Artisan Socks Socks and Stockings Blog. (Leg Warmers and stuff too!)

Vote for Outfit Entries!!

2010-11-15T11:56:00.000-08:00

The wonderful outfits entered in our "Socksy Outfits" as styled by our wonderful Facebook Fans has gone live!

Please go to the voting post on our wall, view all the entries and click "LIKE" next to the set you like.
Voting is open until Friday 12:00 pm.

Please vote!

The winning entrant will win all trhe cute clothes in their styleboards and the socks off our site that go with them. Here are just a few examples of the wonderful outfits they came up with:

Some socksy Ideas for affordable outfits #1

Outfit Ideas #2

Outfit ideas from entrant 3

Fun outfits from #4

Fab outfit from #5
Fun from #5

Socksy with #6

Sock savvy from #7

Halloween Socks and Stockings -- Yeah baby!

2010-10-11T17:44:00.000-07:00

Welcome to a very Artisan Socks -Y Halloween!

When you think "Halloween Stockings", there's probably;y one of several categories of people who think very different things.

If you're a cosplay or Manga / Anime fan, you're probably trying to find the PERFECT socks or stockings to make you into the character of your choice. Same goes for if you like regular comics.

Do you think orange and black striped socks?
Hopefully, because we have them.

How about stockings with glow in the dark webs on them?

Yup, we have them too.

Stockings that make your legs look tattooed?
But of course!

Sharks and alligators and fishes that eat your feet and cow toes?

Most certainly!

And a whole massive array of vavavavoom thigh-highs to make your Sexy-maid-marine-biologist-naughty-librarian outfit the hottest?

You bet.

Mostly we have tried to get in and keep just about every type of fun leg-wear we could get our hands on.

I beseech you, wear fun socks and stockings on regular non-Halloween days too.
Not just because I sell socks either, mostly because the world needs a bunch more whimsy 364 days a year and not just on one lucky one.

Boo!
~~Artisan Socks

ANIMAL HATS! Oh yeah!

2010-09-24T14:07:00.000-07:00

We've added a whole new section and it's not about socks at all.

It is animal hats!

"Why animal hats?" you might ask.
Well, I'm afraid the best answer we can come up with probably is;

"Because they're fun! Soft, warm, felt-y fun!!"

Enjoy.
We'll be adding more including a yellow giraffe and panda soon.
I personally want the yeti too.

~~Sock (And Animal Hat) Diva L.

2500 likes on Facebook means free shipping vouchers for a week!

2010-09-14T12:53:00.000-07:00

While we understand the internet isn't a popularity contest, we would like to say "thank you for helping us WIN!!!".
Um.. No..Hee hee! Sorry, I got all excited.

Let's start over.
We've promised people who "Like" out business page on Facebook a week of free shipping vouchers if they like us on Facebook.

AND WE HAVE 2500+ likes!
*pops a can of diet soda to celebrate*

If you like us on Facebook and then make an account and email us for your shipping voucher, we'll send it to you licketysplit! Actually, probably a little slower than that, sorry.

Here's the FB url to "like":
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Redondo-Beach-CA/Artisan-Socks/453716570051

Here's where to make an Artisan Socks account;
http://www.artisansocks.com/accountSignup.asp

And just in time for the new 50+ items that will be going up this week and next!
A sneak preview below. (See the album on Facebook for more.)

Stay extra Socksy this fall!

~Sock Diva and Shop owner L

My Second Favorite Photo of Jitters in Magic Japanese Socks

2010-08-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

They say the camera adds 10 pounds..

Jitters for Artisan Socks Blog

2010-08-17T10:06:00.000-07:00

This is still one of my favorite photos ever of our socks.
And Jitters, the sock eating kitty.

A very sock-sy story with a happy ending. HE SAID YES!!

2010-08-13T12:33:00.000-07:00

This story and the photos ares used with permission from the coolest girl ever, Alexandra "Alex" S.

A couple weeks ago, we got 4 orders in a row from one person all going to a different address and wondered if there had been a glitch in the system of if the matrix burped and charged some poor soul 4 different shipping charges. It hasn't happened before, but you always need to be prepared for the odd in this business.

When we opened the orders to investigate, we noticed that there was a one word message on each of the gift notes accompanying a wonderful selection of sock choices.

The first sock was this fun Happy Sock:


And it had a gift message that said "Will"

(photo sent in by Alex :)

The second sock was this:

And it had a gift message that said "You"

Second Socksy Package

The third sock was this:

And it had a gift message that said "Marry"

Hand wrapped love socks from Alex to the luckiest guy ever

Day three of the sock -o- gram

And the last sock was this :

And it had a gift message that said "Me?"

We were waiting to see what he said, and Alex let us know that HE SAID "YES"!!!!

We're so proud and happy you let us be part of that Alex :)

Thanks for the screen shots, we hope you enjoy the towel cake we sent you both as an early engagement gift.

This was just the most fun thing we've been involved in lately.
And while I guess you all can guess even though we here at Artisan Socks have a soft and romantic side, this took the cake!

Stay socksy, congrats, and good luck!

Leah,
Artisan Socks

Now you can choose socks and stockings and leggings by color!

2010-08-05T12:17:00.000-07:00

You asked for it and we (finally) answered!

You can now choose our socks and stockings by color!

I really do apologize for taking this long.

We don't have everything sorted out yet and will be making the quality of each section a lot better, but we hope this is a good start.

Stay cool and stay socksy,

Leah,
Artisan Socks

Here are links to the Artisan Rainbow of colorful socks.
We're about to get in over 60 new styles for fall and Halloween, but for now, enjoy what we have for you now.

Black socks and stockings here

White socks and stockings here

Grey / Gray socks and stockings here

Red / Maroon / Carmine socks here

Blue / Baby blue / Navy / Sky blue socks and stockings here

Green socks here

Brown Socks and stockings here

Yellow and Orange Socks and Stockings here

Metallic (gold, silver, lame - not lame) stockings and leggings

Pretty in pink socks and stockings here

Purple for the fabulous socks and stockings here

and last but not lease, drama, flair and sunshine with our

Rainbow and multicolor socks and stockings here

Sock of the Day: Friday July 2nd

2010-07-02T15:32:00.000-07:00

Lions and tigers and bears (and zebras and leopards and snakeskin OH MY!)

If you're like me, you grew up thinking that animal prints were for women from New York and New Jersey, not for anyone under the age of about 40, and to be worn rowr ROWR tight across miles and acres of cleavage with bright BRIGHT red lipstick and long fire engine red nails, and pumps with heels that started at four inches and ended in OUCH.

But if you're really like me, you also secretly in your heart of hearts wanted to rock out with the animal prints.

Because while those ladies weren't often seen on the Main Line in their Talbots' cardigans and pearls, they looked like the had a heck of a lot of fun.

I haven't hit 40 just yet and red nails and lips don't quite suit me, but I find the socks and stockings I buy from our shop heavily weighted in the animal print category.
HEAVILY.

I'd like to introduce you to my new favorite pair of summer weight Celeste stein ankle socks in leopard.
I wear them with ridiculously high heeled open toed boots in a creamy suede and my go-to black ankle boots with just a hint of the ROWR peeping out.

In just a couple of years, I'll go find a tight top to match and reconsider red.
For now, this little one point works for me.

Stay socksy!

Leopard Print ankles socks here

Sock of the Day (Leggings!) for June 15th, 2010

2010-06-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

Today's sock of the day are actually cool but hot leggings from violet love.

These zebra print footless tights are thin so please for the love of all that is good and bright and clean, wear them with shorts, a skirt or some other kind of pants-like bottom wear. Because if you don't, you will be naked.
Which is surprisingly not as cool as it sounds.

There is a movement devoted to the understanding of this >>

I'll get back on the real subject which is the awesomeness of these zebra footless tights.

Take any plain summer dress or teeshirt and skirt outfit and make it all "Wow" by adding one point of fun on your legs. These breathe and wear well, and we think youll just love them. We do!!

Stay socksy with pants on!

~~Sock Diva L

New Summer category!

2010-06-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

We've taken our favorite summer and light-weight selections and put them all to gether in one new category.

We think you'll love the leggings and footless stockings and our organic and 100% cotton socks.

Our split toe tabi socks are great with flip-flops.

Have a hugely socksy summer!!

~~Sock Diva L.

Sock of the Day Friday June 11th

2010-06-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

Today's wonderfully fun knee socks are from a special online comic artist over at Diesel sweeties.

He's taken some of his more whimsical designs and made them into socks.

I sent the 20-sided dice to a friend as a gift and got mad props.
Really, the props were mad, but happy.

To bet back on track...

The little red dudes on the socks remind me of the hours I spent with my Atari space invaders game.

Cute red robot socks are here.

Stay summery and socksy!

Sock of the Day for Wednesday May 26th 2010; "Leopard Stockings Version"

2010-05-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

Could you do me one favor today? Please read this post to the tune of "Favorite things". Thanks! It'll be a great help. So here are a pair of one of my favorite things from our shop. I chose to write about them today after I wore them yesterday. Funny how that works, right?

These leopard print stockings are shot through with bling and a shiny metallic thread that makes them fun and funky. These tights have a special waist band that is flat and sits well rather than digging in like norma waistbands which can bunch up on you.

I give these a 5 growl rating.

They really are a favorite.

Shiny leopard print stockings here.

Sock of the Day May 24th, 2010

2010-05-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

We'd like to introduce you to the wonderful Happy Socks line of stylish and whimsical cotton socks from Sweden.

Tasteful and full of fun, Happy Socks are sized specially for a better fit.
(small, medium and large making these unisex socks and something mom, dad and their kids would all want to wear together for some happy family socksy fun)

We're about to get about 10 new styles in, they're great fun!

You'll find these stripped cotton crew socks here.

Our Happy Socks category is here, look forward to seeing many new socks soon!

Sock of the Day: May 17th, 2010: Hansel From Basel Clemence Knee-High in - Ivory

2010-05-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

Ah spring has sprung.
Sadly it's gray and rainy here today, but these lovely organic cotton knee high socks from one of our favorite designers, Hansel from Basel, add just the right flair to your springtime look.

Pretty knee socks here.

Sock of the Day for Tuesday May 11th, 2010; the "Something's fishy" version

2010-05-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

Today's post about our wonderful and fun socks will first be done in internetese, and then translated intofashion uppercrust for your early morning blog reading enjoyment.

lol WANT!
These soks haz teh cute!!
Fishies nom nom nom ur feetz!
Can be hazed from Artisan Socks.

Today's sartorial offering encompasses a wide range of cutting edge fashion premises that include the oft forgotten element of "whimsy" i.e. the "mouth" of the sassily saffron colored leg-wear being an actual but still figurative "mouth" of a fish with scales and eyes which appear to "eat" the leg of the wearer, and function; these humorous accoutrements are for all intents and purposes socks, yes, these are actual crew length piscine-shaped covers for your feet, best matched with low cut flats and a sharp sense of humor.

Goldfish crew socks found here.

Stay socksy!

Sock of the Day, Saturday May 8th 2010: Special Saturday "Aye Chihuahuas!" version.

2010-05-08T15:30:00.000-07:00

I'd like to dedicate today's sock of the day to my mother.
Even though she has absolutely NOTHING at all to do with Chihuahuas (she has a beagle and cats) it is mother's day tomorrow and so I wanted to dedicate something o her.

Sure, a sock more to her liking would have probably been more appropriate but I really wanted to multi-task here and have been meaning to focus some blog love on these puppies *giggles* for some time now.

These rainbow colored Chihuahua crew socks are full of fun and rainbow colored Chihuahuas as one might safely assume.

Get them for your mom even though you're probably too late if you still haven't bought mom something yet.

You're a horrible child.. Mom's at home, crying, sockless. You could have at least made her life just a touch happier had you Chihuahua'd her feet or something, but no... you had to spen the day reading a blog about socks.

I personally thank you for that, but is could have serious familial ramifications.

Make up for it by getting her these cute rainbow Chihuahua crew socks.

Happy mother's day!

Stay socksy!

~~Sock Diva L

Sock of the Day, Friday May 7th 2010 (I'm wearing these right now)

2010-05-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

It is early May in sunny southern California, but I still chose to wear these angora blend funky argyle socks today.

The lovely young lady in the photo is 5 feet 10 inches tall, and almost all legs so the sock looks like a knee sock on her, and is!

On yours truly, all whopping 5 foot 3 inches of me, these can hit just over the knee and look wicked awesome (I've stolen that phrase from the vernacular) with a pleated skirt.

Today I have a meeting so I've just got them on under respectable slacks, but they are making my outfit just a little more fun and funky and are soft and comfy to boot. Or not to boot, maybe to shoe. Or to heel or something.

The shoes in that photo are my Fluevogs, and I walked the mile to work in the sunny sunshine today in those and these great soft angora socks.

Whee!

Check these knee high or over the knees if you're a shorty like me argyles here. They cone in black too.

Stay socksy!

~~Sock Diva L

Sock of the Day, Thursday May 6th 2010

2010-05-06T18:40:00.000-07:00

Why do you hate peace?

Why do you hate kitties?

Why do you hate green striped knee socks?

You don't?

Yay! In that case, I'd love to introduce our green striped Hello Kitty knee socks all full of peace and win.

They make you feel like dancing on a beach. No, seriously. they're a little kitty fun to wear.

Hello Kitty Peace Symbol green Striped Socks
Whew! That's a mouthful!

Sock of the Day, Cinco de Mayo version

2010-05-05T08:32:00.000-07:00

For today's sock of the day, we decided to spice things up a little and go with stockings.

These mesh panel sexy black tights are racy but fun.

If you click through to the product page, you'll see them in action on a loyal Artisan Socks customer's lovely legs.

We hope you enjoy the vavoom and do a little dancing today.

See the sexy and sassy open panel black tights here.

~~Stay socksy!
Sock Diva L.

Sock of the Day, Tuesday May 4th, 2010

2010-05-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

Today's sock of the day is brought to you by the prairie, and by patient horses. As you all know, the most important part of horseback riding is your socks.

Ok, maybe your socks are the second most important thing, but they're pretty darn important! But the patient horse is a must. Trust me on this one.

These navy blue socks have a cool floral detail and are covered in prairie flowers with a cow skull (bull!) in the middle of the feet.

I love the top of these crew socks; it rolls rather than being a band and just plain looks pretty.

To give a better idea of the detail on these socks, I'll give you a close-up of the socks here.

Our navy cow skull crew socks can be found here on our main site.

I hope you're enjoying the sock of the day!

Love and kisses,
~~Sock Diva L.

Sock of the Day, Monday May 3rd, 2010

2010-05-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

Today's sock of the day is actually a leg warmer.
A fun and funky pink cotton leg warmer.

These cuties are great for spring, not too hot or bulky and a great way to add a little flair to a simple outfit.

Maybe it's just the 80's in me, but when I put a pair of leg warmers on, I feel all, I don't know, my little ponyesque. YOU CAN TOO!

The lovely lady in the leg warmers is sock diva D. who is a classic example of why California girls have a reputation for being lovely.

We give the outfit and the weather, a huge hang ten. (I'm sorry, I'm still not a surfer. I'm not even surferer enough to be a poseur.)

Remember to not forget the leg fashion just because it's getting close to short season!

Check out our pink cotton leg warmers here dude.

Sock of the Day, Friday April 30, 2010

2010-04-30T16:06:00.000-07:00

Today's sock of the day is a tabi sock or what you might call flip-flop sock from our friends at Kbell.

These are perfect for a very late hanami (maybe in Hokkaido? Where do cherry blossoms bloom this late?) or maybe just a fun day out in your thong sandals.

When do I wear tabi socks? (Japanese style toe socks)

Sometimes it's because I want to wear thong heels (I'm far too short to rock the flip-flops) and it's a little cold so I need the warmth of a sock, and sometimes it is because my toenail polish is hideously, horrendously, and tragically chipped and I need my toes to not be seen because I have no time to redo them and I still need to wear the thong heels.
NEED!

So anyway, enough about my negative pedicurial habits, let me take you to the sock;

Cherry blossom tabi socks from Kbell.

Enjoy!

~~Sock Diva L

Sock of the Day, Thursday April 29, 2010

2010-04-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

Today's Sock of the day is an fun and funky knee high sock my matey!

Both popular and fun, like we wish we had been in high school, this knee sock socks-it-to-us.

Great for teams, or individuals, looks great, wears fun.

Our Sock it to me striped pirate skull knee-high sock.

Reasonably priced too! Yarrr.

Stay socksy!
~~Sock Diva L

Sock of the Day, Wednesday April 28, 2010

2010-04-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

Today's wonderful "Sock of the Day" is made by high fashion sock designer Ozone. They are called "Bling" because of the gold design wrapped around the ankle.

This knee length light weight sock comes in "parme", a light pink / lavender and a sassy orange.

Bling Knee high stockings / socks here

We think they're great for spring.

Stay socksy!

~~Sock Diva L

Sock of the Day, Tuesday April 27, 2010

2010-04-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

Today's wonderful sock of the day is actually a trouser stocking of the day.

Celeste Stein's purple with various animal print knee high stockings make a kind of dull office outfit pop like pop corn.

Corny, I know.

Enjoy the stockings and stay socksy!

~~~ Sock Diva L

Sock of the Day, Monday April 26, 2010

2010-04-26T09:55:00.000-07:00

I've decided to start a sock-of-the-day blog post and see if I can actually do it consistently.
For a month or so.

I'm trepidations, and uncertain about actually doing it daily, so maybe technically and more realistically I should probably call this segment "Socks and stockings of the every other day, weekends probably not included so several socks of the month is more like it", but as that's long and unwieldy, I'm going with "Sock of the Day" right now as the title, misleading as it may be.

It isn't that we don't have over 365 socks and stockings; we have more than enough socks to bring you a "Sock or fabulous stocking of the day" post type deal here, it is just me.

I never even managed to keep a diary consistently as a child and have several lovely diaries with two or three entries, boring with hideously spelling and my left-handed travesty of almost handwriting-like chicken scratch barely making a dent in the thousands of blank looming pages.

But for the love of my Socks and stockings line-up, I'll give it a socksy try.

So where was I?

On yes. Today's sock.

Today's sock of the day is:
(Drum or sock roll please!)
Celeste Stein's Geisha knee-high trouser stockings in taupe!

From our amazing Knee high socks and stockings category also of course found in the Celeste Stein Stockings, Leggings and tights category.

Spring Fancies

2010-02-22T16:01:00.000-08:00

I know it is still all wintery and blustery across the country, but here at Artisan Socks, it is a little blooming spring-like. It helps that it stays around 75 degrees pretty much all year, but that's not all.

We have a brilliant new line of socks and stockings in for the upcoming season.

We were in Las Vegas last week to sample spring lines and fall lines (and sampling a bite to eat at Micheal Mina), and have some amazing images of new socks in our line-up and old socks that look new because we aren't using the very-hard-to-see stock images we had of them.

Enjoy our fun and socksy spring and all-year socks!

Here is just a sample, but a fun-to-look at sample so enjoy!

(All models and photography by Artisan Sock Divas)
Great Job ladies!!

Ozone Japan over the knee socks

Sexy black lace thigh highs!

Novelty Goldfish socks

Space dyed knee high original striped socks

Awesome pink leg warmers in stretchy cotton blend

Knee high socks with a little "blink" aroung the ankle

Wool tights and silk stocking. Tres fashionable.

Become somebody's sunshine in these knee high solar powers.

Stay Socksy!
~~~Sock Diva L

Winter socks and Awesome Photographs.

2010-02-03T11:26:00.000-08:00

We're gearing up towards a big end of season sale, and took a big batch of photographs yesterday.

we're so proud of them and had wicked fun doing them.

You can check them out on our Flickr site here:
Artisan Socks Flick Site <---- Ah! Update!!
They've removed this because I used it for commercial purposes. So sorry!
I'll not do that again! I'm going to upload the photos here for now. Gah!

I've switched to Facebook.
Yay! New Artisan Socks Facebook.

Here's just a tiny preview.

Whee!

Stay socksy and fun,

AS Sock Diva L.

Celeste Stein TAUPE GEISHA Leggings / Footless Tights

2010-01-22T18:36:00.000-08:00

Celeste Stein TAUPE GEISHA LYCRA Leggings / Footless Tights

Artisan Socks - Jan 22, 2010

Sock diva L rocking the Celeste Stein Geishas leggings. What?

I love these so footless tights so much.

I'm wearing these in taupe, they come in a grey base as well, but I think they're just the coolest leggings around.

I hate to brag about the fact that this is winter wear here, but being able to wear my Celeste Steins and my Fluevogs (big love to Mr. Fluevog, I <3 your shoes!!) makes what ever anyone ever wants to say about So. Cal, well, moot from a purely shallow standpoint. But I digress.. The photo was taken By Sock Diva D who wears many hats, and is a fabulous photographer, strong and nice person, and fun to be around as well. Rock on people, enjoy our whimsical legs. Artisan Socks sock Diva L XoXoXo

Over the knee socks (OTK Socks), major awesomeness

2009-12-29T18:06:00.001-08:00

I know we all have our favorite styles and such, but I need to say that these "Over the knee socks" are my major weakness.

At the rate they're selling out, it's looking as if you all rock the OTKs too.

I promise to find more and get them to you asap.

in reference to: Over the Knee Socks- Knee Highs and then some! Women's Socks by Artisan Socks! From Artisan Socks (view on Google Sidewiki)

Rave Reviews For Artisan Socks!!!

2009-12-19T17:13:00.000-08:00

Artisan socks is so brand spanking new that we love it and get all excited when we discover people have been chatting us up on line.

We are going to try to make an effort to say big "THANK YOOOOOU"s to people who promote and enjoy Artisan Socks on the web.

First, we'd like to thank mahyak from livejournal for all the nice things they had to say, and to feature their comments about us in today's Artisan blog post.

http://mahyak.livejournal.com/

Livejournal blogger mahyak:
Фор герлз онли.
Нашла носочный магазин.
Это невыносимо, особенно разделы с полосочками и ромбами.

http://www.artisansocks.com/striped-tights-striped-socks/

Sadly, as we are unable to read Cyrillic, we had to rely on Google's translator which let us know that the blogger had the following glowing praise for our lineup!

Google Translation:

Fort gerlz ONLY YOU.
Recovers Men's Shop.
This is intolerable, especially the sections with stripes and diamonds.
http://www.artisansocks.com/striped-tights-striped-socks/

Sock Diva L's Translation of the Google Translation:
To be 100% honest, I'm not 100% positive that that is actually a glowing review of our lineup, but I'm a socks-are-half-full kind of person, so I'll take that to me nice things and that they'd like us to carry Men's items as well.

I'm actually looking into men's socks as we've had a few people ask, and I'm a big fan of men in funky socks.
And by "funky" I really don't mean "stinky" because, well, EW!

sO ANYWAY, THERE WERE A COUPLE RESPONSES TO THE REVIEW AND INSTEAD OF LEAVING YOU HANGING, i DECIDED TO gOOGLE TRANSLATE THE REST OF THE POSTS AS WELL;
Oops, random caps lock, back to normal here.
Perhaps that's what happens when livejournal is mentioned.

From http://mahyak.livejournal.com/265492.html

livejournal blogger gigavolt's comment about the Artisan socks post:

Очередной проплаченный пост:)

Google Translation:
Another paid by the post:)

Sock Diva L's Translation of the Google Translation:
Ha! They paid you to say that!

<--Sock Diva L aside; No, we didn't pay them to say that as, well, we're not entirely sure what they actually said and are pretty much just hoping it was nice..

Livejournal blogger mahyak' response to the post:
щаз забаню к чертовой матери.

Google Translation:
schaz banned to hell

Sock Diva L's Translation of the Google Translation:
...

Livejournal blogger aelinika's comment about the Artisan socks post:
аааааааыыыыыыыыыыыыыыыыыыыыыыыыыыыыы................
какие там перчаааааааааааткииииииииииии!

Google Translation:
aaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy ................
what there perchaaaaaaaaaaatkiiiiiiiiiiii!

Sock Diva L's Translation of the Google Translation:
...?

Livejournal blogger mahyak' response to the post:
ага :)

Google Translation:

aha:)

Sock Diva L's Translation of the Google Translation:

I know this one!!
aha!

Livejournal blogger chaikafletch's comment about the Artisan socks post:
о как я тебя понимаю
носки.. я прям тоже носковая маньячка ))

Google Translation:
about how I understand
socks .. I'm straight, too Noskova manyachka))

Sock Diva L's Translation of the Google Translation:
... ..... ...... ?

Livejournal blogger malashka 's comment about the Artisan socks post:
ааа!
ааааа!
ААААААА!
ВСЕ хочу! :)

Google Translation:

aaa!
ааааа!
ААААААА!
ALL I want! :)

Sock Diva L's Translation of the Google Translation:
Yay! That means the pretty Russian lady blogger wants to buy our socks!
I think. I think I'll think that just because.

Hey malashka! I will give you a $5.00 off voucher if you buy socks, shipping to Russia can be very expensive ;-/

Livejournal blogger lazuri's comment about the Artisan socks post:
так все равно не наш же.. я просто так не люблю смотреть:(((

Google Translation:
so anyway we are not the same .. I just do not like to watch: (((

Sock Diva L's Translation of the Google Translation:
I take that to mean that lazuri doesn't want to just look at out pretty socks, they want to actually buy them.
I hear you lazuri!
If you come to the U.S. or Canada, I'll personally pay to ship the socks you buy directly to the hotel or location you are staying in!
You too can have wonderful Artisan Socks!

and last but not least;

Livejournal blogger aldanare's comment about the Artisan socks post:
О, вот чего мне еще не хватает для полного щастья.
Полосатых носков, конечно же.
Обязательно займусь этим.

Google translation:
Oh, that's what I still do not have enough for a full щастья.
Striped socks, of course.
Must'll do it.

Sock Diva L's Translation of the Google Translation:
As soon as I figure out what "щастья." is I'll venture a guess.

Well, I'm spent.
We've had an amazing first holiday season and it is time to do inventory and plan on what wonderful spring socks to order.

Thank all of you for your support, and please remember to have enough for full "щастья.".

~~Sock Diva L.

You Can has socks starring Jitters

2009-12-11T17:22:00.000-08:00

Hasing cheeseburgers, a weakness, a lol..

starring Jitters McRound Kitty.

Happy weekend,

~~~~L

Cats for Cats!! Supporting discarded and abandoned cats and kittens one pair of socks at a time.

2009-12-04T14:23:00.000-08:00

As corny and cliche as it sounds and is, I do inventory of all I have and have gained in the year, and I've always come out ahead. Even in a year as relatively hard as this one has been.

I feel really really poor but really rich at the same time; The shopping and spending leaves me broke *cry cry*, but the rest is pretty good.

Among this year's huge gains are, alarmingly enough a HUGE inventory of socks and stockings (could you have guessed?) and two super amazing kitties; Justus and Jitters.

Both of whom loves socks but in a very very "Bad kitty!!!" kind of way.

Justus and Jitters were raised until they were old enough to be adopted out (by me, woo!) by a truly wonderful lady named Pam from the Long Beach Felines cat and kitten rescue.

They could always use donations of food and of course money for the medical and feeding and care of the cats and kittens they save, and in these really horrible economic times, the number of people throwing away their companion animals and pets as if they were garbage is huge.

We've decided to try to earn a little for the rescue by donating a little from Sales of Socks With Kitties On Them.

You can always donate directly to them as well.

Hug your friends, family, and furry kids,
~Sock Diva L

Tis the Season! (To put little Japanese Secret Stretching Wool Socks on your Pets)

2009-12-03T17:03:00.000-08:00

So we've finally gotten more of the fun and sexy Japanese socks and stockings up, but we all have a super special fondness for one kind in particular.

The Japanese make mini everythings, and we love them for that. When we were sock buying in Tokyo, the last place we visited had these amazingly fun baby socks that aren't from babies.

They're sold as "Travel Socks" that you can pack in your purse because apparently socks are the bulk of what weighs you down when you're traveling.

We wanted to 1. Get a good photo of the scale of the socks on and off and to 2. Humiliate our pets for fun because we're horrible people, and we came up with the following for your viewing enjoyment;

Here are the Japanese Mini Travel socks on Our Sock site

Merry holidays, sock wisely, and enjoy your pets,

~~~~Sock Diva L

This little piggie went to Paso Robles (also known as: Japanese toe socks gone wild)

2009-11-19T14:23:00.000-08:00

So I said I took a work detour to go on our annual "tour around gorgeous Mid-Cal with friends and drink lovely wines", right?

And I promised you more photos of cool japanese socks that aren't quite up on the sock shop but should be soon, right?

I HAVE THEM! Woo~~~~
(The sock photos, not the items up on the site... Yet.. Any day now my pretties, any day now..)

I know you all know "Hello Kitty". We do actually have "Hello Kitty" socks, but they're actually from a great place called "Loungefly" here in local California. Um, Lo-Cal?
That sounds wrong.
But in case you wanted to see them, the Hello Kitties and Smurphs and Evil Mushrooms are here.

I've veered violently off track.
Oh yes.
Most people might think "Hello Kitty" when they think Japan, but that's so '08.
I went out and got exclusive "Hello Piggy" toe socks for you to maybe scoff and ward off the evils of swine flu or "Hamthrax" as it is now known to us. (Thank you for that one Danielle.)

So here are the little piggies, in their full glory.

This Japanese toe sock series also has a love cat (perhaps a nod to The Cure?) and rather inexplicably a a hungry panda who eats, shoots, and leaves perhaps..

Except he's not armed, he's toed. Left and right, two sides, these toe socks are actually pretty awesome.

~Sock Diva L

Japanese Socks and Stuff

2009-11-18T10:49:00.000-08:00

So we're trying to get all the information about all the great funky and original Japanese socks we bought for the sock shop up, but I had to go take a detour to wine country first.

Here I am, and a winery, in a pair of the coolest adjustable socks, hamming it up for the camera.

I handed out some of my favorite Japanese toe socks to friend from Mars who didn't know that socks were worn on feet; (kidding)
Well, at least they are socksy ladies ;-)

The piggy toe socks were awesome;

Many many more Japanese original socks and photos to come.

~Sock Diva L

Towel Cakes & Parfaits: People will love you more

2009-11-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

Cake Towel Gift Ideas Strawberry Marble Parfait

I just love these towel cakes and parfaits, seriously love them.

When I was a little girl, I bought a candle that was in the shape of this chocolate sundae all gooey and creamy with a cherry on top, and it smelled divine.

I think I managed to go about a week without biting it but gave in in the end. (I was a chubby kid..)

These towel cakes and parfaits kind of remind me of that.
They look tasty and the cherries on top are these cute little magnet things.

I don't chomp them, I promise.

Back home in Redondo Beach for a lovely fall day and Vintage Creations recliamed cashmere arm warmers

2009-10-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

Today was a truly lovely day.

The weather outside is lovely, the business next door, "The Village Garden" is lovely as usual and the lovely Waki took lovely arm warmer wearing photos of the even-lovelier-than-cashmere-arm-warmers Danae which isn't really a blog topic I suppose, but the photos were so nice I wanted to share.

Full sized images and more images can be found in a Flickr set here.

To see the whole line up of original cashmere Vintage Creations arm warmers, click here!

Here's to hoping you have a nice and socksy Halloween.

-Sock Diva L

Fancy Schmancy Sock-It-To-Me Silver and Black lace / mesh knee-high socks ON MY BIRTHDAY!

2009-10-19T09:56:00.000-07:00

So you think our socks don't get fancy??

Let me tell you bub, they do, they really really do!

So yesterday was my birthday and so we're staying in a hotel in Shinjuku with an amazingly breathtaking view.

There were fancy plans out in Ebisu (a secret to me) and it all started with me putting my feet once again in rude places in the evevator on the way down to the 20th floor lobby of the hotel.

On our way out, I swung by the ladies' room which had floor-to-ceiling glass walls facing out.
I usually get stunning vertigo when I look out glass walls, but I managed to stay focused enough to put my feet on yet more clean and pristine Japanese surfaces.

Dinner was lovely, the socks comfortable and cute.

A day well spent if I do say so myself.

To see the artisan socks product page for these Sock It To Me Fancy Pants: Black and Silver Shiny Crochet Lace Knee Socks, click here!

Little bit older Sock Diva L

Artisan Socks in Japan; The plusses and minuses of running an IT / online business and Violet Love Electric Youth Floral Leggings Footless Tights.

2009-10-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

Here's to hoping I have enough content to make a post longer than that unwieldy headline...

One of the great thing about running a business that's I.T. focused (online shops included) is that you can literally run your businesses from almost anywhere as long as you have access to an internet connection.

That is, coincedentally, one of the truly horrible things about it as well. ;-p

So it is the day after a lovely anniversary dinner and we're on top of a Japanese mountain hidden among trees, covered in mist from the hot spring, and we realize we really really need an internet connection.

I had dressed myself up for a stroll in the park in Violet Love's "Electric Youth Floral Leggings Footless Tights" (MAJOR PLUG) and was ready for a jaunt after we cleared a few minor issues up back at the office in the U.S.

(My jaunty Violet Love Electric Youth Floral Leggings Footless Tights Ready For A Jaunt)

Problem was, we had picked one of the few places to stay that didn't have a connection available to guests.

The closest internet connection turned out to be in the next town away reachable by train reachable by an hour one-way ride on the hotel's welcome bus.

While I didn't end up getting to walk the mountain park, I did get a chance to make my Violet Loves behave badly and earn a stern look from the very patient bus driver....

Love and Leggings,
Sock Diva L

Artisan Socks Goes to Japan! Special Days 1: Z International Legging with Buttons & Anniversaries

2009-10-16T17:59:00.000-07:00

So I had this little prom dress kind of dress with a short skirt, and was a little shy to wear it as-is since the place we were eating had a slightly different kind of dress code...

(What People Normally Wear to Dinner in a Ryokan)

To help document my leg wear usage for you and to justify taking some of our new stock overseas to model on my less-than-model self, I further abused Japanese rules of common decency and once again put my foot up on surfaces normally reserved for not foot bodyparts.

These tights were great; I could go really dressy and add a little funky, or pair them with a long top for an updated leggings look. The fit was great, they didn't bag or sag or stretch. These tights / leggings are a new favorite of mine.

And here's a view of the buttons in a little more detail.

And for those of you who know me and are sick and bloody tired of my silver nail polish, look! My silver nail polish!

Wheee!!!

To see these to see the artisan socks product page for these Black Cotton Button-Cuff Open Weave Ribbed-Knit Leggings, click here!

I've got another post soon with my birthday socks, until then, enjoy looking at pretty Japanese food unless you don't want to in which case, please don't and sorry to inject food into my sock dialogs.

Our Anniversary Dinner Because You Really Really Wanted To See It (hee!)

Sock Diva L.

Artisan Socks in Japan: Violet Love's Mixed Fishnet Knee-High Stockings Ride the Shinkansen and Have an Anniversary Trip.

2009-10-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

I was listening to the radio a couple weeks ago and they were doing a "Top 10 things that should be sexy but aren't" segment.

Along with "Too Short Skirts" and "Body Glitter", "Fishnet Stockings" came up close to the top.
The reasoning being that they lack subtlety and kind of hit you over the head rather than whisper in your ear.

Says you! You can pry my fishnets off my cold, dead, uh, no, don't. You can't take my fishnets away from me.

So today is a wedding anniversary (mine, could be yours as well, you haven't shared that information with me yet so I have no way of knowing now, do I?) and I wanted to primp a little for our shinkansen (high-speed bullet train) trip.

I chose to wear my Violet Love mixed fishnet knee-highs in an Asian-inspired print becuase it was fun to me.

Check me out getting all sassy! (<-- Does it make you want to slap me with newspapers when I write stuff like that? Is it way too "forced hip"? Yes, I agree, I'll tone that down so I don't end up irritating us all with my enthusiastic sock gushings..)

The getting ready photo:

The running-for-the-bullet-train-very-staged-except-for-the-guy-in-the-background's-reaction photo;

Here are my Violet Love's riding the bullet train and then getting off at the hot spring (onsen) in a mountain area called "Nasu Shiobara". (Once again, I don't condone putting of shod feet on inapropriate surfaces and neither scuffed nor harmed the back of the train seat. I promise.)

(Click the image on the top if you want a good idea of what "mixed fishnets" look like up close.)

And just in case you're wondering about the shoes (OMG SHOES!) they are my wonderful Fluevog Arabicas in Cherry Caviar. Whee!

As you probably know, shoes come off inside Japanese houses and Ryokans, and hotel rooms.

Here are my Violet Loves in slippers checking in to the wonderful little mountain hot springs hotel, snuggling up to the Mr.'s feet on the day of our anniversary. Awww! <3 <3

I need to go get changed into a robe so I can go soak in the springs and then have dinner, see you later!

To see the artisan socks product page for these Violet Love Mix Fishnet Hosiery Sweet Melon Knee Highs, Women's Socks click here!

Sock Diva L.

Artisan Socks Goes to Japan! Day One: Ozone Bunched Dots socks

2009-10-12T22:40:00.000-07:00

*taps mic*
Hello? Does anybody read these things??
I hope so, and just in case they actually do, I'll try to make it a little interesting.
;-p

As you may have read on our top page (www.artisansocks.com), or if you know me have heard probably waaaay too much about lately, we came to Japan do do some super secret Japanese sock buying and to celebrate some events along the way.

We first went to a section of Tokyo called "Ueno" that we like for its closeness to the airport liner and the reasonableness of the hotel rooms and the yumminess of the plethora of restaurants in the area .

I'm also fond of Ueno because one of my favorite university experiences was the Nikki Kai art exhibit in the art Museum in Ueno park that I helped out with every October.

Before I left for Japan, I shamelessly borrowed (ok, took, not "borrowed" but paid for so we're cool, right?) some of of the socks and stockings and leggings we carry on our online sock shop, and promised to flaunt them about here and there and then give a little blog love to each of the fine pieces of leg wear I took with me.

I started out by wearing Ozone's Over the Knee Bunched Dots socks in black with multicolor bunched dots.

Jeeze, I couldn't have said that any more boringly than that, could I?

Here are a few photos of the socks in action. But before that, I must say, I love the Ozone line so much it hurts me to only have two legs.
I want to be an octopus, but with people legs so I can wear more than one pair at a time except that would be creepy so scratch that.

Anyways, here are my Ozones getting dolled up in the hotel getting ready to go out and walk all around a surprisingly hot October Ueno.

What? You absolutely have no idea what you're looking at??

Fine, I have more Ozone sock photos, better too!

Here they are on the way to a train station to ride a subway to our super secret sock buying trip:

Oooh la la!

Want to see what other kind of fun my Ozone O.T.K. socks had that day?

Great! Because I just happen to have more photos. (Why do you look so unsurprised??)

Like this one of my way tired but still really funky fresh feet and legs waiting to go to the, ahem, Ladies' Room here:

(I promise that I didn't pick this izakaya out because it matched my socks, I just get lucky like that ;-p)

And while absolutely un-sock related, I'm happy to report that even though the lol cats in Japan are pretty analog:

The ordering is all digital to save you from actually having to talk to a hovering waitperson or something.

Thanks for reading today's entry!

Stay tuned for more Artisan socks in Japan!

To see the product page for the Ozone BUNCHED DOTS BLACK Dotted Angora Over The Knee Socks (OTK) please click the link.

Sock Diva L

**DISCLAIMER

While I'm sure most of you know this, I feel a need to mention that putting your shoes and legs and stuff on tables and such in Japan (as well as most of the remainder of non-neanderthal societies) is highly HIGHLY frowned upon and to not to try that at home or in your mother's kitchen or in mixed company and such as it can offend and confuse. I promise I not only exercised the utmost in caution while taking these photos, I wiped all surfaces down after to prevent spreaditude of my legular tissue as well as to not insult my temporary host coutry's sensibilities.

Welcome To Artisan Socks

2009-10-05T12:55:00.000-07:00

I can't tell you how excited we are to get our new artisan socks site up and running.

We're buying and sizing and trying and testing socks and leggings and leg warmers as we speak. As I type?

Well, I'm not actually multi-tasking that much, but we're doing it all right now.

We'll keep you updated,

Thanks for visiting,

Artisan Socks' Sock Diva L.