California Creatables

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During the period of the hot T-shirt and sweatshirt painting craze, before iron-on appliques came into widespread use, we created a "special decorating process". We silk-screened designs on a patch of specially treated cloth that could then be cut out and ironed onto a shirt and then painted with fabric paint within the outline that we had screened on the cloth, following the directions and using the accessories we supplied in the kit. The results were striking, and even a child could produce professional-looking results.

We gave the process the name "California Creatables." We created sales tools and developed a kit of items that we placed in a clear clam-shell plastic case. The plastic case was heat sealed to one of our "Band-A-Board" shirt decorating boards. Inside the plastic case, in addition to the special cloth with the outlined design silk-screened on it, were accessories such as glitter, beads, bows, and other decorations depending upon the design being packaged. Someone with very little artistic ability could easily create a beautiful design and enhance it simply by using fabric paint and the accessories we provided for the designs. The result: an attractive T-shirt or sweatshirt guaranteed to draw favorable notice whenever it was worn.

The California Creatables line, unique in a highly competitive market, was sold in craft and fabric stores throughout North America. Within a year "iron-on appliqu»s" became extremely popular to where this niche became a multimillion dollar market. Regardless, we sold the rights to the process and the product line because this type of product requires continuos new designs. Where our preference is for products that, once established, will remain consistent without the need for re-design for 5 or more years.