In May of 2011, I could think of nothing else but monstrous creatures. I took a break from the ethnographic poetics project I was working on, gathered supplies from my stash to re-purpose, and I sewed the first three monsters, the upcycled monsters. I was hooked. Now, I'm always collecting trinkets and ideas for the monsters' future. I sew my way through life events; sewing helps me process and engage. Sewing is self-care!