Where We Came From

  • For more than 15 years, we've had the privilege of helping makers create with confidence. If you've ever used a light board, paper trimmer, or sewing tool from CutterPillar, there's a good chance we've crossed paths through customer support, YouTube tutorials, a quilt or craft expo, or one of the many products we designed ourselves.

    As the original founders and creators behind the CutterPillar brand since 2011, we poured our hearts into developing tools that made crafting easier, more enjoyable, and more inspiring.

    Like many small businesses, our journey wasn't without challenges. After seeking outside financial help during a difficult economic period, we eventually found ourselves being forced to step away from the very company we had spent 14 years building. It was a difficult ending, but it also gave us the opportunity to begin again.

  • In nature, every butterfly begins as a caterpillar. Growth requires change, and sometimes the hardest transitions lead to the most beautiful transformations. That's exactly what Monarch Illumination represents for us. It is the next chapter of our journey, carrying forward the experience, passion, and dedication we've always had while embracing the freedom to create something even better.

    We're excited to be back doing what we love most, designing innovative tools, listening to the creative community, and building products with the same care and craftsmanship that started this journey all those years ago.

Who We Are

Jack and Marin

Jack and Marin are one of the two husband-and-wife teams behind Monarch Illumination. Together, they've become a trusted name in the quilting, sewing, and crafting community by creating innovative tools that inspire creativity.

Jack leads product development and manufacturing, overseeing product design, prototyping, manufacturing, supplier relationships, and quality control.

Marin leads customer success and partnerships, managing customer service, wholesale and retailer relationships, affiliate partnerships, community outreach, and product testing.

Whether they're developing new products or meeting makers at quilting and sewing events across the country, Jack and Marin are passionate about helping creative people bring their ideas to life.

Zach and Dannie

Zach and Dannie are the second husband-and-wife teams behind Monarch Illumination. Together, they help keep every part of the business moving, from daily operations and marketing to making sure every order reaches customers with care.

Zach leads business operations, filling the gaps wherever they're needed and finding solutions to keep the company running smoothly. Whether it's improving processes, solving technical challenges, or supporting every department, he's always working behind the scenes to keep Monarch moving forward.

Dannie leads marketing and operations, managing the website, social media, photography and video, inventory, shipping fulfillment, and invoicing. She helps share Monarch's story while making sure every customer has a great experience from the moment they discover Monarch to the day their package arrives.

Together, they're passionate about supporting the creative community and helping bring innovative tools into the hands of all makers everywhere.