Blue Quaker Parrot sock critter

I finished half of a custom order I received from Suzie tonite!

she requested a Blue Quaker Parrot... which, again, I had to google to figure out what it was, or at least looked like. (I am familiar with what parrots are!!!)

Blue Quaker Parrots have 3 distinct colors to them (blue, grey & green), Suzie decided that the blue was the most important color to her so we went on to capture that! she also suggested using a plush sock, in hopes that it would "create feathers" and I have to admit, she was definitely RIGHT! it was one of the best client-suggestions I have recieved during a collaboration.

I wanted to achieve what she was going for, I made the tail really long, found the most-perfect-button-beak, and acquired the most amazing eyes for him!!!

you can view all of the pictures here.

Dugong Custom Sock Critter!

I had a request recently for a Dugong Sock Critter. mind you, I find myself to be decently educated on most oceanic creatures and have never heard of such things, I definitely had to google it to see the magnificence that was, in fact, a Dugong...

my first impression was that it looks just like a Manatee... only with a fork-like tail. sort of like a Dolphin and a Manatee made a baby?

their requests: very colorful, safety eyes; and free range for my artists interpretation (I sometimes hate this freedom.)

voila! I made a Sock Dugong! and they loved it!!! YAY!

family

ok, so I can just say that I love my family?! and I'm not even going to go there with the typical "my family is the best ever" or that "I am blessed."

what I am saying here is that I absolutely adore my family. they melt me, and my soft-chewy insides.

we're having a mini-family reunion on Friday and I can not wait! this was all so last minute, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to sleep tonite. I get to see my mom, who just brings me to my knees every time I am with her. my step dad will be there, and his 2 boys- I can't even remember the last time the 3 of us were together last! must have been 14 years ago... I haven't seen them in 4-6 years, so this is just an awesome time!!!

I also get to see my fave Aunt & Uncle (who also happens to be my mom's fave brother)... and meet my new neice. and see my BFF, Aubrey, whom I also haven't seen in 4 yrs (MOH in wedding)... she has a 2 1/2 yr old now... I'll also get to have awesome Sushi House dinner w/ Mark. all good things come from this.

I CAN NOT WAIT! whee!

Peter Pan

I found a Peter Pan book last weekend in a used book store in Seattle, I had it when I was 6 years old. I remember reading it all of the time and had to own it again!

favorite quotes:
"Pan... you're pink."

"Do you tell stories?"
"Yes."
"Then you're perfect."

"I wasn't crying for mothers. I was crying because I can't get this shadow to stick. And I wasn't crying."

"Second star to the right, and straight on till morning!"

"That's very simple, all you've got to do is fly."

"This is not a Nurse. This... is a dog."

*note. these quotes are not from this book. these are just my favorite quotes from Peter Pan's various avenues. owning this book again has just sparked fond memories.

Featured Sponsor Ad

I was involved in a little bit of Friendly Competition last week that pit one of my Sock Monkeys another ladies' Sock Monkey. I WON!! my prize? free advertising on www.cafehandmade.com!!! this is a link to my "ad".

yay!

one of my customers sent me the cutest picture EVER! she bought two Sock Monkeys from me for her kids' Easter Baskets, this is Matthew with both of them. super cute!

I also got my new banner and avatar designs done by Yellow Magpie, she's awesome, I love her!!!

Hearts and Anchors Socktopus

this is a custom order for one of my friends, Kristen. she is obsessed with sea creatures and all things pirate. it was a perfect fit!

happy Easter!

I still love to dye eggs. I just can't help myself.

tentacley goodness!

okay. I am seriously in love w/ my new bundt pan!!! (I made Pineapple Upside-Down cake, which is why it looks like his brains are coming out.)

it was very delicious.

I bought this treasure from Pirates Plunder, located on the Seattle waterfront. it's, by far, one of my favorite shops! :)

orders

as promised, this is my list of orders:

Vic- Snail Laptop Cozy

Amber- Pirate iPod Cozy & Hippie Slouch bag

Erin- diaper bag

Kristen- Socktopus

Suzie- Parrot

Angel- Robot Tote

Rockin & Ridin for Autism- 3 Sock Monkeys

(one is a gift for someone that shall remain under wraps)

*update (4.13): Kristen's Socktopus is complete, and 1 Sock Monkey down for RaRFA!

meanwhile, I just wanted to share some pics I shot yesterday while in the garden playing w/ my new Lensbaby:

what's in a blog?

hi everyone! it's late (for some reason 9:17 feels late to me) and I am tired and trying to figure all of this out. not good for my lack of patience with the headache brewing. which also means that my growling tummy is indicating I forgot to eat dinner. again. this means many things: 1. my 45 minute nap really turned into a 3 hour nap, 2. I woke up about 7:45, so clearly I slept thru "dinner", 3. I am too lazy rightaboutnow to get up and eat something. besides, the dogs are keeping me company and I'm cozy. we can deal with my belly later...

so- why a blog? I am the sole proprietor of my little sock empire! I make little sock critters, well not little, some are down-right HUGE, but you get me? I started off making sock monkeys because my friend, Angel, handmade one for me 2 Christmas' ago. after some research, books, and lots trial and error- I began to sell them. this venture was purely out of necessity since they started taking over my house and the EmJay* was drooling over them waiting for one to fall off of the mantle... (alas, I won!) and after much urging (mostly from Angel again, a diehard etsian) I opened my shop in October and started selling! this was probably one of the most nerve-wracking things I have ever put myself thru since you never know how the world will perceive you, or how they will take your interpretations of "art", or if they will redicule... lots of stress. however... I had tons of encouragement and was even invited to participate in a couple of local art shows at Lowell Art Works in Everett, Washington. I participated in two themed shows: The Bone Show and Things That Go Bump in the Night. as you can tell, they both were monster-themed. the first show was a hit! I sold 3 of the 5 critters I put in the show... the second show was not so fair- as I had my first lessons in compromising my artistic integrity- and upped the anty on my pricing. and though I recieved great praise for how "cute" my designs were, none of the sold at the show (until I got home and had an email from someone that they wanted Zombie Socktopus- and I was NOT to sell him to anyone else!). so... the monsters hit my shop, at a lower price and all but 2 have new homes. I still don't understand how the Headless Horsesock has not adorned someone's bookshelf?

from participating in these 2 shows I realized that I love THEMES! oh man, you can really go off when you have a good basis to work from! an upcoming theme I have in mind: the Fable series, to include: Pegasus, Hydra, Centaur, Dragon, Unicorn...

my shop is fairly sparse right now. I am working on a long list of Custom Orders (to be posted at a later date) right now and have not had the opportunity to make something new that I can list. (but trust me, I have thoughts and ideas a'brewin!)

at any rate, I'm going to wrap this up. because I realize I am clearly rambling, and my blog is nothing intersting to look at right now, since I have no pics or anything awesome to peep. (I am working on this...)

goodnite everyone!
~pam

*EmJay is my Boxer