MushTushy's sock monkeys are really sweet. I immediately fell in love with these very cute toys. They're amazing.
The owner of MushTushy, Emily, makes monkeys from socks in all kinds of patterns, colors and styles. I love that she has sock monkeys for girls and for boys.
I've asked Emily a few questions to find out more about her and her shop.
Where did you learn how to make sock monkeys?
Mushtushy started by accident in October 2010. After years of trying to
conceive I was finally pregnant, but 5 short months later my world came
crashing down when we learned my little girl wouldn't survive after
birth. The recovery process was emotionally difficult, so my mom told me
I should pursue a hobby to distract myself and help me heal. I majored
in art in college and had been selling my paintings for years. My
mother and I went to the book store and found a book called "stray sock
sewing too" and it had a sock monkey in it. Although I had absolutely
no sewing experience, the template was pretty basic so I decided to give
it a try. I bought a pair of socks at Walmart for $3 and was terrified
to cut them up and ruin them. I made my first monkey and posted it on
Facebook for my friends to see. To my surprise everyone asked to buy it, and
that's where it all started. Within one month my entire kitchen was
overrun with socks, my antique Singer sewing machine, and monkeys. I
signed up for a booth at Canton Trade days and started sewing as fast as
my fingers would allow. I used the 50 year old machine to sew the
parts, and would then hand sew the monkey together. Looking back, I'm
very embarrassed by my first monkeys, and in time I tweaked them to what
they are today. My first booth set up was a simple folding table with
monkeys lined up across the top. Here's a photo of the first batch of
monkeys I ever made.
When and how did you start on Etsy?
Shortly after this first craft show I started signing up for local
school craft shows and stayed busy all winter. Since I was thrown into
this "business" I didn't have time to focus on marketing or even a
business plan. I came up with the name so I could order business cards
and start my Facebook fanpage. I continued in this way for several
years, selling from Facebook and at craft shows, and then eventually
opened my Etsy store in March 2012. To this day I still don't have much
business sense, or the time to focus on it. I still hand sew every
monkey, with custom monkeys taking a couple hours each. I also
successfully had a baby a year after the monkeys started, so it's hard
to find the time to help this one woman home based business grow.
Here's a photo of my daughter in the early days of Mushtushy.
What has changed since you first started your business?
I eventually had a logo made and better business cards made. My craft show display has improved as well.
What's your biggest strength?
One thing that sets me apart from the competition is my custom monkeys, and the colorful fun socks I use. When most people think of sock monkeys they envision the old tan and red rough socks. The ability to custom order down to colors, logos, and size has really helped my Etsy success.
What are your plans for the future?
I still struggle with growing the business, and social media marketing. I would love for Mushtushy to be a full time job that pays the bills, because right now it feels like a hobby. I am busy for holidays and during craft show seasons, but during the rest of the year my orders almost come to a halt. I absolutely love working for myself, staying home with my daughter, and making art. I can take my sewing anywhere, I've been known to sew in restaurants, the car, even at the pool! Each time I finish a monkey I feel great success knowing it turned out how I wanted, and will make the customer very happy. If only I could hire someone to sew with me, or run the business side, but I can't afford anything right now. I also have never figured out how to buy wholesale, so I buy my socks from target, walmart, and amazon. My dream would be to sell my monkeys in boutiques locally, and have my business keep my busy full time. I hope to continue to inspire my daughter to follow her dreams, create and use your imagination, and find joy in what you do daily! This all started because of the devastating loss of my daughter Sarah, but now her legacy lives on in Mushtushy and my blessing of a daughter, Brecklyn.
I love Emily's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sock monkeys, they're fabulous!
The cheerful colors and open faces make these monkeys such a delight to look at.
The possibilities are endless which is such a wonderful idea.
All children will love these very cute sock monkeys that will brighten up their day. And if you haven't lost your inner child, treat yourself to one as well.
Emily's monkeys vary in size and there are several options you can purchase to personalize them. You can also request a sock monkey that's entirely made the way you want it.
The prices are really great, you can already buy one of Emily's sock monkeys for $12.
One very lucky reader of my blog will receive a lovely surprise sock monkey from Emily. Enter the rafflecopter below and good luck!
I will contact the winner on twitter or via email. If I don't get a
reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my
giveaways are international.
These are adorable! My mother loves sock monkeys. Maybe for her birthday.....
ReplyDeleteI love the black and pink monkey. My dorm room is decorated in those colors!
ReplyDeleteI love the black, purple, turquoise striped monkey! I love the color combination!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite sock monkey is the female superhero, Wonder Woman because Wonder Woman is my favorite superhero.
ReplyDeleteThe super cool Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Sock Monkey!!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.etsy.com/listing/167491812/one-12-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtle?ref=shop_home_active_8
I like the one with initals add on they're cute
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Sock Monkey because they where my favorite growing up and now also my kids favorite as well
ReplyDelete12" Texas Rangers baseball monkey is my favorite coz I love the sport.
ReplyDeleteI love the pink and black one with the tutu and I LOVE the super hero ones.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.etsy.com/listing/167491812/one-12-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtle?ref=shop_home_active_8 I love this one, because I am a fan of Turtle Ninja.
ReplyDeleteI like all the 12-inchers.
ReplyDeletePink/Purple gray striped, because both are my fav colors
ReplyDeleteThe ninja turtle selection the donnatello one cos he is my sons fav. :)
ReplyDeleteThe following is my favorite, https://www.etsy.com/listing/171901272/12-orange-grey-handmade-sock-monkey?ref=shop_home_active_1. I am a traditionlist and love the standard sock monkey. Thanks for introducing me to this etsy shop.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Sock Monkey is the Texas Rangers one.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite is 12" pink/white/black stripe handmade sock monkey. https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/120335016/one-12-pinkwhiteblack-stripe-handmade?ref=shop_home_active_18 The reason is because I love the vibrant colour and it is just so cute.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is the 12" with pink blue stripes, and a pink heart and bow. She looks so happy!
ReplyDeleteI love the Olaf-inspired one: my girls would go crazy over it!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.etsy.com/listing/152664833/12-purple-aqua-handmade-sock-monkey?ref=shop_home_active_8
ReplyDeleteI like the Wonder Woman monkey
ReplyDeleteI love and hearted ONE 5" handmade Boston Terrier sock monkey/dog (oksana2372 on Etsy)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.etsy.com/listing/202021326/one-5-handmade-boston-terrier-sock
Thank you for the chance!
ksyshenka(at)yahoo(dot)com
Because they are so sweet couple :)
Deletei like the steelers sock monkey because i'm from pittsburgh! thanks!
ReplyDeleteI like the ONE 5" handmade Boston Terrier sock monkey/dog because it's so different.
ReplyDeleteMy fave is the sugarskull striped handmade sock monkey because I've forever loved anything that hints of bones.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/154922590/12-texas-rangers-baseball-monkey?ref=shop_home_active_2
ReplyDeleteI love "ONE INITIAL": https://www.etsy.com/listing/115688715/one-initial-add-on-option-for-monkeys?ref=shop_home_active_10
ReplyDeletecolours are cute :-)
ONE 12" Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle inspired sock monkey
ReplyDeleteWhy is because I like the masks
DeleteSuperwoman one because I love pink!
ReplyDelete12" pink/purple and gray striped handmade custom sock monkey - love all the colors and how "girly" it is
ReplyDeleteLove all of them, hard to just pick one, but for my little girly girl I love the 12" aqua/pink/gray and for my son I love the Ninja turtles or the Spiderman!
ReplyDeleteI love these! I want to buy each of my kiddos one for this coming Christmas. I love this one for my youngest: https://www.etsy.com/listing/187935390/5-handmade-blue-striped-mini-sock-monkey?ref=shop_home_active_9
ReplyDeleteI love the 12" pink peach blue handmade sock monkey. Vibrant & lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteI love the 12" pink peach blue handmade sock monkey. Vibrant & lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteI love sock monkey green white 12" handmade because I love the colour.
ReplyDeleteI love the teenage mutant ninja turtles because they can be for big or little kids.
ReplyDeleteSarah Oswald
I love the 5" mini handmade pink sock monkey.. It looks so cute <3
ReplyDeletethe superhero one, as my son would love it.
ReplyDeletethe superhero one, as my son would love it.
ReplyDeleteThe turtles ones I loved them as a kid.
ReplyDeleteMegan @ reading away the days
One of my favorites is the 5" mini light pink striped handmade sock monkey. I like it because the colors match my bedroom and it has a cute pink heart on it's chest. :)
ReplyDeletei like this one https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/176557536/sock-monkey-12-purple-black?ref=shop_home_active_7
ReplyDeleteI love the little zombie sock monkeys!! But everything in the shop is adorable :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!
I love the grey ones with the neon stripes, especially the one with the purple nose. So cute and cheerful!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.etsy.com/listing/151910713/12-handmade-stripe-custom-sock-monkey?ref=shop_home_active_10
love the Wonder Woman one xx
ReplyDeletethe ninja turtle looks cute
ReplyDeleteI like the colours of the 12" pink/purple and gray striped handmade custom sock monkey and the feminine touches like the bow
ReplyDeleteI'd buy from this shop because they're all lovingly handmade! And I love that they are throwback, but also really modern and unique!
ReplyDeleteI really like the 12" pink/white/black stripe handmade sock monkey. It's just an adorable color combo and I think it would look so cute in my daughters room!
ReplyDeleteI love this girly one - it's so cute https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/157682057/sock-bunny-5-custom-made?ref=shop_home_active_8
ReplyDeletehttps://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/115688715/one-initial-add-on-option-for-monkeys?ref=shop_home_active_4
ReplyDeletethis one is the best because i can personalize it!
My favorite is the 12" lime/grey handmade sock monkey. I love the colors and the heart and bow just make it cuter.
ReplyDeleteI love the 12" Texas Longhorn inspired handmade sock monkey. Cause I'm a born Austinite...Longhorn gal all my life. Hook 'em Horns! :)
ReplyDeleteI loved the ones that look like dogs or puppies
ReplyDeletemy favorite is the 12" custom Halloween zombie handmade sock monkeys because I am an huge halloween fan
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