Author: crawcraftsbeasties

I make monsters, then send them out into the world to have adventures. Join in the fun!

It’s A Family Thing

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Knitted Beasties

Cool Dad Beastie Goes Exploring - CrawCrafts Beasties
Hooray! It’s new Beastie time again! And who’s this battling his way through the undergrowth?
Who's there? CrawCrafts Beasties
He definitely seems to be looking for someone! Oh, wait…
Mum and Baby Beasties - CrawCrafts Beasties
…There they are! That must mean it’s time to unpack the picnic…
Beastie-size Picnic - CrawCrafts Beasties
YUM!!
LUNCHTIME! CrawCrafts Beasties
And there was just enough time after lunch for me to take some studio photos of these Beasties and their accessories! For starters, Cool Dad Beastie is a big Munster Rugby fan, and can usually be seen wearing his favourite team jersey…
Munster Rugby Beastie - CrawCrafts BeastiesMunster Rugby Crest, by CrawCrafts Beasties

… And his luxuriant beard is the envy of all his monster friends!
Cool Dad Beastie's Beard - CrawCrafts Beasties
He also has everything his family needs for a day out exploring – they love to go camping together!
Essential Exploring Kit, by CrawCrafts Beasties
And what about our beautiful Beastie Mum?
Beastie Mama and Baby, by CrawCrafts Beasties
Well, she’s super-proud of her little one, and has wrapped him up in a cosy hand-knitted blanket to keep him toasty!
Little Beastie Baby - CrawCrafts BeastiesBeastie Baby's First Closeup - CrawCrafts Beasties

She’s a rugby fan too… but she’s a Leinster girl! Let’s hope there aren’t any fallings-out on match day!
Mum Beastie, Leinster Supporter! CrawCrafts Beasties
Oh, and check out the back of their shirts…
Special Numbered Rugby Shirts, by CrawCrafts Beasties
Yes, I know there’s no 17th player on a rugby team, but what a sweet way to commemorate their baby’s birthday! Definitely one for the family album!
Beastie Family Photo - CrawCrafts Beasties
And since we’re talking about families, it seems like a good time to say a big thank you to my own nearest and dearest! Your photographing, word-spreading and general support is very much appreciated… the Beasties and I consider ourselves lucky to have you all on our team!

Head West

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Weekly Photo Challenge

Down at the Lake - CrawCrafts Beasties

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Happy Place.”

Anyone who checks in with the BeastieBlog regularly will know that my favourite place to spend some downtime is at Boyfriend’s family farm, in County Roscommon. Roscommon is one of the semi-forgotten counties in the centre-west of Ireland, which makes it a great place to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet away from the hubbub of central Dublin. And the changing seasons mean that there’s always something new to enjoy, from springtime blossom in the fields…
Roscommon Fields in Spring - CrawCrafts Beasties
… To new arrivals in the cattle shed!
Cosy Calves - CrawCrafts Beasties
Autumn here isn’t bad either! The hedgerows are loaded with free snacks…
There is such a thing as a free lunch! CrawCrafts Beasties
… And a misty morning walk can make you feel like you’ve entered some forgotten magical country.
Misty Mornings in Roscommon - CrawCrafts Beasties
Explorer Beastie likes it here too, of course…
Explorer Beastie in Roscommon - CrawCrafts Beasties
… But his favourite place to recharge his Beastie batteries is beside the fire at my parents’ house. Cosy!
Explorer Beastie Takes a Weight Off - CrawCrafts Beasties

Sleepy Fox and Chilled-out Beastie - CrawCrafts Beasties

A Monster Day Out… With Crafting!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Crafting, Knitted Beasties

A Beastie-in-progress with some Sleepy Foxes

Much as I love crafting, the life of a monster-maker can be a lonely one sometimes… Even with a houseful of Beasties to talk to! So last week, I set out from Beastie Towers with a bagful of WIPs to spend some time in the company of another crafty lady, and her marvellous creations.

I met Guadalupe at my first ever market, where I fell in love with the beautiful handcrafted dolls and Christmas decorations she makes. Her daughter also became my unofficial assistant and PR person that weekend, bringing all her friends over to my stall, and keeping a careful eye on which Beasties had left since her last visit!

So while we enjoyed tea and chat, and did a bit of work (honest!), we left some of our little creatures out in the garden, to see how they got on.
Beastie Playing Peekaboo with Sleepy Foxes - CrawCrafts Beasties
Pretty well, it seems!
Sleepy Fox and Chilled-out Beastie - CrawCrafts Beasties
Guadalupe’s Sleepy Foxes make great companions – just looking at these photos makes me feel relaxed! You can meet more of her creations in her Etsy shop (I especially love the sweet Bunny Girl dolls and hairy lions), or find out more about the lady herself on Pod. And for a dose of instant joy, check out her Instagram 🙂

And what about that mysterious Beastie? Who is she? All will be revealed on Tuesday, so don’t forget to stop by!

Have a monster weekend, everybody!

Yew Tree at Moneypenny's Lock, P

Beasties Love Yew!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family

Paddy with the Yew Tree - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties
Those of you who regularly check in with the Beasties’ Facebook page might remember Explorer Beastie’s trip to the Bee Garden at Moneypenny’s Lock back in July. The awesome all-you-can-eat bee buffet is just one part of an ongoing project to restore this stretch of the Newry Canal…
Bee Garden Collage - CrawCrafts Beasties
But Moneypenny’s Lock is also home to another incredible plant – and this one has been around a lot longer. Meet Moneypenny’s Yew!

Yew Tree at Moneypenny's Lock, P
Picture: Michael Cooper

And exactly how long has this tree been standing guard over the Lock-Keeper’s Cottage? Well, here she is as a young lady, in 1886…
The Yew Tree at Moneypennys lock, 1886
Imagine all the changes she’s witnessed in her lifetime – the busy canal becoming quieter, falling into neglect, then being given a new lease of life in the last few years by a group of enthusiastic volunteers.

Paddy and Plunkett are big fans of this special tree, too!
Plunkett with the Yew Tree - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesPaddy with the Yew Tree - H crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

That’s why we’re all hoping you might take a minute to give Moneypenny’s Yew your vote in the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year Competition. She’s up against some stiff competition – including the celebrity trees of the Dark Hedges (as featured in Game of Thrones). But I think it’s high time this tree, in a quiet part of the country, got her moment in the sun!

You can cast your vote here, on the Woodland Trust’s website.

Good luck, Miss Moneypenny – the Beasties and I are rooting for yew!

Phase 2 - CrawCrafts Beasties

Beasties Grow Up

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Weekly Photo Challenge

The First Beasties, by CrawCrafts Beasties

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Change.”

Sometimes, you only notice how much something has changed when you take the time to look back at how it used to be. To me, it feels like I’m making Beasties the same way I always have… But the end result has changed a bit! Click through the gallery to witness BeastiEvolution happening before your very eyes…
https://me.sh/71jzp11

See what I mean? And who knows what will happen to them next?

Smiley Bean Face! CrawCrafts Beasties

Ooooh, New… Beanies?!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Crafting

Mame-Chan Plushie Bean, by CrawCrafts Beasties
It’s not just Beastiemaking that’s been keeping my hands busy these last few weeks! Regular hangers-out on the BeastieBlog may already have encountered my little plushie beans… if not, you can catch up here!

Normally, these beans are small enough to sit comfortably in your open hand. But then I got a request on Etsy for something bigger. A whole lot bigger! So I set about supersizing my regular beanie template…

The upscaling process meant I needed to stitch the features a little bolder…
Smiley Bean Face! CrawCrafts Beasties
And my customer asked if I could personalise the bean with the recipient’s name – great idea!
A Bean to Call Your Own, by CrawCrafts Beasties
And who will be getting to cuddle up to this soft, squishy beanie friend?
Giant Bean goes home - CrawCrafts Beasties
Why, this happy little lady of course! Here they are celebrating her 3-month birthday together… hope you had a great day, Clara! Also, thanks to your mum for sending me this lovely photo and allowing me to share it with the world!

As for me, I think I’ll definitely be growing more giant-size beans in the Beastie Towers garden this autumn!

 

Explorer Beastie's Jigsaw Angel - CrawCrafts Beasties

Teatime with Explorer Beastie!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie

Teatime with Explorer Beastie, by CrawCrafts Beasties
Poor Explorer Beastie hasn’t got out and about much recently. In fact, he’s been spending an unreasonable amount of time hanging out on my desk, watching me type up the adventures of other Beasties instead! So when I went out last Saturday to somewhere that wasn’t Other Work or the supermarket, it only seemed fair to bring him along.

First stop – the Canal Bank Market! We even met some of the local residents on the way there…
Ducks on the way to the market - CrawCrafts BeastiesDucks at the Canal, by CrawCrafts Beasties

And there was plenty to see at the market itself too!

Canal Bank Market - CrawCrafts Beasties
After a lot of wandering, and only a little bit of shopping, we decided to grab some tea at Wall & Keogh – one of my favourite Dublin tea emporiums! Well, it was just around the corner from the market… Even so, Explorer Beastie decided to hitch a lift in my bag for the journey!Lunchtime! CrawCrafts Beasties
Explorer Beastie's Luxury Transport - CrawCrafts Beasties

At least I didn’t have to buy him lunch – as usual, he brought his own.

Hey, what’s that?

Explorer Beastie's Jigsaw, by CrawCrafts Beasties
Oh, cool! Let’s do the jigsaw!

Um, not sure you’ve quite got the right idea here…
Jigsaws are so relaxing - CrawCrafts Beasties

Nope. Definitely not.
Explorer Beastie's Jigsaw Angel - CrawCrafts Beasties
Ah, now we’re getting somewhere!
That's better! CrawCrafts Beasties
…Or not.
Jigsaw dive! CrawCrafts Beasties

Well, at least he’s having a good time!

Explorer Beastie's Jigsaw Pile - CrawCrafts Beasties
More tea?
Explorer Beastie Pours the Tea - CrawCrafts Beasties
Yes please!

How are your weekend plans shaping up? Have a good one, wherever you are!

Statue in the Temperate House, Kew Gardens - CrawCrafts Beasties

Weekly Photo Challenge – “Grid”

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Weekly Photo Challenge

Explorer Beastie scaling the fence

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Grid.”

Turns out that I didn’t need to look too far for pictures for this week’s Photo Challenge! Going through the holiday snaps from the trip Explorer Beastie and I took to London last year, I found a surprising number of grids – in Kew Gardens (above and below)…
Statue in the Temperate House, Kew Gardens - CrawCrafts Beasties
… At Shakespeare’s Globe…
Explorer Beastie at The Globe - CrawCrafts Beasties
… And on the banks of the Thames!
Explorer Beastie on the Millenium Bridge - CrawCrafts Beasties
Lucky we decided to take a city break, isn’t it? Grids are a lot harder to come by in the country!

See you next time!

Love is in the Air… Again!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Knitted Beasties

Another Charming Beastie Couple, by CrawCrafts Beasties

Well, if any of you were wondering when high season for Beastie weddings is, I’d say it’s safe to assume that it’s happening right now! Last week I sent another happy couple on their merry monster way… and aren’t they a perfect match? Just look at that colour coordination!
Check out that red and blue wedding colour scheme! CrawCrafts Beasties
And now for my favourite part – let’s take a look at their outfits! We’ll go with the bride first this time…
A Blue Beastie Bride, by CrawCrafts Beasties
Isn’t she a vision of Beastie beauty? I love how she’s paired her simple, elegant wedding dress with a bouquet of scarlet roses and glossy red lips for a feisty pop of colour. They go nicely with the flowers in her hair, too!
Bride Beastie's Flower Garland - CrawCrafts Beasties
And of course, she’s been to the same hairdresser as my last Bride Beastie for her wedding day ‘do!
Bride Beastie's Hair and Veil - CrawCrafts BeastiesBride Beastie's Hair (& the back of her dress) - CrawCrafts Beasties

But what’s this? Under that sophisticated exterior, she’s still sporting traditional stripey Beastie leggings!
Bride Beastie's Stripey Legs! CrawCrafts Beasties
Let’s hope her new hubby doesn’t object to that oh-so-slightly racy shot. Where has he got to, anyway?

Oh, there he is!
Groom Beastie, by CrawCrafts Beasties
This guy is rarely seen without his trusty baseball cap… even on his wedding day!
Groom Beastie's Baseball Cap - CrawCrafts Beasties
In fairness, though, he does look very dapper in his navy suit with scarlet pocket square!
Groom Beastie's Suit, by CrawCrafts Beasties
But why is he carrying a suitcase? Well, these Beasties are off to tie the knot in Italy!
Groom Beastie's Suitcase, by CrawCrafts Beasties
Buon viaggio, Beasties! Make sure you send us a postcard!
Wedding Beasties, Heading for Rome! CrawCrafts Beasties

So, Where Are Paddy and Plunkett This Week?

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family

Paddy and Plunkett's Mystery Destination! H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties
We left them here last week… but what on earth is that in the background?

(If anyone guessed correctly, I’ll be super impressed!)

This unusal-looking bridge is part of the newly revamped and reopened Gobbins Cliff Path, which is about half an hour’s journey outside Belfast, on the County Antrim coast! The original Gobbins path opened in 1902, as the expansion of Northern Ireland’s railways helped to open up parts of the province which had been difficult to reach before. The Gobbins was a genuine old-school tourist attraction, purpose-built by the Chief Engineer of the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Company to encourage people to visit this part of the country, and to show off the area’s spectacular coastline!
Paddy at The Gobbins Visitor Centre - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

However, the Depression in the 1930s and the growing popularity of cars meant that the railway company could no longer afford to maintain the system of bridges and walkways that made up the path. And when the Second World War broke out, finding people to look after The Gobbins was hardly a priority! It started to fall into disrepair, and a partial reopening of the path in the early 1950s was scuppered by a landfall shortly afterwards. The Gobbins closed in 1954, and was fully abandoned seven years later. Since then, there have been a couple of attempts to reopen the attraction, but nothing came of them… until now! Thanks to a combined effort (and some all-important funds) from the local council, the EU and the Ulster Garden Villages charity, a full restoration started in 2014… And now it’s open for business!

Hey, it looks like the boys are ready to start the tour!
Paddy at the Entrance to The Gobbins - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesHere we go! It was a bit breezy, so they had to hitch a ride with some of the human visitors…
Plunkett at The Gobbins - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesPaddy on one of the Bridges at The Gobbins - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

…But not the whole way! Here’s Plunkett posing with the restored Tubular Bridge, the most distinctive part of the path.

Plunkett at the Tubular Bridge, The Gobbins - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties
And again, at Sandy Cave. Apparently, this spot was popular with Victorian picnic parties… and smugglers! My Secret Seven-reading 8-year-old self would have loved this place!
Plunkett at the Sandy Cave, The Gobbins - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties
The path carries on for nearly a mile and a half, and includes five bridges and a narrow cave tunnel! Check out some of the highlights…
https://me.sh/vhdbvd4

But even walking on little short Beastie legs, the tour was over all too soon… Time to get the train home, lads!

Paddy and Plunkett wait for the Train - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties
We’ll see Paddy and Plunkett again soon, I’m sure… And if you’re in the neighbourhood, why not take a trip to The Gobbins yourself? You can find out more about booking here.

See you next time!