About Hot Mess and Our T-shirts.

In the fall of 2008 I found myself, like many other Americans, out of work.  I didn’t want to work another job I loathed going in to every day, even if I could find one, which was proving impossible at the time.             Ideas began to swarm in my head - stories of people just like me who turned this negative situation into an opportunity to do something they loved and I loved two things at the time – great retro t-shirts and not having a boss.             I took my the last of my very small savings  and bought a heat press, shirts,  heat transfers and designed my first website with no experience and with just an idea and a hope to do something I enjoyed and  still be able to afford the little luxuries like food and shelter.             I said goodbye to my awesome condo, boxed my things for storage and moved into my best friend’s garage where for a year and a half I researched the business, opened an online store and attended many local events slinging t-shirts with all the determination I had.  I knew this could work if I worked hard enough and didn’t give up. With the help of my best friend & his garage (and him feeding and keeping a roof over my head), my sister (picking out all the girl stuff and listening to every idea and whim I thought of) and the pure belief that I would make this work Hot Mess T-shirts came into being. Named so by a nickname my friends lovingly called me- Hot Mess T-shirts was born. Here at Hot Mess T-shirts we follow a few simple practices: Provide a great product at a fair price. We are always shopping for the most innovative, cost- effective and eco-friendly options. We can then pass the savings onto our customers, while offering fresh products and being responsible to the environment. Each Hot Mess T-shirt is filled to order specifications to ensure quality and accuracy. We inspect every item and ship directly to you. Reduce the impact our business has on the environment. We use a poly mailer to ship our items that do not go Priority Post. The mailer is made of 30% post consumer recycled material. We do not print care instructions, flyers and coupons. These can all be found on our site and downloaded for your convenience. We are pleased to say that our preferred shipping method is U.S.P.S. Priority Mail that has been 100% Cradle to Cradle certified. Read more here: http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007/pr07_051.htm  And more about their efforts: www.usps.com/strategicplanning/cs09/CSPO_09_055.htm Be innovative and have fun at work: We started in this business because we love t-shirts! We wear our t-shirts and take pride in the products we carry. There is always excitement at our newest design ideas and latest styles and rest assured if we find something doesn’t meet our quality standards or we wouldn't buy it ourselves - we don't carry it. We know that you have a choice and we thank you for choosing us! At Hot Mess – We’ve Got This Down To A Tee! 1 (925) BUY-TEES Or 1 (925) 289-8337 http://hotmesstshirts.com/ E-mail us at: orders@hotmesstshirts.com Size Charts:   Ring spun Cotton Jersey tee   XXS   XS   S   M   L   XL   2XL   3XL Chest (inches)   29-31   30-32   34-36   38-40   42-44   46-48   48-50   50-52 Waist (inches)   27-29   28-30   30-32   32-33   33-34   36-38   40-42   44-48 Description: ·    Unisex tee that looks great on guys AND girls4.5 oz - 30/1’s fine knit jersey  ·    Lighter weight than 'standard' tees ·    100% ring spun cotton for extra softness ·    Fashion Fitted ** ·    Double needled sleeves and bottom hem ·    Tubular construction, ribbed, crew taped neck and shoulders ·    Tear-Away tag. (Heather Gray - 65% Cotton/35% Polyester with a weight of 3.2 oz) ** Has a slight athletic or fashion fit that isn’t ‘boxy’. Runs the same size as your standard tee.     Juniors and Ladies Ringspun Cotton Jersey tee ** Has a very athletic or fashion fit.  Runs smaller sized than your standard tee. We recommend sizing up one full size! Unisex Lightweight Zip Hoodie How To Measure: Chest: Measure under arms around the fullest part of the chest. Be sure to keep tape level across back and comfortably loose. Waist: Measure around natural waist with a loose tape. This sizing chart is approximate.

Hot Mess gets its Bang-On!

I love T-shirts- especially the ones that make me snicker and giggle, or even better the ones that illicit a laugh from a passerby. I'm always jotting down ideas or shopping for that next great shirt. Last month I hit the jackpot in finding Bang-On! Bang on is a Canadian company based in Vancouver and I am pleased to say that Hot Mess now carries many of their fantastic tees. Specializing in vintage retro style design and also carrying some big names like Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock, Bang-On is a rockstar as far as I'm concerned and I look forward to carrying even more of this great line!

Take a look at these great Bang-On T-Shirts now available at hotmesstshirts.com

T-SHIRT WAR!! (stop-motion music video)

When 'Hot Mess' was just in its conception and I was researching everything I could find that was t-shirt related,  I stumbled across this hilarious video. If you haven't caught "T-Shirt War" by Rhett and Link by now, you have been missing out. Catch up with these two T-shirt and entertainment geniuses below.

Scooby and Big Bird and Snoopy...Oh My !

The cartoons are coming !
After some hard decisions and much debate - the first of the new line of licensed t-shirts are coming. With an arrival date of mid-October, Hot Mess is very pleased to announce that we will now offer your favorite characters, shows, product and musician tees!
With so many great characters and products to choose it is impossible to stock all of them, but we look forward to this line growing and being able to offer many more in the coming months. Don't see your favorite? Give us a call and special order them, we will do all the leg work and have them to you in a jiff !
You will find the first arrivals under the licensed t-shirts category at hotmesstshirts.com.
With everything from Superman and Snagglepuss to Charlie Brown and Pink Panther, we hope you love them as much as we do.
Enjoy!

And For This Week's Funny- The Bruce Lee Paper Doll

Mess and The Media Whore

                So here it is the busiest time of year for Hot Mess,  T-shirts are being slung all over the place, the sets are ready, and Mess has called in the troops to the front lines. Graphic Designer Ronnie Wayne Myers answered that call with a sassy new logo for Hot Mess and his ‘Pride ‘design to commemorate Dallas Gay Pride 2010, is exceptional- especially given the fact that Mess called 3 days before Pride with a deadline of about for hours!

Ronnie is skilled in graphic  and website design and specializes in video editing. This self proclaimed 'Media Whore' is solely resand possible for our new logo and Hot Mess being ready for Dallas Pride 2010. Hot Mess is thrilled to have his talents – from new T-shirt designs to designing  custom orders and logos, Ronnie is a blessing to us at Hot Mess T-shirts.  He will be taking over our online store in entirety- so look for new designs and a whole new layout to our site from this superstar!

Ronnie W. Myers

Media Whore
http://http//my4shadow.com/

This Week's funnie - The David Hasselhoff Paper Doll !

214-736-1089

The Origins of Hot Mess

I'm often asked, after the giggling stops, where and why did I choose "Hot Mess" as a name for my business.
The answer is simple- if you cant make fun of yourself and have fun in your business- then what's the point? I admit freely to being a "Hot Mess", (decidedly more of a 'mess' than 'hot'),  but I take great pride just hearing the giggles and seeing the smiles and smirks when I say - .." this is 'Hot Mess calling" or my that business name is spelt "H-o-t M-e-s-s".
So with this all in mind and keeping with the energy of the name I have decided to make this blog informative of our events, updates and new products and to share my successes and abysmal failures but also a place to share a laugh, a link, or  a funny story. From the ideas I have running around in my head  to the pure absurd things I hear or stumble upon and have shared with me.
So enjoy and take pride in being every little bit of the 'Hot Mess' you are ( and trust me - you are !)

Here's todays funnie :

Im going to need to see your license...

Hot Mess has hit another milestone in this crazy business- we are proud to announce that we are now offering licensed t-shirts!
From Betty Boop to Sesame Street, we are pleased to say that on top of our funny and graphic t-shirts we will now be offering some of your all time favorite character and product wear.
We look forward to this line growing to offer a large selection of vinatge and character tees.
Please let us know if we can special order anything for you or if there is something you would like us to carry.
These new products can be found at hotmesstshirts.com under licensed t-shirts.
We hope you enjoy them!

S.E.O.'s, A.P.I.'s , DNS and other techno-babble

It's become part of our vocablulary: "Are you on Facebook?"
I want to respond "I'll have my page call your page" and it dawns on me... a new batch of t-shirts....Facebook...what's to be said about it on a t-shirt?
What isn't?!!
And to the drawing board I go. That's what I love about tees. One minute an notion, a visual or a joke or phrase, and the next is the psssion that brought this whole concept and the enamorment to begin with. I love this business: If I had a warehouse and full printing facility, a studio and a team of elves on amphetamine, I still would have a list as long as my arm on ideas and notes on designs, and things we want to do.
Recently, on top of live events and the website/web-store, we have joined Facebook, have an online photo gallery and portfolio, this blog - we have been assimilated and are on the information super highway. So please hit me up on Facebook, comment here and on our pictures and watch for coupon codes, special offers and information straight to you, and remember...."it's okay to wear your art on your sleeve".

Deep Ellum Outdoor Market

As Hot Mess begins it's journey from a twinkle in our eye to an entity all it's own, we have found lessons, friends and surprises at every turn.
Last weekend we partipated in an outdoor market in Dallas' 'Deep Ellum' (a great neighborhood full of amazing restaurants and bars, tatoo parlors and shops)it was a blast!
We joined local artists and businesses and had a spectacular turnout despite the hundred degree Texas heat. Local musicians lit up the stage, artists displayed their wares and we of course came laden with t-shirts including our tie-dye "Deep Ellum" shirt.
We met many a new friend and through the miracles of social networking like Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/HotMessTshirts) we were able to display our photos and banter with friends and family- those present and those unable to be there.
We celebrated the t-shirts that brought a giggle and shared in how much joy our business has given us.
In addition to our blog and the online store, we have our Facebook page to share with you and our newly developed online photo gallery and web albums. We hope to see you there!

"Tweet Me Right"

Hot Mess just couldn't bear the words "Tweet me." Let me add that by NO means are we 'techies,' -- there were more than a couple of select phrases and many tears at the thought of learning what "tweeting" was -- and since blogging seems to be all the rage, we decided to give it a shot, Hot Mess Style! That no canaries would be harmed in any way, was just an added bonus.

What we DO know is t-shirts. We love everything about them, from the funny phrase we just 'have to see on a tee' to the thrill of watching a passerby strain to read the deliberately small writing on the one we're wearing, to the joy of getting one as a gift. WE LOVE t-shirts!

Hot Mess is always trying to improve our ideas and much of that comes from you, that's why we started carrying a 'Juniors' tee - cut just for the girls, with a tunic length and shorter sleeves (Mess's sister would have it no other way and frankly she's usually right!) and it's also why we chose to use ringspun cotton and a lighter weight t-shirt. We've gotten great reviews on how soft the tees are, that they breathe and aren't boxy like many of the 'concert style' t-shirts out there.

We hope that this blog is a great tool for keeping you up to date on what we're up to, new styles and new ideas, as well as a place for you to let us know your thoughts and share with us. So look for postings as we begin this journey into blogging and into the world of t-shirts. We're glad you're with us and never forget that it's okay to 'wear your art on your sleeve' and if you say something funny and our little ears perk up, you can bet that it's gonna be on a t-shirt soon, and remember if your gonnna be a mess -be a HOT MESS!