Best Buds- custom CARS inspired sock monkeys!

I  love  custom orders that challenge me to create something I've never done before. I have made all sorts of sock monkeys, but I've never had to use a car as inspiration! These monkeys are for a little boy turning two. He really likes the movie Cars, and his momma wanted sock monkeys styled after the two main characters, Lightening McQueen and Tow Mater!

 See the resemblance?

 Besides making their faces look like the characters, I wanted to add a fun patch on each one, just to add some more detail! Lightening got a lightening bolt and his number 95, and Mater got his towing logo.

 Best buds forever! I think they turned out really cute. I hope the birthday boy loves his cuddly new one-of-a-kind sock monkeys! 

Finally finished, only 3 years late!

Three years ago, Kade asked me for a sock lion for his birthday. That was his favorite animal at the time, and his favorite color was yellow. I bought some cute yellow socks, cut and sewed them up, and set them in my bin full of projects I needed to finish. And there they stayed, getting covered up with more and more unfinished projects.

Kade asked me about his sock lion the other day, and I immediately felt so guilty! I've made close to a hundred sock creatures in the last three years, plus countless other stuffed animals and other things. But I forgot about his little sock lion. I can't believe Kade didn't forget about it too, since it's been so long!

In a way, I'm glad I made this lion now instead of three years ago. I don't think it would have turned out looking anything like a lion back then, when I was just getting the hang of sock monkeys! I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. It took hours to hand tie each hair of his mane to his head, but it was worth it!

Now, three years later, Kade's favorite animals are turtles. His favorite color is "all the colors but pink!". But I think he will still love his finished sock lion that I will give him as part of his Easter basket. Better late than never, right?

Still to do in my huge pile of halfway done projects-
~King size jean quilt
~Three sock monkeys
~Owl purse
~Two fabric first name puzzles
~A few pairs of baby booties
~A summer shirt for me
~A wallet for Jer

....plus more! Am I the only one who has this problem? It's a personal goal of mine to start finishing all the things I've started, to make way for new things. I *love* getting something done and checking it off my mental list. I'm not going to procrastinate any more. This yellow lion is the first of many, and I'm so excited to move on to the next!!

***Just thought I would add the link to the tutorial I used, years ago, to learn how to make sock monkeys! They are easy, and with just the basic sock monkey form you can also make lions like mine, cats, dogs, bunnies, monsters, and lots of other things! There are also lots of other sock creature tutorials out there if you just search for them. I highly recommend it, they are so fun to make!***

The One and Only TMNT Leonardo Sock Creature!

In the past, I have created a Spider Man Sock Monkey, a Star Wars Sock Monkey, and many other unique sock creatures. Last month, I received a request for one that I was really excited to create. Remember Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? I used to watch that all the time at my friend Rae's house, when we were about 10 years old. The TMNT I made is Leonardo. He's the one with the blue bandanna, and the swords. I did some research, to make sure he was detailed exactly after the 80's/90's cartoon, and went to work. Here is the result:



The best part- the swords can either be attached (by an elastic band) to the hands, or slid into the belt on the back of the shell!!


I hope the recipient enjoys his custom Leonardo Sock Creature! I'm considering making another TMNT... it was really fun... we'll see!

Say Chicken!

I just completed a custom order for one of my awesome customers. When she asked for a sock chicken, I was a bit worried... I've made monkeys, frogs, zebras, elephants, turtles, cats, and dogs, but never a chicken! It all started out with a little sketch (I do realize that I can't draw...) and after much trial and error, 4 wings, 4 feet, and 2 beaks, I am finally done with it and am SO HAPPY with how it turned out. Sock Chicken actually looks like a chicken, woohoo! This might be the world's first ever sock chicken, but I know for sure it won't be the last! I really enjoy a challenge. Making things out of socks and felt just makes me happy. I love experimenting, designing patterns, and figuring out how to put things together.

I have little bits of socks, felt, and embroidery thread from this project all over my kitchen floor. It was all in a pile under the sewing machine, but K thinks it's a riot to run through the pile like a football player runs through the huge paper banner held up by 10 cheerleaders... he makes as big of mess as possible and is so proud of himself when he sees the mass destruction behind him! Doesn't help that my kitchen is carpeted. So I'm off to vacuum and then package Mr. Chicken up so I can send him to his new home tomorrow!