Sunday, January 24, 2010

My First Sock Monkey Sale!

My daughter had brought one of the Christmas Monkeys to her school to give to her friend as a very late Christmas gift. After a bunch of her friends said they, too, wanted one, I said I would sell them to her friends at less than my original price at $7.00. One girl bought a blue and grey Sock Monkey! Everyone else I want $10.00 for a Sock Monkey, fuzzy or not, but to a few of her friends, I don't mind letting them go a little less. I have 4 Fuzzy Sock Monkeys reserved for my Sister-In-Law's friend, but if she doesn't buy them soon, I ma have to sell them to someone else since they are SOO cute!! I just finished 2 new Fuzzy Sock Monkeys, and am working on 4 at the same time. 2 Fuzzy Socks, 1 Feather/Fuzzy Sock, and one of the Brown original ones I had made, for my daughter's teacher.
Even though my man is encouraging me to sell them, it doesn't matter to me as much. It would be awesome if I made money from it, but I am still going to make them anyway. They really do help to relax and heal me and when I look at them on the shelf smiling back at me, it just makes me feel so good. ^_^
I even wen to far as to take some pictures of the future Sock Monkeys!

Future Sock Monkey 010
Future Sock Monkey 001
Future Sock Monkey 002
Future Sock Monkey 003
Future Sock Monkey 004
Future Sock Monkey 005
Future Sock Monkey 006
Future Sock Monkey 007
Future Sock Monkey 009

I have a few others that are already prepared for stuffing and such. I was thinking of taking pics of them after preparing on the sewing machine and then makybe a pic after each process, but that would take too much time away from making the actual Sock Monkey. ^_^ More sooner than later!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

More socks!!




The first "batch" of sock monkeys I made for Christmas were speckled with brown heel and toe, and looked as close to traditional sock monkeys as I could get. Let's face it, as cute as they are, I am not in a financial state where I can afford $10 for two pairs of socks. The ones I had bought initially were 3 for $2.50, and I ended up making about 12. Unfortunately, my sock supplier could no longer find any socks like that. I bought all he had back in November. We go to the local Flea Market on weekends to search for socks, and good deals otherwise, and have been able to get the cutest fuzzy socks for $1 a pair. I have made about 10 fuzzy sock monkeys now and I actually like them a little more because they are so fluffy and hugable. I have a webshots page where I am uploading pictures of all the monkeys I have made, given away and am trying to sell now. Here is my WEBSHOTS PAGE. Here is my EBAY LISTING of one of my Fuzzy Sock Monkeys. More later!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

My Sock Monkey Beginning


I remember, as a child, my Great Grandmother (MawMaw) would make sock monkeys, but beyond that I don't know if she sold them or gave them away. Fast forward to Christmas shopping with my fiance in 2008. We we in Walmart and turned a corner and there were about 10 on the shelf, not handmade, but looked close enough for me to fall madly in love with it. He bought it for me and wrapped it for Christmas. My Sock Monkey brought back so much and I pretty much am a big kid anyway, so it was always fun.

In September, I was 5 months pregnant and our baby didn't make it, so his birthday is the same day as his passing. From this awful tragedy of losing my son, I had to find something to keep me busy and I looked up online how to make a homemade sock monkey. I bought some socks from our local flea market and started at it. The first two Test Monkeys were made of white socks with blue heels and toes, and looked kind of funny, but I didn't give up. My fiance's mom wanted me to make her one, so I used a darker sock with a brown heel and toe. The Next one I made was for his Nephew. I made the next one for my daughter out of a pink striped fuzzy sock that was more challenging than the regular sock, but I managed to get it together. I made another fuzzy sock for my son, and I thought it looked spectacular!

My next project was Christmas gift monkeys! I ended up making a total of 8 sock monkeys and even made felt "Santa" hats for them. I gave 3 to friends of my daughter's, and the rest to family. Since then, other people have seen the ones I gave as gifts and thought that I should try to sell them. So here I am making more and more and truthfully, even if I don't sell any, it won't bother me at all, but I figure I might as well try. So I am going to "Blog" about my monkeys and making them and even put up pictures or links and such.

Every Sock Monkey I make has its own personality and character and ALL are pre-hugged. This week I have made 4 new fuzzy sock monkeys. One is going to my fiance's mom, and the rest I am going to take around with me to try to sell. Really, though, it has brought me joy and helped to heal so many deep wounds in my heart that will always be there. It is the only good that has come of my tragedy. If it weren't for my sock monkeys, I would still be very sad and lonely and depressed, so I am thankful, even if all I do is fill my house with these cute monkeys, that I have something that has helped ease the pain a little.