Interview with Monstery Nee

Welcome to the first interview of the Indie Pin Database with pin collector Monster_Nee who you can find on Instagram @monstery_nee

IPD: Please introduce yourself.

MN: Hello everyone! My name is Nicole, also known as "monstery_nee" on IG. I am a wildlife photographer and aspiring fantasy writer. I love tea, nature, reading mythology, ethology, all manner of monsters & creatures, Okami and of course pin collecting.

IPD: How did you get started collecting enamel pins and what is the first pin you collected?

MN: I used to collect art prints. However, I ended up giving a lot of my prints away over the years, simply because I did not have the proper wall space to hang them all up. I love all genre of artwork and I love to support artists when I am able to. So, I discovered the world of pins through having to let go of my prints. I began to notice that a lot of artists offered pins of their artwork and I think that pins are just as substantial as art prints in their own right. One of the very first pins that seriously got me into collecting was a little "plant cat" pin by artist, Pony People.

MN: I adored the simple, bold style. I identified with the suspicious look in the cat's eyes (because I, myself question everything) and I loved the little plant leaves on its tail. I felt like I was holding a tiny work of art in my hand upon receiving it in the mail. I loved that it was so small and that I was able to support an artist, even by way of a small purchase.

IPD: Your collection is enormous! Do you know how many pins are in your collection? How do you display your collection?

MN: Oh gosh, I have never actually counted how many pins I have. I'm a little nervous to know how many I have to be honest! I've been collecting for several years, so, I don't know if "a lot" is a good enough answer, but I do have a lot.

MN: I display most of my pins in shadow boxes in my bookshelf. They are in good company amongst my books and figures. I have received a lot of questions about the shadow boxes I display my pins in, so here is the info about them, just in case anyone wants to try them out. They can be found at Michaels craft stores, and they're by "Studio Decor". The specific style of shadow box is called "Belmont".

IPD: You support many different independent artists. Who are your top 3 pin artists of this moment?

MN: This is a difficult question to answer because I love ALL of the artists whose work I follow. Everyone is so freaking talented, you know? However, here are my choices.

MN: First, I will choose Graffoxx. She has such a definitive and edgy illustrative style. Her work stands out to me because I can instantly recognize it without even having to look at her IG handle. Although she creates a lot of fan art (which is all mega badass), her original works really speak to my soul, especially her dark canines. I don't know her personally, but she seems like a very conscious, truth seeking and caring artist and that's something I very much admire. Every pin she creates is a beautiful extension of her digital artwork and I'm just generally excited to see what she does with her talents in the future.

MN: Second, I will choose Faunwood. This is another artist with a highly definitive style. I've been following her work for several years and I love seeing her talent progress. I have a handful of the creature pins she has released over the years and they are all very special to me. Her art is so wonderfully otherworldly, playful and strange. I have a deep-rooted respect for nature and all the creatures that dwell within it, and her artwork just includes so many of the tiny things in nature that can be easily overlooked sometimes. Her art makes me want to stop and admire the small details in life.

MN: Third, I will choose Katzenjammers. I first discovered her through photos she was sharing of her own collection of pins from other makers. I have found so many new artists from the photos she shares! Her photos are gorgeous, colorful, eye catching and so well thought out. As a fellow photographer, I definitely appreciate the aesthetic! As for her pins, I am in love with all of them! Just about all of her pins are animal-themed and seem to tell a story. From her Cat Warrior series to her newly released Sinful Seven animal pin series, each creature has such a unique personality. I, of course, love all of her color choices too. Plus, she's probably just one of the nicest makers I've met so far.

IPD: One of the first things that drew me to your collection was your Amaterasu Okami pins. Okami is one of my all time favorite video games and your love for it is just so apparent. What is the story behind your Okami pin collection?

MN: Okami is my number one favorite game of all time (if you couldn't already tell). I first picked up the game for PlayStation 2 from a Game Stop store way back in 2006. It immediately captured my imagination. The fact that so many elements of Okami are so deeply rooted in Japanese folklore made me love the game right off the bat. I had never played a game that had watercolor-like visuals, so it definitely blew my mind. I have probably beat the game at 100% at least 20 times (probably more. Yes, I DO know where all the stray bead locations are by heart, don't judge me).

MN: I loved that most of the characters that played a pivotal role in this game were female as well. It was a visually stunning, well thought out and beautifully moving game and story, and it has stuck with me even after all these years. I guess I am most well known in the pin community for my Okami collection. I have made a good amount of pin friends though messages I've received about my collection, and I even started a small Okami pin group where we share info about upcoming Okami pin releases (and other Okami-related merch sometimes). I've never really been a part of an online community in this way before, and I really enjoy that pins (and Okami) bring people together through common interests. It's fun to share news about upcoming releases and to trade with other collectors, all while supporting small businesses.

IPD: Besides Okami, what other kinds of pins do you collect a lot of?

MN: I don't have an overly large collection of them, but I really enjoy Godzilla pins. I'm always on the lookout for nice Kaiju pins. Most of the Kaiju pins in my collection are by Toku Arts. Their pins are what really got me into collecting Godzilla and his buddies in pin form.

IPD: What is the smallest pin in your collection?

MN: The tiniest pin in my collection is the mini Deatheater mask by WhimsyWitchCo_ .

IPD: What is the largest pin in your collection?

MN: The biggest, baddest pin to grace my pin boards is the Mad Queen, Daenerys, by DesignsByGenn and JorjeCroft .

IPD: What is your most elaborate pin?

MN: I have so many detailed pins in my collection, it was difficult to choose. I ultimately ended up coming back to this many-eyed wolf by Keltsune_art. I've had this one in my collection for years and I am still impressed by all the little eyes and swishy fur details on this pin!

IPD: If you could choose one pin from your collection to represent your personality what would it be?

MN: I would choose the 'Red Thread of Fate' pin by ArtofMaquenda . As I said before, I have a deeply rooted love for nature and all animals (except for silverfish insects, they can perish in the deepest pit of hell). I have always been connected to nature, I have learned so much from it and have been endlessly inspired by it. I also chose this pin because it made me think of my husband. We are so different in so many ways, yet there are countless little things that connect us and strengthen us as a whole and as individuals. All of ArtofMaquenda's art is so vivid and thought-provoking. This pin is no exception.

IPD: What are your top 3 favorite pins of this moment?

MN: Oof, another difficult question to answer. I stared at my collection for a very long time before being able to answer this question. At the moment, my top three favorites in my collection are the following:

MN: Boar Head Inosuke by Crymorebrand.

MN: Direwolf Moro by PinsByArisamon.

MN: Bloody Levi Glare by Minmin_pins.

IPD: Do you collect other things besides pins?

MN: I collect Okami figures (who is surprised by that, honestly?)

MN: I am also a long-time collector of Xenomorph figures (I've been collecting them longer than I've been collecting pins, although I've slowed down collecting Aliens, because there are just so many out there that look so similar).