If you’ve ever stumbled across a beautifully made Muppet replica online and wondered who the magician behind it might be, chances are you’ve encountered the work of Emily Engel, the creative force known on Instagram as @axepersonified. Emily’s plush artistry has earned her a devoted following and a reputation for creating uncannily accurate replicas of beloved characters—without ever using a pattern. Today, we’re excited to shine a spotlight on her creative journey, her passion for puppetry, and the heart behind her one-of-a-kind creations. Here’s Emily in her own words sharing her story with us:
How It All Began
Photo Courtesy of Emily Engel @axepersonified
How did you get started on your creative journey? It’s funny when people ask me how I got in to this work–Most assume that my grandmother or kindly old neighbor sat me down in front of their antique tabletop Singer and lovingly taught me how to thread a bobbin. Quaint, but not the case. No one in my immediate family knows how to sew anything but a button. Truth is I taught myself how to sew 15 years ago during a crippling 3-month depression while living alone in a 2-room studio. I needed an outlet or else I was going to die. That is the truth. I used whatever money I could scrape together and bought myself a basic Brother machine and just went at it. I realized sewing gave me a feeling of accomplishment. It gave me purpose, it made me happy and ultimately saved my life.
The First Creation
Do you remember the first thing you ever made? The first replica I ever made from scratch was a Hobbes doll from the comic Calvin & Hobbes. At the time a friend of mine was pregnant with her first son and she planned to name him Calvin, and there couldn’t be a Calvin without a Hobbes. I bought the materials I thought I might need and worked off a photo from the comic strip. No pattern, no plan. It just came together out of nowhere. Her son is now a teenager and still has the doll!
Falling in Love with the Art Form
Photo Courtesy of Emily Engel @axepersonified
What made you fall in love with this art form? It was when I realized I had the ability to look at a photo and create a full 3D plush version without needing patterns. It’s always been an inherent skill that I still can’t explain. Half the time I get scared that I’ll never be able to duplicate anything I’ve ever made before because I don’t remember how the heck I did it in the first place! Being able to recreate people’s favorite characters or toys brings me a lot of joy.
From Hobby to Business
Photo Courtesy of Emily Engel @axepersonified
How did your hobby evolve into a business? Very naturally, to be honest. I always knew I had to be my own boss one way or another. I started when platforms like Etsy and Instagram were in their infancy so getting the word out about my work was tough in the beginning. It really wasn’t until I started utilizing social media platforms around 2016 to promote my work that things started to take off and I realized there was a market for designer toys. Because I loved the work and it seemed as though no one at the time was doing what I was, the business part seemed easy.
What Inspires Her Most
Photo Courtesy of Emily Engel @axepersonified
Who or what has been the biggest influence on your creative style? First and foremost is Jim Henson and his crew, obviously. He created an entire universe of unique characters that promote education, diversity and inclusion and that is the definition of true genius. Secondly, my clients! My commission requests are really what keep me going, the ideas people come up with are incredible and get me excited to bring them to life.
The Most Rewarding Part
What’s the most rewarding part of sharing your work with others? Over the years I’ve received so many wonderful messages from folks who follow me on social media or actually have some of my work that express so much joy and in some cases, a feeling of belonging. One situation in particular will always stick with me–a middle-aged gentleman received a Super Grover replica I made as a gift from his wife and his reaction was that he finally felt “safe”–as a child Super Grover was his hero and protector and his message ended with “This is the shield I needed, 40+ years on.” In today’s world, being able to provide that is beyond rewarding.
On Making Art a Career
Photo Courtesy of Emily Engel @axepersonified
What advice would you give someone who wants to turn their passion into a business? The silly side of me wants to answer this question with “Say adios to your personal life and choose a good liquor” but that’s not entirely true. I get a lot of flack for believing in the “starving artist” theory, i.e. dedicating all your time and whole self to your art and making sacrifices in order to achieve success. There is a difference between what folks refer to as a “side hustle” and making something into your entire career–I did the latter. I couldn’t have a “regular job” while working on my craft. I found that if I had to split myself between a basic job and my art, I wasn’t giving my whole self which meant the art I was producing was lackluster. I struggled financially for years in order to achieve success. When I started a friend of mine told me “Do what you love and the money will follow.” I of course thought she was nuts but she ended up being totally on target. My best advice is be patient, grow, learn and let yourself fail sometimes. Don’t settle. Share your process with as many people as you can. Inspire others. You’ll get there!
A Surprising Fact
What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you? The thing that seems to surprise people the most is that I don’t use patterns for anything, ever. Folks tend to believe I have an arsenal of official Muppet patterns that I use to create my replicas (and sometimes ask if I’m willing to “share” them) and it simply isn’t true. All I do is study photos and then my hands just make things. I zone out a lot when I’m working on projects–I could be in the middle of making Dr. Teeth’s hat and my mind will be on needing to do laundry when I get home from work.
How Long Does a Project Take?
Photo Courtesy of Emily Engel @axepersonified
How long does a typical project take you to complete? This question tends to enflame some annoyance when I answer it honestly because it really doesn’t take me much time anymore to complete a full Muppet replica. If I have all the materials ready to go, a couple hours at the most. Reason being is that I’ve been doing this work for going on 15 years and it’s second nature. Granted, a new project will take longer as I still do a lot of trial and error. I think anyone who has a true talent is amazed by how quickly they can produce sometimes.
Favorite Maker Hacks
Do you have any favorite “maker hacks” or tips you’ve learned along the way? I think my favorite is using secondhand toddler/baby clothing to dress my Muppets. There’s a local store I frequent that’s chock full of tiny clothes and shoes and when I go in there I end up buying a ton of stuff I know I can use. I imagine the clerks must think I have eight kids I’m shopping for. Occasionally I’ll buy things that don’t fit the replicas so I end up tailoring and altering them but it’s great to have a ready made shirt or pants in hand. Thrift stores are a makers best friend!
Dream Collabs
Photo Courtesy of Emily Engel @axepersonified
If you could collaborate with any other artist or brand, who would it be? My dream job would be to work on any Muppet-related TV show or film as a seamstress, creating outfits and accessories for the puppets or working on sets. I’ve actually been offered the opportunity to work at the Creature Shop in NYC but unfortunately it would require moving to the city which isn’t in the cards for me. Who knows, maybe someday the folks in NYC or Los Angeles will realize they simply cannot move forward with a production without my expertise and fly me out for a week or two!
Looking Ahead
Photo Courtesy of Emily Engel @axepersonified
How do you see your creative journey evolving in the next few years? With every replica I make, I get better. I learn more, I implement new techniques. The trial and error process NEVER ends! The sign of being a true artist is never being fully satisfied with your own work–you’re always finding ways to improve. My plan is to keep learning, experimenting and creating. Other than that, only time will tell.
Connect with Emily
Emily’s work is a beautiful blend of craft, creativity, nostalgia, and heart, and we can’t wait to see what she brings to life next. To see more of Emily’s incredible replicas—and to follow her creative journey—visit:
- Instagram: @axepersonified
- Tik Tok: BxPersonified
- Facebook: bxfiberart
- Etsy: Bxfiberart
- Emily’s Website: https://www.bxfiberart.com/
