Laurie K Traks
Weird. Curious. Hot Mess. Monster Maker.
I am a fiber artist, educator, puppet maker, proud Knox Makers member, and the founder of Monsters Made with Love. I have spent over a decade teaching sewing with a self-love twist to students of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of crafting confidence. My mom is a perfectionist. My daughter is a perfectionist. I am the hot mess in the middle, and I have learned to love that about myself.
I am a Detroit girl at heart, raised just outside the city before trading snow for sunshine and spending eleven years in Florida. In 2017 I followed my gut to Knoxville and have never looked back. Turns out this city was exactly where I was supposed to land.
The Beginning of Monsters Made with Love
It started with a creature kit, two uninterested kids, and a book that was way too complicated. I made the monster anyway. Then I made one for Kristi, who taught me to love karaoke. One for Dan, with his two Gemini sides. A few more for the special effects artist, the videographer extraordinaire, and the man of mystery whose heart will always be in Texas. I made monsters for everyone around me before I realized I had never made one for myself. After a longer internal debate than I care to admit about whether I was even worthy of one, I made Greta. Making Greta was the first time I understood what self-love was really about.
Long Covid and Clarity
Several years ago, Long Covid knocked me sideways. It took a lot from me: my stamina, my brain, whole stretches of time I had plans for. But it also handed me something I did not expect: clarity. When you cannot do everything, you get really honest about what actually matters. For me that is this work, this community, and the people I get to make things with. Long Covid did not slow down Monsters Made with Love so much as it taught me why it exists.
Fiber Art and Puppetry
My fiber art has been exhibited and awarded across the region, and I recently completed a commissioned puppet piece for the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. Making monsters taught me that creatures have a life of their own. Puppetry taught me they can tell stories too. I am just getting started with this part.
Family, Community, and Life
When I am not in a workshop, you will find me in the kitchen, because food is another love language I take seriously. I am a proud member of Knox Makers and an active part of The Maker City community, which honestly just feels like my people.
I am a mom of two. My daughter Gabi is a recent graduate from University of Michigan and is a professional artist who designed the character in my logo when she was only 12 years old and continues to be my creative director. My son Harry is a computer engineering student at Michigan State and my personal IT department, which means between the two of them, I am fully covered in both creativity and technical support. And then there is Indy, my cat and official shop manager, who oversees operations from whatever surface is most inconvenient.
Making a monster will not solve everything. But it will remind you that you can do hard things, that imperfect is enough, and that somewhere in there is a kid who just wants to make something. I cannot wait to see what you create.