Do you have a sock? Then make a monkey!

When I joined Etsy 2 years ago and saw first time in my life sock moneys, they seemed so weird. They still do, but in a very cute way :)

Anyway, some days ago I made a search and discovered that the sock monkey is a lot more than just a toy. It has a history! And very long one... Wikipedia has a long story about it.

In European Street Team we have our own sock monkey maker Strumpfkunst from Germany.I borrowed the photo from her, hoe Strump doesn't mind :) She does make more cute sock animals that you can find from her shop or from her blog.



Of course you can try to make your own sock monkey, but if you have so less experienced like me, maybe it's smarter to buy the first one.
I've never seen in Estonia original sock monkey socks with the red heel, but it's probably possible to get them from other European countries. And in US it defenitely is no problem!

Youtube has a lot of video tutorials about making a monkey and making the right cuts.
For example:
How to make leg cuts
How to cut monkey arms
How to cut snout

I admit I've been very conservative artist and I don't experiment much with different materials and styles. I love knitting and crocheting, even sewing a bit, but that's all.
But as a mother to 3 year old boy I need to stay creative and learn new things too. Maybe sometime in the future you will see my first sock monkey that won't look as great as Strump's for sure!

Etsy artists: Most adorable baby photos

Look at those photos- don't they melt your heart and make you buy? I wish I had a baby...

joliem6201

pickleberrypunch

tiptopapplesauce

Etsy artists: Buttons

It's 6.30 here and I'm drinking coffee. I usually wake up at 8, but today I need to go to see my doctor then.
My son is still sleeping, so I show you some cool buttons and products with buttons I found from Etsy.

First: calloohcallay Second: heatherknitz



First: creativepapertrail Second: miaetgigi



First: Kraplap Second: PattycakesPlunder




First: AmandaSainsbury Second: TheHouseOfMouse

Long time, no see :)

Nice to meet your after a while! I have been very busy with my writing work, but I'll try to be a better girl now and blog more about crafts too.

I found something fantastic this morning. Or should I say someone fantastic?
Please, meet Dikla Fellner! She is amazing artist from Israel who is making hand-painted terracotta pots and magnets. Please see her works and I promise you will fell in love with them :)

(If someone would like to make me a Christmas present, then I would take the quilt style terracotta pot, thanks )

Her blog is also worth to read!

Etsy Buy Handmade DiklaFellner

Theo Dapore

Theo Dapore is super-talented artist from United States. I fell in love immediately when I fist saw his paintings.

This painting on the photo is absolutely stunning! It would be a perfect gift to a friend of mine. The birthday is next year, but when I saw it, I knew he has to get it.
Now I start collecting the money and pray that no-one wouldn't buy it before (oh please don't do it!).
I also contacted the artist, maybe we can think something out and he can save it for me... And if it's not possible, then maybe I can get a custom order with same colors.

So please, buy all my knittings and I can buy a painting, lol :)))

Joana Vasconcelos

Joana Vasconcelos is artist from Paris who crochets both possible and impossible things.

She has made amazing sculptures- people, animals and others.

My favorite from this year is her Piano Dentelle, which you can see in her web gallery (year 2008).




At the moment she is taking part in a group exhibition "L'argent" in Paris, Le Plateau.
From July 24th you can see her solo exhibition in Palma de Mallorca.

Weekly favorite

This week's favorite is Pish Posh Girls shop on Etsy. They sell sewed girls clothes, travel pillows, hair clips and more cute and beautiful things.

I think I don't need to explain why I chose them to be the first favorites- see the photos on their shop and you will understand.

Pish Posh Girls shop is perfect example about how one photo can say more than a thousand words and sell the product itself.

Stars of the East

Esther and Estella moved to Turkey 10 years ago. They live in green resort city called Marmaris and find most of their materials and inspiration from the fantastic nature.

If you ask Esther who they are by nationality, then she says that it’s easier to ask who they are not. Esther and Estella aren’t Turks, because they mover there in 1997 from the Netherlands and they have no family ties there.

And even if they both have Dutch passports, they don’t consider themselves 100% Dutch either. Esther grew up in Spain, but Estella doesn’t know much about this country and doesn’t speak any Spanish.
“Who we are… Two rolling stones with eclectic roots,” said Esther.

But they have never regretted the moving- country is beautiful and life is cheap, although the culture shock was enormous at first.

Mother and daughter make fantastic accessories and they find the inspiration in everything that Turkey offers- the Ottoman art, nature, the traditional needle crafts.

“Turkey is often seen as a third world country in European eyes, and certainly in many aspects, it is, but the arts nowadays are at a level many times higher than, for instance, the Netherlands,” said Esther. „In many branches, many artists are making incredible things, with roots in a century old tradition, but with totally new input.”

They have sold their line for 3 years, last 6 months also on Etsy. Esther admitted that they have done really good only last couple of months. The turning point was a combination of two factors: better pictures and the introduction of the sea urchin collection.

In sea urchins they have found their niche. „But in every case, you have to realize that people can buy jewelry and other stuff, on a million places, on line or not. Nobody is waiting for a newbie,” knows Esther. Still, there is a place for anyone with a well made product. It takes commitment. And time. We wish every artist success and happiness!”

Star of the East Etsy shop- http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5203404
Their blog: http://star-of-the-east.blogspot.com/

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade