on. I’m not expecting the sale of some tees to make a huge difference, but in a small way I wanted to remind at least a few people that the problems haven’t just gone away.”

Head on over to Tilteed to get your copy of Old Skuul Kuul for $12. Not bad for a cool shirt for a great cause! It’ll only be available until Noon Pacific Time on Thursday, November 25, so act fast!

These Foxes Don’t Bark, They Say Hi!

Foxes! Where? Over there at Tilteed!

“Hi there!” the older furry fox says, waving its hand rather frantically. The little one is shy, so it just smiles, but they’re both very friendly.

foxes, Greg Abbott, Tilteed

Look at those cute little faces. Have you seen a cuter pair? It’s tough for me to say that I have. Greg Abbott is a pro when it comes to creating characters with just the right amount of cuteness. For example, these foxes are cute but are they so adorable that you actually feel gross from taking it all in? Not at all! That’s precisely what I’m talking about. These foxes are sweet, but they’re cool too! This new design is a great follow-up to Greg’s last Tilteed piece, Spyglass ($18). And if you don’t know/remember what that design looks like, here’s a picture:

Tilteed, bunny, rabbit

Foxes by Greg Abbott is currently on pre-order at Tilteed for $12. Because it is stamped with “Tilteed Curated,” it will be entering the permanent catalog for $18 once the pre-order period is up. So don’t feel sad if you no longer see the design in the countdown section. Just head to the shop section of the site and the foxes will be right there, ready to say hi to you!

A True Party Animal

Do you ever feel the need to hit the dance floor and let loose? If you do, then you’re going to need an eye-catching top to wear while you’re getting your groove on. And if you’re not the type of person who gets these types of urges, then the current Tilteed shirt may help to spark that desire. Without further ado, I present to you the biggest party animal to strike Tilteed.

lion, DCAY, Tilteed

Lion About Your Age ($12) is the first Tilteed Limited design by artist Sean Naylor (aka DCAY). If you’ve heard that name before, then you’ve probably seen his contest winning design called Sweet Child O’mine ($18). As you can see, this limited edition design is very different in composition than the catalog piece (and also much brighter!). It just goes to show how versatile of an artist DCAY is. I mean, this lion is wearing hipster glasses and is surrounded by neon colors. That definitely takes skill to pull off! So whether you’re ready for a fun night out or just want to add to your vibrant wardrobe, this lion is roaring out your name.

Lion About Your Age is available in at Tilteed until Noon Pacific Time tomorrow (Tuesday, November 16). Don’t let this cool cat pass you by!

Mushrooms Take Flight

When I think of mushrooms art on t-shirts, I generally only think of Mario-inspired artwork. I don’t really see mushrooms any other way, so it’s great that the newest Tilteed Limited shirt by Alain Vonck (digaster) is full of these fungi but has absolutely nothing to do with the popular Nintendo video game. Mushroom Escape ($12) has a bunch of mushrooms doing what they don’t normally do, which is to escape by floating up into the sky.Alain Vonck, digaster, Tilteed, mushroom

I’ll admit that I’m not sure about what’s happening in this illustration, but it’s definitely funky and unique. Where are these wild mushrooms headed? No one knows for sure, but it certainly is a sight to see! These mushrooms actually look like hot air balloons floating in the sky. For all I know, maybe that’s exactly what they are!Alain Vonck, digaster, mushroom, Tilteed

What I also love about this piece is its colorway. It definitely fits in perfectly with the fall season. I know that I’m seriously lacking in the brown t-shirt department, so if you’re in the same boat, then this is a wonderful candidate for your collection.

Head over to Tilteed to get Mushroom Escape by digaster until Noon Pacific Time tomorrow (Saturday, November 13).

Unicorn Version 1.0 Revealed

Were unicorns always so majestic and magical? By the looks of the current Tilteed Limited design by Santiago Sanchez (Santo76), the answer to that question is “no.” Here’s a look at one of the very first ideas for a unicorn. As you can see, it was trashed before it could see the light of day.

Santiago Sanchez, Santo76, Tilteed, unicorn

Rejected Myth ($12) shows one of God’s ideas being denied production. You would think that He could create whatever He wanted, but I guess it’s a good thing that this isn’t the image that the word “unicorn” conjures up in our minds. In the design notes, it says that the reason this poor creature was rejected was because it wasn’t cute enough. It even tells the designer to try using a horse next time.

And that’s how the modern day unicorn was born. I’m sure there may have also been variations of Version 1.0 using different horses, as suggested. But alas, the beautiful and radiant white unicorn has set a universal standard for all unicorns. Usually there will also be rainbows and glitter in the picture as well. I guess those were added accessories for this mythical creature.

You can purchase Rejected Myth at Tilteed for $12 from now until Noon PT on Sunday, November 7th.

Sneaky Wall Art Steals Sandwich

It’s that time again! A new contest winner has been announced at Tilteed. Who won? Drumroll please…zebra, White Stripes, Tilteed, Chris Dixon, cmdixon2Chris Dixon (cmdixon2) takes it home this month with White Stripes! This is the first win for Chris at Tilteed. He was previously seen on the site with his Tilteed Limited design called Pinkerton. Another random tidbit is that this is also the first red shirt to make its way into the permanent Tilteed catalog. They’re livening things up there!

This design was originally in the Shirt.Woot derby with the theme “Band Names Reinterpreted.” So along with being a funny design showing a 2D zebra coming to life and eating an artist’s delicious lunch, this illustration also gives off a subtle reference of the band The White Stripes. This is a great design because you don’t have to know or like the band to wear it. The artwork speaks for itself.

White Stripes is now on sale at Tilteed for only $12 during its pre-order period. If you miss these 72 hours, don’t fret because you will still be able to purchase White Stripes in the catalog at the normal price of $18. The pre-order period will last until Noon PDT on Friday, October 29.

His Majesty has Arrived

Ghost King ($12) by Blake B is the current limited edition design to be featured at Tilteed. This second print of Blake’s features a similar, if not the same character that we saw in Outside the Cathedral several months ago. Although the characters from the two designs are alike, the designs themselves are very different.Ghost King, Blake B, Tilteed, ghostWhat I love about Ghost King is that the ghost blends right into the shirt. I don’t think that I would feel the same way about it if the background were a different color or if the ghost were more distinct. For all we know, there could be a bunch of ghosts with their eyes closed hanging out in the room. The possibilities add to the mystery behind the illustration.

I also love how this design makes my eyes work in a unique way. Although the king essentially becomes a part of the darkness, I can still picture the shape of his face. He may very well have a long nose like Pinocchio, but it doesn’t matter because I’m going to keep seeing him the way that I envision him. I guess that’s the beauty of it. Blake gives us some leeway in creating our own image of the ghost king, and that adds to the joys of looking at this piece of art.

As of right now, there are only about 14 hours left to pick up this hauntingly intriguing design by Blake B. Get your copy of Ghost King at Tilteed before he disappears forever!

An Elephant Stops by at Tilteed

Being Thai, I have a soft spot in my heart for elephants. Elephants are quite important in Thai culture. Back in the day, they were used for battle and transportation. Today, a lot of souvenirs that you see are of elephants and there are places where you can go to take an elephant ride. A few summers ago, I took my first ever ride on an elephant. It was such an enjoyable experience, and I would love to do it again someday! Needless to say, I love this new Tilteed design by Jared Stumpenhorst (stumpyhorse) because I think elephants are awesome.Jared Stumpenhorst, stumpyhorse, Tilteed, elephant

Elephants are large, powerful creatures, but even they are subject to the difficulties of survival. As these animals age, you can just look at them and see that they’ve dealt with in their daily lives. I think this design shows this very well, as the elephant looks worn down and aged. There are several neat elephant designs out there but there aren’t very many printed on lemon, so I’m glad that stumpyhorse is taking a stand with Proboscidea ($12).

Proboscidea by stumpyhorse is available at Tilteed for $12 only until Noon PDT on Saturday, October 23. It’s a part of the Tilteed Limited series, so once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. Don’t wait too long if you want to snag a copy!

Skateboarding fans, here’s a shirt for you!

Like artist YemaYema, I’ve always wanted to learn to skateboard. Something about cruising down the street, standing on a sweet deck sounds rather appealing to me. It’s even cooler if you have a great design on your deck. I will learn someday. It will happen! But enough about me, let’s talk about this design.Tilteed, skateboard, YemaYema

Skateboard Boy ($12) is a new Tilteed Limited design by YemaYema that shows a skateboarder having a great time riding through town and getting some big air. He even has his ghost friends right there with him, with one helping him out with his tricks. And it wouldn’t be as fun if there weren’t any energizing music for him to skate to, so he’s definitely prepared with that boombox. What do you think they’re all listening to?

This is the first shirt in months to be printed on mint at Tilteed, and I’m glad because it fits the illustration perfectly. A design like this definitely calls for a bold shirt color, and mint is one of the most unique colors that American Apparel has to offer.

Skateboard Boy ($12) by YemaYema is available at Tilteed only until Noon PDT on Wednesday, October 20. Be sure to get yours before this boy skates away, never to return again!

Omniscient Cyclops Owl Tells You the Meaning of Life

Oh, look, it’s an owl at Tilteed! But this is no ordinary owl. I mean, just look at its face. It only has one giant eye, making it a cyclops owl. And no, not like the Cyclops from X-Men. I don’t think this owl shoots powerful lasers out of its lone eye, but I could be completely wrong. That would actually be very intriguing. I think it’s time for a fictional story about this owl right about now…Raid71, owl, Tilteed, Chris Thornley

Once upon a time there lived an owl couple that gave birth to a mutant owlet. They left the baby bird as soon as they saw that it was born with one eye. There was no way that they could have kept their baby without being ostracized from the owl community. So the poor little bird was left all alone in the dark forest to fend for itself. Luckily, all of the predators were too freaked out by the owl’s one eye to ever approach it. I guess that paired with its ability to manipulate minds did the trick. After having lived 242 years of its life, it’s safe to say that this owl is both immortal and omniscient. The end.

Old and Wise ($12) by Chris Thornley (Raid71) is the newest limited edition design to be featured at Tilteed until Noon PDT on Thursday, October 14. It’s printed on an army-colored American Apparel shirt, a first for Tilteed. Way cool!

It’s a Full Moon

Halloween is coming and that means it’s time to get ready for this holiday with tons of candy and unique costumes. Plenty of t-shirt companies are also celebrating by featuring designs that would fit in perfectly with the occasion. Luckily, many of these designs aren’t designed specifically for Halloween and can be worn at any time that your heart desires!Miss Monster, MissMonster, Tilteed, werewolf, Halloween

Vampires, werewolves, and zombies are especially fascinating at this time of year, and there are t-shirt designs to prove it. Beware the Moors ($12) by MissMonster is the newest limited edition design on sale at Tilteed. MissMonster’s signature illustration style really comes through in this design, and the wolf is looking quite ferocious. If you’re a fan of werewolves and lycans, then this is a t-shirt that you don’t want to miss out on! And even if you’re only into shape shifters like Jacob Black from the Twilight Series, you should still give this design a look. They do have the wolf part in common, after all.

If you’d like to get your paws on your very own copy of Beware the Moors by MissMonster, then head over to Tilteed before Noon PDT on Monday, October 11!

Doctor Strange Goes to Egypt

What began as an illustration of Doctor Strange eventually turned into a more mystical composition. Sorcerer ($12) by Jorge Garza (Qetza) is a beautiful piece now available as a Tilteed Limited design. As you can see, the design brings in Egyptian influences, ranging from the hieroglyphics to the symbolism with the fox and falcon. Since Doctor Strange was a powerful magician, this design is a great tribute to this Marvel Comics character!Tilteed, sorcerer, Doctor Strange, Dr Strange, magic, skull, QetzaFrom the design down to the color selection, Qetza has done a great job with this illustration! I think that this is most likely unintentional, but I’m seeing a glimpse of Darth Vader or a samurai when I step back and look at the design. If you see it too, then this shirt may be a subtle way to share your love for either if you’re looking for something a bit different! Art is in the eye of the beholder, after all. So if you want it to be a Vader or samurai tee, then it can be just that. It’s also a pretty sweet skull t-shirt, if you ask me!

Sorcerer ($12) is on sale at Tilteed from until Noon PDT on Friday, October 8. Be sure to read the interview that Tilteed curator Adder had with Qetza while you’re checking out the t-shirt. It’s a great read!

Step Aside, Ordinary Deer!

Say hello to the hippest deer to stop by Tilteed! Matt Borchert (ovenrude) has turned an ordinary deer into something much cooler in his design titled Deer en Vogue ($12). This deer is so cool that it doesn’t even need a nice pair of shades to be hip, or an outfit for that matter. The addition of triangles and sharp arrows works very well with the deer, too. The contrast between the antlers and the triangles makes the design very striking and bold.  I simply wouldn’t have this deer any other way!Deer, Tilteed, shapes, hipster, cool, artAlong with creating awesome t-shirt illustrations, Matt is also a great interviewee. Here’s a snippet from the interview that you can find on the Deer en Vogue product page:

“Who’s your favorite superhero of all time? What makes them so cool?

This is a tough one… does Arnold Schwarzenegger count at a superhero?  Or Dexter?  I’m going to pick Rocky, and not the one that hangs around a moose, but the one who defeated Soviet Russia’s top fighter.  Rocky not only worked hard to achieve his superhuman abilities (let’s face it… Dolph Lundgren (the Russian) would have crushed him if he were not a superhero), but he also gave back to those around him and purchased a pretty slick jacket with a tiger on the back.”

You can purchase your copy of Deer en Vogue at Tilteed for just $12 until Noon PDT on Tuesday, October 5th. After that, this hip deer is gone for good!

Watch Out for the Manteater!!

When I see the name “Manteater,” I automatically think about that one Nelly Furtado song and dance around in my seat. However, (M)anteater by Sven Palmowski aka a.mar.illo has absolutely nothing to do with this fun pop jam. Instead, it has everything to do with the popular anteater meme that has spread around the Internet like wildfire. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then you’ve been missing out on a good laugh. Google “FU anteater” and you’ll see exactly what I’m referring to. Hilarious, right? Oh, and if you just search for anteaters in general, there are some other funny pictures and captions as well. Anteaters are like the new LOLcats, and I’m totally down with that.anteater, meme, Sven Palmowski, a.mar.illo, Tilteed(M)anteater shows a gigantic anteater that doesn’t have a care in the world, wrecking everything around him and eating all the little humans. This reminds me of a crossover between Godzilla and the classic arcade game, Rampage. I wouldn’t mind seeing this anteater as a new character in the game. I hope that after reading this, someone creates a bootleg version of the game with said character.

From now until Noon PDT on Wednesday, September 29, you can pre-order your copy of (M)anteater at Tilteed for the special price of $12. After that, it will be available for $18.