New Year Resolutions

The monsters are debating about whether 2010 is Twenty-ten or Two-thousand Ten. I can hardly get any work done with all the arguing and ensuing tussles. But this too shall pass.

My Monster Related Resolutions

• Transition from selling monsters every weekend to only doing a couple of large shows a year.
• Get the monsters in more stores.
• Make some larger monster art pieces (paintings, softies, etc).
• Keep writing! (My mom noticed that I haven't updated since November. Maybe it's time I get back on this.)
• Do more holiday themed items (new Monster Valentines have been made and will be up in my etsy shop soon).
• Set up a well lit photography space, with semi-permanent back drops and props.
• Make some craft connections in the Bay Area.

I'd love to hear some of your resolutions (maybe craft related) for the new year.

Oh and Happy New Year everyone!

Monster Making Kits

You may have noticed a few new things up in my etsy store.




We're still in limbo from this move. But the store is up and running. The monsters and I had a nice little photo shoot the other day. I'm still trying to find the best light in the house for good photos though the monsters always look dashing.

I've only heard the best things about these kits. Have a crafty one in the house? Young and old seem to enjoy putting them together. It's a toy they'll cherish because they made it themselves.

Do you have a Monster Making Kit already? I'd love it if you'd post photos of your monster on the flickr pool!

Clay, Wood & Cotton

My friend Kristen opened her new store, Clay, Wood & Cotton, in Beacon NY last month.

I was so happy that she asked for some monsters to put in her store. So you can now buy monsters in Beacon.

This is a great time to head up there as all the foliage is changing and visit a funky, artsy town. Highly recommended (it's not far on the LIRR).

If you're in town anyway, hope you'll visit my friend and the monsters. She has a nice selection of monster making kits, if you know you're curious.

Want photos?

We've arrived!

We (me + husband + cat + monsters) have arrived in California. The monsters took a later (slower) flight than we did. So they just arrived this week.

The etsy store is back up and running. So monsters are again available. I don't have a lot of shirts right now. They're still in storage until we're a bit more settled in. I imagine that will be sometime next month.

I'm working on a few projects for monsters, but mostly my husband and I are working on starting a Dessert Truck here in San Francisco. You can follow us on twitter (we're testing recipes right now) @DessertLabs.


We're also trying to enjoy being in California. It's still practically summer here and we're taking advantage of all the trails and beautiful scenery that we've been missing for the four and half years we were in New York.

Custom Order Monster Dress

A friend's daughter turns 1 at the end of this month and they asked for a birthday party outfit for her. The only real specification was pink.

After they picked it up, I got the following email

The dress is awesome! We gave it to her to look at on the drive home and she was mesmerized and loved the ribbons.

Love the way it turned out that I might have to make another one for my niece!

Psst... SALE

Karen's Monster On-line Sale!

I have a new sale section in my Etsy Store. Things will be making their way in and out of the sale section until the move at the end of September.

A few special deals:

$7 (including shipping) T-Shirts

It's a grab bag, so you give me the size you want and I send whatever shirt I have in that size. I have some plus sizes available too.

Mystery Surprise 4-Pack of Pins!

You've seen them at shows, now available online.

I'll be photographing more things that I normally only have available at shows too. Some might go up in the sale section, some will be regularly priced. Feel free to request things you've seen!

Monster Makers

I opened my inbox today to find these two photos staring up at me.

While selling last weekend in Boston at the SOWA Open Market, I sold two of my monster making kits to a woman promising to take them to a couple of girls out west.

Apparently the monsters were a hit and I'm so happy to share these photos with everyone!

The Siren, Pillow Monster

The Siren wishes to be adored and flaunted. She enjoys girly things like flowers and lace. She’s very sweet, but don’t cross her, she bites.

Psst... this is just a pillow case (easier to wash and ship this way), but I also sell pillow forms that fit her. Or I can make them to fit any size you wish.

Both are available in my etsy shop.

Dave, Squishie Monster Goes Sightseeing

While we (the monsters and I) were in San Francisco for Renegade, Dave took the chance to go sightseeing. The rest of the monsters were too tired after the big show.

Dave expected the beach to be a bit sunnier.

The scenic drive up Route 1 towards San Francisco.

At the Golden Gate bridge. Dave says this should have the caption "Hi Mom!"

Here he messed up the focus a bit. But in the background you can see downtown San Francisco in the fog.

See a few more photos of Dave at the Flickr Group of Monster Photos! Psst... Feel free to add your own.

Zippered Pouches, Check!

Mom: Do you have any other pouches besides the pink one in your shop?

Me: Yes, but I haven't had a chance to upload it yet.

Mom: Oh will you bring more for Renegade?

Me: Yes, do you want one?

Turns out my pouches would make a great little holder of random things in her knitting bag. While I know that my mom is perfectly capable of making her own pouch (her sewing skills seriously outclass mine), I'm quite pleased that she wants one of mine. Plus mine has a monster on it.

If you've forgotten (I certainly haven't) I'll be at Renegade on July 18th & 19th in San Francisco. I'm working like mad here trying to get ready for it. Mostly things are in piles half finished and quite messy and not photogenic. But I wanted to show you a few of the things I'm working on. So yay for pouches!

More Alphabet Monster Prints

Lots of people have been asking me if I do custom Alphabet prints, ie instead of Alfred, I would do their daughter/son/grandchild/random person's name. Of course I answer yes. It would be an interesting challenge should they follow through with it. While I love my customers, it's less than common for someone to take a card with the promise to contact me and then actually do so. And all the more worth it when someone does.

In the meantime, a follow through customer did ask me to move three letters up in the line to be made, not exactly customization, but fun anyway.

So I present to you: K, M, and R.

The Weekend Post

Photo Credit: The {NewNew}

Happy 4th of July!

In honor of 4th of July, I'm going to BBQ on Saturday instead of working. Crazy, I know.

My tentative, based-on-weather schedule for the weekend.

Friday (that's today) I'll be on 7th Ave in Park Slope (between Garfield and Carrol) selling monster prints. If I have a few monsters to bring a long, I may do that as well.

Saturday: BBQ not selling

Sunday if the weather looks good all day, I'll be back in Park Slope. If the weather looks like it might hold for a while, but looks spotty, I'll be closer to home on 3rd Ave in Bay Ridge.

As always, do check my twitter updates for the latest on where I am and what I'm up to. I try to post as I'm leaving about where I'm going.

And if it's raining. You know I am not there.

Monster Making Kits are For Sale!

Interested in making your own monster? Well now you can. My not-yet-but-almost-famous Monster Making Kits are now available in my etsy shop. They come with everything you need to make a monster, including the stuffing. So what are you waiting for? Indulge your inner kid and maybe a few real kids too.

Try making your monster totally unique by adding things you have around your home, like ribbons, paint, buttons, pompoms, glitter, or anything you can think of.

Then after you have a monster, add your photos to my Karen's Monsters Flickr Pool.

New Squishies

New Squishies up in my Etsy Shop. So go check them out! (Click on the photos.)

Renegade x2

I am so happy to announce that I'll be at Renegade in San Francisco sharing a booth with Lisa Toff.

I don't know if this lets the cat out of the bag, but my husband and I are planning on moving to California in the fall, so this will be a good way for me to get my feet wet in the Bay Area before we move.

My hopes with this trip:
Meet lots of awesome people
Learn about shows & the market in the SF Bay Area
See my family
Check out some stores for potential wholesale orders
Sell lots of monsters!

If you're a store in the Bay Area, I'll be in town a little early, I'd be most happy to meet with you and show you some samples of monsters, prints, etc. Please email me to set up an appointment and get info about wholesale prices!

The Weekend Post

Even with my shortened week this week, I'm busy this weekend. So come on out and play with us. I'm crossing my fingers that this rain clears up. You can find the monsters two places this weekend.

Both Saturday and Sunday, you'll find the NewNew has set up a sweet shop at 93 Nevins Street. It's worth going just to see all the beautiful things arranged together and to see the beautiful house. I had a chance to stop by today and it looks amazing! Thanks Martin and Kimm for all your work in making this come together.


On Sunday only, you'll also find me at Renegade Craft Fair, Booth #45 with the NewNew. To find out about some deals we have going on, click here.

Pirate McCloud Monster - Custom Order

Recently finished a custom order that was supposed to be both sea creature-y and pirate-y for a not yet born baby boy. Naturally this is what I came up with.


You may notice that he has a hook attached to one tentacle.


More photos are up on flickr.

Wendy, Frog Monster Plush Toy

Wendy enjoys bouncing, especially on trampolines. She’ll bounce on beds, couches or really anything with a spring. Though she has yet to master the pogo stick.

You can find Wendy in my etsy shop along with lots of other new things!

New! Monster Silhouettes

I really enjoyed making these. What started as a whim turned into a full blown project. They'll be available for sale at the Spring Handmade Cavalcade this weekend at the Bell House in Brooklyn. If there are any left over, I'll put them up in my etsy store.

These are small (think 3" tall) framed silhouettes. Each image is hand drawn and cut (no stencils so these are a one time deal) out of paper and either slipped between glass or pasted onto white paper and framed. I have a lot more of the orange frames, but I think the gray frames with the silhouette between two layers of glass are much cooler. They're all different and either monster or robot shaped.

Hope to see you at the Bell House this weekend. I can't wait!

Bez, Bini Monster Plush Toy

Bez really likes elephants. She dreams of riding one and doesn’t care whether it’s an African or Asian Elephant, just so long as its ears flap and its skin is wrinkly. What she doesn’t tell the other monsters is that she wants to be a general riding her elephant into battle, afraid they’ll laugh at her dream.

Bez and other monsters are available in my etsy shop.

Monster Hoodie Custom Orders

A few weeks ago, three people were admiring my monster hoodies. After much laughter they finally decided that yes they wanted an adult sized one each. While two of them were happy with what I already made, one guy said "Can you make it like this, but crazier?"

So I spent the last few weeks making this one. It's awfully near and dear to my heart.




I'm incredibly pleased with the result and its reception. I hope to one day run into them walking down the street in monster hoodies. It would honestly make my day.

The back and pocket spots are all handsewn in to give them a pop-out feeling. The spikes, eyes, and teeth are all stuffed. And of course there are claws. I think the claws are the only thing that's exactly like what I make for a normal hoodie.

Oh and I'm taking more custom orders, if you want one too.

Where to Find the Monsters This Weekend

You lucky ducks can find the monsters (and me!) in two places this weekend.

My lovely assistant, Anna, will be holding down the fort at our weekly resting place at Artists & Fleas in Williamsburg both Saturday and Sunday.

Then on Sunday, I'll be at the Go Green Greenpoint! Earth Day Festival in, you guessed it, Greenpoint. Nassau Ave & N 15th St.

Today is screen printing day. So I'll have a bunch of new shirts at both locations this weekend. Not to mention all the monsters that are currently sitting in a basket waiting to go to the market. Though I think they may be a little confused. They keep asking about their allowance and discussing what kinds of things they might buy at the market.

Thrifting on the Job

Recently acquired blank shirts

One of my favorite tasks in the monster business is buying supplies. I hear similiar reports from jewelry designers that started because they couldn't stop buying beads.

I love to buy fabric, to run my hands over every piece in the store finding the texture and color that really makes me happy.

Since my recent re-introduction to silk screening, I've started buying clothing, blank shirts, dresses and sweatshirts. Sometimes they're things that you wouldn't normally consider screen printing on, but I think that makes them more fun. In an effort to be both fiscally and environmentally conscious (and conscientious) I buy almost all of my blank clothing from the thrift store. While I'm very selective, there are some startling pieces that I've found. I've learned to love simple, repeat patterns to screen print over and deceptively girly clothing with a giant monster screen printed on it.

Maybe it's more fun to dig through a rack of clothing where each piece is one of a kind and maybe it's frustrating to find something you love in the wrong size. Either way though, I think it's a successful venture at the moment and I hope to have a few new images soon. Though I might start fading out some of the older designs in the process.

I think my next design is going to be smaller so that it fits neatly on baby clothes. All of my current designs are too big for a onesie, despite the apparent interest.

You can find some examples of my t-shirts in my etsy store.

I'm back!

I had such a wonderful time visiting my sister, brother-in-law, and brand new baby niece. I even got to see my mom for a little while. Any of you that live across the country from your family can see what a great thing this is.

You'll just have to take my word that my niece is a beautiful baby girl. Because I forgot to bring my camera.

Despite all the cooking, cleaning, traveling, holding babies, etc, I did manage to sew a lot. I got more hand-sewing done last week than I can normally stand.



Hope the weather is nice again this weekend so we get lots of visitors at Artists & Fleas. Because that's where I'll be. Hope to see you.

This Weekend

You can find the monsters at Artists & Fleas all weekend. My lovely new assistant, Anna will be there to help you.

If you're nearer Park Slope, come by the Brooklyn Lyceum, 11 - 5 Saturday and Sunday for more monstery goodness.

Meeba Monsters

I think it's easy to over look Meeba Monsters in my etsy shop what with it full of lovely, much more in your face creations. But sometimes, you don't need complicated. Sometimes simple has loads of personality and is something that you can connect with instantly, no time needed to figure each other out.

These sweet little creations love to sit in pockets or on shelves and will speak volumes without a sound, just a soft caress every so often, or less often, as they are very patient.

I've had a very good response from the kitty audience and the under 3 age group. They understand the joy of simplicity very well.

I'm there again.

Not sure if you got the memo. But I'm at Arists & Fleas today. Yep all weekend. And really every weekend from now until a long time from now. So you should come by and say hello. It gets lonely sometimes. The monsters also appreciate cookies.

And you'll probably get to see some new things. It seems like every weekend I have something new to put in my little shop there.

Artists & fleas
129 N. 6th
Btwn Bedford & Berry
Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Monster Buttons

In these tough economic times, I'm sure you'd love to own a monster, I mean who wouldn't, right? But we're all watching our budgets right now. Buttons are a great way to get a little art, support an artist and make a fashion statement, all way below budget.

If you send me a nice letter, I might be willing to send you just one or a different combination than above, instead of just the 4-pack currently in my shop.

Monster Adventures

Thank you to Kim for sending me a series of great pictures of her squishie, Bop, and her friend's, Hop.


She sent me this note along with these photos.

just going through my recent photos and thought you might get a kick out of these. My item came with a name BOP and my friend named hers HOP. before HOP went to his new home, he and BOP had some adventures.

Brooklyn Flea Pop Up Market

I'm at the Brooklyn Flea in DUMBO all day today. So come and stop by and say hi. It's at 81 Front Street. Across the street is the antique/vintage market. And of course there's all the amazing food and pretty things like usual.


Thanks for hanging in there with me this week. What with unexpectedly having to take my cat to the vet, force-feeding him medicine and getting everything ready for my accountant for taxes, my week was much more stuffed than usual. Back to normal (I hope) next week.

PS The cat is fine. Gave us quite a scare, but appears to have survived without understanding what all the fuss was about.

More Custom Orders

Things have been busy in the monster-making workshop. Lots of custom orders going on here. Which is great fun really.

I just finished this little girl. Poppet is her name, and she's a Moshi Monster. In any case, she's finished and on her way to London.

Baby Presents

My sister received her virtual baby shower gifts, so I can now share it with everyone else.

I'm very excited to have a new baby coming into our family, and not just because of all the cute things that I can make.

Here's the package that I sent her. Along with this nerdy poster and a few onesies.


The Zap Monster is named The Wonderful Mr. Dibb and he's the same color as the backing of the bib.


And a close up of the little booties. The pattern is free here.

The place at which you can find me

I'm at Artists & Fleas all weekend in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N. 6th Street just off Bedford.

What didn't I tell you?

You can find all sorts of yummies: t-shirts, monsters, bibs, and of course other people will be selling things too.

Hope to see you!

Deborah, Zap Monster Plush Toy

Deborah is a bit of a worry wort. She runs around cleaning up, picking up straight pins off the ground (wouldn’t want anyone to step on those), and generally trying to prevent potential, even unlikely, problems. It only gets in the way when she’s actively being helpful, like turning off a preheating oven before I can cook something (or burn the house down, she says).

You can find her tidying up in my etsy shop.

Busy Little Bee

Spent yester evening screen printing with my friend AJ. It's been awhile since we hung out and he's learning the art of screen printing (thankfully not from me, what do I know about it, really?).

I'll have all of these at Artists & Fleas this weekend. So you should come by. You know you'll have fun.

Things have been pretty busy lately. Monsters are coming along as usual. But I've been really excited to get a bunch of custom orders too. It really helps to pay the bills (oh, hi rent), and it's fun to have to wrap your brain around something new.

The sewing machine is getting a work out. If you want to hear more about the trials of tribulations of my custom work, I've been talking about it a lot on Twitter.