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)

Birthday Surprises

My niece's birthday was last week. So I made her a pillow. Pretty good present on a budget and still in moving limbo.


More photos on flickr!

The idea came from the wonderful Alexandra Ferguson's Monogrammed Pillows.

Mustacheo Visits DUMBO

When my mom was visiting in July, we went to DUMBO and took some photos which Mustacheo happily posed for. And I never posted them here! For shame. So here they are in all their glory.

Mustacheo in front of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Mustacheo in front of the Manhattan Bridge.

Mustacheo finds a pirate ship.

That turns out to be a playground.

For more photos of monster adventures, check out my flickr group.

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!

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.

Bobby, Shark Monster Plush Toy

Bobby is really into sports. I mean really into them. He can quote you stats back since before he was born, which admittedly was not that long ago. He’s always trying to get someone to toss a ball around with him and starting up impromptu games.

Bobby is available in my etsy shop.

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!

Monster Making Kits

They're finally happening. In fact they'll be for sale at the Brooklyn Flea this Saturday in Fort Greene.

I'm packaging them in quart sized plastic containers, with instructions and everything you need to make a monster. But I hope that lots of people make crazy, amazing monsters where they add things I haven't even thought of.

Here are two examples of cute little monsters that my husband and I made from the kits. Can you guess who made each of these?



I'll let you know as soon as they're up in my etsy store!

Squarey Monsters!

Me hanging out with the squarey monsters Clup and Dodger at the Monkey Doodle Dandy Studio.

Thank you to Monkey Doodle Dandy for the opportunity to make these awesome monsters.



I think they turned out rather well. Though I think that if I made them again, I would fix a few minor details that apparently only I can see. I think I'm much more critical of my work than anyone else.

All photos are courtesy of Monkey Doodle Dandy. Click on the photos for their blog posts about these monsters.

Wardrobe Refashion: Happy Mother's Day!

Thanks Mom, you're the best!


Check out the post I made for the Wardrobe Refashion Challenge about my mom and her role in my personal handmade movement on the {NewNew} blog Friday.

Plus you'll see a few more photos of the clothes my mom has made for me, including my purple wedding dress.

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.

The Spring Handmade Cavalcade

You can find me hanging out with the {NewNew} at the Spring Handmade Cavalcade all weekend at the Bell House in Gowanus, Brooklyn.

After all the work we put into this show, I think it's going to be amazing. I can't wait. Hope to see you there!

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.

Wardrobe Refashion: New Socks

I made myself some new socks for the NewNew Wardrobe Refashion Challenge.

You can check out my post here.

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.

Wardrobe Refashion

I'm so excited to announce that I'm doing the Wardrobe Refashion Challenge with the {NewNew} this month.

The challenge: to buy only handmade or used clothing.

We're partnering with the larger refashioning blog: Wardrobe Refashion.

I've reduced so much of my purchasing in the last year, due not only due to money, but also my conscience. As I take a look at not only how much I buy, but also what I buy I realize that there are so many things I can make or at least buy handmade and they will last me much longer than their mass produced counter-part. The one step that I hadn't truly made is in clothing. And this challenge is like asking me to step up to the plate. So I'm there. I'll post some cross-posts here. However for the full effect check out every Friday at the NewNew Blog for posts from each of us involved. We're a pretty crafty bunch (if I do say so myself) and I think you'll be surprised by some of the wonders you see.

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

Save the Date: May 9th & 10th

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.

Women's Monster T-Shirts

They do exist!


I've finally put women's shirts up on Etsy, with my Three Grinning Ted Monster Design. Ninja Bunny Shirts are still only available in kids on etsy. But you can always ask me for a specific size! Or just stop on by Artists & Fleas any weekend and take a look at all my shirt designs.

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.

How-To Make a Pillowcase

Just posted a fun little How-To on the {NewNew} Blog.

So go check it out and make something fun.