Monster Baby Bibs!

I've got bibs. Lots of them. They're starting to pile up around here, so maybe I should start posting them in my etsy shop. Oh look at that, I did!


I have a bunch more photographed too. So I promise there'll be more up ere long as well.


I'm also thinking about putting together some "Baby Shower Gift Packages" too. It's getting to be that season. So, if you have any ideas, what would you like to see in terms of baby shower presents grouped together? For example, a bib and frog monster. I have made some little booties in the past too. And I'm open to just about anything that could be monster related.

Valentine's Day

It's coming. The stores kind of scare me this time year. All the cheap teddy bears holding hearts, the cheesy romantic cards, and poor quality chocolate. And then I remember how much fun Valentine's Day was a kid: gorging on chocolate, giving out valentines, getting a balloon from my parents.

So in an effort to make something worth the good memories and so none of you need to step into a CVS to shop for something for your special someone, I've got a few little goodies of my own.

I've collected everything in my shop with a heart on it here.

I've really enjoyed making these little valentines. They're sweet, eco-friendly, and not made in china.
Blank on the inside, and made entirely from found materials. And did I mention inexpensive? It would be just the perfect little something to slip into someone's lunch or leave hiding for them to find or to give one to all your closest friends.

For someone special, or maybe even a little discerning try a twist on the teddy bear

or a robot silhouette (very classy!)

or a t-shirt (especially great for those monster loving boys)

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!

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.

Goodbye Brooklyn

Goodbye Brooklyn!

Hello San Francisco!

Store is currently closed. It will re-open on Sept 28th. See you all then!

Psst... The box of monsters from New York is due to arrive on Sept 28th. Sorry for the delay! I am responding to conversations on etsy, if you need to reach me.

Sale Ends Tomorrow!

Have you been thinking of buying something in my sale section? Maybe a mystery pack of pins or a grab bag t-shirt? You still have 2 days left to do it.


Tomorrow evening I'll be shutting the shop down for the move. The Etsy Shop will be closed from Sept 17th thru Sept 24th. Feel free to sign up for the RSS feed so you know when the shop opens again, or just keep your eye on this space.

Last chance to get monsters in New York. Next stop, California!

Pander, Frog Monster Plush Toy

Pander is full of questions. He asks why the moon is in the sky and why grass is green. He wonders aloud about all things natural and man-made. His curiosity is often a source of contention between him and the older monsters, but when his eyes light up with wonder, it’s hard not to share in his excitement.

You can find Pander along with a whole pantheon of monsters in my etsy store.

Moving is hard work.

I haven't forgotten about you. Things are moving pretty fast here as we come up on our move out date (Sept 17th). And most of it is unrelated to monsters so I just haven't had much to report.

Things of note:

Finishing up as many monsters as possible to send out to stores that request them. This way my inventory usually reserved for selling at shows will all be in stores across the US. Yeah, you heard me. Check out my website where I have a nice list of stores that carry my monsters. And two new ones will be up there before the move date. So watch for that (Ohio and Beacon, NY).

Kataplin has requested a supply of monsters again this year to accompany their awesome shirts at their booths at both Union Square and Columbus Circle this December.

I'm still looking to travel lighter. So please help me by buying some monsters, I even have a sale section up in my etsy shop.

I'm also selling my possessions on Craig's List. If you live in NYC, you should definitely be following me on Twitter as I post there when I put something new up on Craig's List. Well actually you should be following me on twitter anyway, this is just an added bonus. I'll also give you details about the Stoop Sale I'm having on Sept 12th. Write that in your calendars now. Sept 12th. Come buy my stuff so I don't have to move it.

More monster news soon. Promise. Moving is a lot of work though.

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!

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.

Renegade San Francisco July 18th & 19th

This is my last blog post before I head for beautiful California.

This weekend you can find me here in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn selling Saturday at the Greenmarket on 95th Street & 3rd Ave and then on the sidewalk Sunday on 3rd Ave & 87th Street.

Monday is reserved solely for packing and running around remembering last minute things. I get on a plane really early Tuesday morning and fly to SFO.

I just have two things to tell you all.

1. At Renegade, I'm in Booth #103, which is about half way down the middle aisle on the right hand side as you come in the front door.

2. I'm currently scheduling appointments to meet with stores interested in selling my monsters. Want to get in on that? Let me know!

I guess I have a few more things.

My etsy shop will remain open while I'm gone and I'll be shipping from California. And I'll be posting on twitter about what I'm doing and where I'm going to be. I will have internet access, but I won't be checking email religiously like I normally do.

So don't destroy New York while I'm gone. I'll be back June 22nd.

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.

New Silhouette Buttons

I'm so excited. They just arrived. In addition to my normal order of Karen's Monsters Buttons, I ordered 50 Buttons of my monster silhouettes. Yay! I'll have them available at Renegade SF. And if there are any left, I'll make them available in my etsy shop.

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.

Street Vending

Spent my first weekend on the streets, selling monsters that is.

Normally I have a start time and an end time plus booth fees. But I know plenty of fellow artists that use the 1st Amendment rule in NYC to sell on the streets.

Pros
Can sell when and where (mostly) it suits me best.
No extra fees cut into my profits
Can cancel for bad weather

Cons
Too many different places I could sell. Not sure where the best place is.
The potential to be hassled by cops.
The weather.

I'll definitely continue through the middle of July. I feel a lot like a fish out of water because I just don't have a feel for how it works yet. But that should change with some experience. After I come back from Renegade SF, we'll see.

Silhouettes that I had for sale this weekend. Will be available in my etsy shop soon.

New Squishies

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

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!

Framed Robot Photo

Maybe you remember the robots I made for a custom order a few months back? Well now a cute little framed photo of them is available in my shop.

I think they look so sweet together.

I've been working on new 2D monsters, so check out my etsy shop for more new framed pieces!

Lolly, Kennin Creature Plush Toy

Lolly’s favorite thing ever is secrets. She likes to have someone to share them with, but won’t just trust anyone. And she likes to be the keeper of secrets too, with the promise never to tell.

Lolly is available in my etsy store.

If you like monster stories, each monster in my shop has a story and I have a little longer stories at my website.

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.

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.

Easter Bunny ... Monsters

Lots (baskets and baskets) of Easter Bunny (Monsters) at Artists & Fleas this weekend. Might be a few in my etsy store too.

Leaving Town

My niece, Sarah Ann was born on Monday, March 9th.

So I'm leaving tomorrow to go visit my sister and help out as I can. I'll be back on Friday, the 20th.

The Etsy Shop will be closed all week. Feel free to send me an email if you need anything. I will be checking my email a few times during the week.

So excited!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Gloria, Love Monster Plush Toy

Gloria really loves parties. She loves the decorations and all the different people and monsters that come. Certainly she hopes to be the center of all that attention, but sometimes it’s nice to just be a part of it all.

Love Monsters have big hearts and long arms good for hugging. They make great Valentine Gifts and everyday friends.

You can find Gloria in my Etsy Shop, along with lots of other excellent monsters.

Bunny Ninjas are finally for sale

I designed ninjas bunnies way back last year. Finally, just this weekend did a photo shoot. Promised monsters in exchange for a willing model for a few hours. Thanks to my lovely friend's daughter, I got a whole lot of AMAZING photos. I had so much fun editing.

Blue Short-Sleeved T-Shirt, Size 6

Pink Long-Sleeved T-shirt, Size 5

Neon Green Short-Sleeve T-Shirt, Size 8/10

Pink Short-Sleeve T-Shirt, Size 6X

Orange Long-Sleeve T-Shirt, Size 8

Purple Short-Sleeve T-Shirt, Size 6

All of the shirts are available and will be up on etsy shortly! (Update, All up on etsy! Click on the photos to see more!)

In Which There is a New Monster Design

And you thought I was bluffing when I said I was hard at work designing and creating and generally just poking around with different projects.

This is my newest monster design. I really like the versatility. I'm currently calling them Kennin Creatures, but as this is the second (or third?) name I've given them, you can't be so sure it'll stick.

It's based on a shape that I loved from one of my meeba monsters. I wanted to create something that could become anything.

You can find Sammy the Kennin Creature up in my etsy store!

Moses, Shark Monster Plush Toy

Moses isn’t interested in parting any seas, though he fancies himself something of a world traveler. He says he’s been to three of the seven oceans of the world (don't tell him there's only five). He will tell you some hair-raising swashbuckling stories.

You can find Moses in my etsy shop, along with a whole host of other monster-y sorts.


I'm also accepting custom orders again. I had to put that on hold for the christmas season as I was already spread too thin. But feel free to contact me with ideas!

How to Enjoy a Monster *Officially*

As the resident expert on monsters (Ha!) I've been asked to give a short demonstration of how to enjoy a monster.


Step 1

Find a monster.
This of course can be done by making a monster, buying a monster, or bribing one in off the streets.



Step 2

Learn about your monster.
What makes it tick? Does it particularly like to nibble on toes, or eat jam? It's very important to be completely thorough in your investigation. Don't forget to keep a list of the important dislikes as well, for example: eating after midnight or getting wet.


Step 3

Keeping your monster happy.
Regular activities are helpful: coloring, playing pretend, running around like crazy fiends, and especially a nightly cuddling.



Step 4

Responsible stewardship.
Notice that I didn't mention ownership. For who can ever *own* a monster. That would be like owning a cat, only a little more embarrassing. Please remember to feed, water, or otherwise suitably nourish your monster.


Step 5

Love
A little bit goes a long way.



And rinse and repeat!

And now in XL

After some controversy over at Etsy about plus sizes vs. XL, I remembered that I finally ordered my Ted Monster Shirts in XL. So I put them up on etsy.



They're the same shirts as always. These shirts are soft (my husband is incredibly picky about softness of shirts), but still nice and thick, with a high thread count that means it'll last.



I've heard now from the 30 & under crowd that these shirts are true to size and the 30+ crowd that they are a size smaller than they expected. So keep that in mind if you're interested in owning the famous Karen's Monsters Shirt.

P.S. I have Bunny Ninja shirts for kids too. Though I'm still looking for a model, any kids want to model shirts for me in the NYC area?

P.P.S New shirt design coming for Valentine's Day!