band of monkeys

Five more monkeys for the Great Sock Monkey Challenge. These are made using mainly donated socks with a few left over bits and pieces I had from previous monkeys. I'm ashamed to say I received the donated socks back in October and it's taken me this long to make the monkeys. I don't know about you, but sometimes it takes me a long time to get started. The socks sat around for about four months until I got myself motivated. I could blame the glorious summer weather for my procrastination. But, actually, it's just me. 

Watching classic movies at Auckland Film Society

one after another

Two more monkeys for the Great Sock Monkey Challenge. Columbine has kindly donated socks to the challenge and I'm pretty sure there are still some left. If you'd like to get some to make monkeys, join the challenge on Facebook, send a message saying you'd like some socks and you'll be sent some. Easy :)
have a happy week.

And so ...

Here we are ... more monkeys. One is for my six-year-old grand-nephew who suffers from HUS (hemolytic-uremic syndrome), a chronic kidney disease. He lives in the UK but would like to be part of the Great Sock Monkey Challenge so I made a monkey especially for him. The second monkey is for his little brother. And to keep the other monkey company, of course. The striped monkey is French. And the spotty one used to be a pirate. Arrrgh.

I also made some more lavender bags - a birthday present for my niece.

Reading Die trying by Lee Child (Jack Reacher #2) + Listening Collapsing Cities' Strangers again + Watching Moonrise Kingdom + Viewing Home AKL - an exhibition of contemporary Pacific art at the Auckland Art Gallery

same but different

This week I finished two more monkeys for the Great Sock Monkey Challenge. I was in a bit of a rush to get them to Wellington to meet the deadline for delivery to the children's hospital. They turned out surprisingly well and, in fact, I think my haste (and lack of fussy perfectionism) gave them a bit more character. Having one ear bigger than the other is cute, right?

I also made some more lavender bags using the bark cloth I bought at Fabric-a-brac. I really love this fabric and these lavender bags that I made for myself. I've put them in my linen cupboard. I still have heaps of lavender left - at least enough for another twenty bags. Eek!

The ceramic bowl was made by Sarah Guppy. We bought it because it reminded us of our lovely Louie. The bowl is beautiful but it makes me sad because I miss Louie so much.

After Watching Under African skies, Listening to Graceland by Paul Simon + Reading Uppercase

monkeys 1, 2, 3

Here are the monkeys I made and posted off today for The Great Sock Monkey Challenge. The goal of this worthwhile cause is for every New Zealand child with a critical or long-term illness to be given a homemade sock monkey. Read the full story here. Join up on Facebook here. 
I had planned to make just these three monkeys to use up the last of my sock supplies but - I couldn't help myself - I bought more socks today. They are fun to make and they all seem to develop their own personalities. If you've never made a sock monkey before, now is your chance. There are lots of tutorials and free patterns online but I always use this one.

Daffodils are in the shops. Spring is coming. Once the Film Festival is over it feels to me as if the worst of the Winter rain and cold is over too - so not much longer.  

Reading Killing floor by Lee Child (I too have 'discovered' Jack Reacher) + Watching The wire, season 2 and a bit of the Olympics and a few festival films

Monkeys in my suitcase

I'm off to Wellington for a few days - to see friends, catch this and this and deliver these monkeys to their new home.
See you next week.

Monkey business

This photo taken by Ruth Jackson. Thanks!

This is the first toy I've made for ages and I really enjoyed making it. It's almost like I'd forgotten how satisfying it is make something not knowing exactly how it will turn out. I made it for Baxter who, along with his parents, was a delightful house guest for a few days.

If you'd like to make a monkey of your own this is the pattern I use.

Monkey

I'm such an infrequent blogger. Mainly because I'm an infrequent crafter. And that's because life just takes over. Usually in a good way.

Anyway I have managed one project. A friend asked me to make her a brown sock monkey - my first commission! It's a birthday gift for her friend.

The very first softie I made was a sock monkey so it was quite
nice to make another. I used this pattern changing the embroidery a bit. Of course the heart and initials were specified by my friend - it's a monkey of love afterall.

Happy birthday "A".