In The Event That...

You Don't Own Enough Silly Toys

by Sam Tremble

The Mr. Lertchman Toy Release Party and Monster Art Show

Opening reception Fri., Oct. 19, 7-10 p.m., exhibit runs through Nov. 19, Jinxed Clothing, 620 S. Fourth St., 215-978-JINX, www.jinxedclothing.com, www.steffbomb.com

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Despite four years in the growing art-toy biz and a recent national distribution deal with DKE Toys, Langhorne artist Steff Bomb — proprietor of "i make monsters." — has yet to let anyone else produce her work. In fact, she's barely even begun to use her sewing machine, preferring to craft her plush depictions of deformed vegetables, beer cans and defecation the old-fashioned way.

"Maybe one day I will master my sewing machine, but for now I don't mind spending 14 hours sewing a can of beer," she says. "Although something like corn or turds doesn't take as long. I can make a bunch in one day."

Her growing collection of assorted and sordid stuffed animals includes Lyman the beer-drinking sasquatch, Mushy Mayonnaise the beer-drinking yeti, Mad Kern (a piece of corn that's her personal fave) and her latest, an angry-looking asparagus named Mr. Lertchman. Then there's also an ax-wielding amputee bunny, a ghost, a mysterious monster and an assortment of feces, farts, vomit and other bodily secretions. She once made a decapitated mushroom for a custom show. His head detached with Velcro and a battle-ax stuck in his neck revealed his severed spine.

"It was cute," she says, adding quickly, "I swear I am not a weirdo."

The exhibit will also feature toys by a number of other local artists. Among them is fellow crafter Amanda Mello, who will display her Amandamals, a collection that has expanded from humble hand-sewn whales to ambitious renderings of squids and conjoined monster twins.

Bomb promises the opening-night party, thrown by Mike Supermodel at Jinxed clothing, will be sweet, complete with free booze, cupcakes and a raffle to win a toy turd.