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Thelonia Cerfette de Monk a biography Thelonia Cerfette de Monk is truly a one-of-a-kind sock monkey. She was conceived in the imagination of a group of artists who come together to discuss the business of “professional crafting” on the Internet newsgroup alt.crafts.professional (a.c.p.) Read on for the story of her creation… It began as a lark - Some members of a.c.p, seeking to explain the caliber of shows in which they exhibit, differentiated themselves from the weekend crafters who sell things like sock monkeys at church bazaars. Who would have suspected the can of worms that would be opened by that one conversation? Ideas abounded -- we should buy sock monkeys and send them to those people who started the whole conversation. Or make a “virtual monkey” on the Internet. Soon the idea of a progressive sock-monkey was born. This completely handmade monkey that would travel the country, being added to by artists along the way. It would end up in Philadelphia, to be auctioned of to benefit the Crafters Emergency Relief Fund (CERF). Many remember the sock monkey of their childhood, a stuffed toy made from those brown and white red-heeled work socks. Cute. But we can be more creative. Excitement was building at a.c.p. It was high time the sock-monkey had a real name. With those gorgeous lips, it was clear that our monkey was female. So the submissions were narrowed to Cerfette – appropriate because she is a “net” monkey being crafted for CERF, or Thelonia Monk – in honor of the late jazz musician Thelonious Monk. Combining the two led to a wonderfully regal name… Thelonia Cerfette de Monk. Back at a.c.p., Irene offered up a plethora of sock-monkey sayings… WWSMD – What Would Sock Monkey Do? Don't count your Sock Monkey's before they're knit. A Sock Monkey in the hand is worth two in the mail. This Sock Monkey's for you. Her personal fave: Got Sock Monkey? Jerry Farnsworth countered with… Sock it to me baby. Life socks and then you dye. Soxist pig. Me so soxy. Strange postings began to appear on the newsgroup. An individual calling him/herself "Thee Monk" submitted prose, excerpted here: In November… (UPI) There were wild and unsubstantiated rumors floating around the crafts industry today that indicated Thelonia, the Internet monkey, had been kidnapped … One officer stated "I wish they'd stop monkeying around and get on with the search." Another detective who asked that his name not be used said, "Until I can get this case solved, I feel like there's a monkey on my back." And December… It's a cold, sad and lonely Christmas eve with my Thelonia not at my side. The fire burns but with little warmth. My thoughts are with my dear Thelonia … The empty banana peels on the kitchen floor are but a brown reminder of our last meal together. From humble beginnings as yarn in Boulder, CO to the finished Thelonia Cerfette de Monk on auction in Philadelphia, Thelonia is the product of artists from 23 cities in 16 states. |
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