sue’s news

I’ve ordered a couple of test T-shirts to check the quality, but I’m already excited in a Texas-history-geek way about the look of these shirts I’m making based on historic Texas flags. First up, clearly, are the famous “Come and Take It” or Gonzales flag and the lovely De Zavala flag.  I’m so excited I did a little promotional slideshow for them.

The first design for the De Zavala shirt came out a little small and pale to my eye, so I’m reworking; The quality of the dark blue organic T-shirt is certainly very nice — as it should be for that price. (Let me know if you’re interested in a $5 CafePress coupon to order one of my shirts and I may be able to hook you up.)

So, once I test both shirt designs, I’ll officially launch (with more to come). For now, here’s a little bit more on these two famous flags:

The De Zavala Flag

A white star on a blue field with the letters T E X A S between the points of the star. To me, this is easily the most beautiful of the early Texas flags. Some say it was designed by Lorenzo de Zavala, Texas’ first vice president and a drafter of her constitution. Others say it never existed at all. Even the Texas Almanac says there’s “no historical evidence” for it, while noting that it’s flown in Texas to this day. Me, I think it makes a nice shirt that handsomely indicates your interest in Texas history; as they said in “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,” “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”

The Gonzales Flag (“Old Come and Take It”)

Allegedly flown in the first battle of Texas’ revolution against Mexico, in October 1835. The flag depicts an old cannon Mexico had given to the DeWitt colonists to defend themselves against Native Americans. Under Santa Anna, Mexico began taking away the colonists’ arms, and requested the cannon back. The colonists, freaked out by the increasing dictatorship, said, No, but thank you; we’ll keep the cannon. Mexico sent soldiers, but instructed them to avoid conflict if possible; the Texians fired on them; the Mexicans retreated.