In a world where designs of peaceful PNW landmarks are king, Chibi Yeti is a different kind of screen printer. Founded and operated by artists Ahnnawake “Wakey” Nelson and Megan Peeples, this Bellingham-based brand produces unique designs that are cute, creepy, and geeky. 

Photograph by Kristen Boehm

Nelson and Peeples have been friends since they met in high school, where they bonded over anime, art, and “general nerd things.” While they joked about starting an art business together, it wasn’t until 2013, when Nelson found used screen printing frames at a garage sale for $1 each, that a viable venture came into focus. 

“She basically just called me up and was like, ‘Hey, you want to learn screen printing?’,” says Peeples. They bought a how-to book at Bellingham’s Dakota Art Store (where Peeples works) and cobbled together the rest of the equipment they needed with the help of friends and family. “We’re entirely self-taught. We made some art, figured out how to put it on shirts, and it just spun off from there.” 

Chibi Yeti was officially founded in 2014 (“Chibi” represents Nelson, “Yeti” represents Peeples). Their original designs range from floating cities to giant space jellyfish, an anatomical heart growing mushrooms to an intricate bandanna design featuring moths, teeth, and fountain pen nibs. They print on hoodies, shirts, bandannas, totes, patches, and occasionally paper, all from their home studio in their garage. They also make stickers through local business Stickers for Days, and print exciting projects for clients like local artist Erika Rae Heins. 

Nelson says that without the support of friends and other artists, they wouldn’t be where they are today. 

“We want to emphasize how much it takes a village and how much help we got from people around us,” she says, recounting how Iron Street Printing in Bellingham, Unicorn Empire in Poulsbo, and other community members have given them advice and passed on equipment as they grew. “Huzzah for the extended Bellingham artist network!” 

Photograph courtesy of Chibi Yeti

So why haven’t you seen Chibi Yeti at your monthly pop-up market? The geek culture that Peeples and Nelson bonded over as teens has remained an integral part of their lives and business. Instead of farmers markets, they make the rounds at pop-culture conventions in the Pacific Northwest. 

“We were already going to conventions for fun,” says Peeples. “I think that was part of the motivation for making a business, when we saw artists at conventions and went, ‘Oh, that’s cool. Hey, we could do that.’” 

Popular culture conventions are generally held at a conference or event venue and include panels about relevant topics, special guests (like actors and big name creatives), and sometimes games and parties. They also have markets with tens to hundreds of vendors, depending on the size of the con. Some cons even have different categorizations for vendor halls: there’s the Exhibitor Hall, where you can find licensed merchandise and goods from various businesses, and the Artist Alley, where artists sell prints, pins, and fanworks (which is possible through a sort of unspoken gentleman’s agreement between copyright holders and con organizers). 

Selling at cons enables the artists behind Chibi Yeti to feel truly connected to their customers and the wider nerdy community. 

“The energy! Anyone who’s hung around me and Megan for any period of time knows I am an extrovert’s extrovert. I am fueled by interactions with people,” says Nelson. 

“Affirmation. I get direct feedback that people like my designs, and I feel encouraged to make more,” says Peeples. “It’s also just really, really fun to be in that intensely excited, nerdy atmosphere. I love seeing people in costumes [and having] a fun, nerdy conversation about a property that we both enjoy.” 

Follow them @chibiyeti on Instagram to see their convention-exclusive designs, or shop online and find their con schedule at chibiyeti.com.

Bellingham, chibiyeti.com