Sock Monkey See, Sock Monkey Do

Meet Home Sweet Home

2010-02-28T01:21:00.004-05:00

Here's a couple of shots from early October 2009: previews of what is to come over the next couple of posts.

Nelson was just learning about life in central Pennsylvania, but he took it all very nicely. He saw there is a lot of beauty here with just enough room to be a good monkey and at times a bad monkey. Just depends upon his mood...

This is the local school district.

Sock Monkeys do not need to attend classes

but Nelson will be joining in on some

of the events that are open to the community.

More to come...

Even closer to home.

Nelson wants to learn more about these

mills, especially the hosiery one that used to

be pretty active but is now gone.

What could be more interesting to a sock monkey

than a place that used to make socks?

Nelson's new home is pretty rural

but it has progressive ideas.

For instance, people have been recycling

here long before it was "fashionable."

But sometimes I wonder if Nelson

is interested just because the sign

has his favorite colors...

And then there's the whole corn thing.

There sure is a lot of corn in Penns Valley.

While it may be grown for feed or fuel,

a pretty controversial topic here,

Nelson really just seems to be

interested in how he can get through

all of those stalks without getting lost...

Now that Nelson is a bit settled into his new home, he will have some fun events to share with you. But just like people, sock monkeys needed to get his bearings first. Nelson seems pretty cool about what he has found thus far: farm land with interesting people who have a long history, but all the while ones who like to eat and play. And best of all: even though the school (and nearby colleges) boast colors of blue and white, there sure seems to be a lot of signs here in Nelson's favorite colors. Not a bad start...

Sock Monkey Invasion at Fort Roberdeau

2010-02-24T21:24:00.015-05:00

Nelson and Metoo had the opportunity to go on a school field trip!

They visited Fort Roberdeau in Altoona, PA, on September 30, 2009. This historic site depicts a fort that was built during the American Revolution, a place to mine lead to manufacture ammunition. The fort also helped stabilize Pennsylvania's frontier.

Here are some of the things that Nelson and Metoo saw and learned:

Shhh! It's time to listen and learn...

So this is the story behind the colors

and design of the American flag!

White for purity, Red for valor ~

Yup! That's us!

Wow! Pottery and glass

from the late 1700's...

This was a really cool model.

Did you know that they had dogs back then, too?

This is how all of the buildings were

built ~ with dovetailed logs, making

them strong and sturdy ~

and perfect seats for sock monkeys!

Nelson: I may be made in China,

but my heart is true American...

People used to sleep on beds made with straw.

They covered it with cotton to keep it from

being so itchy, but you can imagine that

the straw always found a way to poke through...

Dinner time!

Using plates and mugs made from pewter,

a soldier at Roberdeau often enjoyed

oven baked bread and stews and soups.

The meat often came from the game in the woods

and the vegetables from their gardens.

All this, right outside their back door.

Besides writing letters to family

and sending reports to the front lines,

the soldiers of Roberdeau also mapped out

the local area, providing valuable information

for future generations to explore Pennsylvania...

There were no grocery stores in

the wilderness of Penns Woods.

Instead, shipments of meat, packed in salt

and stored in a barrel were delivered

to the fort, their purchases expected to last for months...

What's in here?

The entire fort area was surrounded by a tall fence

to protect the soldiers. Small holes were cut into

the walls for visibility and to be able to

shoot at unwelcome visitors.

We have to go where to get our water?

Why not just turn on the faucet?

No faucets?!?!

Keeping the daily essentials stocked

was a full time job all by itself...

Work, work, work.

Keeping our noses to the grindstone...

Of course the day would not be complete

without Nelson getting into some kind of mischief.

Today he decided that he would try on

some of the clothes that people of

Fort Roberdeau wore. At least he did not

try on the hoop skirts and tight corsets

that were worn by the ladies!

Field trip all done!

Nelson and Metoo really got an education

while having a lot of fun! Not only did they get to see, touch

and hear about many things of the past, but they also

learned how and where the American dream of freedom began...

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

2010-02-21T09:49:00.010-05:00

Get ready for a barrage of pictures to come. These sock monkeys have been busy and just have not had enough time to stop by here to say hello. Sometimes you get so far behind and just don't know where to start.

Today the best place to start is at the end. On September 29, 2009, Sarah and Sir Shamokin left Pennsylvania to go home to Vancouver, BC. We met as strangers, parted as friends. The Sock Monkeys bound us together during the visit and ever since then.

Here is our time at the Harrisburg Airport...

Nelson and MeToo behaving themselves

(for once!) while we waited for VEG to check in.

Just two weeks before Sarah and Cyndy had met

for the first time at this exact place...

Koko is ready to go!

Sorry, Koko, you have to stay here

to share the Pennsylvania story...

Koko was consoled by the prospect of

a happy meal, complete with

french fries and a toy!

The Sock Monkey Crew:

Cyndy on left holding Nelson and Metoo;

Sarah on the right holding Koko and Shamokin...

Nelson thinking,

"That's Shamokin's plane. If I could just

slip down these slides at the right speed I bet I could

get on that plane. It has my colors, after all..."

Three peas in a pod.

Sitting still and behaving

while waiting for the plane to take off...

Koko could not sit still very long, though.

These structural beams looked like

one big set of monkey bars to him!

Awww...

Goodbye Sarah and Shamokin!

Nelson! Do not touch that button!

Okay, Nelson. Yes, you can push this button.

This sign just cracked Nelson up.

You can tell that he has a very warped sense of humor.

Koko likes this sign!

Koko and Chocolate go hand in hand...

Koko loved the moving floor and

the shiny windows and beams!

Nelson liked them, too, but he was looking

for the button on how to make the floor stop moving.

It was definitely time to go...

Meet Our Newest Member Reilly

2010-02-06T17:17:00.011-05:00

Reilly is a sweet little girl who simply loves Christmas, so she is sure to wear her Christmas hat every day! She arrived at her sock-Mom VEG`s house from the wilds of Calgary and has made herself at home getting to know her sock-brother Shamokin. And, as luck would have it, yesterday was Take-Your-Reilly-To-Work-Day!

OK MOM! We`re ready to go!
Shamokin wanted to make sure his little sister got off to work OK!

Reilly was a little shy at first.

But then she was excited to see her Mom`s office.

She even got to help with the filing.

OH goody! Lunch time! Any bananas for me?

OK! Back to work!

OH Mom! You have such pretty shoes!

Is it time to go already?
OK, goodbye everyone!

Let's Play a Game...

2009-12-09T17:13:00.017-05:00

WE ARE going to play a little game. Can you guess where WE ARE? We will give you TEN BIG (ELEVEN) clues...

(psst...you can click on the pictures for bigger details)

Nelson and MeToo first stopped for lunch.

You can MEET US AT THE CORNER anytime!

People here have been doing it since 1855...

Look who decided to tag along! Silly Koko!

This is Nelson and Metoo's game,

but you can have the backpack

like lots of STUDENTS here do...

Metoo and Nelson horsing around...

(Of course they know they are pigs!)

These BRONZE PIGS were put here in 1996

as reminders of how the town was 100 years before

No, Nelson, this is NOT IVY LEAGUE!

Nelson just realized something really embarrassing!

He is sharing it with Metoo...

Our colors are definitely NOT red!

Our blood only runs BLUE AND WHITE here!

Whew! Good thing there were lots of stores

to help us fix this right away!

We're not LION, it is true,

This is the most popular place

to take a picture since 1942!

Can we go to the game with you, JOEPA?

No one will even see us!

No visit is complete without a stop at THE CREAMERY.

Mmmm...pumpkin ice cream (complete with pie crust bits)!

And to finish the day, a latté

made with fresh steamed cream,

milked from the cows just down the street!

If you didn't guess, Nelson is spelling it out for you.

That's right! We are at Penn State's

University Park campus in

State College, Pennsylvania!

We were here in September 2009, but you can visit anytime!

(and be sure to check out Shamokin's PSU pictures ~ coming soon!)

Original Sock Monkey Pattern

2009-12-06T10:44:00.002-05:00

Want to make a sock monkey of your own?

Here is the original pattern from the Nelson Knitting Company.

Thanks to the folks at Tipnut for sharing this!

Nelson: The Mischievous Sock Monkey

2009-12-06T10:19:00.007-05:00

The next Sock Monkey we have to introduce is Nelson. He was named after the original creator of mass produced sock monkeys, John Nelson of the Nelson Knitting Company in Rockford, Illinois.

Nelson has proven to be quite a character, so full of mischief. Since finding a home in Millheim, PA, he has tagged along on many outings where he can find trouble in the most simple situations. But he has a good heart and provides a million laughs. His twin sister is Metoo, and even though the two could not be more than different, they often share adventures, finding a balanced sense of adventure for us to enjoy.

Without further ado, here is our Nelson, who is pleased to meet you, too!

Sorry about the strange color, but the lighting

was not great on this September evening.

This is Nelson enjoying hot wings at

The Millheim Hotel.

Nelson really likes the color red,

especially when they are hot shoes like these!

Only Nelson and his friend OptPessimist could pull this off

(perhaps we should mention they are laying in a bath tub

that is now used for a salad bar buffet?!?)

Sir Shamokin

2009-11-28T18:36:00.000-05:00

Sir Shamokin Sock Monkey originally hails from State College, PA, but was so taken with his sock-mom, VEG, that he snuck into her purse to ensure he could return with her to her home in Vancouver, BC, CANADA (that's a whole 'nother country, you know!) and live with her happily ever after. In fact, he was so happy about this, he made sure he documented the trip home.

Here I am delving into VEG's new book at the Harrisburg, PA airport.

Oh Whew! I fit. 'Cause I was not looking forward to riding with the suitcases!

First stop: Detroit. Did you know they have LOTS of sports teams?

Seattle was next - almost home! Good thing, 'cause I was feeling a little tipsy!

Double-checking my reservation in Seattle. Who knows how many Shamokin Sock Monkeys are out there, so I wanted to make sure they knew it was me!

YAY! Made it to Vancouver - VEG was hugging this guy called Hubby so I took a little self-portrait.

PS: In case you were wondering, I am named after a VERY important town in PA. Or it could bethis little place in the middle of nowhere, I was never clear on that whole thing...

Koko's Picnic in the Park

2009-11-28T14:35:00.002-05:00

Koko had a wonderful day visiting R. B. Winter State Park in central Pennsylvania at the end of September. Besides hiking among the fall's beautiful colors, Koko also found time to go rock climbing, to dip his toes into the cold lake water (then warm up while basking in the sun), to play at the park's playground, and to savor a great picnic lunch.

Kookoo for Koko

2009-11-28T14:29:00.004-05:00

Koko in Millheim, PA, enjoying September's bright colors

This is the baby of the group: Koko. Koko loves to find colorful places to hide and always has a smile to share! Koko lives in Millheim, Pennsylvania, but he enjoys going to many fun places. Stay tuned for many adventures...

Meet Miss Metoo

2009-11-28T14:14:00.005-05:00

Miss Metoo in State College, PA, pictured in front of Mt. Nittany

We are pleased to introduce Miss Metoo. She was our very first Sock Monkey and the matriarch of this collaboration. Metoo was discovered by Sarah (pictured above) in State College, Pennsylvania in September 2009. Metoo now lives in Millheim, Pennsylvania while Sarah returned home to Vancouver, BC, with her friend, Shamokin (soon to be introduced).

Much more of Metoo and her twin brother, Nelson, to come!

Monkey Business: The Fine Print

2009-11-24T09:43:00.006-05:00

Welcome to our blog that celebrates the fun and adventures of Sock Monkeys around the world! Just as its name may imply, Sock Monkey See, Sock Monkey Do is a forum to post your favorite Sock Monkey stories and pictures, sharing their tales (or is it tails?) with others who enjoy their mischievous yet fun loving moments.

We only have a couple of rules, for Sock Monkeys usually love to break rules, but if we can keep within these guidelines, we can all take pleasure in this blog without going bananas:

1. This is a family-oriented site to be enjoyed by people of all ages. Keep comments clean. If your comments are sexually explicit, distasteful or down right mean, we will not only edit your comment, we will report you to the proper authorities.

2. If you are sharing a story and/or a picture with us, be sure to include the name of the monkey, your name (could just be your first name or a nickname, no big deal, just something that identifies you), location and date. If you use information from another party, be sure to include its original source. Monkeys don't like CopyCats.

3. To share your Sock Monkey experience, send an e-mail to the blog's administrators listed in the blog's profile section. They will get it posted right away (so long as rules #1 and #2 are heeded). If we have any questions, we will contact you at your e-mail address. The blog's administrators reserve the right to edit any material for any reason, but a copy of the edited material will be sent to you before it is posted for your approval.

4. By sending us your story and/or photos, you understand that your data will be public and could be read, shared, referenced, or even stolen by the anyone who has internet access. We cannot take any responsibility for any wrongdoing, malpractice, misconduct or unethical behavior for these actions or for the people who do them. We seriously doubt Blogger or Google will, either. If you have any doubt, just don't share.

5. This is a work in progress. If you have any suggestions or comments as to how we can improve this blog, just let us know. Our rules and guidelines may be updated at any time but will always be listed here on the blog's home page.

The administrators of Sock Monkey See, Sock Monkey Do appreciate your cooperation!

Now let's have more fun than a barrel a monkeys!

Sock Monkey History ala Wikipedia

2009-11-24T09:32:00.004-05:00

(graphic source)

The following text is completely from Wikipedia. We could have put a link for you to click, but if you are a Sock Monkey fan, we already know that you are probably just a little too lazy to go through the process. You don't want to work, you just want to have fun! So here it is...

A sock monkey is a toy made from socks fashioned in the likeness of a monkey. These stuffed animals are a fixture of folk art and kitsch in the culture of the United States and the culture of Canada.

Origins

The sock monkey's most direct predecessors originated in the Victorian era, when the craze for imitation stuffed animals swept from Europe into North America and met the burgeoning Arts and Crafts Movement. Mothers there took to sewing stuffed animals as toys to comfort their children, and, as tales of the Scramble for Africa increased the public's familiarity with exotic species, monkey toys soon became a fixture of American nurseries. However, these early stuffed monkeys were not necessarily made from socks, and also lacked the characteristic red lips of the sock monkeys popular today.

John Nelson, a Swedish immigrant to the United States, patented the sock-knitting machine in 1869, and began manufacturing work socks in Rockford, Illinois in 1890.^[1] The iconic sock monkeys made from red-heeled socks emerged at the earliest in 1932, the year the Nelson Knitting Company added the trademarked red heel to its product. In the early years, the red-heeled sock was marketed as "De-Tec-Tip". Nelson Knitting was an innovator in the mass market work sock field, creating a loom that enabled socks to be manufactured without seams in the heel. These seamless work socks were so popular that the market was soon flooded with imitators, and socks of this type were known under the generic term "Rockfords". Nelson Knitting added the red heel "de-tec-tip" to assure its customers that they were buying "original Rockfords". This red heel gave the monkeys their distinctive mouth. During the Great Depression, American mothers first made sock monkeys out of worn-out Rockford Red Heel Socks.^[1]

Developments

Around 1951, the Nelson Knitting company discovered that their socks were being used to make monkey dolls. In 1953, Nelson Knitting became involved in a dispute over the design patent on the sock monkey pattern. They were awarded the patent in 1955, and began including the pattern with every pair of socks. The sock monkey doll was then used in promotional campaigns celebrating the widespread application of their product by inventive homemakers in the field of monkey manufacturing.

In 1958, the "scrap-craft" magazine Pack-O-Fun published "How to Make Sock Toys", a guide to making different sock animals and dolls with red heeled socks. Frequently cited as being their most popular book ever, this pamphlet went through multiple printings and was being produced in new editions up until the mid-1980s.

The Nelson Knitting Company was acquired in 1992 by Fox River Mills, and the original brown heather, Red Heel monkey sock is still in production by Fox River Mills. A distinctive change in the red-heeled sock design distinguishes monkeys made with Fox River Mills socks from Nelson Knitting Company socks. Fox River heels are more uniformly ovular, without the end points that gave Nelson Knitting-made sock monkeys their smiles or frowns.

Sock monkeys today

Sock monkeys remain a popular toy to this day, though not as much so as teddy bears. Most vintage sock monkeys found today are no older than the late 1950s, and many date from the 1970s. A number of methods for dating sock monkeys have been debated by collectors, including the shape of the red heel, the tightness of the weave, the style of clothing worn, and other features. However, since sock monkeys are home-made rather than mass-manufactured, it is extremely difficult to accurately date any particular monkey.

1 Boschma, Janie (2007-11-05). "History of the sock monkey: Stuffed animal created during the Great Depression". The Spectator. Retrieved 2009-07-01.