Tell us about your business and how you got started.

Mumble Tease actually got started kind of accidentally and mostly for selfish reasons. After graduating from the Alberta College of Art and Design in 2008 with a Bachelor of Design specializing in illustration, I decided, on a whim, to take a three-day continuing education silk screening on fabric course at the college with the idea of making myself some t-shirts with my own doodles on them. I immediately fell in love with the process and loved seeing my simple line drawings come to life in ink on fabric. Not soon after, I set up a very basic screen-printing area in my parents’ basement, and began making shirts for myself, and for friends, and then to try selling at a couple of local indie markets. Making t-shirts began taking up more and more of my time until there was no denying that I had created my own t-shirt company. 

I’ve been making shirts full time for Mumble Tease for the past six years, and silk screen my art on a variety of styles of apparel for men, women, and kids of all ages. I’ve added different equipment and processes over the years that help make things more efficient, but continue to use all of my own original ideas and artwork which I still silk screen by hand, by myself, in my sweet basement studio here in Calgary. The designs all begin as doodles in one of my many sketchbooks, which I have flipping through to choose the next Mumble Tease designs. I love seeing my drawings come to life on the fabric and feel like I’m brightening the world one silly shirt at a time!

Why did you decide to work with the Library Store?

Because I love books!! There’s something so special about sitting down with a physical book and getting lost in its world (I wish I had more time to read!). I thought it would be great to help raise funds for, and promote Calgary’s public library, so future generations can also have access to the magical world that is books and appreciate the beauty of ink on paper.

Your products are unique ranging from glow in the dark kids shirts to stuff for adults where do you find your inspiration?

That’s a great question! Most of my designs start as doodles in one of my many sketchbooks, and usually when I draw, I don’t have anything specific in mind, but prefer to put down some random lines or shapes and then let my imagination take over to create an image. Or sometimes a design will be based on some experience I’ve had, or something I think is funny or interesting. My “Man in the Moon” design, for example, came from my confusion as a kid with the expression “the man in the moon.” I guess it’s supposed to be a face, but I always pictured a full person, head to toe, and was trying to see his silhouette in the moon. So I imagined the man getting squished each month as the moon slowly disappears.

What makes your products special?

I think it’s my unique artwork that people connect with when they see my shirts. I have a whimsical and quirky sense of humour and love being able to share this with other people in an easily accessible and functional way. I’m not concerned about following trends, but instead try to focus on creating work that comes from my heart and soul, drawing on my own experiences and stories. With each new design, I’m exploring different ideas and techniques and trying to grow as an artist and screen printer. In many ways, I’m still just making myself shirts with my own doodles on them, and it’s just a bonus that there are other people out there who also get excited about my art and the work I do as a screen printer.

Where can people find more of your work?

I sell my work mainly in person at different markets and festivals in and around Calgary (you can find a list of my Upcoming Events on my website!), and then you can always shop online right off of my own website at www.mumbletease.com.

What is your fondest memory of the library? 

Hmmm, probably my years as a teenager when I first had the freedom to walk to the library on my own and sign out whatever books and CDs I wanted (I discovered so many great musicians this way!). The possibilities were endless.

What is your favourite book?

Oh, that’s a tough one! If I had to choose just one, it would probably be “The Epiplectic Bicycle,” by Edward Gorey. It was the first Edward Gorey book that I came across, and I was so taken with it’s weirdness, quirky text, and gorgeous drawings. I love so many of his books and his strange, non-sensical sense of humour, not to mention all of his detailed, beautifully composed illustrations! So good!