Happy Holidays from Evie!

Hello to all of my friends! I've had such a fabulous holiday season - I've seen lots of friends, had adventures, and of course, enjoyed dressing up for fun!
Did you make it to Pacific Fabrics Everett for the Apron Contest?  It was such a great time - there were so many inspiring aprons, although I think mine was the best - It had a banana print that was just mouth-watering. I just love those fruit and veggie fabrics,  and yellow is a great color for my pink-and-white complexion.  I had lots of fun modeling for everyone - you know I'm not a shy girl!
As usual, I've been traveling, although a little closer to home! One Friday, I took a trip up to North Bend to ride the Santa Train to Snoqualmie.  It was a sunny and dry day, thank goodness, since I'm not "wild" about snow - seeing Alaska was enough snow for this domesticated urban monkey! But as it was December, it was a little windy and so cold! Fortunately I had my minky parka and fleece pants from the Alaska cruise, and I layered with the red polar fleece scarf I got from a friend for Christmas, and I was ready to visit Santa.



Visiting Santa with Landon, Austin, and Orin

 The train was pretty crowded, but I made friends quickly - I ran into three little boys who were wearing scarves just like mine!  Their grandma made them - she used just 1/4yd of fleece for each, fringed the ends, and they were done!  She also made them the cute flannel caps they were wearing - she said it was hard to choose from all the great flannels at Pacific Fabrics, but once she saw the caps in Kwik Sew pattern #3833, she knew that plaid would be just the thing.  We sure had fun on that train!
Happy New Year to all! I think I'm going to resolve to make 2011 a year of adventure and fashion (wait...did I resolve that last year, too?)
 - Evie

Adventures with Evie: My European Grand Tour

Hey there human buddies -  I'm just in from a FABULOUS European cruise and a bit breathless, but I know you're all dieing to hear about my latest adventure!

Tracy knit me this incredibly continental Debbie Bliss sweater coat and matching beret. I was SO in style as we left Barcelona on the Norwegian Jade and met new sock friends at the so-fab Bon Voyage party. Their outfits were nowhere near as chic as mine, though.

Sydney, my traveling companion and personal couturier, brought me out on deck to sip my morning coffee. A little caffeine and some brisk morning air really perked up my stuffing before we docked in Monte Carlo. I do think I look a tad bit like Princess Grace here, don't you? Her aura was everywhere and I thought the rakish tilt of the hat over my ear was very, very Grace.

The darling ship crew delivered a clever towel animal to my room every night. Mr.White Elephant, my new sock friends and I attended dinner together. He was such a party animal and quite handsome in his formal whiteness. I, of course, looked ravishing in my lace edged silk chemise.

I aired out on deck then visited Pisa wearing my adorable pink quilted jacket with the heart shaped button. I look so fabulous in pink - it really brings out my button eyes! It was comfortable, yet stylish with my black fleece pants when I went shopping with my friends in Rome the next day. I heard quite a few fluffy whistles from the Italian sock boys! Sydney made me a little purse, too, and I shopped 'til my tail dropped.

Traveling can be exhausting, my sock was stretched to the limit and I wasn't feeling quite in the 'pink'. So I enjoyed relaxing in the cabin with my new towel friend Mr. White Rabbit while I was in Naples. He's a bit bland for my taste, but he was a good friend to lean on.

As the cruise wound down, I 'hung' out on my deck before our last stop at Palma, Mallorca.  I loved my Grand Tour, but really missed my home girls back in Everett. I've made so many friends and my Christmas gift list is now as long as a sock tail! After I rest up, maybe I'll take some classes so I can make gifts. I wonder if there's a staff primate discount?

Best to everyone  ~ Evie

(Evie is a pink sock monkey who lives at our Everett store - when she's not traveling. Sydney is one of Everett's extraordinary quilters, teachers and staff members. Tracy leads the Everett Knitalong, teaches knitting and is rarely found without needles and yarn in her hands.)

Adventures With Evie: My Alaskan Cruise

I'm back! I just spent a week cruising to Alaska with Chris and her husband, Dan and I just went ape over our most northern state!

The sea was rough the first night and I was quite seasick , but once I got my sock sea legs, I found that I loved bundling up in my stylish parka and lounging on the deck on the way to Glacier Bay. Ellen made me this stunning white Minky parka trimmed in ultra chic black faux fur. It really seemed to increase my natural animal magnetism. What happens onboard stays onboard, you know, but I can tell you I did attract plenty of attention!

Here I am sailing by John Hopkins Glacier. I was tired, but came out on deck and agreed to pose here for the papparazzi. The scenery took my little stuffed breath away. It was just spectacular!

Two days later we arrived in Ketchikan and Chris helped me tour the town. I just had to see the city where they have even more annual rainfall than Seattle. I'm wearing my black fleece pants here. They were nice and warm, but when Ellen made them, I was really worried that they would make me look fat. She assured me that my body was tubular enough to handle it. What do you think?

This is how I spent most of my time. Inside the cabin frolicking with the towel animals on the bed. It was like having a new BFF every night and I was so thrilled. It was really nice of the cruise line to plan this little surprise just for me! Maybe I'll send them some of my famous banana bread.

So, I'm back home, but I'm packing again. Sydney is taking me on her European tour. OMG! I can hardly wait!!! I hear Tracy has knitted me something special to wear. I'll be back in a couple of weeks, so watch for more pictures then. Ciao, all!

~ Evie

(Evie is a pink sock monkey who makes her home at the Everett store when she's not traveling. Ellen leads Block of the Month and she and Sydney both teach quilting classes at the store, Tracy leads the Everett Knitalong that is just starting for the year and teaches knitting and Chris is Assistant Manager as well as our ever enthusiastic 'Chris Claus' and company demo queen.)

Adventures With Evie: Kauai Sock Monkey Style

I love being soft! I fit so well into a suitcase and had a marvelous trip to Kauai, Hawaii last week with Ellen and her husband.

Pat made me a really hip Hawaiian print skirt before I left with Ellen and I insisted on an ear bow to go with it so I'd be really stylin'. Ellen calls it resort wear. So chic!

Here I am at the resort at Poipu Beach on the South Shore of Kauai. I sat on the railing to look around and I was glad to have a little help. I tried to hang on by myself, but it was kinda tough. There didn't seem to be any other Sock Monkeys around, but I had a really good time with the humans anyway. I think I look a little sunburnt here, but Ellen says it's just my natural rosy complexion. Ellen is so sweet! (By the way, Pat coordinates classes and teaches sewing at Everett and Ellen leads the Block of the Month Club and teaches quilting classes. That's why my wardrobe looks so good!)



Guess I'm going to Alaska next week - wherever that is. I hear it's cold, so I'm hoping the Everett human ladies are going to make me something warm. I love my skirt, but it is a bit breezy.

Gotta go monkey around now ~ Evie



Introducing: Adventures With Evie

Hey there, crafty humans! My name is Evie and I'm a Sock Monkey created by the ladies at the Everett Pacific Fabrics & Crafts store. I was born a couple of weeks ago and already I've heard that the human ladies will be taking me on all sorts of adventures in the next few months.

I started my adventures at a really cool meeting at the Pacific Fabrics offices recently. I learned about a lot of different stuff you can buy in their stores and what the new colors and trends are for Fall fashion. There are lots of people at the PacFab stores that can tell you about it. At the end, I got to sit by a gorgeous zebra purse and a pink polka dot tote bag from Moda and have my picture taken. I love this place!

My first trip will be to Hawaii - I'll tell you about that next week. Wonder if they'll make me a bikini? I always keep my ears wide open, so I'll let you know what else I hear, too!

Okay - see you soon! ~ Evie