Obama Mamas gear up for DenverCrats

[Omaha Steve]

http://denver.yourhub.com/Denver/Stories/Democratic-Convention/Story~474716.aspx

Contributed by: Nancy Foster on 5/24/2008

DenverCrats/Your Hub/5/2008/496 words

By Nancy Foster

Photo by Steve Basch

When business partners Julie Rubsam and Tina Eyre met one another in 1984, they had no idea that 24 years later they would start a business together.

Rubsam, an Ohio native, had recently arrived in Denver fromUtah,and was raising children. Eyre, a Denver native, was a teen-ager.

But the two had something very basic in common. They were both Democrats with creative and entrepreneurial spirits.

Anticipating Denver would be chosen as the site for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the two began thinking about how they could participate in the historic event.

"We were really enthusiastic about Denver getting the convention and wanted to help support what the convention would do for Denver, says Rubsam.

To do so, each woman tossed $1,500 into their new business and developed a line of DenverCrat T-shirts, hats (baseball style, and another with donkey ears), bumper stickers, buttons, lapel pins, postcards, license plate holders, and tote bags.

Since both support Barack Obama's nomination as the Democrat's presidential nominee, they have also a line of gear that tout the Illinois' junior senator's bid, and operate as though he will be the nominee.

ome of the T-shirts include designs that say, "Barackies," "Obama Mama," and "Barack Star." They have a tie-dye shirt with the name Obama and a peace sign. And the two have been working with two young, local graffiti artists "2 Kool," whose art work appears on T-shirts.

There is a kids' line, too.

Both lines of shirts are short-and-long sleeved and come in various colors. They may design a hoodie for fall.

Depending on the product, they use Denver union and non-union shops to print their products.

FULL story and photo at link.