Handmade Favorites for March 8, 2009

Being close to my family is one of the most important aspects of my life. That being said, I didn't have to look far for inspiration for this week's Handmade Favorites. I've decided to feature one of my family members one weekend per month for the next few months and decided to go from the bottom up ("the first shall be last" ;)). This week, my favorites have been inspired by my little sister, Kristen. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Kristen, well, maybe not the first thing, but one of the first few things is monkeys. Kristen is a bit of a monkey fanatic. She's toned it down recently, but she really does love them still.

Finding favorites in the monkey category was surprisingly tough. Monkey crafts are abundant and why wouldn't they be? They're stinking adorable. So without further adieu, my picks for monkey-themed crafts!


This funky Three Wise Monkeys Silver Ring is made to order by Linnea at Linnea's Silver Arrays. I love the three monkeys; Mizaru, Kikazaru and Iwazaru, and the proverb they represent. Linnea has created a wonderful ring and I feel it has an almost ancient quality to it. Like something one might find at an anthropological dig. The monkeys are featured in an understated way that makes this piece of art completely wearable. Kudos to Linnea for this awesome ring!

Image used with permission from Linnea at Linnea's Silver Array.


Marisa at Elegant Snobbery drew this adorable colored pencil illustration, which she sells as a print to customers. The Sir Jimmy and the Dragon 11 x 14 Print is a cute adaptation of a fun story that I assume originated in Marisa's imagination. The print is part of her silly sock monkeys collection. Looking at this print, I envision an entire nursery inspired by the whimsical characters. It is a clean, well-drawn illustration that could grace the walls of countless nurseries and preschool classrooms.

Image is used with permission from Marisa at Elegant Snobbery.


The next item is super cool in both its utility and aesthetic. Check out the super cute fabric Annelies at Annelies Bags used for her Brown Monkey Pattern Tote! I love the way the tails of the monkeys make a little curlicue at the end. The construction of the bag is flawless and she makes a somewhat whimsical subject seem elegant. I enjoy every part of this bag, down to the raw edge handle and the vintage belt buckle closure. The colors are great and make for a great every-day tote.

Image used with permission from Annelies at Annelies Bags.


Sock monkeys abound for purchase online, but none are quite like these! What better cake topper for a monky-loving couple than this Sock Monkey Wedding Cake Topper by Spirit Mama. Waxela (wa-shay-la) aka Spirit Mama is the creator of this adorable polymer clay topper that she will customize to feature your own wedding colors as well as special details (like the glasses). Polymer clay can be a tough medium to perfect and Waxela seems to have a handle on it! This cake topper is just great and I just don't want to stop gushing about it. I'd love to see this on a real cake one day.

Image used with permission from Waxela at Spirit Mama.


My Bead Garden made the polymer clay beads for this cute Monkey Purse Charm/Fob. I rarely have two polymer clay features in the same week, but this was another example of flawless execution that couldn't be left out! Nancy made the beads and combined them with Swarovski crystal beads and "Moonglow" beads for a very pretty purse charm. I would like to focus on the adorable monkey that she created. I'm in love with his adorable smile, big ears and rotund body. He looks like he's ready for a big hug!

Image used with permission from My Bead Garden.


My sisters, my parents and I all went to Judson High School and our school colors were red and gray. I knew I had to feature a sock monkey here and I picked this adorable Red and Grey Stripey Sock Monkey by Helen at Storyshop to honor our alma mater! I love his big ears and his stitched-on eyes make him a safer toy for youngsters. He's a great-looking sock monkey and I'm really excited about the fact that he can sit up on his own! What a cute little guy!

Image used with permission from Helen at Storyshop.


This trio of frolicking monkeys is adorable! This Set of 3 Art Prints by Smiley Walls Art Studio is really cute and so professionally done. There are three prints on 8' x 10' high quality art paper featuring three adorable monkeys and their playtime antics. I love their chubby cheeks and curly tails and how crisp the lines are in this piece. They're really clean paintings that are also really fun! These prints are another great option for nursery or preschool classroom walls. Can't you imagine just how cute that would be?!

Image used with permission from Beril at Smiley Walls Art Studio.


My baked choice of the week is by Sugar Creations. Check out this adorable first birthday party cake! I have to admit that even the elephant on this cake is cute! The single monkey face cake for the birthday boy to rip into is a great idea and I'm glad that the crew over at Sugar Creations made a cute cake for that. So often you see an awesome cake for the birthday guests, but the guest of honor just gets to rip into a plain white cake. That's not fair! Lol! In every way, this looks like a top-notch cake. The design is cute and age-appropriate and the fondant technique is stellar. The cake looks so smooth! I wonder what the birthday boy thought!

Image source: Sugarcreations.com.


And here's a pic of the monkey and I when we were looking at Christmas lights in Austin this past year. I love you, seester! Thanks for the inspiration!!!!



Well, that's it for this week! I hope you and my monkey of a little sister enjoyed reading it. Enjoy your day and, as always; thanks for reading!