Episode #848
May 3, 2025
Paula’s side of the closet is pink. My side used to be tie-dyed.
Recently, I’ve had a fondness for Hawaiian shirts and now my side of the closet is a cacophony of colorful patterns.
Some have interesting, artistic patterns. One of the first Hawaiian shirts I bought was the pattern of Vincent Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night.”
Paula and I went to arts and crafts day in Idyllwild. People stopped me and said, “Oh! That’s Starry, Starry Night.” I had to reply, “Close, but that is a lyric from Don McLean’s song “Vincent”.” It is surprising how music can influence our cultural awareness.
Some shirts I would call Hawaiian are sold as bowling shirts. A favorite of mine is a mid-century modern illustration which looks like a cross between Alexander Calder and the Jetsons.
A stately black cat sits on a Flash Gordon rocket ship. The moon is depicted in an Art Deco style. In a nod to bowling, the craters on the moon are the three-hole pattern of a bowling ball.
Subtle. Cool.
Another favorite is a pattern of large flowers with parachutists woven between the pedals.
When I went to a Servite High School dinner celebration I wore my Hawaiian shirt with the Servite logos in the pattern.
When Paula goes rummaging in Thrift stores, I now have a reason to shop for shirts. Some Hawaiian shirts in Hawaii cost more than $100. A very nice, unique, name-branded shirt at Goodwill costs $10.
I have had my eye on some very artistic, graphically interesting Hawaiian shirts on the Internet. I have to be restrained from buying them because my penchant for the style is giving my friends ideas for gifts.
The other day I was wearing a Hawaiian shirt. I hung my camera around my neck, planning to take pictures of wildflowers.
It was a nice day so I wore shorts. I had my floppy hat on to keep off the sun. My plan included trudging through the brush so I put on my white socks and hiking shoes. Displace me from the chaparral to touristing at Disneyland and I am a mirror image of my grandfather on vacation.
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You and Bob should get together to compare Hawaiian shirts. Maybe to trade.
Do you enjoy making your own tie dye shirts
Just recently made a tie dye shirt. First in many years. Have more planned. I would like to try black shirt tie dye where you beach tie dye the black shirt, then color it.
Nicely done, love the photos
Oh that sounds really interesting. Nothing to do with shirts but I like to play disc golf and I’ve been really getting into dying the discs. I think it’s a similar satisfaction
How do you dye a disc?
I love Caulder’s mobiles…one of my favorite artists!!
Here is one especially appropriate to my shirt. https://media.mcachicago.org/image/IBI5WWYM/display.webp
Rick, you’d love Shibori dying process. Japanese indigo blue dye. Gorgeous results and so much fun. Save all your white clothes and linens. Once you start, you can’t stop.
How very interesting. I bet you know alot about dying and printing fabric since you have been a fabric illustrator. Here is a link for the rest of the viewers to enjoy. https://www.google.com/search?q=Shibori+dying+process.+Japanese+indigo+blue+dye.&sca_esv=032488618a09524f&source=hp&ei=yFkVaMPkNZO5kPIP5pLf4AY&iflsig=ACkRmUkAAAAAaBVn2BqQqQYKQopMOqYvL-VIoX95xEhv&ved=0ahUKEwjD6IXK_IWNAxWTHEQIHWbJF2wQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=Shibori+dying+process.+Japanese+indigo+blue+dye.&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IjBTaGlib3JpIGR5aW5nIHByb2Nlc3MuIEphcGFuZXNlIGluZGlnbyBibHVlIGR5ZS4yBxAhGKABGAoyBxAhGKABGAoyBxAhGKABGApIighQAFgAcAB4AJABAJgBTKABTKoBATG4AQPIAQD4AQL4AQGYAgGgAlSYAwCSBwExoAeVBbIHATG4B1Q&sclient=gws-wiz#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:a515de41,vid:7ceMAQ8L6sU,st:0