Hey there everybody! I hope you’ve all had a good week… It certainly seems like it’s been a busy few days in the Blogosphere! I’ll get to that in a second. First of all, I should probably explain what the title of this post is all about.
Poor Explorer Beastie is almost afraid to look!
Alas, it turns out the BeastieBlog needs another facelift. Although I really like how it’s set up at the minute, and my last overhaul was only last summer, I noticed a while ago that my Shop page wasn’t working properly…. And when I consulted the good people at WordPress, their diagnosis was that my lovely theme isn’t getting along with WooCommerce any more. Oh no!
Fortunately, they sent me a list of alternatives that should play nicely with the shop’s internal gubbins (yes, that IS the technical term), but I will be shutting the blog down for a week while I rejig all the bloggy bits and bobs (more technospeak there) to fit a new layout.
I’m planning to start work on Monday, so if you haven’t grabbed your free calendar page for this month yet, make sure you download it from here before then!
And to keep you entertained in my absence, I’ve picked out a couple of choice nuggets of online goodness!
First up, Tammie Painter’s woolly friend Finn McSpool has been up to more mischief – this time with an Easter flavour!
I also love this picture of Daze and Weekes‘s Beastie friend Sinead, which I haven’t had a chance to share yet!
I’m not sure how much album promo work she was able to do after downing that human-sized glass of wine, but at least she looks like she’s enjoying herself!
And for those crafty folks among you, I’ve been finding a whole heap of inspiration in the blogging community lately!
Fellow knitter Shirley has been branching out into felt softie making, and I love this thoughtful post about her creative process.
And Tierney from Tierneycreates shows how one crafter’s leftovers can be another’s creative goldmine!
Last but not least… Since I’ve started teaching weekly knitting classes in my local yarn store, I’ve realised that I’ve been a bit of a lazy knitter these last few years! It’s a while since I tackled a project that wasn’t a) A Beastie or b) Something for a Beastie. So, I’ve cast on a sweater FOR MYSELF! And to help me do it properly, I’m going to be following Melissa (of Knitting the Stash)’s Better Sweater podcast series. If you’re thinking of taking on a sweater-sized project yourself, here’s the first episode to get you started!
Oh, and one more thing… Just because it made me laugh. I can’t believe I hadn’t seen this before!
See you all in two weeks, with a (hopefully) snappy new-look BeastieBlog!
Great to see Finn and Sinead out and about, ready to take over the world (which is, of course, the prime aim of all Beasties.) And I hadn’t seen that clip of the Swedish Chef before either! It’s a hoot! Wish my kitchen could sing along like that….
Thanks, Queen Bee! I reckon Paddy and Plunkett would be happy to help out on that front… But I take no responsibility for the amount of cleaning up that would be required afterwards! Thanks for stopping in… And yes, Beasties do want to take over the world, but in the nicest possible way! 😀
I love love love the Swedish Chef! Thanks for the fun video. Oh I love Sinead’s outfit!
Now unless you a very tiny, you know that the sweater for yourself will be much larger than one for a Beastie, right? Are you prepared? And will you make yourself a matching felt camera, felt laptop, and of course felt satchel? Oh and wait – you need matching felt shoes too! 🙂
Hahaha! Yes, it was a bit of a shock to the system when I had to cast on over 200 stitches! 😂 But you’re right, I probably DO need a bunch of other accessories… Especially since I was considering getting a new camera this year. Forget buying one, I’ll just make my own! Cheers for stopping in, Tierney! 😀
And felt food, don’t forgot to make yourself some felt food! Actually wouldn’t it be a glorious idea if at one of the craft fairs you attended/sold your wares at if you dressed up like a Beastie!!! (Okay perhaps this sounds insane, ha!)
Ooooh, there was one I did a few years ago at Christmas that was semi-outside, and I was FROZEN! A stripey woolly onesie/Beastie costume would have been just the ticket that day. Usually I go for a human/monster compromise, though, with a Beasties t-shirt and stripey tights. And felt food is always good… Fat-free, no artificial flavours and full of fibre! 😀
Hahaha lil shrimpies! That’s what I sound like when talking to cats. Ooohhhh la la, excited about another website makeover, but I’m sorry you’re having to deal with that hassle! I hope everything goes as smoothly as it can with the WordPress gremlins. And oh to be back on a sunny canal with Sinead!!!! I will so miss the Beastieblog for 2 weeks, but I will try to muddle through if you say I must….
Thanks Weekes… I’ll try to be quick, then. I just know from past experience that these things often end up taking waaaaay longer than I think they will at the outset! 😆 But maybe this time it’ll be different… Fingers crossed! Oh, and it’s totally normal to use your best Swedish Chef voice with cats. I’m sure they love his work as much as I do! 😸 Cheers for stopping in!
All the fingers and all the paws crossed for your speedy website recovery! xxx
Thanks Weekes! The tinkering has begun… And I think it’s going well? Gosh, I really hope I haven’t jinxed it now! 😆
Excitingggggg! I’ve already admired the new email notification heading of ‘Beastie HQ’ this morning – love it! 😀
Oh cool, thanks Weekes! I saw that coming in on my own emails from WordPress, but I didn’t realise it had rolled out everywhere. Is it ok then? I thought it might sound a bit snappier! 😀
Definitely! It looks so sharp and exciting like ‘New Bulletin: This just in from Beastie Headquarters!’ Love it! 🙂
Sweet! Hope you approve of the rest of the refurb too! 😀
No doubt I will! Do you think you’ll be back up on Sunday? Was gonna link to you in a post but can rearrange and post something different instead… NO PRESSURE!!!! (Seriously, no pressure, you know how irregular my posting habits are, just curious.) 🙂
Oooh, why thank you! I’m still working away on it, but I can let you know later on if I think it will be ready. I’d hate to pass up the opportunity of a linky! 😀
I love the snapshots of Finn McSpool and Sinead – glad to know they’re heartily enjoying themselves! Aw, Chef’s popcorn shrimp is my favourite new recipe; I’ll have to rely on those handy transcriptions of the steps next time I try this one myself. 😀 Thank you so kindly for the shout out here! That adorable little Beastie is surely in felt heaven (look at all the beautiful blues in your collection!). I’ve developed a serious felt hankering from seeing that photo! I have to admit: the stuff’s as addictive as yarn. And, how awesome that you’re working on a people-sized sweater this month! (what a treat!!). Melissa’s videos have been my sweater-knitting crash course, too! And looking forward to the new site, Helen. Wishing you smooth renovations this week! 🙂
Thanks Shirley! And you’re very welcome… I’ve been so taken with your pretty felty friends, I couldn’t NOT give them a shout out! I also suffer from felt hankerings – can you tell? 😆 By the way, experience (and much shopping) has taught me that 100% wool is definitely the way to go with felt… Any time I’ve picked up blends, they’ve proven to be a little too delicate to make really small details.
Enjoy your popcorn shrimp! 😂
Thanks, Helen – good to know! I wouldn’t want any of the felt pals to fall apart! Hope renovations are going well. 😀
Thanks Shirley! We’re getting there! 😀
Oh Swedish Chef, how I love you. And good to hear you’re on a blog break since I totally let this post slide by my radar. Maybe that means you won’t notice the long delay in my commenting/liking due to the maintenance work. Best of luck with the sweater! I finally dusted off my sewing machine after several months of ignoring it to make a few new bits of clothing for spring. Oh, and Finn says “Thanks!!!” for the shout out.
Me too! I think it’s absolute sacrilege that he is apparently yet to be awarded ANY Michelin stars, and that Netflix’s “Chef’s Table” series has never featured him. For shame! As for the comments… Ehhmmm, I think I’m being a lot slower off the mark lately, so I can probably forgive you! 😆
And oooh, new wardrobe for spring! What are you making?
Didn’t you know? He was awarded a whole solar system of Michelin stars but he turned them down saying he didn’t want some rating system to compromise his unique style. Humble fellow. And the reason for no shows is because he’s stipulated that he will only work if Fozzie Bear is also hired, so that loses him plenty of gigs. As for the spring fashion show, just a couple shirts for now. My mom “works” in a fabric shop and I end up a random assortment of patterns and colors whenever she feels like raiding the shelves, then I get the challenge of figuring out what to turn the jumble into.
All I can do is shake my head in admiration. What a man! And woohooooo! Jumble challenge! One of my very favourite things… Although I suspect another year is about to go by in which I make more monster clothes than human ones! 😆
Well, your Beasties are some of the best dressed monsters I’ve ever seen. I mean look at that Loch Ness one…doesn’t even bother with a swim cap! And Big Foot? He could SO use some sparkly red shoes.
YES! I’m on it… But first I’m going to need A LOT more felt! 😀
(Oh, and thank you for the compliment! 😊)
How interesting!!! … but under NO circumstances will I cast on another sweater. I have a few backs and sleeves idling around in every corner of my dark closet. I just cannot bring myself to finish big projects. I rather wait for some elves to come around and finish them for me. 😀
Oh, I hear you! One of the main reasons I started knitting in the round was so that I didn’t have to sew things together! Let me know if those elves ever show up… And be sure to send them on to me when they’re finished! 😆
Will do … after they have sewn the sweaters, washed the dishes and folded the laundry I’ll send them to you right away.
Heehee! They’ll be here any day now, I’m sure 😂