Happy New Year

Hey everyone, I know I've been out of pocket lately with the holidays all a blaze. But with the new year upon us I had to check back in to thank everyone who supported Grits throughout 2010. I am excited for what's next here at Grits, we're already cooking up lot of new designs and planning a few experiences for the new year. So stay tuned!!!

Anyway we are two days away from the new year. If 2010 was awful, well, it's all over and now you get a new start. If 2010 was amazing, well, it's all over and now you get a new start.

See how it works?

2010 ends forever tomorrow night. Then it's time to start working on an even better 2011, and if you start today, you'll be two days ahead of everyone else.


No Grits No Glory

Christmas in Hollis

I collect stuff.

For some reason, this time of year always has me collecting all types of random stuff. I try my hardest to hold back because I know once I start collecting something that keeps being produced in amazing variations, it may turn into an addiction. Oh well, At least it’s not drugs!




I love Mad magazine. This is my favorite, Issue 11!! Cover illustration done by one of favorites Basil Wolverton.


I found the perfect piece for the bathroom!! Illustration by another one of my favorite artist, Robert Crumb.


And where would I be with my Maneki Neko. He keeps the luck coming.

How to Make Cheese Grits

Its no secret I love cheese grits. So its a surprise to me when I occasionally run into people that never had or even heard of cheese grits. Since I am not much of a cook, by any sorts, I found a tutorial. If you don't know, now you know.

Irreplaceable

Our society exists in a state of over supply. And that's not just talking shelf space. As we face a significant shift in culture. Especially as it relates to [un]employment rates.There is now an excess of resources, resumes and people competing for jobs. So my questions is, how many of us are truly irreplaceable? And I am not just referring to irreplaceability to our employers, but in our lives. At any given moment there are hundreds or evens thousands of people that can do what we do, how we do, as well as... or even better. So what's your unique selling point, competitive advantage or super power?

In a world where mediocrity once held a long reign. (Get this degree, climb that ladder, buy more "stuff".) We are now being shown that being average actually puts you at a disadvantage in life. A goal of life must be to find your passion and do it uniquely and exquisitely and do it in a way that keeps you from being lost in the sea of mediocrity.

Angry by Tarelkin

Stand by

Please stand by while I pull out the pencils and Sharpies & start getting back into the swing of things. It was hectic last week but we all made it through. Either way I’ll be doing my best to stay on top of the daily blogging — all while cooking up new ways to give you some "Southern Hospitality". We had an excellent meeting today & went over a good chunk of the current + future plans of Grits. Now it’s time to pull out the pots and start cooking! Very excited!

Delicious Grits

Inspiration can come from anywhere. Even boring company meetings that lead to no action. as As a way to counteract sleep at my last meeting, I drew some ideas for next year. Here is one of them. Yes? No? Maybe?

Ideas, Ideas, Ideas

We at Grits have been drowning in work lately, but that doesn't stop us from a new flood of ideas. We've got some hot stuff just about to boil over... and you know we plan on servin' up the good stuff! New fun, new adventures, new art! We promise not to tease you with lingering aromas for to long... in the meantime here's a taste!

Case of the Mondays

The last two weeks have been pretty busy so please bare with me. So many days of running with little or no sleep eventually catches up to you or maybe I have a case of the Mondays.

Servin the goodstuff

The newest issue of The Chattabox Zine was released a while back. However, if you haven't got one yet there will be some available at our favorite shops in Houston; Premium Goods, Tipping Point, Sucker Punch, and Check Other Outfitters. They are Free and are included with each order online. Hint... Hint

Make Art Make Love

I ran in to some old friends a few weeks back. They told me how much they loved the blog, but one was a little confused as to why I choose to use the word passion as a substitute for the word art. My answer was, "Everyone doesn't understand art but everyone understands passion."

With that being said, anyone who has made art and/or has had the good fortune of making love knows why passion is paramount.
Making art is sexy. Making art passionately is even sexier.

That’s why we do it…

Everyone else

A little over a year ago I ended a lengthy relationship. While there were many reasons that ultimately led to "the break-up", one in particular always picked at me slowly over the years; I always felt that I was being pushed to be mediocre. To be like everyone else.

It has always bothered me how school and societal standard has groomed us to be average, to be like everyone else. Belong. Fit in. Conform. I can't deny that there have been times I did just that, followed suit to get by from job to job, get through one class to the next. Ironically even when I was excelling by these standards and "performing well", an undeniable scent of the status quo covered me. And I hated the smell.

Every job everyone commended me on was actually the subconscious bane of my existence. I wanted out. Internally I was tired of my parents, friends, "mentors", even my then girlfriend telling me "to be realistic" and do something that was deemed as "safe." Nonetheless I accepted it. The mediocrity. In my job, relationships and in my life. It wasn't until after my ex and I broke up that I began to ask myself one question:

What do you really want to get out of life?

For me it was simply to create. To push forward with my art. To design cool shirts. No matter how menial that may have sounded to some, perhaps even most, I simply wanted to make cool shirts. And the first step towards that realization was to stop being mediocre; stop being realistic. In fact it was time to "be unrealistic" and follow my passion.

Every person who tells you to "be realistic" is asking you to be mediocre. They are suggesting you compromise your ideas and ideals in the name of security. But, our mantra at Grits Apparel is No Grits No Glory; We focus on the way things could be rather than the way things were. Some of the best ideas may seem unrealistic, but what would you rather do?... live like everyone else?