Glamour Girl Sock Monkey

Ok, I had the most fun creating this sock monkey. Made from traditional sock monkey socks, a first for me believe it or not, but I had to put my own funky stamp on it, with the customer's help of course.  Red heart blingy sunglasses, a big stuffed red and white polka dot bow. A red and white polka dot side bow for her neck and long eyelashes.  This is what the customer said

"I just want to thank you and let you know I am sooooo very pleased with her and your AMAZING work!
she is better than I imagined!
The pics def dont do the justice! I will be seeing my aunt tonight to give it to her! You are very talented! Looking forward to working with you again!!! Thank you so much! She is a doll!!!!!"

I love these kinds of reactions. This is what I live for and why I make these monkeys and bunnies ;)

Back To Business!

I really should have used the slow summer months more wisely. It has dawned on me that I have just two and a half months before the big Castle Band Art and Craft Show- which is December 1st, by the way.  I do have quite a few items made, but need more. I especially need to work on sock monkeys for the show.  I'm starting to get busy again with custom orders which is great, and I was smart and made up a bunch of monkey bodies ready to stuff and finish. So that should save some time. I have never done monkeys this way before and  I don't know why I haven't. I usually do one whole monkey at a time. It definately makes more sense to do all the machine stitching for several monkeys at the same time while the machine is all set up and I'm in a sewing groove.

Slooooow Summer

Works in progress

Loving the black and gray

Wow, I don't know whether to be greatful for my extremely slow summer, or to be sad.  I enjoyed my time off, but didn't use it wisely. I should have been working like crazy, but I didn't, I lazed around enjoyed my family, took a couple awesome vacations and maybe re-charged my batteries a bit. I have been working on some new monkeys and have a few more to do for neices and nephews. Here are two I'm working on now.

Ballerina Sock Monkey

This sock monkey says little girl all over it. Pink and White striped socks, hand-made tulle tutu in two sparkly shades of pink, Sheer ribbon ties for her ballerina shoes, bows and tutu ribbon. Cross-stitched and stuffed name heart attached with a decorative blanket stitch.  I'm kind of in love with this one :)

Tutu  and name close-up

Surfer Girl Sock Monkey

 Surfer Girl - one of my newest sock monkeys

Surfer girl with hand-made wood surfboard

This is an original design. Surf outfit is made out of socks. The wood surfboard is hand-made (thanks to my husband's wood cutting abilities), handpainted, distressed, and stamped.  The final touch for surfer girl will be a name necklace. She has a belly button and a pretty flower accent.

Surfer Girl even has a belly button :)

Colorado Vacation

Just got back from the most awesome vacation ever. We visited family in Denver Colorado. This is the first time we have ever been to Colorado and honestly I don't think I will ever be the same. It was just gorgeous. Everywhere you look there was a view and unbelievable view. We drove to Pike's Peak, definitely a once in a lifetime event...scared the beep out of me, but oh so worth the view.
We visited Red Rocks, Garden of the Gods, The Stanley Hotel, Grandby,Grand Lakes, Denver of course and so much more. It was truly an awesome experience. I miss it already.

Using the slow time

Things at the Etsy shop have slowed down considerably since April. I have a couple large orders, but they haven't been as time consuming as monkeys and bunnies, so I haven't completely fallen off the map. I have been enjoying this slow down time, spending more time with my family and outside in the sunshine. I feel like I should be using this time to make new products and create new things, but I'm having a hard time getting motivated. This though is the benefit of having my own business. I can, for the most part, work when I want to. I am fortunate that this is not my bread and butter. I consider it a job, but it's an optional one, a way to make some extra money, and keep myself creative. I'm also finding it interesting how certain things sell at certain times of the year. I mean it's obvious that Christmas or Holiday themed items will sell near those dates but I haven't sold my hand painted stamped or decoupage clips with twine or  ribbon  in months and now in the last week, I have had two orders, one of the set in the picture and a 50 custom clip order...interesting.

"Cherish" Mixed Media Acrylic Painting 2011



Cherish 2011

This mixed Media painting I did to celebrate my Grandmother's 90th birthday. She is someone I truly cherish and has been a great support in my artistic pursuits.  Her home has become somewhat of an art gallery of many of my watercolor paintings and drawings.   This one is a favorite of mine. It was done using decorative papers, inks, stamps,  paints, gold leaf for the wings, decorative brads and swarovski crystal elements.

Photo Transfer Mixed Media Art



Photo Transfer Mixed Media Artwork of my Grandmother

What is it?  Photo transfer is a method of transferring a photograph from the paper it is printed on, to another surface. There are numerous ways to do this.  I generally print a digital photograph and use gel medium to remove the photo from the paper. I  use a wood base that has been prepared. It takes a combination of gel medium, time, water and a little elbow grease to remove the paper pulp from the image.  I then use decorative papers, distress inks, paints, metallic powders, vintage fabric trims, words, and other embellishments to finish the piece. For the hanger I use wire and swarovski cystal elements to give the piece a little sparkle. The first photo transfer I did was of my grandmother. I love the vintage look of this photo and love the way it turned out. After this I was totally hooked on the method and have done a few custom orders and have made them as special gifts for family members. 








One of my favorites

Jane Austen Photo Transfer

https://www.etsy.com/listing/89767444/custom-photo-transfer-artwork-6-12-x-8

My Studio

My Studio

 I am very lucky to have a space dedicated to art and craft work in my home. My husband spent many hours converting an unused attic space into this wonderful place for me to work. I was working in a dark basement and wasn't really doing much artistically until I had this space. Now I work daily and I have a space where I can leave what I am working on and come back to it. I don't have to clean  up a project or move it anywhere, which makes all the difference in the world. It is a quiet spot in the house, a place I can think, dream, and create.



The sewing area- where the monkey magic happens

Orders- using my ribbon art gallery clips and ribbon

Organizing my current orders keeps me sane. I know which order came in first, or which one needs to be finished first. I also have been keeping track of where my orders are coming from. It's been fun to see where in the world my monkeys, bunnies, and artwork are living.
                   
https://www.etsy.com/listing/87717091/shabby-chic-decoupaged-clips-and-satin

May has been a little slow

I've been so busy this year that this May slow down is feeling a little strange. It's not that I haven't made anything. I just finished a sock monkey last week and I've finished 4 others this month, but only one sale so far in May. Views on Etsy are way down too. Maybe it's just the time of year, no holidays, or maybe it could be the Etsy search changes I keep hearing about. Who knows. I'm trying to take advantage of the slow down. Maybe I'll clean my studio and get it organized or maybe I'll work on some new art pieces or some of my ideas on some special sock monkeys. Or maybe I'll just enjoy my cup of coffee and do nothing & smile.

My First Post

This is my first blog post. I thought I would start by telling  you a little about me. I am a SAHM of 2 boys. I have a BA in Art and Art Education. I am a part-time substitute teacher and a naptime, evening, and weekend artist.  Last year I opened my shop on Etsy- Kelly Spencer Studios- Vintage inpired mixed media arts and gifts at www.KellySpencerStudios.Etsy.com     When I first opened my shop I intended to focus primarily on my mixed media artwork, paintings, and a few other crafts. In my constant search for interesting papers to use for my mixed media work and craft work, I came across this really cute sock monkey paper. I thought, I bet I could make a sock monkey, so I did some research and made 7 for my neices and nephews for Christmas. They were a hit, so I decided maybe I would make one or two for my shop and just see what happens. Well they sold, so I made a few more and they sold.  took a few to a local art and craft fair, they did well too. I then decided that I wanted to make these sock monkeys something special, so  I began making  custom/ personalized sock monkeys. These custom monkeys have become my biggest seller on Etsy. I truly enjoy making them and working with customers in creating something truly special and unique.  In February, I started thinking about other sock creatures and the natural next step was Sock Bunnies, well lets just say March was  a very busy month in my shop and the bunnies are still popular.   You can visit my FB fan page to see many more examples of my custom

sock bunnies and monkeys and some of my other artwork at   www.facebook.com/KellySpencerStudios

All monkeys and bunnies are handmade by me with all new materials and 100% polyester supreme fiberfill.
It just goes to show that you never really know what is going to be your big seller. It may not be what you expect at all.