[caption id="attachment_432" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"] [/caption] Hi friends, I can't lie: the introduction to Operation Sock Monkey's make-a-monkey animation has been on our coffee-break to-watch list for a couple days now. If only it were as easy as putting a pair of socks into a box and pulling a lever! Actually, it's not really that difficult. All you need is a pair of socks and some basic craft supplies: needle and thread, scissors, a marker, embroidery floss, and stuffing. Even a novice toy-maker can put one together in an afternoon. Just follow these instructions and you're all set. For more sock monkey inspiration, check out this sock monkey fashion blog, or see some of the international adventures that sock monkeys have taken. And there are more sock monkey links at monkeyofsock.com than I can shake a stick (erm, a banana?) at. Of course, there's no limit to the kind of creatures you can create out of socks (and gloves!). That's where the book Sock and Glove: Creating Charming Softy Friends from Cast-Off Socks and Gloves comes in. Using the patterns and techniques in this charming book (just recently translated into English from the Japanese original) you can make a host of softies, from monkeys to dogs to rabbits to bears. If you'd like to try before you buy, check out a couple sample patterns from the book here. Not so much about the softies, but like the look of sock monkeys? Moda has your back; check out their line of sock monkey fabric (sample seen above; it's available in several colourways at many quilting shops or online fabric retailers). How cute would a sock-monkey themed quilt be (especially with a sock monkey stuffy!) as a Christmas gift for your favourite kid? That's all for now. I hope your weekend is filled with some kind of monkey business! ps. Don't forget there's still time to enter this week's giveaway for the pair of passes and classes to the Creativ Festival. I've only had 17 entries so far, so your odds of winning are good. And for those of you in the rest of Canada, I'll be running a regular book giveaway next week in conjunction with this one, so stay tuned!