IT ALL BEGAN WHEN I WAS TEN...

The Boogie-Eyed Creeps first came to life as a character hand drawn on a membership card for my Boogie-Eyed Creep Club in my neighborhood.  The membership card included name, address, signature line, telephone number and, of course, a hand drawn Boogie-Eyed Creep.  This was a means of contacting a few neighborhood kids to come over to hang out on the porch of my house to play cards and games.  

       Years later, I decided to create this character and a potential book series.  The original Boogie-Eyed Creep, Hugsten, then became an entire family.  As a teacher in an elementary school, students would give me a hug before entering my classroom.  Who doesn’t like a hug?  This gave me the idea to have the Boogie-Eyed Creeps come from the Planet Hugs, where all living things hug.

       I have created an entire brand that currently includes plush, T-shirts and reusable bags.  My intention is to expand into other areas including novelty items.  

JUDY MONEY SHAPPELL is a retired teacher of over 28 years.  She taught health, physical education and instrumental music in the public school system.