WiiWaa WOW!

I don't know anything else about WiiWaa than what this video shows -- and apparently neither does anyone else -- but this looks amazing. I watched the video four times in a row.



Know what else would be amazing? Having your very own individualized plush dude to use with this game.

Here's the official site at Zoink Games.

Homunculi -- Available Now!

Are you looking for a little human representative that might one day grow up into a full-size being? Sounds like you want a homunculus!


I cannot actually promise that these creatures will grow up to be anything like human. Or even that they'll grow up.


I CAN promise if you send me $20 + postage by the end of the week (via Paypal), I can have one of these cute, handmade, one-of-a-kind monsters to you in time for Christmas.


These grainy cell phone pictures are merely representative of the kinds of homunculi out there. Who knows what yours will look like?

Whatever it looks like, I am sure that it will be colorful, and friendly, and have buttons for eyes (unless you'd like it as a gift for a child under 3, in which case it will have carefully sewn on cloth eyes).

Email me at jef@freyq.com with questions and comments. You can still have one by Christmas if you hurry! Or you can have one by later than Christmas at regular speed. Your choice! Email today!

Monsters at the Artery

At Art Shop a couple weeks ago, the... owner? proprieter? curator? a representative from the Square Peg Artery came by my booth and asked if I'd be interested in selling on consignment.

I pretty much didn't need to hear past the word "selling" in that sentence, so we traded business cards.

After further conversation, my monsters are now on display for sale at the shop! Hoooray! The Artery is at 108 S. 20th St -- a pleasant walk from Rittenhouse Square. Here are some of the homunculi for sale (this was in their pre-mouth condition. They all have big smiles now).

To terrorize y'all's neighborhood

Oh, the Japanese! Is there anything you can't make a little weirder? Below is a wondermous video of people in kaiju costumes dancing to Thriller.

kaiju dance

According to the crack reporting at Pink Tentacle, this is a skit of various monsters auditioning to be in the upcoming Ultraman vehicle, Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legend The Movie.

I'm a little awed by that title.

Link to the PT post.

Welcome Art Shoppers 2009!

Hey, I hope you had a good time at Art Shop this year.

This is my occasionally-updated blog of monster-related info. Over the next few weeks, I'll probably be more active here, posting pictures and maybe even updating to a completely different look, depending on how stubborn WordPress continues to be. We'll just see about that.

IN THE MEANTIME, browse the entries and email if you have questions or commissions. Thanks!

The Tootsie Monster

Man, this is pretty great. This tootsie monster is fantastically creepy. Done by Melissa Sue Stanley, she's got creativity falling off her, apparently.

Take a look at more pictures of this beast here. IT CAN STAND UP.

She also has some positively inspirational baba yaga huts that stand on lil tiny chicken feet. Go. Go look.

Her blog in general.
Her etsy listing.

Anatomically incorrect

Becky Stern has made a model of a plush knee based on MRI scans, arthroscopy images, and anatomical illustrations. It's cute and ooky at the same time. Cyooky.



Check it out.

Where the Wild Things Are trailer!

It's up on Apple's site.

Compare to the "leaked" test footage from last year. Got a preference?

I was never a big Maurice Sendak fan as a kid... I didn't dislike his stuff, just never really sparked for me. But I'm really interested in seeing this movie. I think it's the Dave Eggers fan in me that does it.

Give me your answer do

After more delay than strictly required, I finished a commissioned monster for a friend this week. I named her Daisy. Daisy will be whisked off to her new home some time in the next few days.

I have begun on the next monster, which I've already had to rip up and start over once, with no promises that attempt #2 will fare better.

This is the latest wisdom: When you're making it up as you go, you pretty much have to assume that your first two tries won't work.

If either of them do, you totally win. But don't count on it, and for the love of Tom Bosley, don't PLAN on it. Just be happy when it shows up.

Also, let this serve as a plain reminder that I do commissions.

(Note the flower on the tail. Thank you, good night.)

Skull duggery

Lana Crooks is queen of plush, for-serious. As an illustrator and costume designer, she has an eye for making things look fantastic, whereas I am still learning which end of the needle is the pointy one.

Here's some info and a short interview with her.

I've been working on making plush skulls for a few months, off and on. I'm simultaneously disheartened and intrigued to hear that she's going to work at it more seriously.

Disheartened, because I don't think anyone else in the small, fertile world of plush is doing that, and I was totally going to corner that market. Intrigued because she'll make them look fantastic, and maybe I can study her work and learn. And, you know, second place behind Lana Crooks is still pretty damn great.

I DO already have a good product-line name for my skulls. She better not steal that too.

Lana's site.
Lana's blog.