Beasties
Book Information
Beasties: How to Make 22 Mischievous Monsters That Go Bump in the Night
Publisher: Perigee Trade (Penguin Group) copyright 2010
Author Diana Schoenbrun
Photographer Tory Williams
Cyclops and witches and zombies-oh my!
Welcome to the wondrous world of Beasties, where mythic and imaginary creatures come alive using simple materials, such as scrap fabric and thread. From Werewolves to Yetis to unidentifiable yet adorable beasts, these projects allow crafters to push the limits of their imaginations to sew a menagerie of whimsical beings.
What inspired you to write the book?
Many people have asked me how my Beasties book project evolved. I have always been interested in how monsters are portrayed in art, film, and books. In 2007 I was excited to attend an exhibit at the Museum of Natural History called Mythic Creatures. The exhibit explored past and present day influences of animals, art, and nature on mythicological creatures. It spurred my interest in the pseudo science of Cryptozoology. Cryptozoology is the study of hidden animals, or "cryptids," considered non-existent by mainstream biology. Although there have been a few cryptids that were eventually proven real, many lack any scientific proof, and exist solely through storytelling, song, and art. I wanted to explore these cryptids in my own work.
In February 2009 I began working on what would later be called Beasties: How to Make 22 Mischievous Monsters That Go Bump in the Night. My editor and I discussed a particular softie I made called Yeti. This stuffed creature was funny, curious, and loveable. He had a personality all his own. The Yeti project came from a series I had actually made the year before for a toy gallery show. I was inspired by a white and brown mixed faux fur and light blue fleece. With just a rough sketch and a quick pattern I transformed the raggedy fur and soft fleece into a Yeti. This mysterious soft sculpture had spurred an idea in a whirl of crafting excitement. I wondered what other monsters could be hiding within my boxes of fabric.
Until then I had been focusing on making softie animals such as pigs, cats, giraffes, and armadillos. I began to brainstorm characters I wanted to include for a do-it-yourself craft book. Although, I had immediately thought of the common monsters such as witches and werewolves, I wanted to take it a step further and delve into the unfamiliar. I investigated monsters that appear in other cultures. Many ideas came from researching illustration books on mythology and folklore. There were two books particularly useful in researching the array of mythological creatures: The Book of Imaginary Beings by Jorge Luis Borges and Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth by Carol Rose. Learning about new monsters pushed me to further expand my Beasties project. I encountered a vast number of interesting creatures that could be made into softies. Initially my list included over 40 characters that I eventually narrowed down to 22 projects.
My craft process began with reading and brainstorming. I sketched ideas from my head and researched preexisting image sources. Once I had my character design I made my pattern. I then enjoyed deciding the different fabrics to use. I have to admit I am a pack rat with fabric and many of the projects used fabrics I already owned. However, this did not stop me from collecting a little bit more. I went on a fabric hunt in New York City, realizing how lucky I was to have so much material at my fingertips. I was particular with each detail and considered just what the right lace for Bloody Mary should be, the perfect green iridescent fabric for the dragon, and the furry ear hair for the Chonchon. After fabric selection I cut and sewed, creating my Beastie brigade.
While creating each Beastie I felt the characters needed to thrive in their own environments. Deciding on what context would best suit each Beastie involved further sketching and research. I wanted to keep a consistent craft aesthetic and made my sets with paper, paint, and clay. Finally with the magic touch of a camera by Tory Williams, the Beasties came to life.
Each of the creations spawned from desires to capture diverse cultural mythos and develop them into my own style and personality while maintaining the mythological essence. They became my Beasties.
