A year on, they say they've made $1.4m (1.03m) in revenue, raised $30,000 for charity, and shipped socks to customers. Obviously, the author has an artist's sensibility and the items have a handmade quality to them. This is a fun book for inspiration for reusing materials. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Tube channel. FPG: With your training in ceramics and illustration, what brought you to try your hand at textile/knit construction? wardrobe architect 2016 - week 2 - your iconic self; My creatures end up looking different, but who cares? This is the best book I ever bought! HistoryThe sentiment expressed in Murphy's Law, "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong," has probably been around as long as there have been things to go wrong. Even for a novice sewer like me, it was fun and easy! $14.00. Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2007. Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2006, If your taste runs toward the bizarre, the grotesque and the eccentric, then this book is for you! John is the author of Stupid Sock Creatures and Closet Monsters.He currently works as a counselor for at-risk kids and their families, and he hopes to do it forever. , Language Since then Ive been drawn to anything that can be personified or imbued with personalities. 5 soft sculpture needles or doll needles, 3 crew socks of similar thickness, stretchinessand. The cartooning was with me throughout my life to chronicle my ideas and scores of characters that continuously occur to me. You can follow the designs as they are or use them to inspire your own range of quirky critters and monsters. What would you do differently next time? I played with stuffed toys as a kid when most other boys preferred toy cars or weapons or action figures. Not to mention the fact that it's always gratifying to find an arts and crafts book applicable to all ages and with a hip mindset to boot (no pun intended). Here I am a proud owner one of his sock creatures. Sock puppeteers may also stand in full view along with their puppets and hold conversations with them through using ventriloquism. *Land Of Nod, Your email address will not be published. Since then, he has enjoyed nearly a decade making plush monsters. Itll take you to a PDF of the instructions at Lark Crafts, Johns publisher. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. stupidcreatures. : [2], Sock puppets have also been used in television programming aimed at adults. And when you want to make a present for your best friend's housewarming, this is the book you need. We are available Monday-Friday 7am-7pm CST and Saturday 9am-2pm CST. Slide 3 - create mood board of images of sock monsters and other sock creations (minimum of 10 images) Create your own sock monster. youtube. com/watch? Both of these were aimed at teenagers and young adults. Author. Does this count? I love this book. Heres a quick rundown that are covered more completely in Johns book (it looks like a long list, but most sewers will have just about everything on hand): As for the instructions, click here. These socks were discovered in the ruins of a Greek colony along The Nile River in Egypt and are made of woven wool. Professional wrestler Mick Foley has long used a sock puppet by the name of Mr. Socko as an aid in his finishing maneuver, a nerve hold called the Mandible Claw (or Socko Claw), which is usually preceded by Foley theatrically pulling the sock from somewhere on his person. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Although I'm a writer by education and profession, I have a not-so-secret DIY and craft (of almost a read more, Join our free newsletter for instant access to all of our favorite cheatsheets for cleaning and organizing your home. 5 Easy Steps to Prepare your Soil for Spring, How to Level Up your Patio with LED Lights, Dollar Tree DIY Floating Monkey Candy Dish Tutorial, 10-Minute Easy Valentines Day Gnome Treat Holder, DIY Ladybug Family from Plastic Bottles Tutorial, 100 DIY Bedroom Decor Ideas | Creative Room Projects, 34 DIY Home Decor Ideas Made With Repurposed Crates, 43 Simple Snacks To Make in Less Than 5 Minutes, 34 DIY Photo Albums To Showcase All Those Pics, 31 Free Printables and Templates for Mason Jars, Visit our friends at DIY Projects for Teens. Sock puppets have also been used as the main figures in comedy videos on the internet, mostly to parody other media phenomena such as films and television series. *Return of Stupid Sock Creatures Book This gave me so many great ideas I might incorporate a sock creature project into my craft club at the library. Create a Power. This article is about cloth hand puppets. Im drawn these days to such media as comic books, animated features, claymation, British comedies and the work of voice actors. Slide 2 Research page on John Murphy including information about him (in your own words) and photos of his work. . In this follow-up to Stupid Sock Creatures, John shares the spotlight with guest designers in 20 projects that push the boundaries of stupid with crazy-cute quadrupeds, two-headed beasts, pop-eyed monsters, and more. Offer applies to Ground Shipping only. In 2009, he composed the music for the 2009 remake of the 1972 film The Last House on the Left, followed by 2010's Kick-Ass, based on the comic book of the same name. Wasn't planning on making them. , Dimensions 896 Followers, 854 Following, 978 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from John Murphy (@johnmurphyinstitute) johnmurphyinstitute. These make fun and unique gifts for everybodyespecially for childrens gifts, but I think anybody who receives one of these will go bonkers over them like I have. This book is fun and so is making sock monsters. SOCK MONSTERS JOHN MURPHY THE STUPID CREATURES GUY The stupid creatures phenomenon started when John first tried to make a sock monkey, the result ended up as his first little creature Albertine. USEFUL HOW TO VIDEO LINKS https: //www. I promise it will make you smile at the very least. These characters, though, have won my heart. But, as he says in the instructions for Blincubus, you can make the little creatures eyes any way youd like. A sock puppet or sockpuppet is a puppet made from a sock or a similar garment. Great ideas here and a lot of helpful hints for creating mini-masterpieces out of leftover socks. In Bo Burnham's Inside one of his skits (How the World Works) is a parody of these shows where his sock puppet "Socko" tries to teach children about various injustices and conspiracy theories (such as the FBI killing Martin Luther King or the possibility of an elitist pedophile ring). The score was allowed to develop in directions unconstrained by the original film's narrative[3] and the cover art is a photograph of Murphy's son, taken by his wife through her sunglasses.[3]. [2][3] Murphy promised the director that he wouldn't name the film. They have funny lips. And Im still learning as I go. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. But everything that leaves an artists studio has a function or purpose, a materials cost and a target audience. They are really cute! Become a Member. I was wildly attracted to the insane looking creatures on the book's cover and even more ecstatic when I found this kit offered; the obvious benefit that you can make a creature immediately - and I'm sure Mr. Murphy, the author, knew that once that was done, you'd be hopelessly hooked! Celebrated artist, John Murphy, has a varied design background, and over the past 10 years has developed "Stupid Creatures" - his own brand of creative sock monsters. John Murphy. He gives good directions, but mostly it's handstitching, which I am not so good at! This book is awesome! Artists like Picasso, Tim Burton, Dr. Seuss, Roxanne Swentzel, Bernini and Chris Bachalo are among those who have influenced me the most. Jason Murphy (born August 7, 1982) is a former American football guard and offensive tackle. The use of the sock's heel as the creature's mouth is pretty genius and many of the creatures are fashioned in a very interesting way, not at all straightforward! Top Papa Father's Day Happy Birthday Dad Socks. It was great! Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. Stupid Sock Creatures: Making Quirky, Lovable Figures from Cast-off Socks by John Murphy and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at AbeBooks.com. v=ch. IT was difficult at first, but in the end I was pumping out sock dolls like Asian child workers. Even if you never stitch a single one, it is a fun book to browse, with many witty remarks, even bios of the goofy sock creatures and a short color cartoon. Hospitals, if you haven't noticed, are in desperate need of entertainment. v=Yyu 1 l 6_sa 5 Q https: //www. In 2019 he scored "Les Miserables" for the BBC, and in 2020, he composed the score for James Gunn's The Suicide Squad. Making these things is a blast. I live in the rural wilds west of Charlotte, NC and date a talented makeup artist named Leslie. Buttons or googly eyes (obtained from craft or fabric stores) are used for the puppet's eyes. Can't wait to get started on making some very fun toys using recycled socks. John Murphy's sock creations have been featured in such publications as the Washington Post and Readymade magazine. Watch how John Murphy makes these in their step by step tutorial so you can make them too! . Coming to America, Eddie Murphy, Akeem, John Landis, alternative movie poster, McDowell, employee of the month, Il principe cerca moglie Socks. What is wild is that our friend in Oregon picked up the book at her local library the very same day and one of my girl scouts said she saw it at the bookstore that day and asked for it for Christmas. general use sewing needles. John Murphy's sock creations have been featured in such publications as the Washington Post and Readymade magazine. The wide range of difficulty--from a simple one-sock monster to a . I picked this up at the local libraryit just called to me from the shelf as I was checking out. JOHN MURPHY THE STUPID CREATURES GUY The stupid creatures phenomenon started when John first tried to make a sock monkey, the result ended up as his first little creature Albertine. Tube channel https: //www. I do not advise slavery to the almighty dollar, but wisdom about the way the economic world breathes and digests so that incredible works can be made by artists who can eat and keep the rent paid. Crafters with a sense of humor, a taste for the weird, wacky, and way-out, and a hunger for the outrageous will find themselves captured by this wildly creative menagerie of sock monsters. Let your imagination go wild with these ideas. I am useless at sewing, and the skill and difficulty required here is such that I'm fairly confident that I could get through a project with no mishaps. Stupid Sock Creatures: Making Quirky, Lovable Figures from Cast-off Socks. I used to make him talk and carry him everywhere with me. , ISBN-13 Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. I bought this book (the version with accompanying kit) the summer before last when my family was taking a vacation in the Oregon wilderness and I thought it possible that my son might become bored. Here's a quick glance from the book Stupid Sock Creatures. Sock puppets can be made from socks or stockings of any color. Viva DIY! So far I have made 7 sock monsters and the last three have been my own creations, by using techniques from the book. Artist Spotlight: John Murphy / Stupid Creatures, *Mommy in Manhattan / Blog / Land of Nod Opening. Its a great book, and I can't wait to get the second one and make more with my daughter! Many people make these with socks, as does John Murphy from Stupid Creatures. When Im not busy trying to keep kids out of jail, I make stuffed toys from recycled clothing, I write books about how to make stuffed toys, and I teach classes to people who want to learn those skills. I've always thought they were boring. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2013. By John Murphy at the best online prices at eBay! TASK THREE Power. I've got a serious stash of funny old socks, just waiting to become sock creatures. I was at the library and the book title jumped out at me! Publisher And after the sewing process, they are transformed into beasts with "attitude". Great ideas, but a bit too involved for me at this point. *lol* Once I finished my first creature, I couldn't help but giggle every time I looked at him sitting on the back of the couch. "Urban" art and fashion is very popular in our culture, even in places that are largely rural. Great directions, with patterns that are very adaptable so that you're not making the same four creatures in the book over and over. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. Great, but you need to improvise a little, Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2011. The author has been ever so generous with his knowledge. This book is amazing and full of delightful, crazy, and whimsical creatures that are easy enough to make with the instructions. Please try again. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2017. John Murphy's sock creations have been featured in such publications as the Washington Post and Readymade magazine. Here's what's cool about it: no measuring required, patterns are fast and easy, if you screw up a sock monster it becomes part of its charm. Do you have any advice to young artists wishing to follow in your creative footsteps? The wide range of difficulty--from a simple one-sock monster to a four-sock extravaganza--means this . A Brief History of The Sock: Socks have been used to keep feet warm, healthy, and dry for millennia, with the oldest surviving pair of socks that have been discovered dating back to between 250 and 420 CE. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. MGPNCb. My 14 yo took it over in the car and she made a creature the next day. *Stupid Sock Creatures Book* Great directions, with patterns that are very adaptable so that you're not making the same four creatures in the book over and over. FPG: Hi Mr. Murphy Can you tell our readers a bit about your background as a designer? I made two creatures so far, one by following the pattern exactly, and one by just winging it using the book for ideas. John Murphy's sock creations have been featured in such publications as the Washington Post and Readymade magazine. What could you have improved?