Month: October 2015

Explorer Beastie Relaxes in the Heather - CrawCrafts Beasties

Time For a Break!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Info, Knitted Beasties

Beastie Coffee Break - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties
Phew! What a busy year it’s been – it really seems to have flown by! But I’ve had some good news from Other Work… it turns out that with everything else I had going on, I forgot to take any holidays!

Of course, I felt that this was a problem that required my immediate attention.
Explorer Beastie Relaxes in the Heather - CrawCrafts Beasties
That said, “holiday” might be a bit of an exaggeration for what I have planned for the next couple of weeks. There’s still market stock to be made, and Christmas commissions to be finished! So with that in mind, the Beasties and I will be taking a short vacation from the blogosphere as well – just to give us a moment to enjoy the season…
Explorer Beastie Picking Haws - CrawCrafts Beasties
…And catch our breath before the Christmas madness starts!
Santa Beasties! CrawCrafts Beasties
I’m also hoping it will give me a chance to read a few more of your awesome blogs!

We’ll be back at the beginning of next month, with some new woolly creations and monster adventures to share. In the meantime, keep in touch on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!

Helen's Bay Beach - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Paddy and Plunkett’s Seaside Adventure!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family

Paddy on the Rocks - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties
Autumn may be in full swing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a day by the sea! And this isn’t any old seaside – Paddy and Plunkett took a day trip to my childhood stomping grounds, where I spent many happy hours (at all times of the year) clambering over the stones and poking around in rock pools. Come and see for yourself!

Our tour starts at the local railway station. Getting here from Belfast only takes about half an hour, and then it’s just a short walk to the beach!
Plunkett at Helen's Bay Station - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties
See?
Helen's Bay Beach - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties
Plunkett’s certainly enjoying the view!
Plunkett at the Beach - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties
The next stop if you carry on along the coast is Crawfordsburn Country Park. Formerly a private house and grounds, the park is now open to the public year-round, and is great for walking, cycling and picnics! It’s also home to all kinds of wildlife, since it contains a variety of different habitats – you’ll find seashore, woodlands and meadows here. Paddy and Plunkett bumped into a couple of the local residents at the Countryside Centre when they dropped in for a quick cup of tea!
Paddy and Plunkett meet a Friendly Fox - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesPaddy Hugs a Hedgehog - YEOWCH! H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Since it was such a lovely sunny day (we’ve really been enjoying some very un-Irish weather these last few weeks), the boys decided to carry on walking. There’s a coastal route that takes you all the way around to Bangor, a seaside town which was a popular local holiday destination back in the day. Of course, there’s a proper human-sized path you can use to get there, but the lads thought it would be more fun to take the scenic route…
Paddy and Plunkett Take the Scenic Route - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties
Much later (they do only have little short legs, after all) they arrived at journey’s end! They resisted the urge to set sail on one of the swan boats at Pickie Fun Park…
Plunkett Considers a Voyage by Swan Boat - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties
… But they were really kicking themselves when they found out that
they could have done part of their travelling on the Beastie-sized Pickie Puffer train!
Paddy, Missing the Train - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties
Oh well, at least they still had time to enjoy the walled garden at Bangor Castle before they had to head for home!
Plunkett at the Walled Garden - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesPlunkett in the Flowerbeds at Bangor Castle - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

All in all, a great day out! Where was your favourite childhood haunt?

It’s A Family Thing

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Knitted Beasties

Cool Dad Beastie Goes Exploring - CrawCrafts Beasties
Hooray! It’s new Beastie time again! And who’s this battling his way through the undergrowth?
Who's there? CrawCrafts Beasties
He definitely seems to be looking for someone! Oh, wait…
Mum and Baby Beasties - CrawCrafts Beasties
…There they are! That must mean it’s time to unpack the picnic…
Beastie-size Picnic - CrawCrafts Beasties
YUM!!
LUNCHTIME! CrawCrafts Beasties
And there was just enough time after lunch for me to take some studio photos of these Beasties and their accessories! For starters, Cool Dad Beastie is a big Munster Rugby fan, and can usually be seen wearing his favourite team jersey…
Munster Rugby Beastie - CrawCrafts BeastiesMunster Rugby Crest, by CrawCrafts Beasties

… And his luxuriant beard is the envy of all his monster friends!
Cool Dad Beastie's Beard - CrawCrafts Beasties
He also has everything his family needs for a day out exploring – they love to go camping together!
Essential Exploring Kit, by CrawCrafts Beasties
And what about our beautiful Beastie Mum?
Beastie Mama and Baby, by CrawCrafts Beasties
Well, she’s super-proud of her little one, and has wrapped him up in a cosy hand-knitted blanket to keep him toasty!
Little Beastie Baby - CrawCrafts BeastiesBeastie Baby's First Closeup - CrawCrafts Beasties

She’s a rugby fan too… but she’s a Leinster girl! Let’s hope there aren’t any fallings-out on match day!
Mum Beastie, Leinster Supporter! CrawCrafts Beasties
Oh, and check out the back of their shirts…
Special Numbered Rugby Shirts, by CrawCrafts Beasties
Yes, I know there’s no 17th player on a rugby team, but what a sweet way to commemorate their baby’s birthday! Definitely one for the family album!
Beastie Family Photo - CrawCrafts Beasties
And since we’re talking about families, it seems like a good time to say a big thank you to my own nearest and dearest! Your photographing, word-spreading and general support is very much appreciated… the Beasties and I consider ourselves lucky to have you all on our team!

Head West

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Weekly Photo Challenge

Down at the Lake - CrawCrafts Beasties

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Happy Place.”

Anyone who checks in with the BeastieBlog regularly will know that my favourite place to spend some downtime is at Boyfriend’s family farm, in County Roscommon. Roscommon is one of the semi-forgotten counties in the centre-west of Ireland, which makes it a great place to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet away from the hubbub of central Dublin. And the changing seasons mean that there’s always something new to enjoy, from springtime blossom in the fields…
Roscommon Fields in Spring - CrawCrafts Beasties
… To new arrivals in the cattle shed!
Cosy Calves - CrawCrafts Beasties
Autumn here isn’t bad either! The hedgerows are loaded with free snacks…
There is such a thing as a free lunch! CrawCrafts Beasties
… And a misty morning walk can make you feel like you’ve entered some forgotten magical country.
Misty Mornings in Roscommon - CrawCrafts Beasties
Explorer Beastie likes it here too, of course…
Explorer Beastie in Roscommon - CrawCrafts Beasties
… But his favourite place to recharge his Beastie batteries is beside the fire at my parents’ house. Cosy!
Explorer Beastie Takes a Weight Off - CrawCrafts Beasties

Sleepy Fox and Chilled-out Beastie - CrawCrafts Beasties

A Monster Day Out… With Crafting!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Crafting, Knitted Beasties

A Beastie-in-progress with some Sleepy Foxes

Much as I love crafting, the life of a monster-maker can be a lonely one sometimes… Even with a houseful of Beasties to talk to! So last week, I set out from Beastie Towers with a bagful of WIPs to spend some time in the company of another crafty lady, and her marvellous creations.

I met Guadalupe at my first ever market, where I fell in love with the beautiful handcrafted dolls and Christmas decorations she makes. Her daughter also became my unofficial assistant and PR person that weekend, bringing all her friends over to my stall, and keeping a careful eye on which Beasties had left since her last visit!

So while we enjoyed tea and chat, and did a bit of work (honest!), we left some of our little creatures out in the garden, to see how they got on.
Beastie Playing Peekaboo with Sleepy Foxes - CrawCrafts Beasties
Pretty well, it seems!
Sleepy Fox and Chilled-out Beastie - CrawCrafts Beasties
Guadalupe’s Sleepy Foxes make great companions – just looking at these photos makes me feel relaxed! You can meet more of her creations in her Etsy shop (I especially love the sweet Bunny Girl dolls and hairy lions), or find out more about the lady herself on Pod. And for a dose of instant joy, check out her Instagram 🙂

And what about that mysterious Beastie? Who is she? All will be revealed on Tuesday, so don’t forget to stop by!

Have a monster weekend, everybody!

Yew Tree at Moneypenny's Lock, P

Beasties Love Yew!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family

Paddy with the Yew Tree - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties
Those of you who regularly check in with the Beasties’ Facebook page might remember Explorer Beastie’s trip to the Bee Garden at Moneypenny’s Lock back in July. The awesome all-you-can-eat bee buffet is just one part of an ongoing project to restore this stretch of the Newry Canal…
Bee Garden Collage - CrawCrafts Beasties
But Moneypenny’s Lock is also home to another incredible plant – and this one has been around a lot longer. Meet Moneypenny’s Yew!

Yew Tree at Moneypenny's Lock, P
Picture: Michael Cooper

And exactly how long has this tree been standing guard over the Lock-Keeper’s Cottage? Well, here she is as a young lady, in 1886…
The Yew Tree at Moneypennys lock, 1886
Imagine all the changes she’s witnessed in her lifetime – the busy canal becoming quieter, falling into neglect, then being given a new lease of life in the last few years by a group of enthusiastic volunteers.

Paddy and Plunkett are big fans of this special tree, too!
Plunkett with the Yew Tree - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesPaddy with the Yew Tree - H crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

That’s why we’re all hoping you might take a minute to give Moneypenny’s Yew your vote in the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year Competition. She’s up against some stiff competition – including the celebrity trees of the Dark Hedges (as featured in Game of Thrones). But I think it’s high time this tree, in a quiet part of the country, got her moment in the sun!

You can cast your vote here, on the Woodland Trust’s website.

Good luck, Miss Moneypenny – the Beasties and I are rooting for yew!