QD Renewal Design

You Are Such A Flirt

2011-11-15T22:57:00.005-06:00

I love to Flirt! This season is all about the soft and sensual and what a better way to recycle the cute spring and fall t-shirts than to turn them into winter bliss!

The Flirt Scarf is 100% recycled shirts, usually 3-4 each, and can be made from any of your old favorite shirts.

Only $20 for your new favorite closet item!

~QD

Hey All You Scaarvies!

2010-12-07T11:50:00.003-06:00

I love accessories and am most fond of the scarf...
It lends itself to my need for security and comfort that can distract the eye from a not-so-attractive top or a slighltly-too-tight jacket.

Honestly, though, the scarf needs no excuse or reason to be in season. I make my T-Shirt Scarf with 4-5 shirts (of your choice or my collection) your ideal width and length to create a ONE OF A KIND ACCESSORY

Fall into Winter

2010-12-04T23:43:00.008-06:00

Working on an array of items for the FALL in to the WINTER time...

SULLEN CLOTHING
We are carrying a full line of men and womens SULLEN Brand at The Trouble with Ink, so of course you can get any item 'QD'ed FOR FREE when you spend those hard earned dollars with us..all T-Shirts are $20. I chopped one up last week - I think it came out pretty fresh...

TSHIRT SCARVES
One of my favorite things to make! I got a couple of orders for some school spirit wear and look forward to posting a picture this week!! Here is a throwback from the Fellowship Church order that started it all...
Just goes to show- you saved all those college, church camp and comfy t-shirts for SOMETHING!!!

THE D.I.Y. STUFFED ANIMAL
This is fresh off the noggin, but I have been sitting on a couple of stuffed animals that are naked and in need of some cute digs, so I am creating two custom QD KITS - A do-it-yourself recycled gift that includes all you need to create some clothing and accessories for your stuffed animal.. pictures COMING SOON!

Hey- Love it or leave it alone...

QD

Blase Blogger..

2010-08-13T13:49:00.003-05:00

I have written about 31 books.
Amazing stories of love, pain, redemption, betrayal...
Every one of them is a best seller. The only problem is not one of them is in print. They are locked away in the bookshelf of my mind, WAITING for me to pull them out, dust them off, and let the words flow freely from their delicate neurological pages.

This life we live is fleeting. Faster than you or I can even grasp, God is unfolding his majesty around us and our interactions with his works can make or break us. I hope to be made...

I hope to find a way to continue to RENEW myself in HIM and share that story along the way.
As my children go off to school this fall, I hope to get those books out of storage and into the world. For helping, for healing, for hoping and ultimately, for my fleeting live to be remembered.

I hope you do the same.

One Love

~QD

I'm Ahead of My Time so You Can Never Loose Me...

2010-07-28T13:14:00.005-05:00

This weeks updates:
~ Events ~
~ Shout Outs ~

Events
Thursday, July 29 catch QD at The Trouble with Ink Tattoo Studio
6:00-8:00 p.m. doing custom cuts, braiding, and overall t-shirt REdesign. Bring your shirts and get them customized FO FREE! 214 Grapevine Hwy Hurst,TX - 817.514.1930

Shout Outs
Celebrity Status Update: Deso is HOT! His studio has been poppin' and he is now traveling around the nation regularly to spread his artistic love.
Deso has his website evolving daily so check the style...WWW.DESOROCK.COM

QD...use me!

2010-04-13T20:50:00.014-05:00

This weeks update:
~ MUSINK Festival ~
~ Tip of the Week ~
~ Personal Praise ~
~ What's Next ~

MUSINK Festival
Deso was invited to hit the 1st Annual Musink Tattoo Convention in Dallas Fair Park. We felt blessed to get out of the shop and in the mix with some of the world's best artists.

Our happy clients, family and friends alike enjoyed the three days of tattoos, music, bmx demos and skating. Juliette rocked out in QD fashion and sparked off a ton of fun...

I was able to get a little QD time in and make some custom cuts.My fav- this deep halter with laced up back...CUTE!

Took half a dozen custom orders and was inspired to get some work rolling...Outlaw Tattoos in Alabama may be carrying a full selection of QD Chops so stay tuned!!!

Tip of the Week
I talk a lot about the social conscious companies that shine in my mind and one of my favorites is TOMS Shoes. For every pair f shoes you buy from them, they pack a pair for a child who needs them. You can order them at www.toms.com.

I paint TOMS for free, so let hit me up if you get some summertime TOMS!

Personal Praise

There were a load talented tattoo artists at MUSINK, but none as nationally famed as Corey Miller. His time on LA Ink has boosted him to celebrity status, but the guy is one of the most down to earth people we have met. Not only did he pick up some QD for his daughters and wife, he took some time to chat with Miss JLove about rocking the drums and her love of art.

What's Next
New mixed media paintings coming soon. I am excited to get back to work on canvas and cloth, so hit me up for any custom orders and ideas.

Keep on Keepin on, people!
~QD

SUMMERTIME FASHION GLOW

2009-06-21T13:56:00.005-05:00

I am in desperate need of someone to host and design a simple site for me to allow for easier ordering! For now, I am posting what is currently designed and available and will take any personal requests!

QD REMIX - Mens XL Famous shirt became Women's MED QD Renewal tubtope - $40 custom make (your choice of t-shirt)

Hand tye dyed - both smalls $30 each

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

2009-06-04T08:37:00.001-05:00

SUMMER CLEANING...NEW BLOG LAYOUT TO FOLLOW.
ALL THE BEST!
~QD

Blah, Blah, Blogger

2009-04-26T23:46:00.009-05:00

Where does time go (drafted but not posted)...

God Times
The past two weeks have been FULL of outstanding events that have been good for the heart and soul. I was able to get Dane involved on some of these as well as Deso (who is always too busy) so instead of GOOD TIMES, it is only fitting to note they were most def GOD TIMES!

FW ARTS FEST (4/17)
Downtown FW Fellowship had a GREAT idea to hit the arts festival with 8 blank canvases and allow festival goers to "LEAVE YOUR MARK" as part of a roaming artistic effort. It was loads of fun for Dane and me and we made some new friends in the process. Students from the FW campus put their hearts out for locals to see their passion for Christ and handed out hundreds of flyers to invite people to the Sunday service. A beautiful thing happens to humans when they share Christ..even if they are rejected..I was so glad to be a part of this event.

Painting at FC FW (4/19)
Prater invited us over to paint during the Sunday services on an 8x8 foot wall for the "LEAVE YOUR MARK" event and I thought it only fitting to get the king of graffiti, Deso, to give me a hand. The wet week dried up for a gorgeous day of music, painting and worship. It was so great to spend time with my husband on something that we both love and share Ed's message together. Love Love Love

Hey World..did you get the memo?!?

2009-04-16T21:20:00.005-05:00

This weeks update:
~ No Sole touches the Soul ~
~ Tip of the Week ~
~ Personal Praise ~
~ What's Next ~

No Sole touches the Soul
I participated in 24 hours of shoeless living today with great success and reflection. First, I am a huge fan of going barefoot so I needed little encouragement, but I am not a fan of grimy grounds or painful accidents (like small pieces of glass catching your heel or nails going through the soft flesh between the toes)so I was apprehensive of walks from the parking lots I would be in today.

In an effort to make people aware of why I was without shoes, I had my brother-in-law paint my feet with the TOMS logo and "One day without Shoes". I was mainly around the house today but I did get out a couple times. I visited my nephews school and went to guitar lessons. No one noticed. It was great to do something that gave me so much to think about. When I cleaned my feet tonight and washed away the black from tar, dirt and gravel, I thought about how easy my life truly is. Thank you, TOMS for a day of reflection.

Tip of the Week
This is a quick and easy one for you gals who like summertime totes!
Supplies needed:
- Old tank top
- Scissors
- Safety Pin
- Shoelace or other durable string (about 8-10 inches worth at the least)

1. Find the bottom seam of your shirt - the one that goes around your waist (if your tank is seamless it won't work - sorry boy tank lovers!)
2. Cut a small hole in the seam BETWEEN the layers! (Not all the way through but INTO the folded area
3. Run your safety pin through your string and feed your safety pin with string through the hole and guide it through the seam until it comes back out the hole
5. Turn your shirt inside out and pull to tighten the bottom of the shirt to close
6. Tie it up and you are ready to load your bag!
If you are crafty, take the time to decorate your shirt.

Personal Praise
D-A-N-E..that is the boy for me! My son Dane has been an awesome big brother over the last few months, showing more patience and love to Juliette than ever before and I cherish it so! He has a heart for serving and assists anyone he can with good cheer and a warm smile. Thank you, Dane for being an amazing son, great brother and a true servant of Christ as you make your way in this world. Kisses!!!

What's Next
I have been mentioning a store a lot lately and every week it become more of a reality! We are working to save and grow what we can to get started!
Here is what you can expect when we DO get our space:
- QD Renewal Clothing and Accessories
- Classes on DIY fashion and recycling
- Gallery style exhibits and performing arts
- Community outreach to teach responsible living - not just to recycle, but to choose better methods, products and practices to save our beautiful gift from God, planet Earth.

So I hope you enjoyed this week's update and I love you for the time!
God is Love.
~QD

Stay-cation

2009-03-27T00:01:00.004-05:00

So Spring Break has come and gone but not without LOTS of fun around the DeSouza household.
Blog-size recap:

- Hit the park EVERYDAY because the weather was B-E-A-U-T-FUL!

- Took the kids fishing, bouncing (indoor bounce house place)and joy riding

- Camp out in the livingroom with a moon noghtlight, Fly Me to the Moon Movie and a disco pool light?!?

- Two birthday parties and one BBQ - can you say petting zoo meets carnival?!?

- Board games, video games and mind games (including choose-your-own mustache hour)

- QUALITY TIME! And that is what it is all about...

QD Renewal at all Source Bookstores!

2009-03-13T13:40:00.007-05:00

<Catch the FC T-shirt scarves and Custom stenciled FC/Flavour shirts on sale now!

This weeks update:

~ Flavour la Femme ~
~ Tip of the Week ~
~ Personal Praise ~
~ What's Next ~

Flavour la Femme
Flavour at Fellowship Church is a monthly gathering of women to uplift and prepare for what God has in store for each of us. Our current series, "Girls Gone Green: Living Supernaturally" has been AMAZING! Lisa has opened the flood gates with this one! If you have felt that God has no purpose for your - GET CONNECTED!
I have been continually moved to remind my sisters and brothers (both in Christ and of the world) that the time is upon all of us to take the steps, plant ourselves in God's Love and begin to see the fruits he will bare. You can find out more about Flavour and Lisa's message at www.fellowshipchurch.com/flavour

Tip of the Week
This week I wanted to share my thoughts instead of a craft (if you do not mind indulging me). It is a hard world. Overall, I am super optomistic, loving and filled with joy. But, I still struggle every day with rude treatment, unkind actions and the general discontent from those around me and those I meet. I have challenged myself to take the following actions and I hope these are helpful for you:

- I will work harder to not take other peoples' actions personal this is hard for me. I am a sensitive, passionate woman who wants to see the world smile)
- I will look at each situation through Heaven's Eyes (God is preparing me for what he has prepared for me - the good, the bad, and the ugly)
- I will be more compassionate when I am faced with these situations and try to help those around me that are hurting me the most (as God so loved the world...)

So that's my plan. It is workable because I stay in the word every day, I stop and reflect on what God can do and I am mindful of what God expects of me. I hope you have a plan in place that puts God first and ultimately saves your sanity!

Personal Praise
I have continued to be inspired and encouraged as a member of Fellowship Church. This week I want to pour my passionate praise on Lisa Young, pastor and teacher for all that she touches. Lisa has created some beautiful opportunities for women to find their self worth and God worth in her teachings and strives to touch EVERY life she encounters. Cheers to you Lisa! You have a true supernatural life! What a testiment to God's Love.

What's Next
So with QD in Source stores and custom orders continuing to come in, I will begin to look for the QD RENEWAL STORE space!! I am just in the research stage, so send any space info you see out there for me to look in to! I hope to have something by the end of May for a Summertime opening. This will be a great opportunity for me and the community as I will host art classes, recycling classes, community outreach and anything else I can manage to help our world. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and as always, thanks for the time.
God is Love.
~QD

Flavour fo Ya!

2009-02-27T09:16:00.006-06:00

It has been an extremely busy two weeks!
In this update:

~Biggest QD Order EVER!~
~Websites to Live For~
~Personal Praise~
~QD in Stores~

Biggest QD Order EVER!
The things we do for love...Yikes! I have been working away on the FC scarves and t-shirts to fill The Source stores starting next week! This has truly been a labor of love. Each scarf takes about 3 hours to make and I am a perfectionist at times, so it has been an extensive process!! I could not have done it, though, without my AMAZING mother-in-law (how many of you get to say that) and Aunt Necinhea.
A total of 60 scarves have been hand crafted for all 5 FC Campuses by the three of us. Whew!

Websites to Live For
I do not spend a lot of time on the computer in leisure, but when I get a chance, here are some of my favs...

www.threadbanger.com - amazing site for do-it-yourself designers
www.pandora.com - this is a music heaven where you can create never-ending music streams
www.freecycle.com - an unusual email sending system of people wanting or giving away things to keep them out of the trash. I got Juliette new Leapfrog games FO FREE!!

Personal Praise
I am blessed with a family by marriage that takes the cake! My heart's praise is for my Mother-in-law, Cleuza this week as she has been the ONLY go-to person willing to take on assisting me with this latest clothing order. But truth be told, she holds my hand every day through the good, bad and ugly. AMAZING! All my love.

QD in Stores
I am so excited to get a chance to design some new art wear for the church! This is truly an honor for me.
I have created several new stencils for the Flavour program as well as some FC letters and styles. This is a rush order to get all items in by March 1, so I hope you all enjoy it enough for me to get a chance to do a second order!

As always, God is Love. Thanks for taking the time.
QD

Shine in O-9!

2009-02-15T21:50:00.003-06:00

LOTS of great things kicking off 2009!

In this update:
~Fellowship Church~
~Technique of the Week~
~Personal Praise~
~QD in Store~

Fellowship Church
If you are not familiar, Fellowship is home to Ed & Lisa Young and host to one of the most passionate movements in Christianity. www.fellowshipchurch.com
The opportunity to get tuned in and turned on to living in the Word, serving your World and building the Community is just on fire at this "second home" of mine.
February 18-20 will be a GREAT time to get a glimpse of the FIRE during the annual C3 Conference. Make sure you check it out.

Students: it is Campus Team time! This semester the Colleyville, Grapevine, Faith Christian, Bell and Trinity schools are meeting at Pastor Preston Mitchell's awesome abode in Colleyville the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. Next meeting: MARCH 1

Technique of the Week
The buzz about Buttoned Leg Warmers has been awesome and all you recycling crafters can make some to wear or share!
The link for step-by-step instructions are at http://laupre.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/tutorial-easy-buttoned-legwarmers/
These are simple to make and fun, fun, fun! Hit me up if you want to order a set from the QD Renewal Closet. I am sitting on some pretty funky materials so it could get interesting!

Personal Praise
This week I want to send overwhelming LOVE and PRAISE to my husband, Mitchell. He continues to put his heart and soul into his art. It doesn't always allow us to have as much time together as I know we both want, but he is doing some amazing tattoos and truly etching out his place in a world of "ink" that is only skin deep for most artists. I continue to watch him bless the people he touches with a personal experience in an everlasting art piece while keeping his moral guidelines in place despite the sometimes shady tattoo culture. Make sure you shout at him with some kuddos as www.myspace.com/artbydeso

QD in Store
Amazing opportunities have blessed the QD Renewal line and in March you will be able to find the line in The Source at all Fellowship Church locations! The newest item being the individually designed FC t-shirt Scarf. Each one will be recycled out of Fellowship Church shirts and as always, NO ONE SCARF WILL BE ALIKE. I am excited to bring a full line of men/women items in to kick off the spring with new custom stencils and hand stitched embellishments. Stay posted!
I am also thrilled at the prospect that we may open Virtuoso Studios - a full art studio for Mitchell and I with both tattooing and art design! QD Renewal, Deso Art and maybe even some Dane (our 11 year old painter) exclusives! More news soon.

As always, Love is Love - thanks for the time.
God Bless

A History

2008-10-16T14:35:00.004-05:00

Thank you for checking out my blog.

QD Renewal Design is a mixed medium of clothing and art in an effort to RENEW existing fashion and design.

Let's face it; There is more material out there than there is people to own or use it, so why work to create more when sooo much is still perfectly good.

I am QD (aka Queen Deso, aka Sonja DeSouza, aka Mommy, CStar and God's child). I have redesigned clothing since I was a middle school know-nothing. I used to take extra large turtle necks (you know- the ones your mom rocked) and flip them upside down to make tight waist, slouch shoulder 80's gear. HOT!

My time on the road managing tours and hip hop shows led to the REDESIGN of concert and band tee's (pre-babygirl t-shirts) for the ladies and kids. Basically cutting those bad boys up and putting them back together in fashion la femme!

In recent years, my love of graffiti and custom design has drawn me to do what you see here.

Custom, hand-cut stencils on recylced shirts, bags, furniture, etc.. with premium bomber paints.

I get a lot of custom orders through my myspace (www.myspace.com/queendeso) and love new ideas and requests.

I do this for the love so have a minimal amount of product out in the world. Currently, you can buy some of my wears at 10 Footwear in Dallas (Oak Cliff! That's my hood!)

Living live with one agenda these days: Praise be to the Almighty who Was, and Is, and Is to come!

One Love.

~QD