Oh wow, what a week it’s been! Isn’t it funny how life can be so quiet for a while, and then a whole bunch of things happen all at once? So, although the original purpose of this post was just to share the results of my Beastie calendar poll, I’ll get around to that in a tick… Because I have some breaking news to share first!
Cow’s Lane Designer Studio in Temple Bar has very kindly offered the Beasties a spot in their prestigious Irish craft and design store! The Beasties are so chuffed to find themselves on the shelves and rubbing shoulders with some of our favourite local talents, including Guadalupe Creations, Niki Collier Design and Brookwood Pottery!
An elite squad of little knitted monsters already made their way down to the shop last week, but Explorer Beastie was keen to pop in and see his friends in their new pad. So we took a quick trip over there yesterday… Care to join us?
Explorer Beastie was tempted to freewheel down twisty Fishamble Street on this greenery-bedecked bicycle, but fortunately I was able to talk him out of it. Let’s just walk the rest of the way, perhaps?
And sure enough, it wasn’t long before we found ourselves in the narrow cobbled streets of Temple Bar!
Aha! This must be the place. Let’s go in!
Ooooh! Pretty!
And look… There they are!
The Beasties will be guests at Cow’s Lane Designer Studio for at least the next month, so if you’re in the area, please do pop in and say hello! All of them are eager to meet you, and maybe find their forever home!
Now, what about that calendar? First of all, thank you SO MUCH to everyone who voted, and especially those of you who shared further insights and ideas in the comments! More than once during the past week, I’ve been truly floored by what a generous, thoughtful and ingenious bunch of people you are… I consider myself incredibly lucky to have found you all! So, without further ado –
Ta-daaaaah! The people have spoken, and they’ve come out in favour of a calendar gap year. Although I reckon I’ll really have to deliver on my promise to get something bigger, brighter and better together for 2019! It’s also interesting that the idea of abandoning the calendar altogether was the least popular option – I’ve been happy to discover that I’m not the last person on earth who depends one of these primitive devices to stop my world from descending into chaos!
A couple of you even suggested other ways I can create a calendar, without having to go the whole hog and get a printer involved. I’m excited to give these a try over the next couple of weeks, so fellow calendar enthusiasts – watch this space!
Aaaaand finally – I couldn’t do a post about good things without mentioning the delightful parcel I received during the week from my long-term blogging buddy Tajana! In case you missed it on Instagram…
My beautiful handknitted socks arrived just as the weather took a turn for the chilly, and look at all the other goodies that found their way into the package as well! Tajana is probably sick of hearing me saying thank you at this point, but one more can’t hurt… THANK YOU, Tajana! You rock!
If you’d like to see more of Tajana’s incredible knits, bakes and other makes (plus some views of the glorious Italian countryside to boot), you can find her here…
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You can tell it’s nearly lunchtime when I’m posting pictures of cakes!
So, between shop-stocking, surveying and sweet new socks, it’s been a pretty peachy week here at Beastie Towers! What’s been making you happy over the last 7 days?
Awesome news, all around, Helen! I was searching through the pictures of the shop just to catch a glimpse of the Beasties–“Oh! There they are!!” I thought! The shop looks like the perfect place for the Beasties to cause a little trouble–it’s so beautiful and . . . well, full of potentially fragile things! Congratulations!! And I’m stoked to hear you had a good response on the calendar question. It’s a tough one, but I think you’re doing yourself a solid by finding a better way to print! And, of course, what a lovely package and pair of socks!
Thanks Melissa! Yes, I’ve made them all promise to be on their best behaviour… I just hope the store doesn’t operate a “you break it, you bought it” policy! And it is SUCH a relief to not be facing the annual run-in with the online printers this year… I’m hoping to use the freed-up time to get some new things ready for testing out on the pre-Christmas marketgoers! 😀 Cheers for stopping by!
Congratulations! You and your Beasties deserve the showcase you’ve been granted.
Thanks Laura! I’ve shied away from shop-based retail these last couple of years (after an opportunity a while back ended up being a bit of a damp squib), but I have high hopes that the Beasties will fit in nicely in Cow’s Lane! Thanks for your support! 😀
Congratulations! That’s really awesome news! I’ll keep my fingers crossed that all of the beasties find a nice home and you’ll be swapped with orders. 😀
Heeheehee! Thanks Ivonne… Maybe it’s time for me to learn to knit with my toes, so I can double my productivity? 😂 Cheers for your comment!
I have to come to Dublin! I have to!!! Big Man, book that flight!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hahaha! You know you’re welcome anytime, Tajana… Especially if you bring some of your bakes with you! And my lovely new socks were keeping my toes deliciously warm yesterday as I was knitting… Bliss! I am one lucky girl 😀
Oh, I will, don’t worry and I’ll bring some recipes too 😊😊😊 I’m so happy that the parcel arrived with such a good timing! Enjoy yourself!!
I am! Thanks again! 😀
Oh I love your beasties, might need to get one someday! Their cute little poses and all their accessories! I hope the sell very well at Irish Craft and Design!
Thank you, Tierney! If you ever want to know what you’d look like as a little woolly monster, I can totally help you with that! 😀 Cheers for the good wishes!
Oh my goodness – a tierneycreates monster – I am tempted – will keep it in mind 🙂
Heehee! Well, you know where to find me 😉 It’d be a good excuse for me to revive my minimal quilting skills… And BOY, are they basic! 😂
That is such awesome news!!! Congratulations!!! The shop looks just adorable, and it’s so kind of Explorer Beastie to visit! Did you feel a little motherly pang leaving them there unsupervised? I’m sure they’re in good hands and will be keen to behave so that they can find their forever homes 🙂
Why thank you! And yes, I did feel a little uneasy leaving them by themselves… But you have to cut those apron strings (or yarns) sometime, don’t you? 😆 Cheers for stopping by!
Hahah yes…. preferably with scissors dangling from your chatelaine! 🙂
Hahaha! But of course! 😉
I’m so happy the Beasties have a spot in a shop! How exciting! And I can’t wait to see where you go with the calendar ideas! 🙂
Thanks Mandy! I’m pretty fired up myself… Which is probably exactly what I need to get everything done! Cheers for visiting! 😀
Congrats on the shop – the owner(s) must have excellent taste! I am going to “pin” Cows Lane on my Dublin board for when I finally get back there one day…Also, although I didn’t vote, I agree with the majority in this case (but NOT in the US 2016 election).
Hahaha! Don’t worry, I figured as much… Can this be the only poll in recent history where the majority got it right? 😆 And yes, if you’re back in Dublin, that part of the city (the good, non-touristy part of Temple Bar) is full of little indie shops, including a super bookshop, some interiors boutiques and Thunder Solas leather workshop… Their bags are truly excellent! And of course, if you need a local guide, the Beasties and I will be happy to help! 😀
Congratulations on the shop news!! That’s awesome, Helen!! (what a beautiful place, I want to go there!). It must be very exciting to have a local venue for the little ones (and for Explorer Beastie to visit his kin!). They’re looking very cheerful on their bright patch of green (I love it!). I wish that each Beastie will find a happy new home. 🙂 And I’m glad to hear about the calendar gap year. I think the people have chosen wisely! 🙂
And again, I love those socks. Those are socks to dance in!!
Heehee! Yes indeedy… Although right now they’re my toes-up-while-I-knit-on-the-couch socks! That’s also good, though 😁 Thanks so much for checking out the Beasties’ new home, and for voting in the most important election of the year! 😉
The explorer beastie is hard to control isn’t he?
Hahaha! I like to think of him more as a “free spirit”! 😉
I like that – free spirit beastie! 😉
😀