You have made me smile again

Thank you everyone that supported me with getting lots of sales to help me buy a car.

I also wanted to especially thank the one person that Donated $300.00 I have to keep her anonymous because its her choice.

It feels good to be driving a car that I know will not explode because it has a gas leak, a whole in the manifold, and only one shock on the back.

Thank you

Dulce

Please help me raise enough money to buy a car

Thanks for visiting my blog! As many of you know that have been here before, my name is Dulce. I’d like to tell you a little bit about myself and my current situation, including who I am but also importantly, who I am NOT. I usually don’t go around telling the details of my life to everyone I come in contact with but, in this situation, it might be helpful for you to know some things so you can understand where I’m coming from and what’s in my heart.

I am not only the Owner of The Monkey Shop but I am also a Wife, a Mother of 2 great kids and “Ganka” to my wonderful Grandson. I happily live a simple life out in the country in an old farmhouse with my husband. We have had some rough times financially but are trying our best to get back on track in many aspects of our lives. But, sometimes, we can be working as hard as we can toward something but it’s just not enough.
I’m very thankful for my car and have tried to be as patient as I can with it while trying to earn enough money to not only pay our bills but save up money to either fix the car or invest in a better one. When sales started being less than expected in The Monkey Shop (even though I spend a lot of time promoting, having sales and filling up my store) I decided to take a part time job at Sears to be as responsible as I can be. You see, when things get tough, I’m not the kind of person to sit around and whine and pout about my situation. I’m not the kind of person to ask for help all the time. I try to find ways to help myself. I’m very thankful that I was able to get a job at Sears, even though there aren’t a lot of jobs to be found around here these days.

Not only do I NOT sit around feeling sorry for myself, I try my best to find ways to help other people even when I don’t have many resources available to meet my own needs. I have donated some of my Monkeys to organizations around town and have gone to the local hospital and passed some of them out now and then, because there are other people out in the world who need to have a smile now and then and my Monkeys seem to provide that! I’m also very very happy to be involved with Kid’s Food Basket - a local organization that provides sack suppers for needy kids here in Grand Rapids. I make special monkeys that are sold at a fundraiser called “Juice Ball” for Kid’s Food Basket. Although I don’t make much money on these monkeys, I am happy to be helping families in my area by making special monkeys that are sold to the public and most of the profit goes to The Kid’s Food Basket.

Life is funny sometimes I guess. I got the job to bring in more money and to save for another car because mine is bad. But, how do I get back and forth to work?? Yea.... my sad (but appreciated!) little car. The more I drive it, the worse it gets but that’s the only way I have right now to get back and forth to the source of income that I have to fix it up! The more I drive it the worse it gets and new issues keep popping up. The latest is a new manifold - that just happened last week. I live far enough away from town that I don’t get to ride a bus or I would CERTAINLY use that option.
When the news about the manifold popped up, I realized that something drastic had to be done. My car is not only just an inconvenience; it’s actually dangerous to drive! The shocks aren’t working, there is a leak in the gas tank and now there are fumes in the car from the broken down manifold. Things are happening faster than I can keep up with.

I have been trying every way I can think of to get sales from my shop - even giving crazy discounts that maybe don’t bring in a lot of money but I get to bless people with really good prices on my monkeys and every little bit of money in my bank account helps at this point, even if it’s not much per sale.
So, one more way I thought I could bring in some money for my car was to add a “Donation” button here on my blog and tell you all about it to see if anyone would be willing to help out, even if it’s just a little bit. I’ve tried to help so many other people so many times, I thought maybe it would be OK to ask for help for me, this time. Another way was to try to sell the book that has one of my monkeys in the illustration. I was so excited about this book! I only have two copies of it but I realize that, although I’d be giving up something that I might not be able to get back because I’m not sure when or if it’s getting published, having a safe car is more important.

So, if there is any way you could find it in your heart to help out in any way you think you can to help me get back and forth to work safely - whether it’s buying a monkey or something else from my shop, buying a book or even donating some money - - please know it is for a good cause. I want to keep working, I want to continue to do my part to support my family and I want to stay safe doing it.

Thank you so much for your time and understanding. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I’d love to hear from you.

Dulce “The Sock Monkey Lady”

why we need more sales

I just need a ton of sales!  That's all I have to say today!
So if you need something from any of my shop please stop by and grab what you like. 
I am here for you any time.
Please visit the monkey shop or Dulces creations for some great finds.
Or you can also visit my daughters shop Kavali8
We are here for you any time!

Happy shopping!


Dulce

5400 fan giveaway

I am giving away a sock monkey when I have reached 5400 fans! This is all you need to do, Tell your friends about the monkey shop, have them like my page and post a comment here to why they need one of my sock monkeys.

I will then pick out the best reason for me to give you one of my sock monkey.

If their are more than one reason that I really like I may just give away more than one.

Please share my shop with all your friends.

I cant wait to see what you post.

Now lets get sharing!

Thank you so much for participating.

Dulce

I am thinking of bringing them back

Why should I bring back my cute little monkey purses? Maybe its because its been 2 years since I made them and its time to add more things to my shop, Sales are slow and really need to add more ways to make more money. So if you think I should, I would love to know.

5000 fan giveaway

I am getting

really close to be at my goal of 5000 fans on Facebook.

I am giving away 2 sock monkeys. Will you be my next winner?

Here is all you do post a comment on my Discussion board on my fan page for your chance to win a sock monkey.

Please tell all your friends about the monkey shop and Good Luck to you.

The drawing will be done after I have reached my Goal.

Come and check out all the Monkeys! The Monkey shop

New items to the monkey shop

I have been creating some cute outfits for the sock monkeys and I thought I wold share them here for you. I have hat and scarves, shirt and pants, and Ear bows.

You can find all of them in the monkey shop

Gracie's Garden Designs team up with some other AMAZING shops

Gracie's Garden Designs team up with some other AMAZING shops and I am one of them. Please visit her blog for all the details.

6 give aways on her blog.

The Sock Monkey

Yep this is a sock monkey.

This is where you can get the best looking sock monkeys in the whole world.

Yep the monkey shop!

Sock “Monkey Jackson” Tribute Doll

He is back and only 2 will be available.

Sock monkey Jackson is up for bids on Ziing.com

First day at the artisans market 2010

So we had are first day at the Artisans market and it was a great success.

It was also called Etsy day, this is the day that all of Etsy west Michigan artist come together and show off what we have.

We have never had such a great crowd show up to the Artisans market.

One of our local TV station even came out to interview me, what fun!. Fox 17

The market is open from 11 am to 3 pm on Sundays now until the last weekend of September.

If you are in Grand Rapids and you want to come and see some great creativity stop by here is the address.

1147 E. Fulton Street, Grand Rapids, MI

Here are some pictures from the market.

http://www.facebook.com/TheMonkeyShop?ref=ts#!/photo.php?pid=30958068&id=1159034851&fbid=1362413977931

My new addition to the monkey shop

Now you can buy your very own coffee mug with Bert the sock monkey on it, playing with his toy monkeys. The mug says, " In a barrel of Monkeys I'm one of a kind.

This will make a great gift for any adult, they can use it the office or at home.

Next will be the T-shirts. Coming soon.

Facebook fan Promo

I have one kind of sock monkey that is on sale in the monkey shop fan page on my face book.

She is only $15 plus shipping to the USA.

I have 10 of them to sell, because I have to many socks that I need to get rid off so I can add new colors.

Once you become fan of the monkey shop you will see the tab that says "SHOP NOW"

click that and yo will see Gabriela there.

I have quit my job!

Now the monkey shop will be my only income. After almost 3 years of making sock monkeys and after 778 sold sock monkeys, its time to expand my horizons. I have added a new item in my shop! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=46184932

Sock monkey Give away

Did you know that for every 200 fans I get in the monkey shop I give a sock monkey away.

Please become a fan you may win a sock monkey.

Here is my fan page.. The Monkey shop

my experience on the Radio

So yesterday, I as invited to be on a radio show, of course I was so nervous. Nothing new with me when I have to do something with an audience.

So if you would like to here it, Here it is. click on the sock monkey.

Enjoy!

Matt Girauds Sock monkeys

So I am in love with Matt Girauds music. I think he is awesome.

Recently he emailed me and wondered how he could get some sock monkeys.

I sent him to my shop and this is what he got.

I think he is going to love them.

If you would like to order your very own sock monkey please stop by the monkey shop to get your sock monkey.

Sock monkey Lovers

Today I am writing about a little customer of mine. Her name is Olivia. Olivia is only 10 years old.

The other day I got an email asking me " have you sent out my monkey yet?

And I emailed her back and I said "No not yet, why?

I am thinking to my self she just ordered it, and it was Saturday morning then she emailed me.

This whole time I thought I was talking to an adult.

She said " I really cant wait for it and I am going to refer my friend when I get mine!! How long does it take to get here, I live in coral springs, Florida? im very curious

And I said " Probably 3 to 5 days. I will get it in the mail out today.

and she said. "THANKS!! question, Can u make conley again tiny though? My friend wants to know!!

and I said " sure can. I have enough for 14 of them. I will re list it.

ANd she said "Thank You for going through all the trouble I cant wait for my Sock Monkey I go to my friends house often her dog has many chew toys that size so a larger size is perfect and again thanks!!!

and I forgot to add you are amazing!!

Aparently Olivia is a big fan of mine. She visits my shop dayly to see what I have made new.

Her little friend will be ordering her self a tiny Conly too.

Fox 17 sock monkey

So today I did a segment on Fox 17 in Grand rapids MI.

Here is the link to the video. Enjoy.

http://www.fox17online.com/videobeta/?watchId=5aa72683-c6c7-4524-ba9e-7b1c8efc37dc

Sock monkey wine gift bag

I have just designed this bag. You can carry your wine in the gift bag and it will also keep it cold for a while. Not yet in my store.
Before I go and make more I would like your opinion. It will come in different colors.

Selling price will be $15 plus shipping.
So what do you think of it?