DIY: Socks to Sock Monkeys
by Kathreen Ricketson, Canberra, Australia on 05. 6.07
Sock monkeys are a classic do-it-yourself homemade toy. Traditionally they are made of red-heeled socks, in order to use the red heels for the luscious red lips. However changes are a happening and while the red-heeled socks still rule - sock monkeys are now coming in all shapes. The picture above is a Mr T sock dude, check out the life size anatomically correct sock monkey, the meditating pregnant sock monkey and the totally cool pirate sock dude.
The great thing about sock monkeys (apart from their classic styling) is the fact that they are supposed to made from 100% recycled re-purposed socks. Directions available online, you can use up your old socks or find some from a charity shop, of course if you are not into DIY you can always get online and buy someones handmade creation. Sock creatures have been called one of the top 50 greenest products ... not into cutting up odd socks, why not find an unusual way to stash them.
::directions for making your own sockmonkey ::supersockmonkeys ::sockmonkeys UK ::stupid sock creatures ::sock monkey pool on flickr
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um? socks to sock monkeys is great, but aren't we all a little past stereotyping blacks as monkeys? there were enough problems with "race" theorists and phrenologists in the 19th and eugenicists of the early 20th century invoking the idea that blacks (or the "negro race" as they usually termed them ) are "really" closer to monkeys and apes than (white/european) humans.
that image is offensive..
and the environmental and ecology movements in the u.s. (and elsewhere) have enough problems with race/ethnicity without this.
(though i genuinely do understand the desires to represent the unrepeatable, unbeatable mr t. :)
lexy
Sooo cool toy :)
Grow up it is just a toy.No one is calling black people monkeys!!! All in good fun and cute!!!
lexy-lou: unless your post is some sort of ironic joke, you truly are a misguided foot aren't you!
The term monkey has nothing to do with race but actually to do with the animal that the socks take shape of! An animal called a Monkey (apologies if you've already heard of these!).
The monkey highlighted in this article has been created to immitate Mr. T, your stance would make no sense if they had chosen my monkey (the Pirate sockmonkey (thanks for the link BTW)) as the main picture of the article, but that would never happen!
Pirates VS Mr T... who do you think is going to win!!!
The problem in this world is with people like yourselves who are far too PC, trying to protect something that either doesn't need protecting or your just doing it in the wrong way.
Next time before you give a bit of an outburst, may I suggest reading into the back history of sock monkeys to find out what they are all about? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sockmonkey
ehem, i have something to say, i've seen this monkey, or one too close to its looks. i saw a website where this lady hand made it......where did u get the idea?