Endo Review and Giveaway!

We're so excited to introduce you to Endo!

Endo is here for all your outdoor t-shirt needs with incredible graphic designs to wear.  Cyclist?  Camper?  They're here for us all.  Seriously, what's better than a bright yellow tee with a huge tricycle on it?  Yes, a huge yellow real tricycle would be nice but hey, you couldn't wear that and it would undoubtedly be much harder to come by!

We were happy to discover that the Endo t-shirt is longer than some which is definitely a bonus.  You know, no risk of the bad "low rise jeans - shorter tee - don't bend over or sit" dilemma.  It's also pretty dang soft and comfy.

In addition to this great t-shirt, Endo also sent their logo tote bag.  These kind of backpack tote bags, or "man bags" as all the local teens call them (because all the boys in junior high have them!) are perfect for a light backpack to carry a water bottle, camera, cell phone, snacks, etc., for an impromptu hike, nature walk or trip to the park.

You can learn more about Endo on Facebook and on Twitter where they often hold contests.  They also have a calender of upcoming events that they will be participating in on their Facebook page.  Be sure to add them!  You can also visit them in their Etsy Shop to buy your own fabulous t-shirt for the outdoors plus enter here to win a t-shirt and backpack tote bag!

The giveaway portion of this post is now CLOSED. 
Winner is

tearyeyedstars!!

Just follow these rules to enter the giveaway.  Be sure to leave your email in your comments if it isn't in your profile so I can find you if you win.  Thanks!

MANDATORY ENTRY

*1) Visit Endo and leave a comment on this post with your favorite design or something you learned about Wear Endo.

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES, complete as many as you like:

*2)  Like Wear Endo on Facebook.  Leave a comment and include your Facebook name (first name, last initial).  Please feel free to leave a comment on their Facebook wall if you would like.

*3)  Follow Wear Endo on Twitter.  Leave a comment and include your twitter name. 

*4)  Follow @ArtsyChaos on Twitter.  Leave a comment and include your twitter name.

*5)  Like the Artsy Chaos Facebook fan page.  Leave a comment and include your facebook name.

*6)  Add Endo to your Etsy Favorite shops.  Leave a comment with your Etsy name.

*7)  Follow Artsy Chaos with Google Friend Connect (in the right sidebar--->).  Let me know you follow.

*8)  Tweet this giveaway using the button below the post.  Leave the URL to your tweet!  You can tweet once daily if you'd like, just come back and leave a comment to let me know.  Or, if you'd prefer, share on facebook or another social networking site. Just leave the URL in a comment and let me know (once daily).

And don't forget!!  If you replace your old ratty t-shirts with new snazzy ones from Endo, make a camp blanket with your old ones.  Check out the Artsy Chaos T-Shirt Camp Blanket Tutorial.

Giveaway ends April 9, 2011 at 11:59 pm MST.  Be sure to leave your email or  have it in your blogger profile so we can find you if you win.  Open to residents of the US and Canada who are 18+.  Winner will be selected by a true random generator.  Winner must respond to winning email in 48  hours or a new winner will be selected.  A complimentary t-shirt and backpack tote bag were provided by Endo for purposes of a review and no other compensation was received.  Only honest and unbiased opinions are published.  Thank you to Wear Endo for providing the giveaway prize(s).

Camp Blanket Tutorial, Part I

Throughout our April blog event, we are going to have tutorials and ideas to incorporate crafts into your outdoors and nature experiences.  This tutorial will chronicle the steps needed to create a camp or picnic blanket out of cast-off t-shirts. It's a fun way to recycle your memories!

Part I

I started out with a stack of t-shirts that my husband no longer wanted for whatever reason.  The man is a slave to comfort, not fashion.  I decided that I did not want a traditional t-shirt quilt because that's just the way I roll.  Hence, the quilt is going to have a more "log cabin" quilt look to it.

First, cut off the sleeves of the t-shirt.  

Next, cut open the shoulder seams and down one side of the shirt.  Basically it will look like a muscle shirt connected on one side.

Now the tricky part begins.  I'm horrible with math and have a hard time explaining how I come to an equation so forgive me if this part is muddy.  Every t-shirt has a different graphic or pattern and each is a different size and shape.  As such, each block of the quilt will be different but each block needs to be the same finished size.  A standard twin size quilt is 39"x75" and I've used this as a sort of guideline.  The finished quilt size will undoubtedly not be standard though!  I've decided to make my finished quilt blocks 20"x24".  The tricky part is accounting for the seam allowances.  I use a 1/2" seam allowance. 

For me, the easiest thing to do is cut out the main center graphic of the t-shirt (making sure that it is cut in whole inch increments and no fractions of inches) and go from there.  I also use a sharpie to mark my lines for cutting since it gets cut off anyway or ends up in the seam.  If only I had a rotary cutter I suspect this part would be easier!

The part of the t-shirt you cut out will be the center of one quilt block.

In Part II we will address adding strips around the center of the quilt block.  The part that challenges my math abilities, or lack thereof.  Enjoy the Chaos!

See you next time!

Close To Home Event Kick-Off!!

We're so excited to have you here participating in our April blog event...

"Close To Home Camping and Nature Art"

Just in time to get ready for summer!

To find out more about all the fun stuff we will be doing this month, please visit the Close To Home Event page for all the details and upcoming goodies.

We'd like to start with a bang with our sponsor HealthyHikerGear.com!  Sound good?  We think so.

There are so many things to do and places to go for a vacation close to home.  I've heard some refer to this as "staycationing".  Camping, hiking, picnicking or even hanging out in the backyard with a fire pit and some marshmallows can be loads of fun for you and your families. This picture is one of my very most favorite places in the whole world to go and it's just over an hour away!

There are so many products which make camping, picnicking and hiking easy and affordable and shopping is right at your fingertips.  HealthyHikerGear.com is an online retailer of all the camping and hiking gear you need PLUS lots of awesome gear for backyard and other outdoors fun.  Have you ever gone out in the backyard at night with headlamps and searched for bugs in the lawn?  Super fun!  Have you ever camped at the beach and searched for shells in the morning?  Ok, we're nowhere near the ocean here but I am going to guess, super fun!  Have you ever headed out on an impromptu day hiking trip with camera in hand?  Again, super fun!

HealthyHikerGear.com also offers a broad selection of sleeping bags (because some of us are picky when it comes to what type of bag we will sleep in!), solar and battery flashlights and tent accessories including heaters and showers for those that prefer to be pampered in the great outdoors.  Oh, back to those sleeping bags... believe me, claustrophobia and mummy bags do not mix! .shudder.

I think we would all agree that one of the very basics of spending time in the outdoors is having a tent and guess what?  Yes!  HealthyHikerGear.com has generously offered one of you lucky Artsy Chaos readers a tent of your very own!

This gorgeous Eureka Tetragon 5 tent is up for grabs!  A retail value of $75.  Eureka has been making quality products since 1895 and Healthy Hiker Gear is an authorized retailer.  The Tetragon 5 tent is lightweight and sets up easily making it perfect for hiking trips.  We really like that it has a "bathtub" bottom to prevent leaks from rain and splashing.  Can't wait to win it?  The Eureka Tetragon 5 can be purchased at Healthy Hiker Gear.

The giveaway portion of this post is now CLOSED.  Congrats to our winner, SETexasMama !!

Want to enter the giveaway?  Just follow these rules.  Be sure to leave your email in your comments if it isn't in your profile so I can find you if you win.  Thanks!

MANDATORY ENTRY Do either OR both of the following for 1 entry each.

*1)  Like Healthy Hiker Gear on Facebook. Leave a comment and include your Facebook name (first name, last initial).  Please feel free to leave a comment on their Facebook wall if you would like.

*2)  Follow Healthy Hiker Gear on Twitter.  Leave a comment and include your twitter name. 

Please note:  If you have neither a Facebook nor Twitter account and would still like to enter, please shoot an email to artsychaos@ yahoo(DOT)com for an alternate method.

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES, complete as many as you like:

*3)  Visit HealthyHikerGear.com and leave a comment with another product you'd like to try.

*4)  Follow @ArtsyChaos on Twitter.  Leave a comment and include your twitter name.

*5)  Like the Artsy Chaos Facebook fan page.  Leave a comment and include your facebook name.

*6)  Follow the Healthy Hiker Gear Blog via RSS or email subscription.  Let me know you follow.

*7)  Follow Artsy Chaos with Google Friend Connect (in the right sidebar--->).  Let me know you follow.

*8)  Tweet this giveaway using the button below the post.  Leave the URL to your tweet!  You can tweet once daily if you'd like, just come back and leave a comment to let me know.  Or, if you'd prefer, share on facebook or another social networking site. Just leave the URL in a comment and let me know (once daily).

Giveaway ends April 21, 2011 at 11:59 pm MST.  Be sure to leave your email or  have it in your blogger profile so I can  find you if you win.  Open to residents of the US and Canada who are 18+.  Winner will be selected  by a true random generator.  Winner must respond to winning email in 48  hours or a new winner will be selected.  No compensation was given for this article.  Thank you to HealthyHikerGear.com for providing the winner with their prize.

April Blog Event Page and Calendar

Thanks for stopping by the  
Close to Home Camping and Nature Art Event 
at Artsy Chaos!  

We're thrilled to have you here!

This event will run for the entire month of April.

The following is a listing (with links when they go live) of giveaways, articles and other fun things going on this month.  Be sure to check back often so you don't miss anything!

April 1st-21st - Healthy Hiker Gear Tent Giveaway

April 2nd - Camp Blankets from Recycled T-Shirts Tutorial, Part I

April 2nd-9th - Endo Wear Review and Giveaway

April 4th - Crazy Dog T-Shirt Review

April 6th - Enjoying the Night Sky and Yanni Truth of Touch Album Review

April 9th - Camp Smartypants Spotlight and Giveaway

April 12th - Camp Smartypants Sit-Upon Tutorial


April 16th - Nachomama Tees Review


April 18th - Cover Your Hair Review and Giveaway

Costume Squad T-Shirt Giveaway


Nature-Watch Gold Diggins Kit Review and Giveaway

March Giveaway Winners!

Thanks to everyone who entered the latest giveaways!

Be sure to drop by in April for our big Close To Home camping and nature art event.  

We have some big giveaways and great articles and reviews in store.

And now... the latest randomly selected winners at Artsy Chaos....

TheraBreath New Winner!  Sadly, the first notified winner did not respond. :(

So congrats to #2 Tracy Suzanne!

Handmade "Toothpaste Art" Card Winner!

#25 beth

$25 CSN GC Winner!

#108 cw

Congratulations!  You have each been contacted with further instructions.  Watch your email. :)