Heart of Lincoln Land

My display at the downtown Springfield farmer’s market on June 5th, showing my Lincoln T-shirts. That’s me wearing the blue "Back to Springfield" T-shirt.

Last month, my Lincoln Apparel T-shirts were accepted into the artisan area at the downtown Springfield farmer’s market. I was, and still am, excited! I’ve never done in-person shows like this before, only selling online and to local shops, so I never really get to see the customers who buy my T-shirts. Now, I have a chance to see how local residents and tourists react to my T-shirts, tell them how I make them, and maybe a little about Lincoln in the process.

June 5th was my first day at the market. I didn’t know what to expect, since I’d never done it before. In the week prior, I looked around for things I could use to create a display. It had to be lightweight, since I’d be doing this myself. So I went to some stores within walking distance of where I live, and got a table and chairs, a drying rack to hang samples of the T-shirts from, and posterboard to make a sign. I got some notecards to make little signs to put on the display T-shirts so people could see how much they cost and what sizes were available, and a little cooler so I could bring drinks. I didn’t get a tent because I didn’t want to add too much weight and because I didn’t think I’d need one for a show that was only 5 hours long, but now I’m rethinking that, particularly with the weather last Saturday. I can always upgrade my display though, if I feel the need.

You can see the display in the picture above (along with me, the Lincoln Apparel artist, wearing a blue "Back to Springfield" T-shirt). I took the picture (and the other pictures you see here) with my cellphone, since I forgot to bring my camera, so that’s why they look a little washed out. The posterboard didn’t quite work out, so I’ll need to find something stronger for the next time (I ended up taping the sign to the table since I couldn’t get it to stand up correctly). I might get a little boombox with a CD/MP3 player in it eventually so I can have some cool 80s music to listen to while I’m there.

The State Capitol as visible from my space at the downtown Springfield Farmer’s Market on June 5th. You can see some of the other artisans there.

The morning of June 5th was gray and humid, with clouds threatening rain, but I pressed on anyway. I was excited to do my first market. Most of the time it was dry, but every now and then a few sprinkles fell and it started to rain for about a half hour at 10. I’m thankful I got a tarp to cover up all the T-shirts in case that happened. My sign got all wet though, which ruined it because I used my printer to print it and inkjet ink is water-soluble. I think I’ll put mailing tape over the whole sign the next time, since that’s what I did for the notecard signs on the T-shirts and the ink didn’t run on those.

There weren’t as many people at the market as I’ve normally seen, probably because of the damp and rainy weather. It appeared that some of the other artists didn’t come, so I was kind of an island on the east side of the parking lot near the buildings on the south side of Adams Street. However, I did get plenty of people looking at my T-shirts, and many people remarked at how colorful and complex they were. When I told people who were looking that I love Lincoln and that I designed these T-shirts including the artwork, they seemed very impressed. I had many people ask me when I was going to be at the market next; I wish I had made up some cards with my schedule on it.

I did end up selling two of my T-shirts to one person. Not quite as many as I thought I would, but I attribute that to the rain keeping people away. The T-shirts were "Immortal Words at Gettysburg" and "Purpose". Hopefully the next time, the weather will be better and more people will be there.

It was a great experience, though. I enjoyed talking to people in person and seeing their reactions. It’s so much more enjoyable than just selling on the Internet. It’s interesting noting how customers interpret my artwork, and seeing which shirts they like the best. It’s neat to see what kinds of people my T-shirts attract, and they attracted what seemed to be a rather diverse group of customers. And the customers seemed to enjoy it too, since they can touch, see, and feel my T-shirts instead of just looking at a picture on a web site. The hardest part is just setting it up and taking it down, and transporting it (I got a dolly to help with that), which I’ll practice more in the future before my next day at the market, which will be June 12th.

I will also be at the downtown Springfield farmer’s market on July 3rd, August 7th, September 4th, and October 2nd. I’m thinking of adding additional days in between, particularly during the rest of June, July, and August, when tourist season is at its peak and people are looking for T-shirts. I hope to see you there sometime!

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"Immortal Words at Gettysburg" Lincoln T-shirt by Lincoln Apparel

It’s fun as an artist being able to live your passion, and see how other people enjoy your work. It gives me a sense of pride, and accomplishment, knowing that other people enjoy my artistic vision that I put so much work into.

Last Saturday, I sold 3 of my Lincoln T-shirts to a tourist from Chicago. I sold them through Springfield Novelties and Gifts, the shop in downtown Springfield where I have some of my shirts for sale. I was on one of my regular walks through downtown, stopping in the store checking on them, when the owner told me that they sold. He stated that the tourist thought that my artwork was "really good", and that the tourist enjoyed the fact that I am local. I sold one of my "Back to Springfield" T-shirts, one of my "Equality" T-shirts, and one of my "Immortal Words at Gettysburg" T-shirts to that tourist that day. I was ecstatic when I found out that it happened – I felt proud and humbled at the same time that there are perfect strangers who love my Lincoln artwork!

Then on Monday, I sold a T-shirt on my website to somebody in Brazil. It’s neat thinking there are people in other countries who enjoy your work! The Internet is a neat place sometimes, isn’t it? Slowly but surely, it seems that my work is getting out there, and it proves that Abraham Lincoln is admired in many different places. I started Lincoln Apparel because I wanted to spread Lincoln and his message through my wearable art T-shirts, and now it’s happening. Isn’t that cool?

I’m thinking of putting a world map on the Lincoln Apparel website showing all the places I’ve sold T-shirts to. It’d be fun to see how many states and countries have ordered at least one of my Lincoln T-shirts!

Interestingly, "Immortal Words at Gettysburg", a T-shirt I made to illustrate Lincoln’s multicultural appeal, remains one of my most popular sellers. I’m going to make more of them (since I’m selling out of the ones I have), this time with the design printed as an oversize "full-front" print, so that more of the detail in the fonts in the Gettysburg Address text can be seen. I think it’d turn out great that way – it’s a design that’s begging to be printed so that it fills up the front of the shirt. I’ll let you know about this and any other cool Lincoln designs I have coming. T-shirts are a great way to spread Lincoln’s message, and that’s one reason why I love making them!

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