MONSTER PLUSH

Good afternoon. How are you? As always, lots and lots is going on here at the 344 Empire, and as you can tell, I’ve been falling behind on things. But I’m chipping away at the backlog, and I’m happy to introduce you today to four new friends that have been keeping me company for a few weeks now.

A few months ago I gave a talk at the AIGA Educators Conference at MICA in Baltimore. There I met Jennifer Bennett Gubicza. Jennifer works under the moniker ZooGuu where she creates fabulous handmade plush toys. Now, conferences are where well-meaning people gather and say well-meaning things to each other like “Oh, we should totally do a project together!” or “You know, I could help you with that.” And everybody beams, and then everybody goes home, and all those joint ventures shimmer away like a mirage at sunset.

But Jennifer is a woman of action! And one day, a box arrived here at the studio — a box of Monsters. Big plush monsters, inspired by the cover of the Monster Book. Cuddly and fierce are not usually words that go together, but here I think it’s the only combination that captures her work. These fluffy curmudgeons are clearly city monsters. They’re shtarkers. They may be huggable, but they don’t take any guff. If I were a sock monkey, I wouldn’t want to run into them in a dark alley. (Though they probably turn out to be pretty affable if you approached them politely.)

Well, enough of my rambling on. Please meet the Plush Monsters:

Monster-Plush-lineupMonster-Plush-CloseupMonster-Plush-DuoMonster-Plush-hero

It just took me a little while to have a little photo shoot
with the guys. Here’s a glimpse behind the scenes:

Monster-Plush-Behind-the-Sc

They are surprisingly fussy (and moody) about their grooming:

Monster-Plush-mirror-mirror

Did I mention that Jennifer sent me a Bonus Monster, too?
This one is based on one of the Monsters
from the SEND A MONSTER Facebook app:

Bonus-Plush-Monster

So the real question in all this is: How cool is Jennifer Bennett Gubicza?

I’d like to chat longer, and I have more things to show you in short order, but right now I must get back to my day job for a little bit. But I’m happy that I finally had a chance to show you these excellent plush monsters. Oh, and by the way, I do hope you remember that 344 LOVES YOU


10 Comments

  • 7 February 2009 7:01 pm

    Well…..is there no end to what fun we can have with these monsters? I’m feeling myself tucked in bed with one of the plushies, staying warm under the quilt. *S*
    Probably that scene should be for PG 13 and up, huh?

  • 7 February 2009 7:30 pm

    Those are phenomenal!

  • 7 February 2009 8:09 pm

    Completely rocking! I must meet this woman virtually at once! I have an idea…

  • 7 February 2009 8:46 pm

    I love the shot of the monster looking in the mirror. These are so adorable!

  • Aina
    8 February 2009 2:53 am

    oh no!!!

  • 8 February 2009 3:06 pm

    Oh, I WANT one. . . at LEAST one. . . They’re wonderful! Please say these are going to be in the 344 store — or if not there, somewhere else!

  • Joey
    9 February 2009 6:26 am

    Very great monsters, I love them! I just saw your new video on youtube, you should put it on the site.

  • Nicole
    16 February 2009 1:50 pm

    I love the plush monsters! I need a few to protect me and to love me too! They are so great. I collected dolls. My dad tells me to grow up and I tell him that I will when he does! He has nothing to say to that. He is not ready to grow up at 65.
    I gave the copy of the Monster book to my daughters art teacher and he loved it. He has already sent you a message along with a few kids from his class. His name is Bob
    Bramhall and he works at St Joseph’s Catholic School in Coumbia, SC. He’s going to let me know when he starts on the monsters. Talk to you then!
    Nicole

  • 15 December 2009 12:46 am

    Very Nice! Love the mirror shot.
    Junkerjane

  • 15 December 2009 5:38 pm

    Aren’t these the best? I wish I had the money to make a whole horde of them. :^)

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