Happy Tuesday, everybody! And, after a brief wintry wander with Paddy and Plunkett last week, we’re going to dip back into the pile of pre-Christmas commissions, and meet another new Beastie!
So, you all know Explorer Beastie, right?
…And some of you might remember a few variations on the theme over the last couple of years, like Explorer Beastie’s little sister…
… And this rather retro gent, Victorian Explorer Beastie!
But here’s the newest addition to the Explorer Beastie clan, and he’s a little bit different!
First of all, he was made as a very special commission for fellow blogger Simon at Planet Simon. Although Simon’s blog mainly focuses on science (both fact and fiction!), his posts also drop in the odd slice of humour or snapshots of his day-to-day life, and it’s always a fun place to hang out and have a chat! But back to that Beastie… Can you tell what makes him stand out?
So far, so similar… But check out his paws!
Simon always seems to be fixing or making things, so I thought it made sense to create a useful companion for him who could lend a hand if needs be. One leap forward in Beastie-volution later, and here’s a little monster with magic magnetic grippy paws! And that, dear readers, means that he can hold onto stuff!
Mmmm, lunchtime!
Ready to fix stuff with his handy spanner!
I made him a compass as well – that’s essential kit for an Explorer Beastie, after all.
And of course, he can’t carry all these cool things in his paws ALL the time, so a Beastie backpack was called for too!
Let’s get everything packed away there, shall we?
Perfect!
I can’t wait to see what exciting exploits this pair get up to! Oh, and if you’re planning some adventures of your own, why not grab your free February calendar page from my shop?
It features the ever-intrepid original Explorer Beastie, enjoying the balmy (ahem!) Donegal coast at around this time last year. Oh, and did I mention that it’s FREE?
Have a great week, everybody… And don’t forget to join us again next Tuesday to meet another new Beastie! See you then!
Fantastic! It’s good to see him get his fame. He was very pleased to see himself. 🙂
Yesssssss! Just make sure he doesn’t get too used to the spotlight… He might become a right diva! 😆 Thanks again for your order, Simon 😀
He doesn’t seem to have that spirit yet. He’s more reserved like me lol
My pleasure 🙂
Heehee! We’ll see how long that lasts… 😂
Well yes. He saw himself on IG too and he started getting excited!
Uh-oh. IT BEGINS!
It does look that way…
Go go gadget magno hands!!!! Brilliant!!!!! The possibilities are endless! Loving this new innovation in Beastie technology. Also printed out February this morning, and I think it looks rather sophisticated in black & white. I wish I could say that Crawcrafts advertising at my desk is driving my coworkers to your website, but, in their usual fashion, nary-a-one has questioned/noticed/looked at/spoken to the charming little monsters smiling up at them. Automatons! Maybe if I replaced EB’s head with a picture of a cake….
Hahaha! Coming soon… Cakeface Beastie! 😂 Or not… I’m not sure we need the terminally unimaginative cramping our style here at Beastie Towers! Thanks for grabbing the page, though – and I’m sure the rugged scenery of Donegal does indeed lend itself to a monochrome makeover 😀
So true, we wouldn’t want them infiltrating the fun and spreading their pestilent banality (I’m obviously so fond of them all/such a nice person!)… plus Cakeface Beastie would be in great danger of being eaten as there seems to very little discretion ’round here — currently there is a sack of uncooked potatoes available on the office snack table?!?!!?
Mmmm, delicious uncooked potato snack! Why isn’t everyone going for those, I wonder? 🤔 I’d say take ’em home with you and make something delicious for yourself & Sinéad to enjoy (and don’t even think of sharing it with your coworkers!) 😀
I totalllllly would (Sinead is getting pretty sick oven pizzas every day) except I have a sneaking suspicion they might have come out of some sort of unsanitary hoarding environment. Friyay!
Ha! You’re a better person than I am. I’d already have them home and in the soup pot… Unless they were very obviously squishy and gross, of course. Woohoooooo, free potato Friday! 😀
‘Better person’ …. more like ‘snobbier and unmindful of the potato famine’. It looks like they have gone to a good home today though, so maybe someone did have a soupy weekend! 🙂
Hopefully… It would be pretty crappy of they’d ended up in the bin. But now to address the REAL question here – who left them on the snack table in the first place?!
It is a mystery, especially since normally people email me asking me to email to the entire team to announce what sacrificial offerings they have deposited there. It’s really one of my most important roles at this establishment. 🙂
Hahaha! Surely they could just go and look at the table? Between that and “‘Ello Mayday” your working days must be just one long party… 😂
Hahaha yep, they could move their chairs slightly to look at the table or… send their own ridiculous food-related emails without asking me to do it! Yes, between the snack newsletters and my cherished conversations with ‘ello Mayday, my work days are filled with precious moments 🙂
Heeheehee! If anyone put this in a sitcom, audiences would have trouble swallowing it… 😂
Genius! He’ll be climbing up the fridge to help himself to snacks once that sandwich is gone.
Thanks, Jan! I did actually mean to take pictures of him scaling the fridge, but in the frantic rush of the pre-Christmas season, it slipped my mind. D’oh! I suppose I’ll just have to make more Beasties with grippy paws…
I’m sure he’ll end up with lots of siblings!
I hope so! I think the magnets will work even better in the big Beasties, because I’ll be able to implant them inside their paws… So many possibilities!
I’ve always thought these monsters could use some type of grippy to hold onto things. So glad to see evolution is finally taking a turn in the direction I’ve envisioned. And I know it’s close to lunchtime when even a felt sandwich is making my belly rumble! Ooh, and I love that shade of blue on this guy.
Cheers, Tammie! It IS a good Beastie colour, isn’t it? And I had so much fun playing with magnets for this project… I can’t see them working for every accessory, but for what this Beastie needed, they were just the ticket! On the downside, I suppose Finn is now demanding a magnet transplant and a whole bag full of accessories… 🙄
AWESOME a go go gadget Beastie 🙂 …… you do remember go go gadget don’t you ??? if not just swiftly move on LOL
Of course I do! One of my favourite shows… Although I’m surprised that none of the higher-ups (among either the goodies or the baddies) ever figured out that Penny and Brain were the ones doing all the work! 😆 At least this Gadget Beastie is a bit less accident-prone!
(Hopefully…)
Thanks for stopping by, Roma!
Looking at all the kit your latest Explorer Beastie possesses should any accident befall him he’ll wiggle his way out in no time at all x
I’m sure! Wherever Beasties go, mischief generally follows – so it’s probably good that he’s ready for anything 😀
What a genius idea to add the magnets to the hands! I love that you keep innovating with each creation. Beastie Evolution!
Thanks, Laura! I like to keep the Beasties moving forward… It would be no fun otherwise 😀 Cheers for stopping by!
Another fantastic beastie
Thanks LucyAnn! He was a fun make 😀
Alright you are approaching an illegal level of cuteness! The backpack and the sandwich!!! Oh my – unbelievably adorable! You are so talented!!!
Well, I could hardly send him out into the world without a packed lunch, could I? 😉 Thank you, Tierney… Praise from other talented crafters always makes my day! 😀
Wow, what a super cool idea! I love it. Now there’s an endless possibility for helping his beastie keeper or to really get into trouble. 😀 (I can see him hanging on the fridge … hahaha)
Yes, it’s hard to know if he’s going to use his new skills for good, or to create even more havoc! 😂 I’m seriously kicking myself for not taking a picture of him climbing up the fridge before he left Beastie Towers though… D’OH!!
🙂 Well, that means you have to make another cool beastie with magnetic powers in his hands. Thinking of it … if you make more than one they can hold hands. Beasties in love so to speak. Oh, I love the idea!!!
Ha! Too cute! Plus it also opens up opportunities for high fives, dancing, and all kinds of other fun stuff! 😀 Good thinking!
Dancing! *looool*
Love the new calendar page! Yay! And, those magnetic hands are on point. Can I have a set embedded in my own hands? I think it could speed up so much–especially if all of my favorite things *also* had magnets attached to them. Smart one, Helen! Someday I am going to commission my own Beastie . . . but I still have not decided on the specs! Ha! Hope you are having a lovely week!
Hahaha! Well, if you knit with metal needles, that’s probably a good start! I find myself using magnets quite a lot in crafting… A strong one inside a tin lid means I can just leave sewing needles sitting on top and they don’t roll off! I’d probably recommend you get a human doctor to fit your hand magnets for you though. 😉 Glad you like this month’s page, and I’ll be sure to reserve you a Beastie slot when you’ve sussed out which accessories you want! Have a great week too, Melissa! 😀
Incredible stitches, here, Helen! I love this manually dextrous member of the Explorer clan – wow! When you said “magnetic grippy paws,” I immediately imagined him climbing things (like chalkboard cliffs and such). The little items in his back pack are so adorable, too. You’re a master of felt! He is definitely ready to take on some serious adventuring. 🙂
Thanks, Shirley! I’m excited to see where this little woolly explorer’s magic grippy paws take him, too! I am still questioning the wisdom of giving him a spanner, though… I know he’d never sabotage anything deliberately, but perhaps he might try his paw at fixing things a little too enthusiastically? Uh-oh… 😆 Thanks for stopping in!
Love his work tools and magnet hands 😀
Thank you, Tricia! Hopefully it will help him on his adventures! 😀
Amazing!! And he can totally climb the fridge now to reach more snacks (which is obviously the real reason any beastie would want magnetic paws). I think I love his little red hat most of all though, it’s so cute!
Heehee, thank you! And you’re right, the eternal quest for snacks does motivate most Beastie adventures. 😀 I’m glad you like his little beanie too… I always have so much fun knitting those! Cheers for stopping in 🤗