Category: Commissions

One Big Beastie Family - CrawCrafts Beasties

Meet The Family (Part 1)

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Commissions, Knitted Beasties

One Big Beastie Family - CrawCrafts Beasties
The last quarter of 2015 saw me taking on my biggest Beastie challenge yet (in what had already been a pretty good year for big Beastie challenges) – an entire Beastie family! As always, each individual Beastie had to capture the look, personality and interests of their human counterparts… And we couldn’t leave out the family cat, of course!

Oh, and did I mention that they had to be ready in time to catch the last Christmas post to Italy? Never have knitting needles moved so swiftly! Anyway, now that the festive season is over, the presents have been unwrapped, and no surprises will be spoiled, I’m delighted to be able to introduce La Famiglia Beastie at last! First of all, let’s meet Antonello – creating a family of monsters was his idea, so it’s only right that we should start with him!
Antonello Beastie, An Honorary Irishman! CrawCrafts Beasties
He’s a fan of all things Irish, especially our ever-popular exports of Guinness and world-class rugby players! So he is proudly sporting a Munster rugby jersey, Ireland rugby ball and felt pint…
Antonello Beastie's Pint - CrawCrafts BeastiesAntonello Beastie's Munster Logo and Rugby Ball - CrawCrafts Beasties

…And as you can imagine, I had a great time styling his beard and hair!

Antonello Beastie, After a Visit to the Beastie Barber - CrawCrafts Beasties
Next up – Antonello’s wife Tiziana, who is an ER doctor. So get me a set of Beastie-sized scrubs and a stethoscope, STAT!
Tiziana Beastie Steals the Show - CrawCrafts Beasties
And here they are in extreme close-up!
Tiziana Beastie's Stethoscope - CrawCrafts BeastiesI was also able to indulge in a spot more Beastie hairdressing… I loved capturing the highlights in Tiziana Beastie’s hair!
Tiziana Beastie's Awesome Hair - CrawCrafts BeastiesTiziana Beastie's Hair, From the Back - CrawCrafts Beasties

And of course, no family home would be complete without a beloved pet!

Beastie Kitty! CrawCrafts Beasties
This is Tris, the family cat! She’s made of soft cuddly felt, with embroidered markings to match her feline big sister’s… oh, and a super-contented smile!
Beastie Kitty Tris's Stripes - CrawCrafts BeastiesTris's Happy Face - CrawCrafts Beasties

But what about the rest of the family? Well, that’s another story for another day – swing by next Tuesday lunchtime, when we’ll be meeting the boys! In the meantime, I’ll have another update from a Beastie abroad on Friday… and you still have time to put your name in the hat for the Great January Begone Giveaway if you haven’t already! I’ll be picking 5 lucky winners this coming Sunday at noon (Irish time) – check out the original post here to find out how to enter!

See you Friday!

PS It seems like the Beastie kitty has stolen the show! So, for all my fellow cat people out there, I thought I’d introduce you to the real life inspiration behind the felt feline – this is Tris!
Tris, the Inspiration for the BeastieKitty! A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts Beasties
Isn’t she a sweetie? Thanks again to Antonello and family for your Beastie-tastic order 🙂

Charlie Beastie, by CrawCrafts Beasties

A Real Little Cutie… Plus a Monster Giveaway!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Commissions, Info, Knitted Beasties

Charlie Beastie, by CrawCrafts Beasties
If it’s Tuesday, it must be new Beastie time! So, everybody say a big hello to Charlie Beastie!

Charlie Beastie was commissioned as a keepsake gift for a recently-arrived baby girl. I was asked to use as much pink as possible!
Charlie Beastie (Top to Toe!) - CrawCrafts Beasties
She also has her name embroidered on the front of her romper suit…
Charlie Beastie's Embroidered Details - CrawCrafts Beasties
…Plus a couple of cheeky nods to her Irish/Australian origins, as suggested by the person who requested her!
A Shamrock for Ireland - CrawCrafts Beasties
... And an Aussie Flag! CrawCrafts Beasties

Charlie Beastie, Back View - CrawCrafts Beasties
Apparently this Beastie made it safely to her new home Down Under just in time for Christmas! I’m sure she’s enjoying sunnier days and higher temperatures than the rest of us here in Beastie Towers!

And that leads me on neatly to the other half of this post. It seems that morale is generally low here in the Blogiverse, especially amongst those of us “enjoying” a cold, rainy start to the year in the northern hemisphere. Add to that the fact that this January has already deprived us of David Bowie and Alan Rickman, AND that we had to face into 2016 having bid farewell to Lemmy from Motorhead, it’s a miracle we’re able to drag ourselves out of bed at all.

Now, I realise that there is no freebie on earth that could miraculously fix all this, but some freebies are definitely better than no freebies at all. So, let the Great January Begone Giveaway begin! I have 5 of my remaining Beastie calendars to give away to 5 lucky BeastieBuddies…
How to Use a Beastie Calendar - CrawCrafts Beasties
As you can see, Explorer Beastie is doing a great job of demonstrating how a Beastie calendar can be an important part of any thriving craft empire.

Oh, and one of the winners will also get a surprise MiniBeastie in their prize parcel!
A Lesser-Spotted MiniBeastie, by CrawCrafts Beasties
MiniBeasties are incredibly rare, and there may be as few as ten of these teeny critters in the whole world! This one is made from cheerful blue sock yarn, and I used a small-batch merino wool yarn that I was given by some visiting knitters from Colorado to create his awesome technicolour dream-pants!

So, how do you get your mitts on these, and make your January instantly 150% better? Take your pick from:

  • Blog Buddies – Follow the BeastieBlog (if you aren’t already!) and leave a comment on this post saying which month you’re most looking forward to this year and why
  • Facebook Friends – Like the Beasties’ Facebook page and share it with your friends (and all those people you’re Facebook friends with, but have no idea how, or if, you even know them in real life)
  • Instagram Addicts – Find the Beasties on Instagram (@crawcraftsbeasties), follow us and leave a comment on any picture so I know that you’re a real person and not a “Get more Instagram followers NOW” spambot!
    Each of these barely-challenging challenges will earn you an extra entry in the draw, so by doing all three you’ll triple your chances of winning! I’ll be picking the winners at random at high noon (Irish time) on the 31st of January. Good luck!

     

Live and Let Dive

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Commissions, Knitted Beasties

This Must be Underwater Love... CrawCrafts Beasties
Time for another new Beastie! Can anyone guess what type of woolly monster we’re meeting today?
Diver Beastie, by CrawCrafts Beasties
Ta-daaaaaah! It’s more than a year since I made my first Diver Beastie, and it seems he made quite the impression on a fellow traveller when he visited Iceland and Greenland a few months ago! It was so exciting to get a commission like this out of the blue, and thanks to some expert guidance, I was able to tailor this Beastie to match her new dive buddy’s gear as closely as possible! Let’s take a look, shall we?
Diver Beastie (Before She Gets in the Water) - CrawCrafts Beasties
Like all Diver Beasties, this one lives in her wetsuit! She’s also got a weight belt, which goes on before all her scuba gear…
Diver Beastie's Scuba Gear - CrawCrafts BeastiesDiver Beastie's Dive Tank - CrawCrafts Beasties

…And the rest of her underwater wardrobe!
Kit - CrawCrafts Beasties
This includes her dive hood…Diver Beastie Gets Dressed! CrawCrafts Beasties
…Computer…
Diver Beastie's Dive Computer - CrawCrafts Beasties
…And, of course, her fins!
Diver Beastie's Flippers! CrawCrafts Beasties
Then it’s time to put on her breathing apparatus, which includes a tank, BCD (buoyancy control device), two regulators (one as a backup, just in case), air gauge and mask!
Diver Beastie, Ready For Action! CrawCrafts Beasties
Ready to go!
Diver Beastie in Full Gear - CrawCrafts BeastiesDiver Beastie - Back View (CrawCrafts Beasties)

Unfortunately, diving opportunities are few and far between in central Dublin in the dead of winter… so rather than have Diver Beastie all dressed up with nowhere to go, I set her down in front of an episode of “The Blue Planet”. Hopefully this will tide her over until her first real dive!
Diver Beastie Doing Dive Research - CrawCrafts BeastiesToo Close for Comfort? Diver Beastie, by CrawCrafts Beasties

I’ll have another new Beastie friend for you next week – and don’t forget to stop by on Friday to find out where Grim Reaper Beastie spent Christmas!

A Cheerful Start To The New Year…

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Commissions, Knitted Beasties

Grim Reaper Beastie, by CrawCrafts Beasties
Yippeeeeee! It’s new Beastie time! And since I’m sure I’m not the only one who is still trying to get used to the transition from the old year to the new (anyone else out there steadfastly continuing to write 2015 dates on things? Because I am), who better to sweep away the clinging cobwebs of last year than…

GRIM REAPER BEASTIE!

Grim Reaper Beastie with Accessories, by CrawCrafts Beasties
With his sweet smile, woolly paws and little monster ears poking out through the hood of his robe, he is possibly the least grim Grim Reaper ever!Grim Reaper Beastie, Back View - CrawCrafts Beasties
He’ll use his felt scythe to clear away the clutter of the year that was, and make space for the new, better year that will be. Oh, and his felt hourglass will help him keep an eye on the time for us all, too.
Grim Reaper Beastie's Hourglass, by CrawCrafts Beasties
He can also embrace a more casual look, if it’s called for…
Grim Reaper Beastie's Casual Look - CrawCrafts Beasties
…But it’s getting colder outside, so he might be better off leaving his hood up, at least for the moment.

Before Grim Reaper Beastie headed off to his new home in Germany, I took him out for a walk in one of my favourite Dublin parks. Iveagh Gardens is right in the city centre, but with its high walls and hidden entrances, you really need to know where to look if you want to find it! The crumbling statues and stonework give it a real “Secret Garden” feel…
Grim Reaper Beastie in Iveagh Gardens - CrawCrafts BeastiesGrim Reaper Beastie's Secret Den - CrawCrafts Beasties

Grim Reaper Beastie with the Statues - CrawCrafts Beasties
…While the evergreen-shaded pathways make for some great spooky photos!
Grim Reaper Beastie Strikes a Spooky Pose - CrawCrafts Beasties
Grim Reaper Beastie on the Path - CrawCrafts Beasties
And what’s that down there?
Grim Reaper Beastie in the Maze - CrawCrafts Beasties
Yes, it’s a miniature hedge maze! The sundial at the centre is supposed to be very accurate – unfortunately a sundial in Ireland isn’t really the best way to keep time!
Grim Reaper Beastie Starts His Journey - CrawCrafts Beasties
As the winter daylight faded, it was time to head back to Beastie Towers, and ready Grim Reaper Beastie for his onward journey. Apparently he’s settling in well in his new home!

More new Beasties next week… until then I’m going to sit down and practice writing “2016” on everything. I’m sure I’ll get the message by February…

PS Drop in again on Friday for our first “Explorer Beastie’s Dublin” post! I’m not sure where we’re going yet, but he’s assured me he has a plan!