Gift Idea: Custom Made Sock Monkey (And A Giveaway!)

12:49 PM

Its that time of year again! Thanksgiving is around the corner, which means that I get to start decorating for Christmas in about two weeks! I've been somewhat working on Christmas gifts here and there, but now I'm full-on checking the Naughty and Nice list and getting shopping done!  I'm going to share some of my favorite and unique finds as I'm inspired, and maybe compile a list of all the ones I've written about in the past.  In the meantime, check out the "Cool Stuff 'n Gift Ideas" tag for things I've shared in the past :)

I'm beyond excited about this post! I wanted to write about this last year, but things were sorta crazy and I never got around to it.  Two years ago, I found someone on Etsy who makes custom made sock monkeys.


SOCK MONKEYS?!  

Yes!!!


The kiddos love monkeys, and Alex was starting to have an inkling of a desire to start collecting sock monkeys a few years ago, so that is how I stumbled across Marsha and her amazing talent.  Back in '09 (wow, that sounds long ago!) I asked if she could play Santa's elf and make Mario and Peach monkeys for me for Christmas - the kids were really into Mario that year and were even Mario and Peach for Halloween.


She seemed really excited by the challenge, and I eagerly awaited my package.  Let me tell you, I was not nearly expecting the quality of the monkeys she made, especially the clothing! They were marvelous! Fabulous! Amazingly cute and sturdy and gorgeous and... well, you get the idea!


Aren't they adorable?! Peach even has a necklace and earrings!


Santa usually puts a stuffed animal in the kids' stockings each Christmas, but these bad boys were so big he couldn't fit them in with everything else there was! Santa must have thought this was a cute presentation for their tvs anyhow :)


Can you tell they were a wee bit excited?


Last year The Last Airbender was a big deal in our house - remember when we went to see it at the movies?


I asked Santa's very best elf if she could work with me again, and I was again floored by the quality and talent of her work!  She was very thorough, looking through pictures online and asking her husband (a fellow Avatar fan) for ideas and making sure it was as authentic as possible. You have to admit, there is no mistaking who those monkeys are supposed to be!



Details!! Look at the beading in her hair!


She gave me a few options on how to do the arrow, and I thought the cross stitching might look more "tattoo-like," and it turned out phenomenal! 


Tee-hee, I'm nerdy like that! <3


Santa managed to stuff them in this time it seems


And yet again, another major success!

Now that the holidays are upon us, I contacted Elf Marsha through her Etsy shop and asked her to be a part of our new Christmas tradition again.  She is in the process of creating Harry Potter and Hermione monkeys!! I cannot tell you how much I'm geeking out right now and impatiently waiting on the newest members of our family.  I swear, I love these so much that I just want to make a list of awesome characters and have Marsha make me my very own collection!  I promise I'll share Harry and Hermione as soon as I get them!

I love these monkey so much that not only am I writing to you sharing my obsession, but to prove how amazing they are (and to help promote Marsha's shop "A Barrel Of Sock Monkeys", which allows her to stay home with her son!), I'm doing my very first giveaway! Not because I was paid to do this, not because I was given these for free to write about them. Nope, I'm paying for this out of my pocket because they are worth it :) Credit must be given where its due :)

Below are the rules to my giveaway - you don't have to do them all, but the more you do, the more chances you have to win! If you are the very lucky winner, you will be in contact with the Barrel of Sock Monkeys store to design your very own monkey.  Please, only people in the US or FPO/APO addresses (hey Atsugi peeps!), I don't want to stress Marsha with shipping to Timbuktu!

I will accept entries until midnight Pacific time November 20, 2011 and announce the winner the following Monday.

~ Rules ~
(contest now closed)

1.  Follow my blog! (only required one)
2.  Leave a comment letting me know what your favorite Etsy store is
3.  Leave a comment with some of your custom sock monkey ideas
4.  Leave a comment sharing an interesting or unique gift idea
5.  Share this post - via blog, Facebook, whatever! We need to spread the word of worthy self-employed artists and put money back in their pockets, rather than those who ship production overseas for a higher profit yield :P

Let me know in your comment all of your entries so I can count each of your entires.  Also, if I don't know you personally or through FB, please leave your email address so I can contact you :)

Good luck, this is a great giveaway!

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43 comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 14, 2011 at 3:35 PM

    These are so adorable! Love them.
    I'm a GFC follower (rickpeggysmith)
    Thanks so much.
    rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. peg42November 14, 2011 at 3:36 PM

    One idea that I know my son would love is a train engineer. My son loves trains so much and I know a number of other kids that do too.
    Thanks so much.
    rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. jessNovember 14, 2011 at 7:56 PM

    Omg I love those monkeys! I'm stealing your idea and am going to give them to rylie every year. Hmmm... What theme should it be since she's not into anything. Maybe some kind of baby monkey

    ReplyDelete
  4. HeidiNovember 14, 2011 at 9:15 PM

    Jessie, I know, right?? I'd go for a baby monkey or theme until she "likes" things (or maybe something that matches her bedding?), then her monkeys would almost be like a timeline of her favorite things :D

    Peg - An engineer would be so cute! I love that idea :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. annemarieNovember 15, 2011 at 5:40 AM

    I love these monkeys - am a follower - a new follower and glad to be here.

    ReplyDelete
  6. annemarieNovember 15, 2011 at 5:41 AM

    Hard to pick my favorite Etsy shop - so many - do love Hooked on Needles.

    ReplyDelete
  7. annemarieNovember 15, 2011 at 5:42 AM

    I think a custom sock monkey depicting a persons occupation would be neat - dentist, school teacher etc - also a grandmother, grandfather set would be cute.

    ReplyDelete
  8. annemarieNovember 15, 2011 at 5:44 AM

    I think a homemade gift is the most unique - especially if it is personalized. Homemade means so much thought, love and work has been put in the gift as opposed to running to the nearest store and grabbing a gift card or the first thing you see.

    ReplyDelete
  9. paula micheleNovember 15, 2011 at 10:04 AM

    I'm a GFC follower.

    hafner611{AT}gmail{DOT}com

    ReplyDelete
  10. paula micheleNovember 15, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    I like the Etsy shop beadsidemyself. I may be biased because it is my sister's shop :)

    hafner611{AT}gmail{DOT}com

    ReplyDelete
  11. paula micheleNovember 15, 2011 at 10:08 AM

    I would think a Woody or Buzz Light Year monkey would be cute. Ones in traditional German clothes would also be adorable.

    hafner611{AT}gmail{DOT}com

    ReplyDelete
  12. paula micheleNovember 15, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    A unique gift idea for kids is handmaking them felt set of their favorite characters. It's simple to do using iron-on tranfer paper, a printer, and felt.

    hafner611{AT}gmail{DOT}com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ashley @ Life Is BeautifulNovember 16, 2011 at 10:39 AM

    So neat!!
    I am a follower!

    ashley_c_014@hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ashley @ Life Is BeautifulNovember 16, 2011 at 10:40 AM

    My favorite etsy shop would be Whimsiedots...

    ashley_c_014@hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ashley @ Life Is BeautifulNovember 16, 2011 at 10:41 AM

    I love the idea of some Doctor Who monkeys..

    ashley_c_014@hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. jcwega27November 16, 2011 at 10:49 AM

    gfc
    jessicawedwards@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. kettledrumNovember 16, 2011 at 1:34 PM

    I am a follower! I love idea of a Christmas monkey. So sweet.

    kendall mccabe @ gmail . com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Kelly MassmanNovember 16, 2011 at 3:43 PM

    I am a new follower! Thanks!
    kmassmanATgmailDOtCOM

    ReplyDelete
  19. Kelly MassmanNovember 16, 2011 at 3:44 PM

    I have to admit my favorite etsy store is my husband's at massmans.etsy.com
    Thanks!
    kmassmanATgmailDOtCOM

    ReplyDelete
  20. Kelly MassmanNovember 16, 2011 at 3:47 PM

    I personally like the plain sock monkeys best, but it might be fun to see a fireman or a nurse. Thanks!
    kmassmanATgmailDOtCOM

    I saw too late that i was supposed to leave all of my comments on one post! Maybe it will be easier to count this way.... anyway, sorry and have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Melissa {TheScarletCardinal}November 17, 2011 at 8:47 AM

    I'm your newest follower!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Melissa {TheScarletCardinal}November 17, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    My favorite etsy store is definitely gemsprouts--living necklaces!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Melissa {TheScarletCardinal}November 17, 2011 at 8:50 AM

    I agree with the poster above about a plain sock monkey, but I think a mickey mouse one would be cute for a disney lover!

    ReplyDelete
  24. cyndi p.November 17, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    My favorite etsy shop (other than my own :>)) would have to be Apesnort. They have great t-shirt designs. I shared your blog on facebook and on twitter.
    My ideas for sock monkeys would be: GI Joe Monkey, Kermit the Frog Monkey, Sailor Monkey (that one may have already been done), Circus Ringmaster Monkey with top hat and tux.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Amy VNovember 17, 2011 at 7:20 PM

    gfc-annae07

    annae07 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Amy VNovember 17, 2011 at 7:24 PM

    i love a lot of etsy stores- one of my faves is 'pixiekids toys, LLC'

    annae07@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Kathy DavisNovember 17, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    GFC follower as Mrs. Kathy Davis

    Kathy Davis
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

    ReplyDelete
  28. Amy VNovember 17, 2011 at 7:26 PM

    sock monkey idea.....i LOVE the mario one or maybe a character from spongebob- like plankton?!

    annae07@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Kathy DavisNovember 17, 2011 at 7:27 PM

    My favorite Etsy store is marcieadary
    Handmade Artisan Jewelry.

    Kathy Davis
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

    ReplyDelete
  30. Kathy DavisNovember 17, 2011 at 7:28 PM

    I would like to see a quail hunting sock monkey, or a football player sock monkey.

    Kathy Davis
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

    ReplyDelete
  31. Amy VNovember 17, 2011 at 7:28 PM

    a unique gift idea- i've crochet some special stuffed animals for my daughter

    annae07@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Kathy DavisNovember 17, 2011 at 7:31 PM

    The most interesting and unique gift I ever got is a spinning wheel. Where my husband got that idea I don't know but believe it or not I love it. I am not very good at it but I keep trying.

    Kathy Davis
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

    ReplyDelete
  33. AnissaNovember 18, 2011 at 12:07 PM

    following your blog via GFC
    anissacoupons(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  34. AnissaNovember 18, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    shared on fb,
    https://www.facebook.com/Gooch23/posts/289696561063249
    i am an gooch
    anissacoupons(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Nicole C.November 18, 2011 at 12:35 PM

    I follow on gfc.

    choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  36. AnonymousNovember 19, 2011 at 6:15 PM

    I'm a GFC follower.
    jenswps at yahoo . com

    ReplyDelete
  37. AnonymousNovember 19, 2011 at 6:16 PM

    My daughter loves sock monkey's and also loves Justin Bieber. Maybe a JB sock monkey?
    jenswps at yahoo . com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Angela CiscoNovember 20, 2011 at 12:16 AM

    Following via GFC (angelacisco79)
    angelacisco79 (at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  39. susansmoaksNovember 20, 2011 at 1:00 PM

    i am a follower on gfc susansmoaks
    susansmoaks at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. DonnaNovember 20, 2011 at 11:04 PM

    I follow you on GFC.
    donna444444@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  41. DonnaNovember 20, 2011 at 11:05 PM

    How about a spongebob themed one?
    donna444444@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. DonnaNovember 20, 2011 at 11:07 PM

    I tweeted about the giveaway:
    http://twitter.com/#!/donnak4/status/138513547335442435
    donna444444@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. DonnaNovember 20, 2011 at 11:07 PM

    I don't really have a favorite etsy store.
    donna444444@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete

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