Hello everybody! Wow, can you believe we’re nearly at the end of June already? It’s really flown in… But I figure we have just enough time to squeeze in another new Beastie post before we fully jump into July! So, allow me to formally introduce my latest Beastie commission – tierneycreates Beastie!
Some of you may have met her already – she’s been very active on Tierney’s blog from the moment she arrived in her new home! But this project had me trying my hand at some new/long-neglected techniques which I’d like to share with you… And besides, it’s pretty much traditional to give every Beastie commission their 15 minutes of fame on the BeastieBlog! Now, on with the show!
Let’s start with the outfits, shall we? This little monster lady has a choice of two ensembles – a hand-stitched felt t-shirt in a burgundy shade that goes beautifully with her delicate orange complexion, and a cosy handknit Aran sweater for cooler days and possible return trips to her Irish homeland.
Beautifully modelled, tierneycreates Beastie!
And like many of my recent commission pieces, she’s rocking an excellent pair of Beastie-size specs! Those are removable, by the way.
My Mum also suggested that I start using props in my accessory photos to give you all an idea of their actual size. She’s full of good ideas!
Next, let’s talk hair. Oh, this hair! You see, I went a bit over the top trying to copy Human Tierney’s very awesome skinny dreads. Early in the Beastification process, I decided that the chunky wool I planned to use was entirely the wrong texture. But I figured that if I needle-felted it, it would become dread-ier… And I’d have an excuse to do some needle felting. Double win! Unfortunately, post-needle-felting, my crazy eyes detected too much fuzziness and uneveness in the strands. “I know! I’ll wet felt them to even them out!”
And once I’d started down that road, I couldn’t very well turn back. Cue several cycles of felting, waiting for the pieces to dry, attaching them and then realising I’d need more. Fortunately, we had a minor heatwave as my deadline approached, or I would have had to send tierneycreates Beastie out the door with wet hair!
That said, all this practice has really honed my wet felting technique… Something I plan to make use of in future projects! Oh, and here’s how those dreads turned out…
Also pictured is tierneycreates Beastie’s hand-knitted slouchy beanie hat, inspired by one Human Tierney recently made for herself, but with one slight difference – strategically-placed earholes to help hold it in place on her head!
Then, to complete the top-to-toe ensemble – check out those natty little Beastie boots!
The yellow stitching is modeled on my own beloved DM boots, but I chose a nice sky blue for the Beastified version to add a pop of colour!
Phew! Are you still with me? Because that’s not all.
This Beastie needs a bag!
Human Tierney is a very talented quilter, and I wanted to reflect this in one of her accessories. So I selected some fabrics, cut teeny-tiny squares and pieced them together to create a miniature quilted panel, which I then stitched onto the exterior of a felt bag made to my usual pattern. This is the first quilting I’ve done in about 20 years – although the less said about my teenage efforts (which remain in my parents’ attic to this day) the better! And now tierneycreates Beastie can carry around her trusty laptop and library card in style!
So, that’s everything, right?
Not quite! I think we forgot somebody…
They’re a schnauzer household chez tierneycreates, so it only seemed right that this Beastie should have her own canine companion! And because the humans in the home already have a miniature schnauzer called Mike, this miniature miniature schnauzer has been named “Mikelet”!
Ready for walkies, Mikelet?
And of course, there’s always time for a cuddle!
You can see where tierneycreates Beastie and Mikelet went on their walk in Tierney’s latest Beastie-based post… And don’t forget to join us again on Friday when I’ll be sharing a Beastie adventure of my own!
See you then!
Hello there Tierney beastie great dreadlocks on you! I’m really amazed at the skill level that you put into each and every beastie. When you consider that, every Beastie is a bargain! 🙂
Why thank you, Simon! I really enjoyed experimenting with some new techniques for tierneycreates Beastie… But the hunt for a quicker way to do dreadlocks is definitely on! 😂 Cheers for dropping by!
I think making those dreadlocks quicker is definitely needed.
Always a pleasure to drop by 😀
Yuuup! 😆 I’m glad I stuck with it though… The other quicker options I explored at the time just didn’t quite cut it!
Sometimes the best way is the only way… 😀
Yup! And sure what else would I be doing?! 😁
I am beyond impressed with your handwork, especially now that I see how small your creations are. The stories you tell about your Beasties are also enchanting. As I have already confessed to the human Tierney, I have fallen in love with the adorable Mikelet. All the labour and care you put into making the hair for tierneycreates shows. What a feat!
Thanks, Mariss! It’s looking like the matchstick trick to show scale works a treat, then! And it seems like Mikelet is already creating quite a fan club for himself, although I’m not sure how Real Mike feels about his woolly counterpart – friend or future snack? 😂 Cheers for popping in to say hello, I’m off to check out your blog now too!
The little blue boots and the dog: so cute!! 🤗
Lots of greetings from Lu
Cheers Lu! That Beastie dog is gathering up quite the fan club! Thanks for popping in 😀
Yeah, and it deserves this fan club!! 🐻
Heehee! I’d better go and make some membership cards… 😀
Yes, of course!!
You are so incredibly talented. The dreadlocks are fantastic and that dog is amazing.
Awwww, thanks Laura! I’m glad all that needle-felting paid off! 😀 Cheers for stopping in!
Thanks for featuring Tierney’s precious Beastie; I follow her blog and have seen Beastie’s trip to the library and ride in the car. Too much fun!
Thanks, Martha! Tierney has been so great for sharing her Beastie’s adventures on her blog already… Hopefully you enjoyed this peek behind the scenes of tierneycreates Beastie’s creation! Cheers for visiting 😀
Wow! Thanks for all the detail about this lovely Beatie. You put so much thought and time into them, I love them! Her dreads really worked well. And who wouldn’t love Mikelet?
Thanks, Catherine! Yes, Mikelet does seem to be winning a lot of fans online – I get the feeling that more Beasties will be heading out into the world with a canine companion from now on! 😀 Cheers for dropping by!
Sheesh, you’re going overtime on the accessories lately, aren’t you!!? In addition to wondering why I didn’t get a library card, I’m now wondering why I didn’t get a pet…a little Beastie Ginger perhaps? Oh, and I’m putting in the first order for the human-sized Beastie boots!
Heehee! Beastie boots for all! 😂 I reckon they’d be pretty comfy – if a little warm for the heatwave we’re having here at the moment! I bet you’re glad you visited last month. And a Beastie Ginger, eh? Iiiiiiinteresting… I’ve never tried making a guinea pig before! How hard could it be? 🤔
(Famous last words…)
Cheers for dropping in, Tammie! 😀
Well, Guinea pigs are sort of shaped like the thermos you made, so maybe not so hard…and no removable top (unless this is a horror show Guinea pig). And I have a feeling your heat wave might be our normal summer temps, so….
Ok, so that’s an order for one horror show guinea pig with removable head. Got it! 😂
And yes, we’re probably being drama queens about the weather… But we’re just not used to it! Air conditioning would be a pointless investment in Ireland, so even indoors provides no respite from the relentless, um, 28°C heat. 😆 Honestly, I don’t even own proper summer clothes… I think I might have to go *shudder* SHOPPING! 😳😳😳
Noooo, not shopping!! Ugh. As for summer wimps, I’m still trying to figure out why people in Portland need air conditioners in their homes. Sheesh.
Now, as for horror story piggies…..YES!
At least I can be certain that if I do take the plunge and buy summer-appropriate togs, the heat will dissipate and it will rain non-stop for the next 4 months – at least the farmers will thank me!
Right, I’m off to hide in the shade and design a guinea pig with a detachable head 😆
Really, the farmers should be paying you to go shopping. It’s only fair, right? Hmmmm…do I see a new line of Horror Beasties coming this Halloween?
Hmmm… I wonder if any of them will see it that way? 😂 And yes, some Horror Beasties wouldn’t be entirely out of the question! I’d better get on that though, the way this year is racing past… 😲
Well you know how I feel about her 🙂
Yes indeedy! 😀 She’s really very lucky to have ended up in such a great home!
Very impressive work! And so close the human likeness. Your attention to detail is incredible. Such fun work!! And now I know how to order one!
Oh, I’m blushing here! Thank you so much! I do have fun kitting out each Beastie before they head out into the world. And cheers for stopping by our little corner of the internet! 😀
The detail in this one is JUST INCREDIBLE, and it’s hard to pick a favourite feature out of all the little bits! But I think the quilted bag is a particularly special and personal touch. And the shoes. And Mikelet is also amazing of course…. Sinead is now begging me to ask you to send over Beastie Edward and Jane! Well done persevering on all those dreads… sounds like it was a bit of a dreadful process 🙂 Oh, and big props to Mum, photographer extraordinaire and brilliant business consultant, for suggesting the tiny props for scale.
BTW how is your human sized jumper coming along? Are we going to get a peek at that??
Why thank you, Weekes! I’ve really been in accessory overdrive this last while… I’m just glad I got all these teeny bits made before the heatwave landed! 😌 And a Beastie-size Edward and Jane, you say? Don’t tell me Sinead has abandoned her mission of befriending the original pair?! Although perhaps starting with kitties on her own scale would help develop her skills… 😂
And as for the human-sized jumper… It’s kind of on hiatus 😆 I reached a tricky bit and I’ve been too busy to sit down with it and think through the next steps. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to take a look at it again soon!
Cheers for swinging by! 😀
EXACTLY… she needs bite sized E&J to practice on. After witnessing a formidable battle they had with a moth the other night, she’s feeling really overwhelmed by their prowess. Awww I know how that goes, getting to a tricky point and having to put something down! It’s really too hot to think about jumpers anyway; best to leave it til cooler winds are blowing your way to spur you on!
Heehee! Oh, if E&J are devoted moth hunters, we can totally do an exchange programme. Any moth that strays into Beastie Towers doesn’t last long… Unless it’s very obviously not a wool-munching one, of course! And boyfriend would probably be very grateful if I outsourced the task of splutting them to a pair of furry contractors. As for that jumper – you’re right, ’tis NOT the season. Even the idea of holding the pieces up against myself to check the fit is more than I could bear just now! 😂
Ahhh I didn’t think of that! Moths must be terrifying for you! Well, I must confess, mommy ended up having to help J&E out after the moth spent a tantalising amount of time on the ceiling. I might have ushered him into a downward spiral to his demise… and Edward basically just did the clean-up. Still, I reckon they’d be useful for you! I just hope you don’t value any of your other possessions!
Ooookaaaaay, let’s lock up the wool nice and safely before any cat exchanges then! And yes, moths are the stuff of nightmares for knitters… I’m not a bug-squasher generally, but any yarn-munchers have got to go! At least I now know that Edward is at the top of the food chain there 😀
I think Tierney’s beastie is so adorable. You have an amazing talent. I’m one of Tierney’s followers.
Hi Cindy! Thanks for coming over from Tierney’s blog to say hello! I think I’m going to have to take her on as my PR person at this rate 😀 Cheers for your lovely comment!
You are very welcome! I am a big fan of hers. We have followed each other for several years. I’ve even had the privilege of longarm quilting a couple of her quilts. She is a very talented artist. 😊❤️
You both are! I’ve “met” several quilters through following Tierney’s blog this last while, and I’m in awe of the creativity in your community!
Awww. Exquisite work, Helen! It’s incredible to think of how much care and work went into making + stitching on each individual dreadlock. Glad to hear that the wet felting produced the desired outcome. And I’m so very impressed by the little quilted bag, which is a perfect home for the laptop and library card. And those boots! And Mikelet! He is truly a spitting image of his IRL canine counterpart (is he wet felted, too? Or dry? I didn’t even know there was a difference.. always learning new things here..). A big bravo!
Thanks, Shirley! I’m sure tierneycreates Beastie is blushing with pride at your praise! 😄 And to answer your question, Mikelet is a needle-felted (so, dry) Beastie dog… I’ve got a bit addicted to needle felting since I first tried it a couple of years ago! Wet felting is great if you’re doing big projects… You’re basically treating wool roving (or even a finished knitted or crocheted piece) as if you were accidentally shrinking it in the washing machine. So, hot, soapy water and lots of agitation, and that makes the fibres mat together! Needle felting uses a jagged needle to do the same job, and while it’s slower, I love the precision of this technique. Definitely worth a try if you’re in the market for learning a new craft! 😀 Thanks for stopping in!
Glad that we get to enjoy the lovely products of your needle-felting obsession! 🙂 ❤ It turns out that I've done some wet felting after all, but it was entirely involuntary: I unwittingly put a wool sweater in the washer and dryer in high school. Learned *that* lesson! It came out child-size, but what super dense fabric… Thanks for the explanation!
Heehee! I think we all have a story like that… I managed a double whammy on one of my jumpers and Boyfriend’s then-favourite a couple of years ago 🙊 You’d like to think the “wool” cycle wouldn’t do that, but here we are! Then again, the washer is a good quick way to felt big knitted projects like bags… As long as you’re happy to let the machine decide its final size! 😆
Oh noes! This must be a necessary rite of passage for wool-lovers!
Yep! Although the good news is that you only ever make this mistake once! 😂
I never realised how small beasties are! They’re even more amazing than I thought. Mikelet is my new favourite creation ever, followed very closely by the beastie-sized library card.
Aha! The matchstick system works, then! Yes, Beasties stand an average of 6 inches tall – a perfect height for getting up to mischief and being able to hide afterwards. And I’m beginning to think Mikelet might need his own blog, he’s one popular Beastie dog! Thanks for your lovely comment, Hannah! 😀