This submission is quite the double entendre.

Although it’s not something I would ever wear, I’m nonetheless impressed by the outstanding quality of art.

Verdict: 4 (View Submission)

I apologize for catching this design on its last two days, but I thought it was just too lovely not to share.

For once, the incongruity between design elements (in this case the cloud, rain and figure) actually works to the advantage of the illustration. It also successfully incorporates hearts and the color pink without being obnoxious.

I’m not too sure about it working as a Red Cross submission, but then again, it’s good to see something different.

Verdict: 4 (View Submission)

Wednesday, we reported on Alex’s snazzy new voting Widget. Having personally tried it out, I can say I’m very impressed. The simple interface allows for quick and hassle free voting and you can now view a large number of submissions without even opening a browser.

While I agree with Chris’ suggestions (particularly about adding a “would buy” button), I still love the Widget as is and I can see myself using it quite regularly.

Alex also let us know that the Yahoo! Widget is now up for beta-testing. He invites Windows users to give it a try as he works out the final bugs, so please lend him a hand if you’re at all interested. You can find downloads for both the Yahoo! and Apple versions via his profile.

Thanks again, Alex, for keeping us up-to-date on your exciting project.

“Thank you Mario! But our Princess is in another castle!”

I really like this shirt, and I think it’s flexible enough color-wise that we could see it on a whole bunch of combinations. I’m a fan of the “forest” background style and though the princess is a bit chubby for royalty, I doubt any loss of weight would encourage the knight in… the… well, the now-naked knight, I suppose, to return for her. But damn if that dragon isn’t going to own *someone* here…

Adorable. And with the comments it’s getting over on the sub page, I can see this one getting the File -> Print command by the Threadless crew soon enough.
Verdict: 5 + Would Buy (View Submission)

Alex writes in to tell us he’s gone and posted a pretty sweet Apple Dashboard Widget that takes the Threadless-Widget concept one step further and lets you actually browse and vote on submissions!

We previously gave a shout out to DCo1 for his Catalog-browsing Widget, but Alex’s is the first we’ve caught wind of that actually lets you vote on subs. (Though I must admit, I prefer the laidback aesthetics of the DCo1 style, it’s obvious Alex is going for a match of the Threadless sub pages themselves. Maybe we could get a better font for the text, Alex? Some Calibri or something similarly light-hearted, perhaps? I jest—it’s really quite awesome.)

He also makes special mention of his desire to recode the widget as a Yahoo! (formerly Konfabulator) Widget, which means even XP Pro users like me will be able to get in on the vote-on-the-fly ideal.

My only complaint, despite having not used the widget at all, is the ommission of a Would Buy button, one of the most critical determining factors for printage on a design sub.

Thanks for the heads up, Alex!

Download Page [Apple, 100K, Freeware]
See Also [Threadless Catalog Widget]

Of all the interesting submissions finding their way onto Threadless this week, I’m not exactly sure why I chose this one to review.

I guess I kind of like it in a way. I can certainly appreciate the tongue-in-cheek humor, for while it reads “I don’t like offensive T’s” the design is simultaneously flipping the viewer off.

But that also brings up the question as to whether the image is condoning or condemning offensive shirts. (Irony is a perplexing creature indeed.) I may be reading too far into it, but clarification of the intended message couldn’t hurt either way. I also would have scored higher if the illustration had more artistic intrigue. Although I really enjoy the style, it just feels too bland.

Our very own CheesecakeBree sent this sub in for the Red Cross competition. I think the sentiment is certainly solid, though there seemed to be a good deal of talk over the text’s necessity and specifics. I think it works, and though I wouldn’t find myself wearing a chicken shirt anytime soon, I can totally see the volunteers at a blood bank sporting the chicken proudly.

I wouldn’t mind seeing maybe a bit more to make it something more than “chicken with band-aid,” but one must watch the line of cute and macabre, lest things get quite… messy.

Show Bree some support and take a moment to go vote for this, won’t you?
Verdict: 4 (View Submission)

Give is an interesting design. Once again playing into the “trees and nature” cliche, it pulls off the silhouette ideal rather artistically, though I have absolutely no clue what’s actually happening in this scene, and I don’t think it works as a Red Cross design.

Perhaps the outdoorsy nurse is giving the small, blithe child a chess set. Or, as others have suggested, a pizza. I’m not sure I’m a fan of the “web safe color” dots that appear on the design, and I wonder if they’d make it to the printed design.

It’s still a pretty design, but it’s not for me, and I hesitate to say it’s for the Red Cross. I do like the colors a lot, though.

Verdict: 3 (View Submission | More Red Cross Subs)

Threadless ushers in the week with two refreshing reprints and four funky new designs.

An unfortunate carrot faces certain doom (and expresses my feelings towards the design perfectly) in Bunnies. Printed on dark grey for guys and girls alike, this is the ideal shirt for deranged rabbit fans everywhere.

People In The Sky continues the weirdness with people-like beings romping upon a cloud amid lighting, rain and a gaint sprouting index finger. With blue, orange and white ink, the design works strikingly well on a brown tee.

For a garden-fresh feel, you can pick up Be Green. This simple but Summery design is a must have for nature lovers. (Or, I suppose, if you just really love green.)

Last but not least, is the whimsical Playful Hands sporting itself on royal blue. Two enormous hands serve tea and act as seating for a pair of delighted children making this one the most surreal of the bunch.

Also, Threadless alludes to an upcoming sale in their most recent newsletter so be prepared for Summer savings. Stay tuned to Loves Threadless, we’ll do our best to keep you up-to-date with the latest deals.

Four New:
Bunnies
People In The Sky
Be Green
Playful Hands

Refreshing Reprints:
Missing Piece
Water, Just Water

This design is brilliantly drawn and just such a fun idea. Plus, it reminds me of Curse of Monkey Island’s artistic style which I aboslutely adore. It’s charming, it’s evocative and it’s adorable. I would buy this in a heartbeat, either on the eggplant color or, perhaps, dakota slate.

I love how terrified the pirates are. It’s very “This is why we can’t have nice things!”

I know I’m keeping this pretty short, but I’m truly in love with this design. It’s one of my favorites so far.

Verdict: 5 + Would Buy (View Submission)

This could use a few modifications (i.e. alternate shirt colors, more contoured checkers, other placement options) but otherwise the design is very attractive.

All in all, a nicely crafted illustration with a lot of potential.

Verdict: 3 (View Submission)

No words in the English language can accurately describe my initial feelings towards this design. Horror and revulsion come pretty darn close, however.

I’m sorry that I have to give it an outright zero since I admit the line art is really quite nice. I just wish it had been applied to something less nightmarish and given, say, color and a concept.

Verdict: 0 (View Submission)

This design is really pretty fantastic as another entry for the Red Cross Loves Threadless competition. I love the colors, the balance of the shapes and the positioning, and it has just enough detail and thought in it to really make it work. I can honestly see this winning the competition because it seems to have a certain universal appeal for anyone who would consider purchasing a Red Cross-contest-themed shirt to begin with.

I’m also a huge fan of Dakota Slate, so… yeah.

Verdict: 5 (View Submission | More Red Cross Subs)

As you may or may not know, I have a deep affection for rabbits. But all bias aside, this is one freakishly rad design.

The congruency between rabbit, wings and carrot is superb and the overall style has an appealing quality.

It’s the creature’s blithe little expression, however, that just makes the whole design for me.

Verdict: 4 + Would Buy (View Submission)

The Threadless community never fails to amuse me, if not by virtue of their comedic, satirical designs, then by the comments others leave on those designs. Deathforlife by swaggs portrays a hand gripping a human heart serving as the root structure for a (budding rose?) flower of some sort. It’s a unique concept, and I like the line art he uses, but I think the flower could be further along its developmental cycle, and that something else could be added to flesh (heh) out the design more. Maybe some surroundings? Maybe a field of small heart-root-flowers in the background? I’m not sure, but I’m also not emo enough to ever wear it, though it’s quite clever.

Still, Threadless user PatheticIndividual (seriously) was left with the following impressions:

PatheticIndividual, at 8:14pm on Apr 18, 2006
You are an emo fag. Don’t cut too deep or your boyfriend might be able to cry with you anymore.

And rough as that was, it made me laugh.

Verdict: 2 (View Submission)