Monsters Made with Love in the Wild
From local news features to community collaborations, here is a little of what people have been saying about Monsters Made with Love. If you are working on a story or would like to connect about a feature, head over to the Contact page. We would love to talk.
On the News
WATE Living East Tennessee
Maker Monday:
Monsters Made with Love
WATE Living East Tennessee
Don't Miss Monsters Made with Love
at the Dogwood Arts Exhibition
In Print
West Knoxville
Lifestyle Monsters Made with Love
Made for Knoxville
Laurie Kay, Monster Maker and Self-Love Leader
The Maker City
Monsters at Dogwood
Collaborative Videos
Transfiguring Adoption
Transfiguring Adoption is a nonprofit organization founded in 2014 in Orlando, Florida, dedicated to supporting foster and adoptive families by equipping caregivers with tools to help children from traumatic backgrounds heal and grow
Glass Eyes Online
GlassEyesOnLine is an online craft supply business specializing in glass and plastic safety eyes, noses, and joints for a wide range of creative projects.
The Muse
Muse Knoxville is a non-profit children’s science museum in Knoxville, Tennessee
Media Kit
Everything you need to know about Monsters Made with Love, including
our story, key facts, founder information, and media resources.
About the Business
Monsters Made with Love brings creativity and hands-on making into spaces where people can connect, explore, and express themselves. From monster kits and workshops to custom creations, the business creates opportunities for people to make something uniquely their own while celebrating the imperfect, playful nature of handmade art.
Meet the Maker
Fiber Artist · Educator · Monster Maker
Laurie K Traks is a fiber artist, educator, and monster maker whose work has grown from sewing and teaching into a broader practice of fiber art, creature design, and puppetry. Her work has been exhibited and awarded at Dogwood Arts and Broadway Gallery, and she has completed commissioned puppet work for the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. She is also an active member of Knoxville's creative community through organizations including Knox Makers and The Maker City.
Media Asset
Logo & Photos: High resolution logo and photos available upon request. Please use the Contact page to reach out and we will get them to you promptly.
For Press Inquiries: We welcome interview requests, feature stories, podcast appearances, and collaborative projects. Please reach out through the Contact page, and we will get back to you as quickly as we can.
Key Facts
Made with Love for 11+ Years
Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, Monsters Made with Love has been bringing sewing, creativity, and self-love together for over 11 years. Founded by fiber artist, educator, and puppet maker Laurie K Traks, the business creates
hand-sewn monster kits, workshops, and custom creations for all ages.
Art, Exhibitions & Puppetry
Laurie's fiber art has been exhibited and awarded at Dogwood Arts and Broadway Gallery, while her practice has expanded into professional puppet and creature making. She has also completed commissioned puppet work for the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta.
Workshops for Ages 4+
Workshops welcome participants ages 4 through adult and are available for nonprofits, mental health groups, corporate teams, private parties, schools, and community organizations. Non-profit rates are available, with programs designed to make sewing and creativity approachable for all backgrounds and levels of crafting confidence.
Beyond the Monster
Today, the work extends beyond monster kits and workshops into custom creations, fiber art, professional puppet making, and community collaborations. The practice continues to bring creativity, connection, and self-expression together with a self-love twist.
Community & Professional Memberships
Laurie is an active member of Knox Makers, The Maker City, Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville, Tennesseans for the Arts and a former two-term member of the Mayor's Maker Council.
Want To Feature Monsters Made with Love?
We are always happy to connect with press, bloggers, podcasters, and collaborators.