"My name is Andrea and I make monsters … and other fun plush creatures! Last summer my father found a second-hand sewing machine and I thought it was a great chance to I teach myself to sew.
When I started, I used a simple pattern from McCall's to learn the basics and those creatures are what I call a Beevil. Then I decided to make a triangle-shaped monster which I call a Tricket (both Beevils and Trickets are sewn using my sewing machine and the button eyes and felt heart are done by hand). My hand sewing skills grew as I started making a furry monster which I call a Fuzzling. By far, my Fuzzling monsters are my favourite to create. They are hand-stitched, except for the ears and face, and they do take more time to create but each has such a personality that it is totally worth the extra work.
I'm very proud of the scratch of Fuzzlings that I created for my first show in 2015 - I had made 10 Fuzzlings. (I coined the term "a scratch of Fuzzlings" to mimic the grouping that you would use for other species… a warren of rabbits, a murder of crows, etc).
When I started, I used a simple pattern from McCall's to learn the basics and those creatures are what I call a Beevil. Then I decided to make a triangle-shaped monster which I call a Tricket (both Beevils and Trickets are sewn using my sewing machine and the button eyes and felt heart are done by hand). My hand sewing skills grew as I started making a furry monster which I call a Fuzzling. By far, my Fuzzling monsters are my favourite to create. They are hand-stitched, except for the ears and face, and they do take more time to create but each has such a personality that it is totally worth the extra work.
I'm very proud of the scratch of Fuzzlings that I created for my first show in 2015 - I had made 10 Fuzzlings. (I coined the term "a scratch of Fuzzlings" to mimic the grouping that you would use for other species… a warren of rabbits, a murder of crows, etc).
For me the most difficult part of the process is finding materials. There are lots of places online to purchase fabric but I need to feel the fur before I buy it. I look for bright or fun colours and I want to make sure that the faux fur I use feels as soft as possible. I use new materials for most of my creatures; anything I make using felt I try to use EcoFelt or similar which contains recycled contents. The easiest part for me is naming each monster. I have a notebook on my worktable and when I am in the midst of creating I look at the monster and write down possible names. Each monster is named and the name is written on a tag which I attach to the plushie. I'm sure some people have changed the name of their monster but I think it's important to give each monster a name so that their personality shines through when waiting to be picked up, squeezed, loved and taken home by someone.
We have an extra room in our home which we use as an office and my craft area. I have a shelving unit where I keep my fabrics and other bits in clear totes -- otherwise one of our cats might think the faux fur is a new bed for them to sleep in! I'll often go down to that room and spend a few hours creating a monster or two. I like to have the TV on in the background, but I have be known to blast the radio with some tunes from the 80's.
I follow a few sewing blogs and I spend some time on Pinterest to see what others are making and to help me with ideas. I have a website which links to a few online shoppes where I sell some of my monsters. I also have them in a few brick and mortar shops (The Artist's Loft in Smiths Falls and the Merchant's Mill which is in Consecon). I have found that I don't sell as many monsters online as I do at shows and I think it's because people need to touch and squeeze plushies. Most people who have seen them smile when they see their silly faces and fuzzy fur. I've had more adults purchase my monsters for themselves rather than for a child. One of the best reponses to my Fuzzlings was a lady who came by and purchased one for her daughter. She came back before she left the craft show to purchase another one for her daughter because the original one she decided she wasn't willing to gift it to anyone because she loved him too much to give up!
I follow a few sewing blogs and I spend some time on Pinterest to see what others are making and to help me with ideas. I have a website which links to a few online shoppes where I sell some of my monsters. I also have them in a few brick and mortar shops (The Artist's Loft in Smiths Falls and the Merchant's Mill which is in Consecon). I have found that I don't sell as many monsters online as I do at shows and I think it's because people need to touch and squeeze plushies. Most people who have seen them smile when they see their silly faces and fuzzy fur. I've had more adults purchase my monsters for themselves rather than for a child. One of the best reponses to my Fuzzlings was a lady who came by and purchased one for her daughter. She came back before she left the craft show to purchase another one for her daughter because the original one she decided she wasn't willing to gift it to anyone because she loved him too much to give up!