Sock Monkey Bonus Day: Mystery Solved!

There have been a lot of Sock Monkey Monday entries this week... let's just call it make up for all of those Sock Monkey Mondays I missed when I was sick. I'm feeling much better now, and working very hard on catching up. So far, I have about three done, and about seven (possibly more) to go.

However, Sherlock* has finally made a break in his case!

The line of paint on the wall led here... Sherlock pondered this for a short while, giving the monkey maker time to work on other things.

Things like getting the monkeys situated on those new shelves!

Ah! That's where the missing monkeys went!


They're trying not to make mischief while they wait to be adopted.

I wanted to wait until the shop-- The Artful Phoenix** was fully opened before I posted photos of where the monkeys all disappeared too.

More of the shop, looking from where the monkeys are located.

It's a fantastic shop, full of lots of really great things from local artists, and my monkeys are there too! Squee!!!

Mumma has some of her jewelry there as well!

I put those shelves together (with some help, but I did the heavy lifting).

The Artful Phoenix will have an online shop as well, and as soon as I find out the info for it, I'll post that too. This is what I've been spending a lot of my days working on when I'm not at home working on making more monkeys or at job interviews.

SQUEE!!!

Also, the shop now has it's sign up, and it's fantastic!

The door:

The shop is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm.

A photo of my neighborhood at twilight:

I love this town, it has a wonderful feel to it, and it's so pretty here!

*Sherlock is actually on his way to Canada right now, but he made sure to solve the case before he left. He's a good detective like that.
**The shop is owned by two local women-- Melissa and Jan. I only found out what it was called after a Meetup event I went to. When I found out the name, I just *had* to join!

Sock Monkey Bonus Day: Sherlock Gets Closer to a Solution

Sherlock has been working diligently here in Monkeyville to locate the missing monkeys. So far, he's had a small break through. The shelves that were located in the living room have vanished. At first, Sherlock was perplexed... where could they have gone? Did the monkeys go with them?

Then, he went for a ride in the car with me, and lo and behold! The missing shelves!

That's definitely *not* the house. Our house doesn't have walls that are painted on like that for sure!

Were the monkeys with the shelves? Stay tuned to find out!

Sock Monkey Monday: Sherlock Works on a Case!

Alternately titled: The Mystery of the Missing Monkeys

Sherlock has just been hanging around for the most part, showing off his GQ style poses.

Actually, that should be his MQ poses, as he's a money and all.

However, a couple of days ago, strange things started happening in Monkeyville.

Hmm... monkeys all binned up... why could that be? Sherlock wondered to himself.

Then, a huge cardboard box appeared! Inside that box wasn't just a normal bookcase, but shelves!

Lightweight, but sturdy... interesting development.

Sherlock takes a moment to admire the new square lamps while pondering the strange things going on in Monkeyville.

Oooh... lamp-y.

Then, one morning, Sherlock woke up to find himself all alone!

Hello? Anyone? 

Oh no! All of the Monkeyville monkeys are missing!

Or are they?

Finally, some gratuitous Gir!

This one is meant to look just like the cartoon. I have to say that it will never cease to amaze me when I set out to make something look like a person/cartoon and it actually does look like that person/cartoon.

Gir Bum!

His tail is pointy and cute.

More Gir.


His zipper-- felt with embroidered details.


He has that typical crazy Gir look to him too!

*Lick, lick*

Sherlock is still working on the Mystery of the Missing Monkeys, but he did locate his magnifying glass, so he's having an easier time with the clues.

Sock Monkey Monday: *Hums Pink Panther Theme*

 Introducing, probably the hardest monkey I have ever made, Sherlock Holmes!!!

This little guy took a lot of work, and a lot of research to actually make. There aren't a lot of patterns for sock monkey sized clothes.

Not only did I make his suit, I made his wee little tie!

He's quite dashing in his little suit too:

I also made that top hat pin cushion. If anyone wants one, I'd be happy to make one for you too. The thing I love about it is that it's tall enough that the needles (except the 3" ones) don't go all the way through.

Of course, without the coat, it's just a guy in a suit, not Sherlock Holmes.

He's showing off the interior of the coat. By the time I made that, I had gotten much better than when I made the suit coat, and realized it needed a lining.


Now *that* looks like a Sherlock Holmes sock monkey!

I can't do a little hat, because in order to make hats, you need things that I don't have like mad sewing skills, and a pattern. If I can find it, I have a little magnifying glass charm that would be perfect with him. I have to look through the Monkeyville stock to see if I can find it though.


I'll post much better photos once I have time to really take them. Sherlock had mysteries to solve though, so I didn't have time. Also, there are still a few pattern making marks on him that I need to clean off. I made my own patters for everything except the little tie. That I used a website for. All of his clothes are removable (including his tie) though I really, really, really don't advise removing anything except his outer coat because it's Really Hard to sew little monkey clothes, so much of the work is hand stitching.

Sock Monkey... Um... Day

 I was laid off at the day job about two weeks ago now, and without that steady 9-5 (well, 7-3:30) schedule, I'm a bit lost on what day it is. Also, what *time* it is, as I have no idea when to eat meals, go to bed, get up, or anything. Who would have thought the day job was such a huge part of my regular life?!

Also, I spent the whole weekend and Monday partying. It was Mumma's birthday, so there was much laughing, some old photos shared, and much drinking. Saturday night was hilarious, and not just because we were drinking lots of champagne either. Actually, I had Viking's Blod mixed with glögg. Yum!

Now, for the promised photos of the sock elephant. He's been named Snuffy.

It's kind of hard to photograph a sock elephant with that big nose.


Reach out and sniff someone.



Elephant bum. Not quite as cute as monkey bum, but the tail is unique!


Snuffy also posed with the last of the kittens: Smudge, Fifi, and Bean (Bean has jelly beans on his ribbon).


Happy Kittens are Happy! Also not prone to shedding like real kittens.

Of course, if you have cats, this is the view you *usually* see:

Kitten bums.

Please note: Snuffy the Elephant has sold, and will be traveling to Australia very soon. Lucky Elephant!!!

Sock Monkey Wednesday: Pirate Meets Ninja!

It's been a while I know,  I know. I can't explain all of the things that have gotten in the way of me doing Sock Monkey Mondays. Taxes requiring finishing, losing my day job, organs being removed...  you know, all of the things that happen in the life of your average sock monkey maker.

Okay, so this year so far has been Really Weird. On the surface, it seems like it should have been terrible so far, and while I'll fully admit that being sick all through February wasn't fun, the rest of the year so far has actually been pretty good. Ninja Muse is probably right about everything happening for a reason, and maybe I'll be lucky and the being extremely sick for a couple of months is all of my bad stuff for the year. It can't hurt to hope!

Now, for some monkey cuteness. I'm sorry, I haven't had time to photograph the elephant, and I'm writing this on my dinner break, so I'll have to save that for Monday's entry. For tonight, it will be some custom order monkeys that I completed this past week.

Proof that pirates and Ninjas can, on occasion, get along.

This monkey was super long (as requested). In fact, she measured about two feet tall! I did her arms and tail a different way so that they wouldn't be too heavy and so that she can hang.

She'll be spending a lot of time hanging around I think.


The Ninja is not quite as tall (Ninja Socks don't come in super long sizes). However, he has long skinny arms and a long skinny tail as well. He's supposed to look more like the Original Ninja Monkey. He's similar, but different in many ways. I have to finish up making his little sword before I pop these two in the mail.


I also finished up this girl monkey this past week. She's been dubbed Faith, because I just thought it fit.

The pirate girl was supposed to come with a boa, I happened to find a stash of them, so I included one for this monkey as well. This one is for a charity auction.


I gave her two little hearts on her tummy because the woman who the charity event is for has two kids.

*Is a sentimental dork*

I have to say, that ribbon was one of the harder things that I've had to do on a monkey. It took a quite a few tries to get it right!

Her tail has lots of little pink ribbons on it, with hearts as the loop bit. I happened to see these socks, and they just screamed that they needed to be made into a monkey.

Unfortunately, the rest of the monkeys I've been working on this week are in various states of sewing/assembly, so I can't post photos of them. Well, I could, but a bin on monkey bits isn't nearly as cute as the finished ones. I've also been working on reorganizing the whole house, and the taxes took from 12pm until 3:30am last night to do, so while I'm sort of a bum, I've also been doing lots around the house.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

Just this for now. 

There's a monkey entry coming, but for right now, I'm feeling like putting my head on the desk and repeating "oh God..."

I did the taxes today. By myself.   It took from 12pm to 3am.

*Collapses. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz*