Lindner - Sew cute and collectible sock monkeys: for red-heel sock monkey crafters and collectors

For Red-Heel Sock Monkey Crafters and Collectors

DEE LINDNER,

THE SOCK MONKEY LADY

Copyright 2015 Creative Publishing international

Text and Photography 2015 Dee Lindner

All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyrights hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any meansgraphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping of information on storage and retrieval systemswithout the written permission of the publisher. However, the publisher grants to the purchaser of this book permission to reproduce the templates in the book for personal use.

Information provided in this book is current as of its writing with some referential material being time sensitive. Due to differing conditions, materials, and skill levels, the publisher and various manufacturers disclaim any liability for unsatisfactory results or injury due to improper use of tools, materials, or information in this publication.

First published in the United States of America by

Creative Publishing international, a division of

Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.

400 First Avenue North

Suite 400

Minneapolis, MN 55401

1-800-328-3895

www.creativepub.com

Visit www.Craftside.net for a behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world!

Visit www.sockmonkeylady.com

For Socksillyumptuous Monkey Muse

and Whimsical Gifts

Digital edition published in 2015

Digital edition: 978-1-62788-272-9
Softcover edition: 978-1-58923-866-4

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

available

Copy Editor: Karen Levy

Proofreader: Breanne Subias

Cover Design and Layout: Laura Mcfadden Design, Inc.

Illustrations: Gayle Isabelle Ford

Photographs: Dee Lindner

Science does not know its debt to imagination.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

To Gary and Peetie

A special thanks to all who have turned to our endearing red-heel sock monkeys for comfort and companionship. Together, we are many, we are of a kindred spirit, and we believe in make-believe.

Red-heel sock monkeys share our dreams, witness our mischievous antics, and listen to our inner desires. They feel the tug of little and big hands in moments of desperation and exhilaration. Stained with tears of sorrow and laughter, they behold heartfelt stories from one generation to the next. Most of all, they reflect the resilient human spirit.

Dee Lindner, the Sock Monkey Lady, known internationally for her adorable red-heel sock monkey creations and endearing sock monkey action photography, invites you to enter the world of sock monkeys. Join her and be immersed in a place where sock monkey shenanigans and sock monkey vernacular abounda place where monkey magic and make-believe begina place where socksillyumptuous red-heel sock monkeys reign and do what they do best: make us smile with their lovable humor.

The art of make-believe is something children do naturally, and something adults often lose as the world becomes familiar and predictable. For generations, sock monkeys have served as our guide to open secret places where make-believe hides, awaiting those who take life less seriously and who believe in the magic of sock monkeys.

Sew Cute and Collectible Sock Monkeys is stuffed with insight into the red-heel sock monkey tradition and ideas of how you can monkey around and make your own magical monkey moments. The Sock Monkey Lady shares her tips, quips, and techniques on how to create and dress your own ideal, one-of-kind, handmade collectible sock monkey for all generations to enjoy. Her expertise is offered as a platform on which to craft or build a collection of endearing red-heel sock monkeys. Fun ideas of how to bring your sock monkey to life come together amid her engaging action-oriented photographs of sock monkeys from her collection to give you inspiration to rock, sock, cut, and sew!

Sock monkey mania has stirred the world! Whether you are a sock monkey crafter, collector, or caregiver, let the sock monkey fever fill your sole. The art of crafting unique, handmade, red-heel sock monkeys has taken twists and turns, with todays crafters giving sock monkeys of yesteryear a new look in the twenty-first century, making them more desirable than ever. Cute, collectible, charming, funny, and funkyyesterdays and todays new wave of sock monkey creations will have you in stitches whether you are sewing or looking for an ideal sock mate to collect or gift!

Sock monkey enthusiasts love to talk about sock monkeys! Many people know about the red-heel sock monkey tradition and either have a comical and endearing sock monkey in their lives or know of someone who does. Others even make it their business to monkey around on their own or through organizations!

Sock monkey interest around the world is skyrocketing! Search engine hits for sock monkey have increased nearly 7,000 percent over the last decade. While these climbing cyberspace statistics are caused by a number of factors in the marketplace, few can refute sock monkey fever is spreading around the world and is taking a toehold. The advent of the Internet, e-mail, cell phones, and other connectivity mechanisms lets us easily share our sock monkey enthusiasm with the click of a button. And in our mobile society, monkeys are on the move as they accompany us to new job or retirement locations, or to vacation destinations at home and abroad.

Todays culture of ingenuity allows sock monkey enthusiasts to delight in an explosion of sock monkey novelty items, seemingly sprung overnightall stemming from a folk art tradition steeped in character and silly shenanigans. A plethora of sock monkey items are internationally available through major retail chains, gift shops, and online businesses. Never before has the joy of monkeying around been easier!

To most sock monkey enthusiasts, this craze of monkeying around is not about moneyits about intrinsic value: the art of monkey-making if you are a crafter, the thrill of the hunt if you are a collector, and the grins and giggles if you are a caregiver, relishing priceless smiles and laughter with family, friends, and loved ones. Plain and simple, its about the monkey.