PLUSH: handmade plush monsters by Joey Merchant

PLUSHBYJOEY's Shop Announcement

Joey Merchant is a social worker-photographer-mosaics artist/instructor-turned-crafter living in Detroit, Michigan. She received a Bachelor of Science degree with concentrations in Psychology and Anthropology from Eastern Michigan University in 1997 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Fine Art from Eastern Michigan University in 2000.
Back in 2000, Joey’s major focus was photography. Then after a move from Dearborn Heights to Livonia, she lost her dark room and found mosaics.
Joey Merchant's passion for mosaic was sparked during her travels through Italy, Greece, Turkey, Israel and Egypt in the summer of 1996. Inspired by ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine mosaics, cathedrals and mosques, Joey set aside her work in photography and turned her attention to mosaic in 2002. Her work ranges from large-scale custom installations to small accents for the home; from intricate replicas of ancient Roman mosaics to fun, spontaneous sculpture.
The mosaics are constructed from broken china, Italian vitreous glass tile, stained glass, ceramic, and found objects. Used and discarded items are destructed, and then used as fragments in the construction of new works of art. Joey finds tremendous satisfaction in making something whole from fragments of common everyday items.
In 2007, Joey rediscovered her love of sewing. She was inspired by the burgeoning indie craft scene in Detroit including the Detroit Craft Mofia (now LOOP), Handmade Detroit, and Michigan Etsy, as well as work by New England crafters like Heidi Kenney from My Paper Crane and Teresa from Sewing Stars. Joey also finds inspiration from Japanese animation like Pucca, and Japanese toy companies like Sanrio and SAN-X. Joey adores all things “Kawaii”, which means, “super cute” in Japanese.
Joey Merchant received her first sewing machine at the tender age of eight. Back then, the major focus for her sewing were clothes for her barbie dolls. In high school, she used her sewing machine to alter thrift store clothes for herself. Now, in her early 30's and the mother of two boys, she has dusted off her sewing machine, her love of sewing and fabric and buttons and notions and got to work.
Joey sews handmade plush monsters, bags and accessories Many of her creations are a collaborative effort between her and her sons, Ian (10) and Owen (5). They make patterns out of sheets of newsprint and Joey uses vintage fabrics, remnants and clearance fabrics to construct their creations.
Joey’s work has been exhibited all over the Detroit area, and can currently be found online at Etsy.com, and at Biddle Gallery in Wyandotte, and 323East in Royal Oak.