Tagged: #crushthedebt

Nov 22

10 Best-selling t-shirt designs at Malarkey Pie

Bold (and often snarky) graphic designs for geeks and science-y types abound at Malarkey Pie, but some designs rise to the top and become best-sellers. Here is a review of the designs that have been purchased recently! Every single item that I sell helps me to pay down my student loan even faster!

1. Apparently, fiber geeks also like coffee (or tea! or hot cocoa!)

I am not easily distracted... oh look, Yarn!

I am not easily distracted… oh look, Yarn!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Do you love that science fiction television show with the LSD dropping mad scientest, the peacoat wearing prodigal son, the sensible show wearing FBI agent, and a Holstein cow named Jean? Yeah, I loved FRINGE, too! Because, really, every laboratory needs a cow!

Every science lab needs a cow like Jean!

Every science lab needs a cow like Jean!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Even feminists love a  comfy t-shirt, and they really seemed to love this fiery feminist symbol. This seemed to pop up on jewelry a lot.

Where there is smoke there is a fiery feminist heart

Where there is smoke there is a fiery feminist heart

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Edgar Allen Poe himself  would probably drink absinthe wearing this t-shirt.

I'm just  Poe boy from a Poe family!

I’m just Poe boy from a Poe family!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. If you are looking for geekwear for your favorite geek to wear while watching Star Wars for the thirty thousandth time, then this is just the thing.

Come to the dork side! We have pie!

Come to the dork side! We have pie!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Inspired by Dante Alighieri’s 14th-century poem, the Divine Comedy, this design  showcases beautiful calligraphy.

Inspired by Dante Alighieri's 14th-century poem, the Divine Comedy.

Inspired by Dante Alighieri’s 14th-century poem, the Divine Comedy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. The great state of Oregon is represented here. Pentagon, Octagon, Oregon!

Pentagon! Octagon! Oregon!

Pentagon! Octagon! Oregon!

 

 

 

 

8. The Ride of the Valkyries is not just an awesome song by Wagner used in a quirky slapstick comedy called Apocalypse Now. No, these awesome female riders carry the heroic Viking fallen warriors to Valhalla.

Ride of the Valkyries

Ride of the Valkyries

 

 

 

 

 

9. The real Seven Deadly Sins ….

The seven deadly sins ...

The seven deadly sins …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Not all who wander are lost. Tolkien’s words are so right on today.

Not all who wander are lost....

Not all who wander are lost….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check back for more best-selling t-shirts and gifts for geeks and scientists!

0
comments

Jun 13

Press Release: Artist is crushing student loan debt with t-shirts and coffee mugs

Salem, OR,  June 12, 2013.

With student loan debt passing $1 trillion dollars, one doctoral graduate is taking an unusual approach to paying off her debt. Dr. Althea Rizzo, a 2010 Ph.D. graduate from Oregon State University, is selling her graphic designs on apparel and gift items at Cafepress.com to pay down her student debt. Starting tomorrow, she is in a race with Congress, who doesn’t seem inclined to move forward on legislation to curb the impending rise in interest rates. She has over $100,000 in federal and private loans and currently pays about $1400 per month.

Like many other students graduating with crushing student debt, it was difficult to save up money for emergencies. Then Dr. Rizzo’s car died, the clothes dryer motor seized up, and her daughter broke her thumb last week. After that, Dr. Rizzo decided to take matters into her own hands to find a creative solution to the financial dilemma.

“On the other hand, I like to think of myself as resourceful,” said Dr. Rizzo.  “For the last few years, I have been selling t-shirts and other apparel and gift items on Cafepress.com/malarkeypie. This has been a slowly growing endeavor, providing a bit of pin money each month, but never really breaking into the realm of real money. My background in graphic design and my intensely snarky sense of humor combine to create fun and irreverent designs to paste across your chest.”

These unfortunate circumstances spurred her to pay down her student loan debt faster.  Something had to be done and she ramped up her graphic design business. Her goal is to sell 50,000 items before Congress raises the interest rate on federal subsidized student loans in July, 2013.

“Will it be hard? Sure, but if 50,000 people buy just one thing each, that’s only 0.014285714285714287% of the U.S. population. That’s totally doable.”

Dr. Rizzo is an employee of the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, where she heads the Geologic Hazards Program. She created a Café Press shop to cater to those who are interested in progressive politics, science, and general geekery at www.cafepress.com/malarkeypie. She blogs at www.alfalfapress.com.

 

###

0
comments