Spectacular SOCKS - LittleMissMatched

Once upon a time when I was in high school, I was getting ready to leave for class when I noticed that my only 2 pairs of socks clean each had one sock with a hole in the bottom. It just so happened that both pairs were of the same brand, so it occurred to me that I could literally wear the mismatched socks - one sock from each pair - and my feet wouldn’t know the difference. Ever the nonconformist, I did just that – I chose the intact sock from each pair and wore them to school, not caring whether anyone noticed I was wearing two different socks. In fact, I was actually proud of this fashion innovation and pointed it out to my friend Sarah while changing for gym class. Ever the tightly-wound conformist, Sarah scoffed at me for making what she considered an uncool fashion faux pas. Well, in this segment of Spectacular SOCKS, I would like to point out that my supposed fashion faux pas had made mainstream fashion with LittleMissMached!


I discovered LittleMissMached while browsing the children’s section in Chapters at Devonshire Mall. Being a sock enthusiast, I was immediately drawn to a spinning rack displaying packages of socks. To my amazement, the packages did not contain pairs of identical socks, but a trio of unique socks! Talk about lonely socks! I bought the following 2 pairs for $10.00 each:

At first I thought $10.00 was a bit pricy for 3 unmatched socks, but then I considered that with each package the buyer receives 3 different options for combining the socks, and thus with each package really contains 3 pairs of socks! Observe:

3 socks in a package: Sock A, Sock B, and Sock C

The following combinations are optional:

Sock A + Sock B = 1st mismatched pair
Sock A + Sock C = 2nd mismatched pair
Sock B + Sock C = 3rd mismatched pair

Three combinations of mismatched pairs of socks can be made – and if you choose to alternate which sock you wear on which foot, you can even argue there are six possible combinations per package!

I visited the website LittleMissMatched which you can reach at the following link:

http://www.littlemissmatched.com/

Apart from socks, the website offers apparel for girls and women. You can shop according to which clothing items you are looking for such as T-shirts or Pajamas, or browse the various Collections like the Zany collection. Zany boasts that it includes every colour: “You’ll never have to choose one colour over another!” while Kooky includes complimentary colours: “Opposite colors attract when it comes to our Kooky stuff!” Another collection called Preppy Zoo is “a colourful zany twist on bold animal patterns!”

I love the other socks they have available, not to mention the accessories such as Duffel Bags, Tote Bags, Flip Flops, and Water Bottles. What I love the most besides the patterns and designs themselves, is that the patterns on the accessories actually correspond to the patterns or designs on the socks! This means that if there is a particular pattern or set of designs you like in the set of 3 socks, you can buy other items with these same designs! The Zany Black Backpack, for example, matches all three patterns of stripes, polka dots, and stars in my black set of socks. So while your socks may not match each other, they can certainly match your purse and flip flops!

There is also a Bed and Bath section on this website that offers fun and “zany” items for girl, baby, and toddler bedrooms.

While I love the products available on this site, I have a few very large complaints and I greatly hope this store will work on changing them:

Complaint # 1

This store ships within the U.S. only. It ships to all 50 states and to Puerto Rico, but does not ship to Canada – which means that I cannot order anything from this website, no matter how much I love the products. This is a shame, as I am obviously a big sock enthusiast.

Complaint # 2

This store only gears its products to girls and women. Perhaps it is apparent in the name of the store, LittleMissMatched, but I was a little bit disappointed that they have no products geared towards boys and men. Some products in the Bed and Bath section that for toddlers and babies seem to be targeted at boy children, but I am merely assuming this because the colour blue is featured. This seems a little bit disappointing, as the products for girls have such a variety of colour. Even if the products for boys have a slightly different colour palette, I think they should be just as bright and colourful. I would love to see more products on this website marketed to boys and men – from socks and apparel to accessories and bedding.

Complaint # 3

This store does not carry plus-sizes. Even though products are labelled as being for “Girls and Women” the largest size available in clothing is a size 16, which is meant for a woman with a 27 inch waist, 32-33 inch chest, and an overall weight of 101-110 pounds. If this store was only targeting children or girls, I would not necessarily have as big a problem with this. The labels on the website, however, specifically say that the apparel is for "girls and women". Furthermore, even if the products were geared to children and teens only, I would still like to see plus sizes available for them.


In conclusion, I love the idea of selling mismatched socks. I also love the fun colour combinations, patterns, and designs available. The variety is great, and I love the different collections. I also love that, while the socks may not match each other, they can match other accessories available. Still, I would love this store so much more if I was able to order the products from their website and have them shipped to my home in Canada. And of course I would prefer to be able to wear ALL of the products, including the clothing, which is not available in my size. If anyone from LittleMissMatched is reading this, I love the products from your website, and if you can make your products available to Canadians you can be sure that I will be your first Canadian customer. If you can broaden your apparel to include plus size clothing, I will most likely spend even more money buying the clothes from your website. I am willing to bet that other Canadians and plus size women will do the same, and if you make a line of products aimed at boys and men, you will probably gain even more customers!


That's all for this segment of Spectacular SOCKS. If anyone has any comments, please feel free to share them, and if you have any suggestions for more Spectacular SOCKS blogposts and reviews, please let me know.

Spectacular SOCKS ... The Christmas Edition!

Welcome to the belated Christmas edition of Spectacular SOCKS! Since Christmas is still very fresh in our minds, I thought it would be appropriate to devote this segment of Spectacular SOCKS to the Christmas Stocking. I’ve searched the web this holiday season for some beautiful – and some rather unusual – Christmas Stockings to display, and so below you will find what I thought were some truly Spectacular Christmas Stockings!

1. Home-Made Craft Christmas Stockings

Crazy Flannel Christmas Stocking

This was created by Aubrey Schwartz, founder of Mauby’s (My Life. My Passion. One Design At A Time).

Posted on Wednesday, December 8, this stocking is made with beautiful earth tones that remind me a lot of autumn and the harvest. The fringed, earth-toned patches of fabric give this stocking a rustic feeling, which is perhaps part of the reason I like it. It reminds me a lot of nature and the outdoors. The patches also give the impression that it was made from fabric scraps, but it would probably be very complicated to find various fabric scraps that complement each other so well. To me the fabric-scrap appearance reminds me a bit of a collage – a fabric one instead of a paper one!


See more pictures of this great stocking, along with instructions on how to make it yourself at Mauby’s website:


http://www.maubys.net/2010/12/crazy-flannel-christmas-stockings-charm.html






2. Christmas Stockings for Movie Fans

Anyone remember this eye-sore from the 1983 film A Christmas Story ...

... well, fans of this nostalgic Christmas classic will be pleased to know that they can purchase a Leg Lamp Stocking for their very own from A Christmas Story House Gift Shop! If you ask me, displaying this stocking would be far classier than actually having the real leg lamp, which you can purchase from this website as well if you are bold enough. But wait – that’s not all! You can also purchase leg lamp key-chain ornaments, leg lamp neckties, leg lamp pyjamas, a leg lamp snow-globe, a leg lamp string of lights, and (I think this is my favourite) a leg lamp cookie cutter! You can buy these all and probably much more from:

http://www.redriderleglamps.com/productDetails.cfm?merchID=100324231322921397

Check it out ... I double-dog dare you!

3. The Curly-Toe Stocking

One style I like a lot for decorative use is the “curly-toe” stocking. I like this a lot because it reminds me a little bit of the kind of shoes sported by Christmas elves in most Christmas movies – think Will Ferrell in the 2003 film Elf. They also remind me a little bit of clowns or court jesters. Here is a great example:

Red and Green Satin Velvet Personalized Christmas Stockings from Caribbean Charms.

Both red and green are great Christmas colours, and they look great together. The swirl-pattern of the fabric makes these stockings look very elegant, and the hanging tassels add a nice touch. The pompoms on the toes add to the elf- or clown-like fashion of the stockings in addition to the “curly-toe” style itself.

http://www.caribbeancharm.com/Red-and-Green-Satin-Velvet-Personalized-Christmas-Stockings_p_1017.html

The following are not actual stockings, but stocking ornaments, yet they are another example of the “curly-toe” style that I think demonstrates the elf-like quality of this style.
You can find this RAZ Whimsical Curly Toe Stocking Ornament Set of 4 at Trendy Tree

http://www.trendytree.com/raz-christmas-decorations/raz-whimsical-curly-toe-stocking-ornament-set-of-4.html

4. The Whimsical Christmas Stocking

I love a lot of the more elegant yet whimsical stockings that I've seen in stores and online. As discussed above, many have curled toes that allude to Christmas elves, clowns, or court jesters. Here are some examples from Essentially England.com. Some, like the Luxurious Christmas Stocking on the left, are designed to appear as though they could fit an actual person. Perhaps this is because it is meant to recall a different era in history, as the website states that it "wouldn't have looked out of place at the court of King Charles I." It's colours, design, and elegant detail remind me of royalty, and thus of fairy tales as well.

The stocking on the right is entitled Crazy Christmas Stocking "Masquerade", and I think the name is definitely appropriate. The colours vibrant and rich, but unlike the stocking on the left, this certainly does not look like it could fit a human being! To be honest, I think that it's unwearable shape is what I like about it ... it calls to mind some oddly-shaped character out of a fairy tale that isn't quite human, and therefore must be magic! The "Masquerade" in the title also calls to mind the masquerade scene in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, and all the beautiful costumes worn by the characters.

The elegant whimsical stockings like those at Essentially England.com may be more expensive than traditional children's stockings and would best be suited to decorative use than for stuffing on Christmas Eve. View more stockings from this website at the following link:

http://www.essentially-england.com/whimsical-christmas-stockings.html

5. High Heeled Boot Stockings for Shoe-Lovers

One stocking style I’ve noticed out in the stores the last few years is the high heeled boot-style stocking. Unlike the traditional stocking-like stockings that really just resemble large socks, this is meant to resemble a large feminine, high heeled boot! I’m guessing these are meant to appeal to the real shoe-enthusiasts who love shoe-shopping and own several pairs of shoes in different styles ... basically the characters on Sex and the City.

The Personalised Ornate Shoe Christmas Stocking from A Special Gift.com

Though I am not a shoe-enthusiast myself – let’s face it, socks are cheaper, comfier, and take up less room – I still love this stocking. The green at the heel and toe actually appear to be the same shape as a high heel shoe and the matching bow at the back is a great touch. The hanging tassels remind me a little bit of a fringe that might hang down from the hem of a dress, but it could also look like a fancy garter belt!

http://aspecialgift.com/

6. The Gothic Stocking

On one website called Earth Daughter Arts, I came across two beautiful gothic stockings! These stockings are available for purchase at the website's online store. To the left we have Victorian Goth-Steampunk - an elegant silver stocking that combines the styles of the a "high heeled boot" and the "curly-toe." The black pattern is certainly reminiscent of Victorian fashion while the fringe at the top again calls to mind the hem of a dress. The red stocking to the right is entitled Pirate Bay - appropriately named for the skull and cross-bones pattern. The shiny red and black fabric make this a rather dark and sexy Christmas stocking, as does the lacy, garter belt-like fringe at the top! I also think the diagonal black stripes give this stocking a dark and mysterious style!

http://www.earthdaughterarts.com/gallery/goth-stockings.html

7. The Sock Monkey Stocking

Spectacular SOCKS segments are all about celebrating socks and all things made from socks. Yes, Christmas Stockings are essentially socks, but so is the iconic sock monkey, so what could be more sock-related than a Sock Monkey Christmas Stocking? Probably nothing!

Every time I've gone shopping lately, I've seen tons of things related to the sock monkey - not just actual sock monkeys, but sock monkey T-shirts and even a sock monkey 2011 calendar! If sock monkeys are supposedly IN right now, I couldn't very well ignore them in a sock-related blog article, now could I? So I searched the web and found this cute Sock Monkey In A Stocking Christmas Ornament. While this piece is not a stocking itself, I can assure you that there are sock monkey-related Christmas stockings available. I chose to include this piece not only because it is 2X sock-related, but because of its design and colours. I love the red polka-dots against the Grinch-like green background, and how the red of the stocking matches the red of the monkey's lips and hat. I also love the red patches on the heel and toe of the stocking - this makes it look very sock-like and sort of reminds you that the stuffed animal inside is indeed made from a sock itself ... very clever! I found this particular ornament on Amazon.com, but it may be available elsewhere as well:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0028ARONQ?ie=UTF8&tag=moviebarbiedo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0028ARONQ


8. Funny, Sarcastic Christmas Stockings ...

and some that raise pride and awareness ...?

Though I'm more in favour of old-fashioned, home-made Christmas stockings for actual use on Christmas morning and perhaps the more elegant stockings that can be nice on display in the home, I still admire the humourous and sarcastic Christmas stockings like those from Cafe Press. This website has a VERY WIDE selection of humourous Christmas stockings that can appeal to a wide variety of people. For example, the caption on one stocking reads, "I Have AUTISM And I Think You're Weird Too." I find it very interesting how there are several Christmas stockings on this website that are designed to raise awareness of and express pride in different health conditions such as Autism. For example, one stocking has a caption that reads, "Autism Is Not A tragedy. Ignorance Is A Tragedy." They even have some that have to do with my personal favourite health problem - Fibromyalgia!

Of course this website also has other humourous stockings, some that even poke fun at Christmas celebrations! The stocking to the right, for example, displays zombie snowmen hungry for human brains! Another stocking on this website had the caption, "Santa Claus has the right idea - visit people only once a year." I think these are great for people who are a little fed up with Christmas, especially the commercialized, profit-driven aspect of it all.

Check out the wide variety of funny, sarcastic, and even awareness-raising Christmas Stockings at Cafe Press:

http://www.cafepress.ca/+stocking

9. Stockings from Magical Lands !

Literature buffs like myself would probably appreciate the following stockings, especially lovers of children's literature. These Christmas Stockings are much more expensive than many that I have shown so far, and thus would be better suited to decorative use than for stuffing with small gifts.

Katherine's Collection Christmas Stocking

Madhatter Stilt Leg from Laraines.com

I love that this stocking is named after the Mad Hatter from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland. Depictions of Wonderland usually involve wild colours and outrageous costume designs, and the colours and design of this stocking definitely reflect the wonderful madness of Wonderland! This beautiful, colourful stocking also reminds me of circusses and clowns, perhaps because of the vibrant colours, and the heel and toe being large in comparison to the ankle.
http://laraines.com/christmas-stocking-leg.html

Also from Laraines.com we have Katherines' Collection Las Vegas Harlequin Christmas Stocking. Though geered towards "card sharks" or Vegas lovers, I am including this stocking as a Magical Land stocking because this too reminds me of Wonderland. Anyone familiar with Carroll's Alice stories knows that Wonderland is ruled by the Queen of Hearts and that other playing-card characters live in Wonderland, their suit denoting their profession. When I saw this stocking, I imediately thought of the Wonderland characters in their playing-card attire, and though I realize it is geered towards card-lovers, I think devote Alice fans will likely be drawn to this stocking as well!

http://laraines.com/kacochstpr2.html

Wizard of Oz 20'' Legs and Sequinned Ruby Slippers Christmas Stocking by Kurt Adler.
Wizard of Oz lovers will certainly recognize these wicked feet! Oz-lovers could hang this stocking as a symbol of their love for the movie, or perhaps as a souvenir commemorating the time they crashed in Oz and accidently landed on the Wicked Witch of the East! Not only do you have the Ruby Slippers to prove it, but you have the stockings from the witch you defeated!

Okay, maybe that's a morbid interpretation of this stocking. How ever you look at this stocking, it's available at Amazon.com at the following link.

http://www.amazon.com/Wizard-Sequined-Slippers-Christmas-Stocking/dp/B000U619T0Slippers-Christmas-Stocking/dp/B000U619T0

10. The Professional/Hobby Stocking

Some stockings I've come across appeal to people in specific professions, feilds, or hobbies. This handcrafted Ballet Slipper, for example, is available at Boot and Crown. Again, this stocking is more expensive and perhaps better suited to decorative use. I particularly like the idea of a ballet slipper as a Christmas Stocking because it reminds me of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, a ballet about a young girl's adventure on Christmas Eve. Perhaps non-dancers who simply love the Nutcracker and its soundtrack would display this stocking along with an assortment of wooden nutcrackers as an homage to this classic Christmas story.

http://www.bootandcrown.com/catalog.php?category=2

11. The Ice Skate Stocking

Last but not least I am including another stocking you may have seen in stores this holiday season. I think The Ice Skate Stocking is popular because ice-skating is a winter sport that only takes place this time of year. For example may recall the openning of A Charlie Brown Christmas, in which the Peanuts Gang are ice-skating on a frozen pond! And, I don't know about you, but I always assumed that Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and all of the elves at the North Pole were quite capable of ice-skating as easily as they could walk! It certainly makes sense given their icy climate. Instructions on how to make this particular Ice Skate Stocking are posted on Disney's Family Fun website, along with all the materials necessary.

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/ice-skate-stocking-667382/

Well, that's the end of my review of Spectacular Christmas Stockings. I hope it was enjoyable, even though this is a rather belated posting.

If you have any photos of Christmas Stockings that you would like to share with me - and of course photos of Christmas-related socks - please leave a comment and a link! I would also love to read what you think of these Christmas finds, and whether or not you think there are any other types of Christmas Stockings I have neglected to include.

Have a Happy New Year everyone!

Spectacular SOCKS: Dobby, A Free Elf

Welcome to another, albeit belated, segment of Spectacular SOCKS! Due to the recent theatrical release of the new Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, this segment of Spectacular SOCKS will be dedicated to our good friend Dobby the house-elf.

Those of you who are unfamiliar with the Harry Potter series may ask what does a house-elf have to do with socks? Well, I’ll tell you!

Dobby debuts in the series in the second novel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, in Chapter Two, Dobby’s Warning, in which Harry becomes aware of the existence of house-elves. Harry discovers Dobby, a creature he had never seen before, in his bedroom at number four, Privet Drive. Dobby is introduced to the reader with the following description:

The little creature on the bed had large, bat-like ears and bulging green eyes the size of tennis balls ... The creature slipped off the bed and bowed so low that the end of its long thin nose touched the carpet. Harry noticed that it was wearing what looked like an old pillowcase, with rips for arm and leg holes. (Chamber of Secrets, page 15)

From his very introduction, Harry and the reader can see from his physical appearance that Dobby, though humanoid, is not human. Since Harry is not any more familiar than the reader with such magical, non-human creatures, Dobby himself has to explain just what he is. Dobby explained, as always, referring to himself in the third person:

“Dobby is a house-elf – bound to serve one house and one (wizard) family for ever ...” (Chamber of Secrets, page 16)

What I find significant here is the use of the word “bound.” Dobby is bound to serve a wizard family, meaning not that he is employed as a servant for a wizard family, but that he is enslaved by a wizard family, staying and working for them against his will as if tied up and imprisoned!

It soon becomes apparent that though Dobby is not human, he has many of the same abilities of a human, such as the ability to speak, reason, and make decisions for himself. It stands to reason that these qualities make him deserving of equal rights with humans, and yet he is enslaved by a family of wizards who make him punish himself by self-inflicting wounds whenever he disobeys them.

Readers discover the level of cruelty that Dobby endures when Harry politely asks Dobby to have a seat in his bedroom – Dobby has never experienced such politeness from a wizard and bursts into tears. At first, Harry assumes he has hurt Dobby’s feelings and apologises for offending him. Dobby’s replies, “Offend Dobby ... Dobby has never been asked to sit down by a wizard – like an equal.” (Chamber of Secrets, page 16). As if his low self-esteem is not evidence enough of Dobby’s constant abuse, in Chapter Ten, The Rogue Bludger, Dobby tells Harry, “Dobby is used to death threats sir. Dobby gets them five times a day at home.” (Chamber of Secrets, page 133)

Harry even asks Dobby at one point why he cannot simply escape if he endures so much abuse – as Harry lives in a suburb with Muggles or non-magic people, he is unfamiliar with many magical creatures and wizard customs. Dobby explains his situation:

“A house-elf must be set free, sir. And the family will never set Dobby free ... Dobby will serve the family until he dies, sir ...” (Chamber of Secrets, page 16)

Dobby also does not wear the same clothes as humans, and it becomes apparent that his pillowcase attire is meant to further distinguish himself from humans, sending the message that he is not to be treated with the dignity of a human. For example, the pillowcase is described as “filthy” and when Dobby uses it to blow his nose, he was described as “looking so pathetic,” and prompting Harry to ask “Why d’you wear that thing, Dobby?” Dobby gives the following reply, which proves to be very important:

“’Tis a mark of the house-elf’s enslavement, sir. Dobby can only be freed if his masters present him with clothes, sir. The family is careful not to pass Dobby even a sock, sir, for then he would be free to leave their house for ever.” (Chamber of Secrets, page 133)

Thus Dobby’s pillowcase denotes the dehumanization that accompanies slavery, for Dobby is not to be treated with the same dignity or rights that a human being would have, and thus he is not to wear the same articles of clothing that a human would wear, even the smallest and least expensive articles of human clothing – socks! This is why Dobby informs Harry that even a single sock cannot be handed to Dobby from his masters, lest the family accidently grant him his freedom.

In the very last chapter of the novel, Harry learns just who Dobby serves. In Chapter Eighteen, Dobby’s Reward, Harry learns that Dobby is bound to serve the Malfoy family, a family of dark wizards who follow the evil Lord Voldemort. It makes much sense that Dobby is a slave in the Malfoy household, as the Malfoys are classist and extremely prejudiced – their beliefs in their own superiority due to their wealth, power, and “pure blood” status explain why they would believe in slavery and treat Dobby with such abuse and dehumanization. The identity of Dobby’s master is revealed when Harry is about to leave Professor Dumbledore’s office when the door bursts open:

Lucius Malfoy stood there, fury in his face. And cowering under his arm, heavily wrapped in bandages, was Dobby ... Mr Malfoy almost knocked Harry over as he swept into the room. Dobby went scurrying in after him, crouching at the hem of his cloak, a look of abject terror on his face. (Chamber of Secrets, page 246)

After a brief and incriminating discussion in Professor Dumbledore’s office, Mr Malfoy leaves angrily and even kicks Dobby through the office door as he does so. After witnessing the cruelty Dobby receives, even in his weakened, bandaged condition, Harry quickly devises a plan, and leaves Professor Dumbledore’s office carrying the destroyed diary of the evil Lord Voldemort:

Quickly, wondering if this plan could work, Harry took off one of his shoes, pulled off his slimy, filthy sock, and stuffed the diary into it. Then he ran down the dark corridor. (Chamber of Secrets, page 248)

It would appear that Harry remembered every detail of Dobby’s explanation about why he wore a filthy pillowcase, that if Dobby’s masters presented him with clothes, he would be set free, and thus they must take great care not to hand him the smallest article of clothing ... even a sock!

Harry cleverly distracts Mr Malfoy by handing him his disgusting, dirty sock, from which he removes the diary. Unfortunately, when Mr Malfoy saw the diary, he was so furious at the implication that the diary of Lord Voldemort belonged to him that he carelessly threw the dirty sock aside, not realizing that Dobby was right there to catch it! The chapter continues:

"Come, Dobby. I said Come!"
But Dobby didn’t move. He was holding up Harry’s disgusting, slimy sock, and looking at it as though it were a priceless treasure.
"Master has given Dobby a sock," said the elf in wonderment. "Master gave it to Dobby."
"What’s that?" spat Mr Malfoy. "What did you say?"
"Dobby has got a sock," said Dobby in disbelief. "Master threw it, and Dobby caught it, and Dobby – Dobby is free." (Chamber of Secrets, page 248)

This scene is changed slightly in the film, but it is still very effective, and worth viewing:

This, dear readers, is what the Harry Potter series, and Dobby the house-elf, has to do with socks. It was a single, smelly, dirty, slimy sock that aided in Dobby’s ultimate freedom from the abusive Malfoys!

After Dobby’s triumphant liberation from slavery, he found work in the Hogwarts kitchens for a descent salary – a salary that went to pay for, you guessed it, socks! The role of a single sock in Dobby’s liberation seemed to have led to Dobby developing a love-affair with socks – not unlike yours truly! He loved giving socks as gifts, and he certainly loved receiving socks as gifts! And why not? After all, when Dobby first received a sock as a gift, he was simultaneously receiving his freedom. It might have been dirty, smelly, slimy, and completely disgusting, but that single sock that Harry gave to Dobby was truly a Spectacular SOCK!

Interestingly, Dobby preferred single socks, as opposed to pairs of identical socks. Perhaps it is because his freedom came from receiving a single sock as opposed to a pair, or perhaps it is because he was still unaccustomed to wearing human clothing, and thus unfamiliar with the traditional wearing of matching socks. But who’s to say that Dobby is not right, that it is not more fashionable and attractive to wear two different socks than two matching socks? Perhaps the little elf knows something we humans are too uncreative and traditional to notice?

In closing, I just read on Harry Potter Wiki that the name "Dobby" was appropriately chosen from the old English word dobby. According to http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Dobby, the Oxford English Dictionary states that dobby was:

“a benevolent elf that would perform household tasks secretly in the night, like the elves in tales of the elves and the shoemaker. However, just as those elves disappeared when the shoemaker made them shoes, so the dobbies were said to disappear when offered clothing.”

An elf who secretly enters homes, does various chores such as laundry, and slips out before the family can catch him, and who also happens to be a lover of single, unmatched socks?

Perhaps we’ve solved the mystery as to where so many individual socks have mysteriously disappeared to leaving their mates behind in the laundry!

With that, Dobby, free elf, this segment of Spectacular SOCKS is dedicated to you.

Spectacular SOCKS!

Today I have an important announcement about my blog:

Since my blog is called The Lonely Sock, and because of my extreme and intense love of unique socks, The Lonely Sock will now include a feature called Spectacular SOCKS.

Spectacular SOCKS! will be a regular segment in which I will display and discuss socks I looooove that I feel MUST be shared with others. This will include any of the following:

. socks that I own
. socks available for purchase online
. sock puppets
. sock stuffed animals
. sock pictures or cartoons
. sock artwork of ANY KIND that should be brought to everyone’s attention!

For example, if you take a look at the following socks, I think you’ll agree that the entire world should be aware of them!





(I had to include the above socks, as I am totally in love with giraffes, llamas, and alpacas. Their long eyelashes make them look so sweet and innocent but their long necks and TONGUES tell you they have some tricks up their sleaves!)












These socks come from AbsoluteSocks.com which I think is definitely worth checking out.

While these socks are more expensive than the average pair, the website offers a variety of topics or themes of novelty socks such as “Occupation Socks” which means you can order special socks for the special dentist, bus driver, or massage therapist in your life! Personally, this is a something about the website I love. I would prefer a wider variety of occupations to choose from, but I think the occupations available are still pretty impressive!

Other factors I like about this website are:

. its socks are available for Women, Men and Children
. though located in the U.S. it takes international orders
. orders will be refunded in full if returned within 30 days if a customer is not satisfied

So, for now on I am continuing to use my blog to display any of my arts and crafts, promote my magazine – if I can ever get it made – and, of course, to discuss my goals and experiences with Fibromyalgia, but it will now also include regular segments of Spectacular SOCKS! I would love to hear what you think of this new feature and welcome any comments on the individual posts themselves. I also welcome any information on great places to buy socks, pictures of crafts made from socks for future inspiration, or any pictures of fantastic socks you would like to share with me!

COMING SOON on Spectacular SOCKS! I will feature a sock-puppet creation of my own who will be used as the mascot/avatar for The Lonely Sock.