Hi there! I’m Jennifer Strunge, Baltimore based fiber artist and
maker of Cotton Monster!
I have been infatuated with making creatures for as long as I can remember…As a kid I would glue scraps together from the recycle bin to make puppets and playthings & doodle on every surface I could. When I was around eight my mom taught me how to sew and I was forever hooked on fiber arts.
In 2004 I graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art with a senior thesis project made up of giant monster puppets, wearables, soft sculptures, and quilts—all made from scrap fabric, clothing and bed linens.
Soon after I began making smaller soft sculptures, starting Cotton Monster, and have been obsessively sewing these weirdos ever since. I am very thankful that so many humans have fallen in love with my creations over the years and found good homes for them, allowing me to keep making more. Thank YOU so much!
FAQs
What’s the deal with these strange creatures?
Cotton Monsters are one of kind handmade soft works of art created solely by Baltimore fiber artist Jennifer Strunge (that’s me!) since 2006. They are made intuitively, sewn one at a time…all are a bit wonky and no two creations are exactly alike! They come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, textures, designs and are constantly evolving! A Cotton Monster can be a protector, a buddy, something to make you smile and bring a bit of comfort when the world feels a little too heavy. I hope they spread some joy wherever they end up. (PS Cotton Monsters are for adult collectors of weird wonders, not intended for children under 15 years old)
What are the monsters made of?
Monsters are made mostly from cleaned upcycled clothing! Think t-shirts, sweatshirts & sweatpants, velour track suits, pajamas, polo shirts, turtlenecks, button down shirts, soft fleece jackets and more—giving each piece of clothing a whole new exciting life and making use of an abundant resource. I’m inspired by these materials and their varied colors, textures, and feel. It keeps the creative process interesting and also challenging, as I task myself with using as much of each piece of clothing as possible. And of course, it helps make each creature extra special and unique. Some textures, like worn sweatshirts, may be a bit nubby or appear ‘pre-loved’—I believe this adds to their handmade charm!
All creatures are stuffed with new polyester fiberfill. If the monster has a belly pocket those are usually made from new soft fleece fabric.
Are the monsters made of all cotton?
Nope! When I first began making monsters I used a lot of cotton bedsheets, and that is how the name Cotton Monster came about! Now I use all sorts of materials, mostly cleaned thrifted clothing, some of it is cotton (like the white t-shirts I use for the teeth!), and lot of it is a mix of cotton & polyester blend clothing that has a bit of stretch to it, helping keep the monsters nice and plump. See above for more info on what the monsters are made of.
Are monsters for kids?
No. Cotton Monsters are soft sculpture works of art, they are not toys. Cotton Monsters are for adult collectors only, and are not intended for children under 15 years old. Due to their handmade nature and recycled content, please keep them out of reach of children.
How do I care for a monster?
If you want your monster to continue looking like it does the day it arrives, then keep it in a nice spot out of direct sunlight, lint-roll if it gets dusty, and blow it a kiss every now and then. If you interact more with your monster its stuffing may shift over time and it may start to look a little ‘well loved’ (such is the nature of fiber art!). Please be gentle with them, don’t tug on the arms or its extremities and keep out of reach of children and pets! If it gets soiled, I can only recommend spot cleaning. (If you must wash your monster, do so carefully by hand, and keep in mind stuffing will likely shift and stitches could loosen--so do so only at your own risk)
How much do they cost?
Most items in my shop currently range from $50-$250 (custom work and larger projects can cost more) Cotton Monster creations are handmade works of art—each one is made individually with thought and care and a whole lot of time. I takes anywhere from 3 to 12 hours to create a typical monster you’ll see in my shop.
Your store is empty or everything is sold out! When will you have more items available?
I try to do shop updates every month or so, but monsters take a long time to make—I can usually only make one or two in a day—so the supply is extremely limited! The best way to find out when the next shop update will be is by signing up for my email list! You can also follow me on Instagram (mark as a ‘favorite’ or turn on alerts if you don’t want to miss a post!)
I had a monster in my cart but the purchase was not completed! What happened?
Unfortunately, just adding an item to your cart does not reserve it for you. It is not ‘purchased’ until the payment transaction is complete, and often a few people are trying to buy the exact same monster at the same time! Sometimes my work can sell out in minutes…which I know can be very frustrating and for that I am sorry. But I hope you’ll stick around and try again another time!
Where do I find out about Shipping and Shop Policies?
Please visit the Shipping & Shop Policies page!
I have another question, how do I contact you?
You can email me directly at cottonmonstershop@gmail.com
