Maing Progress Crafting Sock Monkeys

I have LOT of photos posted on my Sock Monkeys By Cheryl FACEBOOK page!


SOCK MONKEYS FOR SALE

 

 

I also have posted a few of the socks I have on hand to be made into Sock Monkeys, Sock Bears, Sock Bunnies, Sock Cats, Sock Owls, Sock Piggies, Sock Hedgehogs, Sock Dogs, etc!  There is no limit to the Sock Pals I can come up with!!

Future Sock Pals

 

This is only the beginning!  I still have a lot of socks not pictured for the other smaller projects like Owls and Piggies.  I will soon be on more of a regular blogging schedule, but my facebook page will be getting the most attention!

 

 

 

 

 With my first fair coming up at the beginning of next month, look for lots of posts on how it goes!

 

 

How To Make A Sock Monkey

I made this video just for fun!




Any suggestions are appreciated! I do hope this video inspires others to tap in to their creative side!

Making Sock Monkeys

So far this year I have already made 17 Sock Monkeys.  Four were  requested and bought, two more were purchased, so the rest, including another10 or so that I have had are the start of my stock pile of Sock Monkeys!  Someone suggested that if I wanted to sell at a craft fair, I should have at least 100 Sock Monkeys ready before I go.  I have no idea how realistic that number is, but I figure why not?  I have about 23 Fuzzy Christmas Socks, around 20 or so Fuzzy Socks, and 10 Red Heel Socks so far to make Sock Monkeys, Sock Bears, Sock Bunnies, and whatever else I come up with.  I am hopeful that my Sock Monkeys would sell, but honestly if I only sell 10, I would be happy with that.  Most of the fairs around here, the "booth" rentals for the weekend are usually about $40 more or less depending on the event, so if I can make that plus a little for my time, I won't complain.  I know my Sock Monkeys are adorable and I do think that seeing them in person, touching them, hugging them they would literally sell themselves.  Pictures do not do them justice!  I found some cute little mini fuzzy socks and made all 6 of them into Sock Monkeys.

 They are SO CUTE!  My daughter kept one of them, and I think I am going back this weekend to buy more of those mini socks.  I think they would make the BEST mini Sock Bunnies for Easter.  I also made a How to Make a Sock Monkey Tutorial video with still photos, so as soon as I get it on YouTube, I will post it here too!  I didn't like the Tutorials I found even though I did get a few good tips from them, I still think my Sock Monkeys look better.  I know it seems kind of like shooting myself in the foot when I'm trying to sell mine as well, but at the same time, I don't really make them to make money off of them.  I tell everyone I who sees me making my Sock Monkeys anytime I'm at the Doctor's office or waiting for a long time that this is my therapy.  And it is.  Making these cute little Sock Monkeys, Sock Bears, Sock whatever makes me happy.  It has brought me through a tough time.  I put a lot of love and care into my Sock Monkeys, I hug them, I play with them a tiny bit to make sure they are durable, and they always make me smile.  What craft or hobby do you have that you pour your heart into?

Halloween Sock Monkey

Always adding more, always making Sock Monkeys!  I know it is WAY off, but I figured why not?  I added these Halloween Sock Monkeys to my Etsy store! http://www.etsy.com/shop/SockMonkeysByCheryl

Over the weekend I went and bought a bunch of new Fuzzy socks at the local flea market.  I have decided to give a craft show/festival a try.  Realistically, though, to be able to do one, I should have at LEAST 50-100 completed Sock Monkeys (Bears, Bunnies, Cats, etc) before I put that money down for the fair.  Everyone else seems to think I will do really well, so I figure why not give it a shot.  I don't want to spend too much money out for it though.  I still need to buy a folding table which we need at home any way, and of course one of those tents.  I guess if selling at the fairs doesn't pant out, we could use a tent like that in the yard occasionally, so it wouldn't be a waste.  So lots to think about and plan to really get this going.  If it doesn't work out, at least I will have had the experience, but I have also been reading othe blogs and forums and realize that what may not do well in one show, might sell out in another, so I should try at least 3 or 4 this year.  Of course, if I did sell out completely that would be amazing!  I do love each and everyone of my Sock Monkeys, so sometimes I have trouble letting them go to new homes, so doing a show might be harder than you think!

Sock Monkeys For Sale on Etsy

After being encouraged by my mother to put my Monkeys online for sale, I went ahead and opened an Etsy store!  I did try selling my Sock Monkeys on Ebay, but it costs a lot to post a listing there, and I am too cheap!  Etsy is much more reasonable and the listing stays up for 2 months!  So here are pictures of the cute cuddly Sock Monkeys & Sock Bears I have for sale now!

All picture above are available HERE:  SOCKMONKEYMAMA

Not sure how well online sales will do since there are so many others out there, but its worth the try!  Also, I am trying to make at least 50 Sock Monkeys and other animals to try and sell at local fairs and festivals in 2013.  I went to a few over the summer and Fall and realized that if I had more setting up a table at a small fair would be fun and I might sell a few.  Now just to find the time to make them all!!  I am always on the lookout for new socks and will be needing to buy more fuzzy ones VERY soon. 

Christmas Sock Monkeys

I have these pictured for sale. Price is in the photo!

My contact info is on my Blogger Profile. Shipping will be extra. Merry Holidays!

Merry Christmas Sock Monkey

I bought these socks right after Christmas last year and have been so excited all year to make them!  I only have finished 3 so far, but I have 3 more to make and even if they are still hanging around after Christmas and don't get to find homes just yet, there is always room on my Monkey Shelf, no matter how crowded it gets!!  It's beginning to look like I need more of a Monkey BookShelf!

Aren't they the cutest?  And Yes, the first one is a Christmas Bear!  John named him Thistle, but I'm sure who ever adopts him will call him something just as cute!

So Many Sock Monkeys

I have not been bery good at blogging about my Sock Monkeys, but work and family will do that. I have sold So Many Sock Monkeys and have lots of photos on My Webshots. I have made Sock Bears, Sock Bunnies, and a Sock Cat. In fact, I have made so many that my 10 pounds of Polyfil has been used up within a year! I wanted to share some of what I've been working on since I last blogged.

And that is just a fraction of what I have been making.  I love the Origianl Sock Monkeys, but it seems that the Fuzzy Sock Monkeys are more popular!! Some were gifts, some were bought, and some still sit on my Monkey helf waiting to be "adopted".  Every time I start to make one, I am reminded of how I took a horrific tragedy and turned it around.  I know that if I hadn't allowed myself to learn how to make these Sock Monkeys, and spent so many hours joyfully making them, I don't know how I would have gotten through it, and continue to go forward.  When I tell people that each Sock Monkey/Bear/Bunny/Cat was made with love, I really mean it.  I love how these cute little animals can bring so much happiness to children and adults who fall in love with them.  Each one is in rememberance for me, and with each one I make, I feel a little stronger.

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!











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!

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!

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.