It may only be Tuesday, but it seems like we’re already in party mode here at Beastie Towers! Come and join us as we pick a name for the 2018 sloe gin batch, as promised last week, and give you a sneak peek of some of the other kitty-inspired goodies we’ll be bringing to the Dublin Cat Fair this Sunday! First up…
It’s Sloe Time!
Thanks to all of you who contributed pun-tastic name suggestions for this year’s Beastie Towers Blend sloe gin! The only downside was that they were all so good that I couldn’t choose one purely on merit, and I decided to hand over the reins to chance instead. Well, chance and a couple of Beastie assistants.
First, I gathered up all the suggestions, wrote them on slips of paper, folded them neatly and… Fed them to Crablet.
Then I called on Explorer Beastie to pick a winner.
This didn’t exactly go according to plan.
But Explorer Beastie is made of sturdy stuff. Look, he’s got one!
Who is it?
Taaaa-daaaaah! 2018 is the year of “Sloe on the Uptake”, courtesy of Tammie!
Of course, Explorer Beastie would have to pick the most messily-written slip of the bunch! But an excellent result. And now I can finally get those bottles labelled!
Thanks, Tammie… And to all of you who took part! I reckon I’m all set with sloe puns for at least the next decade!
Now, how about another…
Cat Fair Preview!
This morning I assembled a sampling of my Cat Fair specials together for a pre-market photoshoot. Care to take the tour?
First of all, I thought some snow-white kitties for the tree would be a good addition to the lineup! The grey ones from last week got a good response, so let’s see how these work out. Do you have a favourite?
I also turned my hand to making some stitched embroidery hoop pictures. I’ve been meaning to do this for years! There’s a small (4in/10cm) version and a large (6in/15cm) one.
And of course, the Beasties had to get a slice of the action! First up, I made some Beasties in cosy, smiley cat sweaters.
And there will also be Beasties with their own felty, feline friends, like this guy!
Plus I reckon a few other little woolly monsters will stow away in my Beastie backpack on market day… I’ll see how much space I have!
And on that note, I’d better get back to my sewing table! Join us for more Beastie shenanigans next Tuesday, and in the meantime, have a great week!
Love them all!
Thanks, Mariss! It’s a shame you’re too far away to see them in person… Hopefully the photos will do for now!
It’s good to see the chaos at beastie towers, I hope the fair is fun for you 😀
Thanks, Simon! You’re on to me though… I tried to hide the messy work table with a photo filter and I was so sure I’d got away with it! No pulling the wool over your eyes, apparently! 😂
Not really, I think I know you will enough now that when you’ve made something a mess will certainly have followed 😀
Yep, you might have hit the nail on the head there! I think I’ll just write off the table until January, and tidy it completely then. Maybe. 😂
I would… It’s the best way 😂
Definitely. I’m putting a lot of things off until January now… It’s going to be a busy month at this rate! 😆
December is always busy for you. You just need to take a deep breath and get through it 😀
That I will! Thanks, Simon! 😊
Don’t let it get to you too much 🙂
The cats are taking over!
Heehee, I know! It’s almost as good as having a real one. Cheers for popping by, Laura!
Wonderful variety of cats and I love how the Beasties embrace the cats.
Why thank you! It’s been fun mixing up my repertoire a bit… I’ve had a lot of requests for dogs this year! Cheers for swinging by 😊
I have to try sloe gin now. I love all of the things here. All of them!
Thanks, Melissa! I’m quite taken with the tree ornaments, even if I do say so myself… I’m even considering adding them to my regular festive market lineup! As for the sloe gin, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen commercially-produced versions on the shelves here, so it might be worth checking your local liquor store!
I was right! This was the best post of the year!!! Cats! Cats! Cats! Booze! And Beasties in cat sweaters! What could be better? I have to say those embroidery hoops are (ahem) the cat’s meow (I told you I HAD to say it). Now, do I get some sort of rights to that gin since I named it? And how do I claim my prize?
Well, that’s an endorsement and a half! Thank you, Tammie… And you should know by now that this blog is a safe space for punning, so we’ll let the “cat’s meow” thing slide!
Also, you’re totally right… IOU one sampler bottle of Sloe on the Uptake! It still needs to stew for a while yet – I think it’s about halfway there – but it’ll be winging its way to you as soon as it’s done! Or you can come to Ireland to collect it… Your call! 😁
These are brilliant! How do you get so much expression on those cats’ faces with so few stitches??
Awww, thanks Queen Bee! But I have to say, I don’t know how to answer your question… It’s just the way the stitches fall! Cheers for popping in! 😃
Bizarrely funny! Sloe on the Uptake is a great name to choose too.
Hello! Seems I’m a bit “sloe” on the uptake myself this week! Explorer Beastie clearly chose a very apt name 😆 Thanks for stopping in!
A gin and craft extravaganza of goodness! Both the white and grey kitties are adorable (they each have a different look and level of unique cuteness), and the kitty-emblazoned sweaters are so amazing, as is Beastie’s friendly feline pal. Happy to see the embroidery as well (I’ve been so tempted to grab one of those hoops and stitch away!). I’m sure these will all do excellent at the fair and these kitties and Beasties will find their forever homes!
Thanks, Shirley! It’s been a bit of a mad week, but we had great fun at the Cat Fair and the kitty tree decorations were a big hit… I sold every single one, and got orders for more. 😃 I’d better get back to my sewing table! I think your artwork would look amazing translated into a stitched hoop, too… Totally worth a go (when you get free time again 😆)!
Thanks for popping in!
KITTIEZ!! If they don’t all sell at the fair will you let us at them? I know soooo many people who would love to hang a kitty on their tree as much as I would 😀
Hey there Hannah! Well, clearly you have excellent taste… Those tree kitties totally sold out, with most of them gone by half-time! There have been a few requests for them to go into the online store, so once they’re ready I’ll be sure to let you know. Or PM me if you want to order some directly! 😺
Cheers for popping in!
I should have known they’d be snapped up! I’m glad they sold well for you, and I can wait my turn 🙂
“Sloe on the uptake”! Brilliant! Beastie with cat sweaters?!?! Oh my goodness – that’s it – YOU BROKE THE CUTENESS METER GAGE – it has exploded (but no Beastie were injured) 🙂
Hi Tierney! Oh my word, busy week… But thank you for your lovely comment! Looks like I’ll be sending that cuteness meter back to the manufacturer… 😂
Well well well, congrats to the Tamster! And…. I WANT ALL OF THESE CAT THINGS, ALL OF THEM. Especially the Beasties holding the kitties….sobbbbb!!!!!!! Sinead spied those cat jumpers on Instagram and is beside herself with envy. I hope you had a good weekend and everything was snatched up? Looking forward to hearing about it! Well done you!!!!
Thanks, Weekes! And clearly you have excellent taste… I’ve sold out of 2 lots of tree kitty Christmas ornaments, and Beasties with cats or wearing cat sweaters are now very thin on the ground! I’d better start making more… But that’s a good problem to have, right? Cheers for stopping by… And we might see if perhaps there’s a spare sweater for Sinead come the new year 😉
Yes, I’m so glad the kitty themed items are selling like hotcakes! I can’t wait to get my hands on some when the madness dies down!!! 🙂
Yes, clearly Beastie people are also cat people! 😸 I’m putting together another batch of tree kitties as we speak, so let me know if you want to reserve some. I was hoping to put a few in my online store, but that’s looking preeeeettty unlikely now! Aaaaah, Christmas! 😆
Auuuggghhhh… this was 3 days ago, but yes, I’d like to reserve 2 tree kitties for purchasing, if not too late, please!!!!!!
Alrighty! And no worries… Prompt replying ain’t exactly my thing just now either! I think I should be able to get them to you before the big day… Would you like grey or white? Or both?
Do not worry/stress about getting them here by Xmas!!! I won’t see the recipient of one until January, and I’m sure mine will just be out on display year round 😂 one of each, please? Your pick!
Aaaaah, the sweetest words a monster maker can hear at this time of year… “Do not worry/stress about getting them here by Xmas”! 😆 Order noted, I will get them to you ASAP! Thank you!! 😸