…and breathe!

I'm not sad to see the end of this week… it started with a constant purr of the sewing machine as I sat chained to the bernina and ended with packing up the car and bringing most of my stock home, less a few monkeys and, oh yeah… I was very light on the business cards!

Don't get me wrong, a great day was had by all and we left the fair still smiling and laughing even though the rain was falling… but was it worth all the hard work? Neglecting my kids, neglecting the housework, neglecting the ironing? (Always worth neglecting ironing!!!) But as hard and rubbish as last week was I think it was worth it.

It made me finish all those little projects that I was putting off doing… those little sock monkeys that would have sat limbless on my sofa for another few months (there were 7 in total), the embroidery that I needed to finish a quilt, the binding for another, all the labels that I needed to print, all the bags that I had cut out in January that had been sat in pieces with no purpose, and all the new bags that I have now made… chickadeedoodah, this ones mine… and apparently Tinks! …and by the way, all my bags are original designs by monkey and squidge.

My cotton stash is now looking very sad, and my sewing machine needs a clean and an oil, but I am now armed with a lovely collection of stock that I am so pleased with and no pressure to make more, and with the urgency lifted I can make some more bags at a time that suits me… tomorrow? Maybe not.

When they're gone…

…they're gone!

No more… Never! Baby monkeys are as much effort as the big monkeys if not more. So this is it! 3 little baby monkeys for sale – actually there's just 2 now, 1 is sold already… and one sold before she was even finished – a gorgeous purple one who now is living with her big sister Veronica (sold last month) in Australia. I can't believe I forget to take a photo of her – I'll try and get a photo of them in their new home! Oh that would be fun… asking owners to send in photos of their monkeys… what am I talking about! I think these monkeys are making me mad! Right somebody slap me and bring me back to reality!

Okay, I'm back and just to reiterate – no more baby monkeys made by these hands (unless I find cute boys socks that I just can't resist!). Never say never Rachael… I should have learnt that after the Mumbo incident (my first sock monkey that I wasn't even sure I'd finish).

As before… email me if your interested! Babies are £10.

Annie

Mi Mi – RESERVED

Angel – RESERVED

Thanks for looking

Rachael

I used to quilt…

…now all I do is make sock monkeys!

This is just a little update for all those people who have expressed an interest – this is potentially my last batch before christmas – although there may be a few more little girls springing up!

Monkey Mug Shot Wall of Fame

just heads at the moment but it gives you an idea of colour.

If you are interested in a particular monkey please email me the reference and your name and I will aim to reserve him or her for you, and don't forget there are still a few little girls still looking for a home! Visit my sock monkey page!!!

mu.011 – RESERVED

br.pi.001

Sock Snowmen

I had the best day yesterday…

…of course I was meant to be cleaning but that had to be swept to one side as the two lovely girls I get together once a week to sew and gossip with could only meet on Monday!

I still haven't got Max to do a guest post on my blog, but we do still meet once a week to continue their education in quilt making! (We'll give them a little bit of lee-way as there is that gorgeous baby Ashwini that keeps taking our attention), and we do from time to time get side tracked with other projects… there were hearts at valentines, and Kaly started making bunting for the baby (before she was born, and she is yet to finish it, I might add!)… but yesterday was the day of Sock Snowmen!

This is Tinks, and watch this space as I will finish my boys very soon.

So it wasn't planned but Max had decided after seeing Buddy (the sock snowman I donated for the school raffle and stupidly didn't photograph – but he was exceptionally cute!) that she would be able to undertake this project… with a lot of encouragement from me saying 'It's easy, even the kids could do it'.

I have never laughed so much in all my life… who could have possible thought that you could go wrong with stuffing… the poor little snowman was huge and getting bigger by the moment and it was even funnier when Max attempted to put him in the sock that became his jumper… it was like trying to put a sock on a basketball!

…but with a little bit of stuffing removal she made good progress and only has a little finishing off to do!

…and because she managed to do so well, the spare pair of socks she bought incase it all went horrible wrong were donated to Kaly, who reluctantly and whilst constantly muttering to her daughter whom was off from school sick – 'I can't do that, do you really want one', also started on her first sock snowman!

I will photograph my lovely students snowman too as I am very proud of them – the girls, not the snowmen!

I had made my own modifications from the snowmen on thenshemade.blogspot.com/1011/01/sock-snowmen.html with regards to the process of how their bodies were sewn, and I also decided a little felt nose that looked like a carrot would be good… oh yeah, and pom poms on the hat!!! But hats of to thenshemade… it is just an absolutely fabulous idea.

Thanks for looking and please feel free to leave a comment – I don't bite!

Rachael

…still buzzing!

So, for the past… who can remember how long, I have been trying to find 101 excuses as to why I wouldn't be able to sell at the school fair…

1 I don't think I'll sell any so it will be a waste of time
2 I could be humiliated
3 What do I put my products in if by chance I sell anything! (Which I wont so there's no point in going!) …I had no idea how expensive bags are to buy or how long you can spend looking on the internet for the 'right' bag!
4 …as a continuation from 3… bags are so expensive that's my profit I'm eating into!!!
…loved my clear bags though and have to admit I was slightly disappointed when people didn't need a bag!!!
5  …where was I? I'm sure there are more reasons! Oh yeah… I have to donate something to the raffle! (made those lovely sock snowmen Lynn pointed out to me, can't believe I didn't take a photo but his name was buddy!)
6 …urm! Give me a minute I'm sure I've got another excuse…
7 did I mention I could be humiliated!
…101 – I DON'T WANT TO DO IT!

…but at the same time I have been trying to make enough stock incase I DID decide to take a stand…

…come on, you know I obviously did.

I woke up at 6 this morning and told myself to go back to sleep… which of course I didn't due to the fact that I still had a mouth to sew on, a quilt to finish, 3 labels to print, 4 labels to attach, a quick trip to sell a monkey before the fair and a monkey who needed a quick spin in the washing machine and tumble dryer!

I have to say getting up early was quite good but I was so ahead of myself that I did start to bounce of the walls a little… but my family were fantastic, they all get dressed when I asked (including Guy… and if you know Guy you'll know that's an achievement!!!) and we were all packed up and in the car ready to set up at 11.

So I'm sounding quite confident right! Wrong… I had a space in the main hall, FAB! Hhhmmm… I wanted to be tucked away in a corridor away from everyone – remember I really didn't want to go, (it turned out to be a great spot though), but once I was set up I was really quite pleased with how it looked but notice the crossed (slightly nervous) arms… oh yeah and that smile.

Pretending not to be nervous I took a cup of tea that I was offered… big, BIG mistake, I have no idea how I managed to keep the tea in the styrofoam cup!!! Shaking? Me? No! I'm not shaking!!! I have an affliction don't you know! I'm sure I'm allergic to styrofoam cups, bring me out in an uncontrollable shudder! So as my voice went up a few octave's "GUY, quick can you take this for me… QUICK TAKE THIS!' my husband… my rock… rescued me from near disaster! – I have to say I couldn't of done it today without his support over the past few weeks and of course today! So I'd like to say right now a huge thank you… with a promise that I will once again start ironing (and washing, and hoovering, and cooking tea, and shopping – actually it's surprising what you can still mange to make with very little food but I am fed up with being referred to as 'old mother hubbard'!).

A day of sewing!

I had a change of direction today and decided that with 16 sock monkeys finished and 4 just needing their ears and smiles sewn on, oh yeah and the two that need everything doing… that I now had the sock monkeys pretty much in the bag… and actually I mean that literally!

There's my new baby sock monkey in there too, you can see how small she is… very cute!

So then my change in direction ended up with me making one peg bag and nearly finishing another, yay!

I only took a photo of the finished one and it's not the best photo but I'm glad to be blogging about something other than sock monkeys!!! (even though it's only a quick blog).

…and yes, your right if you think it looks familiar. I have used this fabric for my peg bag before but there is a slight difference to the shape and the button… and my label!

A day of bags tomorrow me thinks, I have found some fabulous fabric in my stash so I have to admit I'm quite excited. Roll on tomorrow.

Thanks for looking and please feel free to leave a comment.

Rachael

Christmas fair is looming

I have so missed blogging…

…it's been so long since I last sat down and had something to blog about. Thats not to say I haven't been busy because I have. No more quilting for me at the moment, oh no… I'm on a mission.

In a moment of madness I decided to take a stand at the school fair… selling, wait for it… ta dah!

…monkeys, monkeys and even more monkeys!

My fingers are sore but I finally have a little group of finished monkeys. Most of them girls at the minute, the boys are still waiting to be sewn.

I will have them up for sale in the next few days on my folksy or etsy site… once I've got better photographs of them. In the mean time have a look at my 'new' sock monkey page. I know, I know, I lead a sad life!!!

Oh and I have a new logo too… watch this space.

Thanks for looking.

Rachael

Just a pair of socks!

…yay! Here she is, my cutest little sock monkey.

I couldn't resist making her a little pair of frilly socks and she has a cute flower tail too – I just love her… up for sale on Etsy… do I have to? I think I may have to keep her, urm for Tink I mean!!!

Enough with the sock monkeys now…

…I want to start a new quilt! Or perhaps even finish one!!!

Thanks for looking.

Rachael

Your Mission…

…should you choose to accept it! Two sock monkeys, his and hers… by Thursday!!!

I have a really good friend, I love her dearly… but seriously! She obviously doesn't read my blog (thanks for your support!) because she has only just stumbled upon the sock monkey post which was from way back in the summer, and in doing so expects me to drop everything and magic up two in as many days as an anniversary present!!!

Of course I rose to the challenge after giving her a hard time, and with already having one little girl finished and looking for a home it was just a case of finding the little boy to be her other half…

…so my two little sock monkeys have fallen in love!

Can you feel the lurve in the room! She is such a monkey to photograph, because she is a lovely purple colour but unfortunately I only had ten minutes to take the shots before an afternoon in school so they are not as perfect as I would have liked. I still love them and I hope they are much loved.

…I also made a pink stripy girl (which is why I only had ten minutes to photograph), just need to sew on her ears tomorrow over a cup of coffee… photos to follow.

Anybody else making sock monkeys?

Thanks for looking

Rachael

Enjoy while it lasts!

…I cannot actually believe that 5 weeks of the summer holiday have gone already. Boo!!!

I love summer holidays, I love having my kids at home, not having to rush around in the morning and the general laid back feeling you get when you know you don't have to get up for 7 weeks…

We've had a rather action packed holiday… deciding to sell the house so we franticly decorated the first week only to change our minds and think we'll stay put for a while. Then my boy got hit by a bike so there was the A&E visit… again, joking apart it was probably the worst moment of my life and it still haunts me! An impromptu camping adventure which was great fun… still couldn't keep him safe… he walked into a wooden spike! My boys birthday which I would like to say went without a hiccup but no… slapped cheek for him as a special gift of turning 7! Not fun having a poorly boy on his birthday.

…so with all these adventures I pretty much lost the chance to do anything major in the sewing department (note – I said 'anything major', and my blogging fell by the wayside too! Not that I'd have it any other way, I'll have term times to devote to my sewing (…and cleaning, and ironing… blah, blah, blah!!!)

I did sneak in a few things… a scarf for my sister in laws birthday, and one for the daughter of my best friend.

…and then there were those sock monkeys, you know, the ones I said I'd never do again… urm, was that really me that said that, no, not me… 

Mumbo, my original one is at the back in the middle, and Tink has adopted rainbow on the right!

Then of course there's one I made as the present to go with the scarf for my friends little girl…

…and as I had a spare set of socks left from the pack I bought I made one to put on my folksy shop!

…dare I say, I'm already on the lookout for more interesting socks!

Enjoy the rest of summer holiday!

Rachael

Sock Monkeys…

…are not my forte!

Can't say I've really enjoyed making this or will ever make another one (I may not even finish this poor little chap!). Poor little thing hasn't had his limbs sewn on properly yet or his bottom sewn up, but I thought I'd show you my progress so far incase this is as far as he gets.

Not sure why I haven't enjoyed making him, I think there was just too much stuffing for my liking!

I want to call him Hector or Dexter, not sure why, but hopefully that will make me love him a little more and he will end up as one of my twos loved toys! Hmmm, we'll see.

I'd love to see your sock monkeys, send me a link if you've made one – I think I need inspiration.