I think monster tshirts would be awesome. I've been brainstorming ideas for awhile and have a few that might possibly be shirt-worthy. Here are some pictures that show what I'm thinking. All the designs were hand drawn by me!

The "I'm a little monster" shirt would be blue, "Glasses" green and "Ice Cream" aqua.

Could you do me a favor and answer the following questions in the comments. You can be anonymous [as long as you're not mean.] If you want, you can leave feedback on my Facebook page too. Thank you!

1. Which shirt would you be most likely to buy?
2. What sizes would you need? Child sizes, adult sizes?
3. Which shirt would you be least likely to buy?
4. Would the "I'm a little monster" shirt be okay without the text?
5. Honestly, are the glasses on the monstapus [green shirt] way too big?
6. Do you have any ideas that would make any of these shirts better? Let me hear them!

I don't have a huge tour of summer arts festivals, but here is the lineup of where you can find me this summer:

JUNE 29, 2013
"Mini" Mayday! Underground
256 Alexander Street, Rochester, NY
10am - 4pm

AUGUST 3, 2013
ChalkFest Buffalo
http://www.chalkfestbuffalo.com
Main St. between West Huron and Mohawk, Buffalo, NY
Noon - 5pm

AUGUST 24 - 25, 2013
U.U.C.B. Summer Art & Craft Show
[during the Elmwood Arts Festival]
695 Elmwood Avenue at West Ferry Street, 
Buffalo, NY
Saturday: 10am - 6pm
Sunday: 11am - 5pm

I'm hoping to add the Music is Art Festival in September to the list. Hope you can make one of these events! Should be fun! :)

I changed my mind. Etsy shop updates will be on Mondays. I quickly realized that Monday updates gave me the weekend to prepare. Friday was much too hectic. So I will be adding new items to my Etsy shop on MONDAYS at NOON! Yay. New stuff. I have tons of ideas so this should be an exciting summer in the world of erinmakesstuff.

So, what's new this week? I started off by listing a few items that I have in stock! I put up these two owls:

Here is the listings for the Purple and Blue Owl and the Pink and Teal Owl. Each of these owls are hand-knit from wool yarn and measure about 7 inches tall.

Now let's move on to what's new!

Did you know that the horn on a narwhal is actually a huge tooth that grows straight out from the whale's face! Imagine if our teeth did that! This little narwhal is certainly a cutie and would look great hanging anywhere in your home. This ornament is approximately 4" long and hand-knit from wool yarn. I have three available right now! Which is your favorite? Listings for these Narwhal Ornaments [in order pictured] are HERE, HERE and HERE.

Want to make your tablet cozier? This friendly monster will hug your electronics like a warm sweater! This cozy has a lot of stretch and can fit most iPad sized tablets, with or without a protective case. Thick crochet offers a little extra cushioning for your device. A button closure on the back holds your tablet snugly inside. It measures about 8 x 10.5 inches when flat.

The Blue and Purple iPad Monster Cozy shown above is in stock! I also have a listing set up that you can custom order one in whatever colors you choose.

This was a pretty busy week and I hope you all enjoyed the update! Soon I will be confirming some summer events and as soon as I know where I'll be, I'll let you guys know.

Hi everyone! It's Friday and that means that I've updated my Etsy Shop! This week I listed two more items that you can custom order [Ducks and Phone Cozies!] and a Sea Monstapus who is not scary, despite having claws.

Monster Cell Phone Cozy: Want to make your cell phone cozier? These friendly monsters will hug your electronics like a warm sweater! You'll smile every time you pull out your phone. By default each cozy is sized to fit an iPhone 4/4S or iPod Touch. Please message me your phone model in a note to the seller so I can size your cozy to perfectly fit your phone. A button closure on the back holds your phone snugly inside.

Each monster cozy is hand-knit to order. It'll take me 3-5 business days to knit and then ship your order. You can pick the color stripes you want [see the last picture for color options] or, if you don't care, just pick "SURPRISE ME." Button eyes and yarn color of the mouth and arms will always vary based on what I have available so each one will always be one of a kind. These monsters are knit from acrylic yarns so if they get dirty, just hand wash them in the sink and let them air dry. Easy peasy.

Order yours HERE!

Ducks: Quack Quack! I'll knit you one of these ducks in the colors that you choose! Pick up to two colors [or if you don't care, you can always pick "SURPRISE ME!"] and let me do the rest. Now you can order an duck in your favorite colors, baby shower theme colors, wedding colors... the possibilities are endless! If you need colors beyond what is listed, add your needs in a message to the seller when you purchase. Each duck has the most adorable knit webbed feet!

Ducks are knit from soft wool yarn and are about 7 inches tall. Eyes are sewn felt with locking black safety eyes. Each duck will have an "erinmakesstuff" tag sewn on its back.

Order yours HERE!

Sea Monstapus: I actually knit this guy as my submission to the Buffalo Etsy Team's May Creative Challenge. The theme for May was sea creatures/ sea life. I think this guy fits the bill!

This monster emerged from the sea to look for a new family. He may have claws and tentacles, but he is harmless! In fact, he's one of the cuddliest monsters around and loves to give hugs. He is knit from acrylic yarns and stuffed with polyester fiberfill. This monster has one of the cutest button-eyed faces around, how can you resist?

From top to bottom, this Monstapus measures about 11.5 inches. He has six tentacles that measure about 7 inches each.

Want him? He's up for grabs HERE.

Next Friday I'll have two new items. New items will be launched at noon [EST] in my shop! Look for posts on Facebook too!

This summer I plan to launch two new products onto my Etsy shop each week. New products will be announced on my Facebook page on Fridays at noon EST. Each item is made to order and you can pick the colors! Last week the two items were MONSTER CAN COZIES and OWLS.

Monster Can Cozies: Want to get some smiles at your next summer bbq?These one-of-a-kind knit monster cozies... or if you want to say "coozies" that's fine too... will not only help insulate your drink, but entertain your friends! And you'll never forget which drink is yours. These friendly monsters just want to be helpful. Look at those eager faces.

Each monster cozy is hand-knit to order. It'll take me 3-5 business days to knit and then ship your order. You can pick the color stripes you want [see the last picture for color options] or, if you don't care, just pick "SURPRISE ME." Button eyes and yarn color of the mouth and arms will always vary based on what I have available so each one will always be one of a kind. Monsters are knit from acrylic yarns so if they get dirty, just hand wash them in the sink and let them air dry. Easy peasy.

Order yours HERE !

Owls: Hoot Hoot! I'll knit you one of these adorable owls in the colors that you choose! Pick up to two colors [or if you don't care, you can always pick "SURPRISE ME!"] and let me do the rest. Now you can order an owl in your favorite colors, baby shower theme colors, wedding colors... the possibilities are endless! If you need colors beyond what is listed, add your needs in a message to the seller when you purchase.

Owls are knit from soft wool yarn and are about 7 inches tall. Eyes are sewn felt with locking black safety eyes. Each owl will have an "erinmakesstuff" tag sewn on its back.

Because this is a Made to Order object, please allow 3-5 business days for me to knit your owl before shipping. Trust me, it's worth the wait! These owls are super cuties!

Order yours HERE !

This Friday two new products will be launched. What will they be? Find out Friday!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by Mayday! Underground Craft + Art this past weekend! Here are a couple shots of my booth setup. Sorry they're dark and a little blurry. I forgot my Nikon and had to rely on the iPhone. It was a really fun show and I was super happy to be a part of it. Lots of monsters found new homes. I have such great, enthusiastic, fun customers and I appreciate you all so much! Without you, I couldn't do what I do. You're all great!

Mayday is an awesome indie market with a TON of awesome vendors. Somehow I managed to keep my own spending in check. I don't know how... it took a lot of restraint.

But, if I had unlimited funds... most of my money would be poured into these two shops:

After looking through the Mayday vendors, I knew I had to find The Knotty Owl ASAP. So, after setting up my own booth, I quickly wandered the market looking specifically for TKO. And I wasn't disappointed! TKO is the work of industrial designer/woodworker/jewelry maker, Ashley Landon. Each piece of jewelry that artist Ashley creates is hand-cut and assembled with great care and attention to detail. I could have easily spent hundreds of dollars, but limited myself to a pair of minty green owl earrings. I love that Ashley makes post earrings... I feel that a lot of jewelry makers ignore us post lovers and gravitate toward dangley, which are fun looking, but not so fun for those with sensitive ears! So thanks Ashley. I really wanted to buy one of her spirit animal pins [the deer shown below] but didn't. Once her shop reopens on etsy, I'll probably splurge. Hopefully she'll make it into a necklace too!

And there's always Mealy Monster Land.

I met Nicole Johnson, monstermind of Mealy Monster Land back in 2010 at winter show. That's when I bought my first monster... and my collection has grown since then. I need a lot of self control since Nicole and I do a lot of the same shows and I find a new favorite that I want to buy each time! Nicole sculpts all her creatures out of polymer clay. My favorites are the brightly colored monsters. They have the best expressions. Even though they are monsters, and a little scary looking, their faces always look like they're the ones that are actually apprehensive. I love that the bigger ones are clinging dolls or teddy bears as a security blanket. They're great. She makes creepy dolls and zombies too, if you're into that kind of stuff.

All in all, it was a great weekend. I'm already excited for the Winter Mayday which, for the first time, is going to be two days! I hope I get in! Until then, my next show is the "Love Your Mom and Pop Vendor Marketplace" on May 18th at the Tri-Main Building at 2495 Main Street in Buffalo, NY. It runs from 10am - 4pm. Hope to see you there!

Come on out, Rochester! :) Hope to see you there! Click HERE for more info. 

The monsters want to wish you a happy Easter! Today was relaxing and nice. No stresses of a big family dinner, just taking it easy. I started knitting a new monster and when I was almost done with the head, I looked down and realized I was using the same colors as my socks! I really like a pink and neon orange color combination... and I'm always a fan of stripes. :) 

Lots more knitting to go. This guy will have fuzzy neon orange and yellow stripes! I can't wait to see him finished... as well as the other 3 armless and faceless guys that are patiently waiting to also be finished. 

You have no idea how excited I was when I spotted neon furry yarn at Hobby Lobby. Super excited doesn't fully describe it. I bought the neon yellow and orange. They had pink too and I regret not buying one. I thought the yarn was going to be just like Fun Fur, and it kinda is, but it's super long, super bright and super awesome. Everything was super. The only bummer is that it also takes a super long time to fluff them up because the fur is longer than Fun Fur... but the end result is worth it. Whoa! Neon!

Hope these pictures made your day super happy :)