This week, GTS sat down with Joe Van Wetering (aka SpeedyJoe). Be sure to read through for some awesome Threadless product news!

GTS: Joe, welcome to Gettin' The Skinny. How are you doing on this fine Wednesday afternoon?

Joe: still a little tired but overall i can't complain

GTS: Out late partying with ladies, I presume?

Joe: if that means doing laundry and watching battlestar galactica,
then yes partying hard.

GTS: Oh, um, yeah. That's what I meant. Can you give the GTS readers some insight into what you do @ Threadless?

Joe: yeah sure. so after a design is chosen im the one who takes the files and make sure they are the right size, colors and whatever else for print. i also do the zooms and minizooms for the site a few graphics here and there
and ive collaborated with ross ona few inter office shirts (our softball team, ect)

GTS: how is the softball team doing?

Joe: hahah, our summer league is over and we went i think 1-6. i had a homerun so that was sweet....

GTS: 1-6? Tough break. At least you guys had sweet team tees though.

Joe: exactly! we made sure to point that out when we lost to teams that were dbags and overly competitive in a recreational league - which was all but about 2.

GTS: As they say, there's always next season. You've got four prints in the bag. What's the good word on your Select?

Joe: i was actually thinking about it last night when i was doodling a bit and realized i have no idea. my only theme i have in mind is "bad ass". we'll see how that goes.

GTS: Now last week, I pressed Festa for some top secret info on upcoming Threadless goods. He wouldn't budge but since you're the man prepping the files for print, can you shed light on any upcoming blockbuster projects?

Joe: two words: fleece vests. thats all im giving up.

GTS: WOW! You heard it hear first, folks!

Joe: next we need some blank fleece vest shots. everyone should get on that.

GTS: Definitely! Going back to your designs - what other artists, from Threadless or otherwise, inspire you?

Joe: oh man i dont even know where to start. i'm on art blogs like all day. ffffound alone has flipped my life upside down but my current favs are
jordan crane, joe ledbetter, james jarvis, little friends of print making, miss julia sonmi inspires me every once in a while, just new fresh stuff. i'm sure im leaving a lot out.

GTS: Very cool. What's the best part about working @ Threadless?

Joe: thats kind of impossible to answer so ill go with the opposite and the worst part is charlie is a bully.

GTS: Festa seems like a great guy though. Does he bully just you or everyone?

Joe: everyone, i think he takes rachels lunch money everyday.

GTS: Damn, that's cold blooded.

GTS: There have been some really awesome Threadless tees printed recently. What are some of your recent favorites?

Joe: braains is rad, how are you feeling today, swamp guitar, poppin wheelies, king of clubs, pixel shark, i can go on but my #1 sweet tee of the moment is hadrien. i dont know why i just lorve it.

GTS: Poppin' Wheelies is definitely in my regular tee rotation.

GTS: What's happening with Black Rock Collective? I've seen what appears to be zine cover teaser's on sonmi's Flickr account. Care to shed any light on that?

Joe: yeah we're finally starting to make some things happen over there. we're coming out with some actual products soon and most importantly we are going to have a booth at this years renegade craft fare in chicago which is during the meet up. so we'll have all kinds of awesome things there.

GTS: Awesome! Will BRC have stuff available for purchase on the BRC site as well?

Joe: thats def in the works, i'm not sure when but soon!

GTS: I'll keep my eyes peeled. I asked fellow bloggers to submit some questions. The first question comes from Torakamikaze: How short are the shorts you're wearing right now?

Joe: ∞ X ☯. aka im wearing pants

GTS: Here's another question from jess400: If you could be in any television show (cameo, voice, a permanent role, guest appearance) which one would it be and why?

Joe: probably john locke because hes a baaaaddd man. oh, scratch that - i'd be on lost. i would be on lost because that show blows my mind, and i would probably give in and become an other cuz im no good with outdoors

GTS: Here's one from Phiffer: What is the deal with the "crab" stuff anyways?

Joe: that dates back to somewhere around july 2007 with the party of doom which was the first official threadless chicago meetup, i tend to be a very very sarcastic person and should not be taken seriously often, well some people and i wont name names (*cough*phil,priscilla,jan,julia,steve) decided to start calling me crabby joe. so being the good sport i am i went along with it and developed that character to what we all know and love today

GTS: Good to know. For the record, you've been crab free throughout this interview.

Joe: haha thanks.

GTS: Joe, it's time for my favorite part of the interview - Pick One. I'll present you with two choices and you pick one. Are you ready?

Joe: always

GTS: #1 - Better Tee Color: Orange or Purple?

Joe: orange

GTS: #2 - Worse Halloween Treat: Box of raisins or pennies?

Joe: pennies for sure

GTS: #3 - Golden Girl Showdown: Rue McClanahan or Betty White?
betty

GTS: #4 - 80's Game Show: $10,000 Pyramid or Press Your Luck?

Joe: no wammies. press that luck

GTS: #5 - Mixed Media: Pencil or Pen?

Joe: pencil then pen

GTS: #6 - All About The Appetizers: Soup or Salad?

Joe: olive garden never ending breadsticks

GTS: mmm...those are good.

GTS: #7 - Fellow Threadless Staffer You'd Like To Slow Dance With: Ross or Shimala?

Joe: ross' dog red

GTS: #8 - Paper Pusher: Paper airplane or paper football?

Joe: football

GTS: #9 - Seasons Sippings: Hot Chocolate of Apple Cider?

Joe: hot chocolate

GTS: #10 - Get Your Game On: Arcade game or pinball?

Joe: dang thats a hard one.i guess arcade game.

GTS: Any parting thoughts for the folks at home?

Joe: do what feels right and salomé

GTS: Joe, that's it for today my good man. Thanks for chatting with GTS.

Joe: yeah no prob man. thanks for the interview!