Happy New Year

Yes it is that time again.  Where did this past year go??  2009 has indeed been a whirlwind.  Between working at a full time job and making sock critters part-time, attending craft fairs and summer markets, and a well deserved vacation to Hawaii that about sums up my past year.

What will 2010 bring???  I have given up on resolutions as they only bring disappointment which, for me, leads me to eat more thus breaking the years resolution of losing weight.   Just not worth it.  Instead I take a book, write down goals I would like to achieve during the year and then forget about it.  I revisit my goal list at the end of the year and check off the ones I succeeded on.   Funny enough, it usually is most of them.

I would like to thank everyone who have given homes to my sock monkeys and sockits, or purchased owlpods and cell socks for their gadgets over the past year.  You help feed the need to create.  I look forward to a brand new year and new decade.

Upcoming Christmas Shows

Well I am on the downward slide finishing up the remainder of my Christmas Craft Shows.
I will be in St. Albert on Sat, November 28th, Saturday, Dec 12th, and Saturday, December 19th from 10am - 3pm.   I will also be attending the Handmade Mafia on Saturday, December 5th at the Savoy on Whyte Avenue next to the Army & Navy.

I had a couple weeks off and finally had time to design some thing new.

I have had an idea for a "Sockosaurous" line of sock dinousaurs and my first in line is a Brontosauras.

Here is my  next one a Stagosaurous

.

Woke up to a snow covered yard this morning and now it feels much more like Christmas.  Now I need to go get some shopping done before I get busy again.

Christmas in October

Well we did have snow in October so why not Christmas in October.  Luckily the snow melted, but Christmas is still coming.  Get an early start on your Christmas shopping by stopping by the Christmas in October Craft Show going on this weekend at Festival Place in Sherwood Park.  The times are:
1pm - 8pm Friday, Oct 30; 10am - 5 pm Saturday, Oct 31; and 12noon - 5 pm Sunday, Nov 1.

I'll be there selling all new Sockits and Sock Monkeys as well as some Christmas ornaments and other odds and ends.  Stop by for some candy --- Happy Halloween.

The Summer of Monkeys

Wow what a summer I had! I have 2 months off every summer and usually do not much of anything but this year has been fantastic.

First off I did my first Farmers Market ever , I spent 8 weeks at the St. Albert Farmers Market. With a broken tent, duct taped together, I managed to sell a whopping 119 sock monkeys and 94 Sockit creatures. Needless to say I had a busy summer sewing until I could no longer feel my fingers on the right hand.

The second wow was we went to Hawaii on a super duper deal. We stayed 12 glorius nights at the Hilton Hawaiian Village just steps from the ocean.

We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary and my husbands 50th birthday in style. We also had a little stow away. One of my sock monkeys tagged along for the trip but it was a bit too hot there for him so he stayed in a nice air conditioned room the entire trip.

When we came back we loaded the car with socks and headed to Nanaimo to visit friends. I stuffed sock monkeys all the way there and sewed on arms and legs all the way home. A great way to pass the 12 hour driving time. We missed the ferry to the island by 15 minutes and ended up sleeping in the car...you know stuffed sock monkey bodies make a great pillow. I wish I had a picture.

Well now I am back at my real job and making sock for my Christmas Shows. New sock monkeys and Sockits are currently being made from socks I have collected over the summer.

I will be making more Sock Monkey cell phone holders, Owlpods, some Christmas decorations and Sock Monkey toques.

So far I am booked to appear at the following shows: Xmas in October, Festival Place, Sherwood Park Oct 30, 31 & Nov 1; Leduc Xmas Craft Show Christ the King School, Leduc Nov 8 & 9.

I will be at a couple of the indoor markets in St. Albert in November & December.

Continue to watch my blog for updates on new products and show updates.

New Name . . . New Era

After much consideration and being unhappy with my previous name of three years (Radical & Retro) ... I have finally made the decision to change the name of my business to The Funky Monkey Shoppe.

When I began Radical & Retro I was intending on making repurposed clothing and taking items from the past and recycling them into useful radical things of today. Well this just never materialized and I went down another path and became a "Sock Artist" making sock monkeys, cell phone cases, Sockits, Owlpods, pillows and loads of other fun items. So I have decided to change the name of my business to The Funky Monkey Shoppe - besides I can still put the "fun" in "funky" which has been my slogan all along.

Please note my Etsy shop name will change to The Funky Monkey Shoppe but the log in will still remain http://www.radicalandretro.etsy.com/ due to the fact that we are not allowed to change the username.

I am excited to start using my new name and I feel good knowing that it reflects the items I make.

To Market...To Market

Yes that's what I am doing this Saturday. I will be at the St. Albert Farmers Market on Saturday, June 13th. It is the Kick Off to Summer Celebration and my first market of the season. Over the summer I will be in St. Albert on the following Saturday, July4, July 11, July 18, July 28, August 22, August 29 and September 5.

I am located in stall 152 on St. Thomas Street. I will be selling my world famous sock monkeys and Sockits along with my Owl Pods, Tee-Totes, and sock monkey gadget keepers.

I hope it will be warm and the wind stays away - I don't need any more tent accidents.

Now Appearing SOCKITS at Stop & Shop

Making their debut appears on Thursday, May 21 on Global TV with Lorraine Mansbridge, were my sock aliens called "Sockits".

The story of the Sockit is a very interesting one. Have you ever taken your clothes out of the dryer and found there to be only one sock?? Where is the other you ask... well here is your answer...
That wonderful single sock was sucked out of your dryer vent and sent to the Planet Zebo where it was transformed into a "Sockit", colourful, kid-friendly little sock aliens that are very curious and fun. They are now available for adoption this weekend at the Spring Stop & Shop located at the Hangar on Kingsway from 11-6 on Sat & 11-5 on Sunday.

Drop by and check out all the other wonderful artists including a couple of my favorites; colourful & retro inspired vinyl bags by Majesty Inc, graphic design resin pendants & rings by Cloud & Lolly, totally awesome sock monsters by Belua Designs, and the coolest hats by Sugar Soul.

Coming Soon to a Show Near You!

New Items are coming soon. . .

Sockits - aliens from the Planet Zebo will make their first showing at Stop and Shop on May 22-24 at the Hanger on Kingsway, be sure to come by and see what all the noise is about. (Sorry they are very shy and would not let me take a picture of them.)

You can also catch me at the next Handmade Mafia show coming this Saturday, May 2nd

at the Savoy on Whyte Avenue from 10-4

Say Hello to my Little Friend....

My little friend's name is Daldoo and I adopted him last week at the "Show Off" Market.

He was made by my friend Sarah of Belua Designs . She makes the most adorable sock monsters who all seem to have their own personalities or dare I say attitudes.

Daldoo has become my studio mascot and has been helping me this week with my new BUG line of sock creatures.

But I think he has become a little overwhelmed by all the "monkey business" going on here.

Just a reminder you can find both Belua Designs and Radical & Retro this weekend at the Handmade Mafia. We both will be located in the Savoy which is at 10401 Whyte Avenue.

It will run Saturday, April 4th from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Hope to see you there!

Show Off Market Collective

This is a brand new show happening this weekend at Morse Code on Whyte Avenue. Stop by and check out all the awesome designers that Edmonton has to offer.

My monkeys are all bagged up and ready to go to market. They are all anxiously waiting for some one wonderful to adopt them.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG CRAFT MARKETS HAVE BEGUN!

Spring is definitely in the air and a flood of craft markets have begun.

Some are brand new and others are old favorites. I hope to be at most or all selling my sock monkeys and accessories.



Here is the line up:



Show Off Market Collective - March 27 - 29
http://morsecodedezynz.com/news/
Morse Code location on Whyte Ave - 10422-82 Ave
Fri/Sat 10-9, Sun 11-6


Handmade Mafia - Sat, April 4 10-4
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=85089515560&ref=nf
Orange Hall 10335-84 Ave & Savoy 10401-82 Ave
Enjoy a craft walk at 2 locations


Spring Stop & Shop - May 22-24
http://www.stopandshopshow.com/
Hangar on Kingsway 11410 Kingsway Avenue
Fri 5-9, Sat 11-6, Sun 11-5


Royal Bison Craft & Art Fair - May 30 & 31
http://www.royalbison.ca/
Cosmopolitan Music Society 8426 Gateway Blvd
Sat/Sun 10-5

Monkey Business

Recently, I was asked how's the monkey business and I am all about the monkey business. In fact I have become obsessed with all the products I can incorporate the sock monkey look to. From sock monkey toques and sock monkey cell phone holders to my new sock monkey change purses and sock monkey keychains,

there is no stopping me. I have ordered 1" sock monkey buttons and have been throwing around thoughts of sock monkey cards and calendars. There is also sock monkey mitts, sock monkey slippers, sock monkey purses, sock monkey backpacks, sock monkey ski masks, sock monkey scarves . . .

So my answer is Monkey Business is goood!!

Class of 2009

Meet the newest graduates. Grad sock monkeys are now available.

I can custom make them to match your school colors. They come complete with their own grad gown, hat and tassel with the date and even their own diploma.

They make a unique gift for any upcoming graduate.

They were so much fun to make. I think I just might have start my own exclusive line of clothing designs for sock monkeys only. It will be all the rage.

A Fresh Start

Well it's a new year and so I have given my blog a new look and a new name.

Hopefully I have finally settled on Radical & Retro for my business name, well at least for now anyway. I even have made myself a logo:Unfortunately new starts sometimes come with a few glitches. Like I lost my link to my etsy store and my flickr account and can't remember how to add them in.

So if anyone can help with that please let me know.

I have also been busy trying to make some new items, especially since it is a slow time for craft shows right now. I have been putting new things on my Etsy site. http://www.radicalandretro.etsy.com so check it out if you get a chance.

My new year's resolution is to try to update my blog a little more often than I have in the past and share more on where I am and what I am doing.

Happy Canada Day

Happy CANADA DAY!!!


I haven't blogged in a long time and thought today would be a good day to do so. I have been in the dumper over crafting since about May. With having low sales at the last Stop and Shop, being rejected from Leduc Christmas Craft Show and with the upcoming winter shows all involving a Thursday and Friday (work days- I am working a new full time job), I find myself not even being able to participate anyway.


I am hoping starting today, the unofficial day of summer and with 6 weeks off, I will be able to pull up my skirt and get at it. If I can find someone to help with the weekday craft shows I might be able to pull something off. I have decided to do most of my selling via internet and just made a new show on Big Cartel. I went with a new name and I hope that my daughter will contribute the art/photograpy and I will do the accessories. You can check it out at http://tease.bigcartel.com/ and you can still find my stuff on Etsy at http://radicalandretro.etsy.com/


I have been making mini scarves lately - kind of a weird thing to do when it is 30C out but at least I can work outside. And I have been making leather brooches. They can be attached to bags, scarves or jackets.


Have a great summer I will try to update more often.

My Next Show

I will be setting up a table to sell my funky wares including; sock monkeys, owl pods, tee-totes and coffee cozies at the Guerrilla Boutiqe at the ARTery 9535 Jasper Avenue Edmonton on Saturday, March 1st. From 11 am - 6 pm. Check out their event on facebook at the address below:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=12603075599&ref=nf

Fashion Alley is coming along well I have been actively finding vendors to sell their wares during Fashion Week Apr 24-30. I hope to get a list of vendors soon so I can start promoting them. I hope the weather will cooperate and we get some of those shoppers out of their office towers during lunch time.

For more information on Fashion Week/Fashion Alley go to this website:
www.edmontonfashionweek.cm

First Show of the Year

Well I have been madly crafting the past few weeks to get ready for my first show of the year.
It is a small one and free, so you can't lose.
I will be at the Grant McEwan Southside Campus participating in their Global Marketplace.
I will be there from 11:30 - 3:00 pm on Wednesday, February 6th.
I will be featuring my Owl Pods, Haute Coffee reusable cuffs, and my Tee-Totes.
Feel free to drop by and check it out.

I have also be in touch with the gal at Planet Ze with regard to Edmonton Fashion Week - www.edmontonfashionweek.com Fashion Alley which will be happening at the end of April. When I get more info on this great event I will let you know and Stop and Shop www.stopandshopshow.com will be happening on the May long weekend at the TransAlta Art Barns.

Please contact me if you would like any more information on any of these fine design/craft/gift shows and I will be happy to let you know. And if you are a vendor and would be interested in information on the shows please email me as well.

Stay tuned.

Best of '07 and New for '08

Every year around this time, I like to reflect on items I have made that have been success in the past year and what I can make new for the coming year.

One of the most successful items of last year were my Owl Pods. They started out as a design for my daughter's cell phone but has now developed into a larger version to fit the classic Ipod and small cameras. Plus the design can also be custom made to fit any gadget you would like to fit in it and can be made in a variety of colors. Although, I have found that the browns, beiges, and black to be the most popular.

My Sock Monkeys too have been very successful this past year and I will continue to make them as well but I would also like to add a variety of Sock Monsters and Sock Animals to the collection. I will be working on this during the year.

NEW IN '08

Watch my blog for pictures of new items I am working on. Here are some teasers of what I will be making in '08 (I don't want to give too much away).

Recycled tote bags

Elephant things

Plaid things

Keychains

Recycled t-shirt & sweater things

I leave you with something I am currently working on.

A baby friendly dolly made of fleece, cotton and yarn for hair.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year!! Here's to 2008. I always love a new year the potential to start over, make some changes, do some things better.

Some things I would like to change in the new year are:

* declutter my home and craft area

* lose some weight

* be more organized

* update my Etsy site more often

* keep my blog uptodate

But then, I say this every year, if only we had a genie to help out.

_______

I took the dog for a refreshing walk this morning with the sun shining and all the new, fresh snow I just couldn' t resist taking some pictures. I think winter is the most beautiful time of year for picture taking, you just can't take a bad shot. Here are my pics...enjoy!

One More To Go

Well I have one more craft show to go - in Red Deer December 1st. It has been a very successful run this year. With Holiday Stop and Shop my best show ever. Kudos to Jenna and Ally for making it so much fun. It has been exhausting and I am so in need of a good break in the month of December to enjoy the Christmas season. And to become inspired with some new items for the new year along with some old favorites. I will be putting some new pictures on my flickr account in December and new things for sale on Etsy in January.

Merry Christmas to all and Cheers to 2008.