MONKEY MISSION #2!!

This holiday season, we'd like to do something to help ring in a happy new year for kids who need a little extra help. Therefore, throughout the month of December, we will be collecting new and like new picture books for Youth and Family Services, an agency local to Worcester, MA, to help their kids develop a love of reading and increase healthy habits. After the children go for their counseling appointments, they get to pick out a new book, which they greatly look forward too. Many people discount the healing value of a good story--these books will truly make a difference to these children! They enjoy reading and talking about the books. Quality stories can help instill feelings of normalcy in children, and can help them see that they are not alone. They can introduce different ways of thinking, new ways of tackling conflicts. Sometimes stories can get through where just an adult talking cannot. Stories can change lives.

The monkeys and I will be collecting donations in person (monkey?) at the Handcrafter's Open House in Northborough, MA on December 4th. We will take new/like new books and monetary donations (no amount is too small!) so we can make book purchases at a local, independent bookstore (Tatnuck Booksellers). Part of that day's proceeds will also go toward buying books.

If you would like to send books or a check donation in the mail, please email me and I will send you contact info.

The deadline for this mission is December 31, 2011. Let's help make 2012 a brighter year!

And now, for your viewing pleasure, here are the Monkey Minions of the week (all of which will be attending the open house, and are available for adoption!):

Monkeys, monkeys, everywhere

Things have been all about monkeys around here. I've been getting ready for this:

You're invited to a
HANDCRAFTERS' OPEN HOUSE
on Sunday, December 4, 2011 from 1:00-3:00 pm
67 Oak Ave., Northborough; 508-393-3191

You've already saved the date, now check out the amazing local handcrafters that you'll be supporting -- more than ever before!

DEBRA'S RHAPSODY, Debbie McDuffee
- all-natural, cold-processed shea butter soap
- lip balms, body butters and other all-natural body products
- natural stone and glass beaded jewelry

HEARTFELT DESIGNS, Lindsay Dupuis
- hand-stamped greeting cards
- baby specialties
- desk / home accessories
- holiday gifts and stocking stuffers

DELECTABLE DELIGHTS BY DEBORAH, Deborah Lavalle
- hand-dipped apples and pretzels
- spice rubs and hot drink mixes
- mini-cupcakes and other sweet treats

MAY DECEMBER VINTAGE, Valerie Agos
- vintage designer and better name fashions
- jeans, skirts, jackets
- scarves, belts and handbags
- jewelry

DESIGNS BY KATIA, Katia Pechonis
- colorful, unique necklaces, earrings and bracelets
- handmade art tiles
- hand-knitted scarves and other wearables

FINBELLA, Diane Lyons
- hand-sewn children's clothing and accessories
- women's bags and wallets

ACORN INSPIRATIONS, Cathy Trahan
- hand-sewn cloth napkins
- kids' aprons
- neck pillows

MONKEYS ON A MISSION, Melanie Meadors
-Unique sock monkeys
-Handmade sock monkey-inspired gifts (stationery, statues, ornaments,
wearables, etc)
-Part of our proceeds go toward our monthly Monkey Missions, local and worldwide charitable gifts.

As always, it will be the perfect one-stop shopping day -- stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, hostess gifts, gift sets, treats for you and everyone on your gift list. And the homemade refreshments and good company round out a lovely afternoon. Bring a friend ... or two ... or three ... and enjoy!

This year, there will be door prizes. For every friend you bring, you get a ticket. For every donation you bring to the Northboro Food Pantry or Worcester Animal Rescue League, you'll also get a ticket. It's about friendship and giving -- and you get rewarded -- what could be better?

Food pantry needs: healthy snacks like granola bars, crackers, personal care items like toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo, boxed meals (like taco kits, Hamburger Helper).

Worcester Animal Rescue League needs: cat toys, dog toys, copy paper. You can see their full wish list at http://www.warl.org/help/wish-list/.

Also, please feel free to forward this email to anyone you know who may be interested. Supporting your local handcrafting moms -- I can't think of a better way to get some Christmas shopping done!

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday, December 4!

I would love to see you all there! To give you an idea of what I will be selling, here is a peek of my Monkey Minions of the Week:

All of these monkeys (and more!) will be available at the Open House on December 4th, but there is only one of each kind. After the open house I will put whatever I haven't sold up on Etsy, but obviously, if you see one you really like here, get thee to the open house for first dibs!

Monkeys in the Mail

Ten little monkeys are on their way to Texas. Hopefully they make it by the Thanksgiving deadline. It seems that a file box is too large to be sent via priority mail without it costing a fortune (and of course, ten monkey would not fit in the prepaid box), so I had to ship them parcel.

The Chief helped address the box. He was sure to include the "Lone Star." And for those of you who might still want to make a monkey, it's not too late! Here is the address:

The woman at the post office saw the stickers on the box and told my husband that she loves sock monkeys, and never had one when she was growing up. She recently bought a pair of sock monkey slippers because she felt silly having a monkey toy. He informed her that I made them, and that the box was, indeed, full of sock monkeys. For some reason I hadn't thought of giving my husband business cards to carry, but maybe I should!

I will be posting an announcement about Monkey Mission #2 soon!

Our first Monkey Mission!

Hello! I'm so happy to get this website off the ground (FINALLY!). I'm just going to jump straight into Monkey Business, and please feel free to browse around the site some more to find out what we are all about. More content and info will be coming soon, but this is a very busy time of year for us, so please be patient while we get everything up and running.

I've had the idea for Monkeys on a Mission for a while now. Sock monkeys have made me happy since two of my good friends (and roommates) introduced me to them in college. I couldn't think of a better way to make other people happy, too. Since I'm the busy homeschooling mom of an extremely energetic boy, however, ideas often take some time to come to fruition.

Then, I heard about what Jade Sims was doing over at Craft Hope. She is collecting sock monkeys to give to children who lost their homes to the wildfires in Texas this year. There were something like 1600 homes destroyed, families lost everything. What an awesome first project for Monkeys on a Mission!

I made ten monkeys for this project, and my son, the Chief, helped me pick out eyes and "scarves" for them.

Here are ten little monkeys, getting ready for their trip to Texas.

Here's one big monkey, testing the others out for huggability. He approves!

Check back for details on our next Monkey Mission, coming soon!