Sock Monkey – KATARINA THORSEN [POSTSTREET]

Poststreet custom order sock monkeys.

I’ve had some interesting requests and ideas over the years and I do love the challenge of finding materials and interpreting the subject. Here are some samplings and planning sketches… Contact me for your custom order and pricings! CONTACT KATARINA: EMAIL

Operation Sock Monkey Project Sophia

SOCK MONKEY THERAPY AND CRAFTIVISM PROJECT SOPHIA Sophia, age 16, was born with a life limiting condition and she has been part of the Canuck Place Children’s Hospice community for 14 years. Sophia loves to spread joy around and this includes handing out countless sock monkeys (made by her and our Operation Sock Monkey communtiy…

Stitched together with good intentions- a grumble of [sock] pugs!

On September 1, 2016, Fall weather and autumn vibe seemed to come on full force here in Vancouver BC. Along with the autumn atmosphere comes the rejuvenated desire to craft, to create product and re-open the ETSY shop and the reminder to focus on the Winter craft fair to do list. So I put away my other work…

Sock Monkey Social- intergenerational craftivism!

Operation Sock Monkey (OSM) was approached by Langara Recreation Leadership student, Matthew Sung, a few months ago regarding an intergenerational project: Sock Monkey Social. We gave him some pointers and links to a couple videos (how to make a sock monkey and a feature on OSM’s founder, Lindsey Hodgson): How To Make A Sock Monkey (HD) from Fredrik Thorsen…

I’m raising funds to provide free sock monkey therapy!

I am selling sock monkeys and sock birds on my ETSY site to raise for sock monkey therapy! See selection at: 100% of proceeds go towards me providing free sock monkey therapy workshops for local at risk youth in Vancouver BC Canada! Sock monkey therapy creates a safe space for youth to dialogue while delivering…

Sock Rottweiller plans!

Quite a few years ago, I designed my first sock pug. Since then I have made many, and they continue to be very popular! My pugs are available made to order on my ETSY site for $40.00 USD. Due to multiple requests, I am now tackling a Sock Rottweiller! According to my plans, they will be a…

My personal #Chakra #SelfCare #CheckIn #Toolkit

I can’t help but love the magical thinking that happens when considering the chakras! The 7 Chakras are the energy centers in our body in which energy flows through. Blocked energy in our 7 Chakras can often lead to illness so it’s important to understand what each Chakra represents and what we can do to…

Special edition sugar skull sock monkey

This handmade, handsewn sock monkey is a special version of my sugar skull sock monkey line! She has an embroidered face and her dress is soft stretch cotton with crow design. She is adorned with flowers and a little bird sits atop her head. Materials: Work socks Hypo-allergenic polyester fibre stuffing Embroidery thread Cotton Felt…

Operation Sock Monkey Booth at the Strathcona Craft Fair Nov 28! And Latest Updates!

My incredible Operation Sock Monkey Western Division team of youth, teachers, support staff, community members of all ages have been hard at work since July, volunteering time and donating supplies and monkeys. And now part of this great sock monkey collection goes on sale this Saturday at the Strathcona Craft Fair 10 AM-4 PM! 601…

Sock monkey with hummingbirds #craftivism

“If the hummingbird shows up in your life as a spirit animal, it may remind you to enjoy life’s simple pleasures and take time to enjoy yourself. The hummingbird’s wisdom carries an invitation to take part in and draw to you life’s sweetness, like you would drink the nectar of your own flower.” [source] — —…

My special hand-sewn sock monkey kits now on Etsy!

Sock monkey kits! Now on my ETSY SITE! My special hand-sewn sock monkey kit includes: • Pre-sewn sock monkey body (ready to stuff and assemble and personalize) • Needle and thread • Felt heart • Button eyes • A little worry bird (made from glove finger) • How-to info • Information about my local to…

Shaking the Movers- a safe space for youth to have a voice.

— I was so honored to participate (as art facilitator) in the 9th instalment of Shaking the Movers yesterday! Shaking the Movers, founded by The Honorable Landon Pearson, is a profound process that supports youth in making powerful recommendations around children’s rights using their own voices. Shaking the Movers: The Shaking the Movers conferences are two-day workshops that…

Day 4 and 5 Inside Out Project Summer 2015: Digging Deeper

INSIDE OUT PROJECT: OWN YOUR JOURNEY- Breaking the cycle of violence through creativity Inside Out Project – Own Your Journey SUMMER 2015 is a three week intensive arts-based program running out of Mountainside Secondary School (July 6-24, 2015) for youth ages 13-20 that uses the vehicles of therapeutic art, photography and stop motion animation to teach life and…

Update- SOLD: Art sale to celebrate Frida’s birthday! One of a kind package.

FRIDA KAHLO BORN JULY 6, 1907 To celebrate the woman who inspires me everyday- I want to spread the love, so I am releasing these 4 original interpretive portraits of Frida as a package deal for only $135 CAD ($106 USD) includes shipping. First come first serve. Email me to purchase. UPDATE July 7, 2015: SOLD…

Happy birthday, Frida! Frida No.7: Fetal Frida Sock Doll

Frida Kahlo b. July 6, 1907 See Frida No. 1-6: LINK

10 Tuesdays. 10 Fridas. Frida No. 6: Sock doll in Tehuana headdress

I’m celebrating my blog with an art event. The event honors the woman who inspires me to keep it going as an artist: Frida Kahlo. — For 10 Tuesdays, I am creating/posting 10 different portraits of Frida Kahlo in some form/medium or another. It may be a drawing, an object, a doll, whatever… A surprise. I…

10 Tuesdays. 10 Fridas. Art blog event. Frida No. 1: sock doll. #recycledcraft

I’m celebrating my blog with an art event. The event honors the woman who inspires me to keep it going as an artist: Frida Kahlo. (How many of you that know me are right now rolling your eyes and saying, “duh”…!?!? I realize I am a tad obsessed.) For the next 10 Tuesdays, I will be…

Scraps- makes animals- makes good feels

What is it about a bin of sewing supplies and some scrap cloth that tug at my heart and leads me to create something out of seemingly nothing? What is it that I get out of making cute animals? Drawing them? Why do I anthropomorphize them? Why is it so comforting? So healing? Check out:…

Stay tuned for Operation Sock Monkey Handbook fundraising!

My personal mission is to awaken creative expression through local and global art initiatives. One initiative partners me with Operation Sock Monkey to create a life skills and entrepreneurship handbook. Our goal is to implement local pilot projects in the Fall and to bring the work to New York City and San Francisco youth programs…

Sock Monkey Life Skills Entrepreneurship Curriculum Development update!

Recall I am developing the following project: CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT SERIES 1: THE @BY POSTSTREET SOCK MONKEY LIFE SKILLS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM for youth groups, schools and community organizations in partnership with OPERATION SOCK MONKEY I am pleased that things are moving forward as intended! Phase 1 is on track regarding community outreach and awareness. I have…

The inspiring work of @GlobalSorority @passionteams and @g4gcharity in Cape Town

I am truly in awe of and inspired by the powerful work being done globally by my friends at The Passion Foundation Global Sorority Girls 4 Girls And I am delighted to see our Operation Sock Monkey sock monkeys at work on the ground in Cape Town! Photos courtesy of Global Sorority and Passion Foundation: …

OSM HANDBOOK LIFE SKILLS

CURRENTLY PLANNING NEXT STEPS AS I CONTINUE FUNDRAISING FOR the Operation Sock Monkey Handbook for youth groups, schools and community organizations GENERAL STRUCTURE FOR WORKBOOK: • Sections • Chapters • Diagrams • Photographs • Resources IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING LIFE SKILLS [Source: Healing the Inner City Child] “Life skills” are defined as psychosocial abilities for adaptive and positive behavior…

@BYPOSTSTREET ART HOUSE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT SERIES 1 PHASE 1

THE @BYPOSTSTREET ART HOUSE GLOBAL: Creative Director, Anna Thorsen LOCAL: Art Director, Kat Thorsen (Vancouver BC) MISSION: To awaken creative expression VISION: To develop global art initiatives Art Events, Street Art, Apparel, Curriculum Development, Workshops, Workbooks, Speaker Series, Craftivism, Illustration, Portraiture, Documentaries, Graphic Novels PRESENTS Curriculum Development Series 1: The @BY POSTSTREET Sock Monkey Life Skills and Entrepreneurship Program for youth…

• ART • CRAFTS • YOUTH ARTISANS: my 3 blogs get 3 new looks!

MY ART BLOG: MY CRAFTS BLOG: MY YOUTH ARTISANS BLOG:

Half a face. My 30 year relationship with the #BreakingBad teddy bear.

Breaking Bad has reached its conclusion. Glorious TV. Characters that stay with you. I will miss the weekly anticipation. The Breaking Bad fans have become a family. Indeed, I spent the evening watching it with the usual gang who have gotten together for season openers and finales. My dear friend Mia treated us to…

New shop in my neighborhood: @ingoodcompanynv: #Local #Handmade #EcoFriendly #Cooperative #Inspiring

I love connecting with people who pursue a dream and then execute the plan. Janelle Bakker and Jean Stenhouse in North Vancouver are two such people: Local. Handmade. Gifts. Baby & Kids. Clothing. Eco-Friendly. Cooperative. I am delighted to discover the new store IN GOOD COMPANY a couple of blocks away from my apartment filled with eco-friendly,…

CHAD. Whiteboard series by Eric Wright.

Introducing “Chad” by Vancouver artist, Eric Wright I was so inspired that I HAD to make a sock version: I am so excited to watch Eric’s artistic path unfold! Stay tuned!

Finish this portrait of @RebeccaRaw and @TommyD as Frida and Diego on June 23rd! Win a Frida sock monkey!

June 23rd art event hosted by Rebecca Rawlinson and Tommy D! Those of you that know me know that there is no more influential artist on me than Frida Kahlo… Win a Frida Kahlo sock monkey made by me at the art event!!!

The way the crow flies. The journey of one piece of artwork. #fullcircle #lettinggo #Frida

My Frida series is ever evolving. Recall posts: 1. Woman-Artist-Pain-Power 2. 6 panels of my Frida series 3. The most popular piece of the night 4. A very private piece Today I drive the piece below west to east to a wedding shower- the way the crow flies- to give it to a very special young…

When anxiety hits- pick up a pencil… draw what you like #arttherapy

Oh my- anxious evening… my head swims with to-dos and self-criticism. So before I do anything more, I will pause and simply draw. Draw what I love, and for those of you that know me, you know that means: SOCK MONKEYS. My daughter, Anna, gave me this delightful book for Christmas: SOCK MONKEY (Publisher teNeues)…

5minute6Bpencilnoeraser backofanindexcard portrait no.25- Pug

Just sold a sock pug to Colorado! Each of my POST STREET ETSY orders includes an original pencil sketch and this was today’s sketch…

Kat’s Creativity Workshop Video

Go to VIDEO

Recalling amazing visit to @SFMOMA October 11, 2010

My daughter, Anna, my sock monkey and I visited The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art this past Monday. Despite the fact that certain levels were closed (thereby a cheaper entry fee)- the experience was on par with my visit to Moderna Museet in Stockholm in 2009 with my son, Julian. (I treasure the one…

A lovely creativity day at Intersections Media!

The new batch of students at Intersections Media enjoyed a day of creativity doing my three tiered creativity workshop! I was honored to work with such amazing youth and staff in the beautiful space of District 319! The workshop was designed to get the creative juices flowing while getting to know fellow classmates. We started…

The Gift of a Lifetime…. a Fundraiser for David Ius’s CCSVI Treatment

I had a marvelous time tonight reuniting with old friends to support the amazing cause: The Gift of a Lifetime…. a Fundraiser for David Ius’s CCSVI Treatment. This night was created by David’s (and his ex-wife, my BFF, Cheryl’s) beautiful kids– Jennifer, Meghan and Matthew. It was a glorious evening full of incredible family and…

I LOVE CHINA MARKER. Especially the great colour selection from @Utrecht_Art!

I adore using China Marker. It has the give and control I like in charcoal but without the mess. The graphic novel quality to the mark making is appealing. With practice, you can use eraser to create highlights and a smudging stick for shadowing, smoothing etc. At present I am enjoying limiting the palette to…

Win my art at District 319 Summer Film Fest August 3rd! Support Intersections Youth Program!

Come and relax after the weekend of mayhem and celebrate at District 319 Summer Film Fest featuring the movie: C.R.A.Z.Y! *** SPECIAL TREAT: I will be raffling off 6 prizes: 1 piece of art (china marker portrait) and 5 sock monkeys! C.R.A.Z.Y. is a 2005 French-language Canadian film from Quebec. The film was directed and…

In the world of YES

INSPIRATION FROM SARK: “In the world of YES, Fear = Contraction. When we contract, we become closed or restricted. This can cause us to retreat or give up. Take a look at what causes you to contract or expand with regard to your creative dreams. Creative dreams themselves are natural expansion devices. They contain energy,…

1001 AIDS Stories

As I contemplate how to incorporate HIV-AIDS AWARENESS into my youth-at-risk art therapy and Operation Sock Monkey at Keith Lynn Alternative Secondary, I am excited about this new local site: http://1001aidsstories.org/ Panos Canada has begun collecting stories from people whose lives have been changed by HIV/AIDS. These individual narratives and images, reflecting their personal views,…