Explorer Beastie – Page 6

Explorer Beastie with Rosehips, by CrawCrafts Beasties

Autumn Fun With Explorer Beastie!

Posted on October 14, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie

Oh, poor Explorer Beastie! We were hoping to get out and about this week, but both the weather and my work schedule were against us… Still, at least we have some great photos from previous years to look back on. I hope you all enjoy this trip down memory lane as much as we did!

First up – Explorer Beastie and Garcia Beastie hanging out in the olive trees at Kew Gardens a couple of years ago!
They also took a stroll through the first fallen leaves of the season…
… And some of the leaves that hadn’t fallen yet, too!
Here’s another photo from later that year, when Explorer Beastie found a perfectly Beastie-sized toadstool. This has to be one of my favourite monster pictures!We got lots of other great shots on that trip, too!
Then last Hallowe’en, he bravely ventured into an isolated graveyard!
Yes, okaaaay, it was daylight… But all the same! We really enjoyed this view from the wall – it was so peaceful!
And nothing could have put him and Crablet off dressing up later on for some trick or treating…
… Not even a furry gatecrasher!
I wonder what we’ll get up to this year? Hopefully we’ll have some new photos to share with you soon – weather permitting, of course!

Here’s wishing you all a super weekend… We’ll be back on Tuesday with another new Beastie! Care to guess which Famous Monster will be joining the gang here at Beastie Towers this time around?

Explorer Beastie at Niki Collier's Studio

A Bit of Local Colour

Posted on September 16, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Crafting, Explorer Beastie's Dublin

With Paddy and Plunkett enjoying some well-earned rest after their last round of travels, it’s been left to me and Explorer Beastie to come up with an adventure to share with you this week! Fortunately, we didn’t have to go too far to find something interesting… In fact, we barely had to leave our own neighbourhood!

My friend and fellow craftsperson Niki Collier (who I featured recently in my guest post for craft magazine Olann And’s blog) recently relocated to a new studio space, and she decided it was high time she had a “studio-warming” gathering to celebrate her move. So of course Explorer Beastie and I had to go for a nosey!

The first thing that caught our eye was the impressive Wall of Tools – look at all those scissors! I promise I only experienced a little bit of craft den envy!
There are also plenty of Niki’s finished pieces dotted around the studio. That meant there was lots to keep a curious Beastie entertained…
…While the grown-ups talked out the angles of a future collaborative project! Can any of you guess who this Beastie might be?
One of my favourite pieces in the studio was this little tree.
Niki made this when she started felting. Each leaf was contributed by another crafter, and has notes on the back about the properties of the wool used to make it – what breed of sheep it came from, the length of the fibres – as well as the name of the person who donated it. What a great way to learn!

Once we’d seen everything there was to see in Niki’s studio, it was time for us to go and inflict ourselves on the people who occupy the other half of this building!
This is the home of RJ Mooney Leathers, and their workshop is incredibly cool! Explorer Beastie had fun checking out all the different leathers…
… And look at the machinery! Talk about a vintage-lover’s paradise!
Apparently they are all still in perfect working order, too! I’d love to come back and see them in action on a proper work day!

Tour completed, there was time for a quick cup of tea before we headed for home. Since the sun was out, we decided to stroll back along the canal – a great end to a super afternoon!
This weekend we’ll be heading to The Grand Social on Liffey Street for the Ha’Penny Market – hope you’ll join us there if you’re in town! Otherwise we’ll see you again on Tuesday, when I hope to have new Beasties to share (AT LAST!)…

Monster Highway in the Forest! CrawCrafts Beasties

More From The Fairy Forest!

Posted on August 12, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie, Knitted Beasties

Regular BeastieBlog readers will know that Explorer Beastie and I were literally away with the fairies a couple of weeks ago! But as I was tidying up the photo files from our trip away, I saw that there were loads of other non-fairy photos that I hadn’t had a chance to use. Away from the hubbub of Fairyville, there was a whole forest for Explorer Beastie to investigate – let’s join him, shall we?
Here we go! The undergrowth was pretty dense in some places…

…But elsewhere we found shortcuts better suited to little short Beastie legs!
Soft mossy patches also make the perfect place to stop for a quick nap…
… And we even found a natural paddling pool in a tree stump!
There was also plenty of clover growing in the forest – surely ONE of these is the lucky four-leafed kind?
Explorer Beastie also found somewhere to test his Christmas Fairy skills!
Hmmm… there might be room for you at the top of the tree this year…

That said, Explorer Beastie will climb pretty much any tree he can find!
But just when we thought we’d gone through the whole fairy forest without meeting a single magical creature… we caught a glimpse of these through the trees!
Wooooah! REAL FAIRIES!

It’s going to be hard to top this on our next day trip!

Have you had a brush with the magical or mysterious lately? Let us know in the comments!

Visting the Oak Fairy - CrawCrafts Beasties

Explorer Beastie’s Holiday!

Posted on July 29, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie, Knitted Beasties

As some of you might already know, Explorer Beastie and I took a couple of days off last week and escaped to the countryside! And we really couldn’t have timed it better, since our trip coincided with another brief guest appearance from the ever-elusive Irish Summer.

Explorer Beastie couldn’t wait to get outside…

…And he was soon on the lookout for the perfect sunbathing spot. Check out that view behind him!

Aaaah, just right!
But it’s not in Explorer Beastie’s nature to spend an entire day sitting around. It was only a matter of time before his thirst for adventure got the better of him… Fortunately, we found the perfect place for him to explore! What’s down that path, I wonder?
Ooooh, interesting! Let’s check this out!

First we had to walk through the woven willow tunnel…
…And look what we found on the other side!
A fairy house! At first, we thought this was a one-off… But then we spotted more!
We’d stumbled on an entire fairy town in the forest! Some of the houses were easier to reach than others…
…But Explorer Beastie enjoyed lunch at the Dew Drop Inn, and a quick browse in the bookstore afterwards.
He also had fun taking pictures with our new friend Izzy! Here she is helping us to set up a photo beside a perfectly Beastie-size house. Thanks, Izzy!
We never did find the owner of “The Giant’s Lair”… although I think he must have been at home recently!
Clearly he shares my love of doing the dishes!

After our forest walk, we stopped in the courtyard for human-sized food before heading for home. Explorer Beastie waited for us in the herb garden!
What are you all up to this weekend? If you find yourself in Slieve Gullion Forest Park, don’t forget to say hi to our fairy friends in the forest!

Explorer Beastie on the Fence! CrawCrafts Beasties

Surprise! We’re on Holiday!

Posted on July 19, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie, Info

Aaaah, it’s not often that us monster makers get a chance to get away from it all… so when one popped up out of the blue, Explorer Beastie and I grabbed it with both hands/paws! Unfortunately we’re not 100% sure what the internet access will be like at our destination, so we’ll catch up with you all again when we get back on Friday. In the meantime, we might post the odd holiday snap on Twitter or Instagram to make you jealous!

See you soon, and have a great week 🙂

A Busy Beastie Weekend!

Posted on June 21, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Crafting, Explorer Beastie, Info

Wow! Once again, it’s been a busy old week here at Beastie Towers – so much for those “lazy summer days” I keep hearing about. Still, we wouldn’t have it any other way… Especially since Explorer Beastie and I were invited to TWO crafty parties this past weekend!

The first one was a complete surprise – in the middle of last week, we got an invitation to the official opening of a new fabric shop just across the river in Dublin 7. Of course, they had me at “new fabric”, but once I found out that The Fabric Counter was just down the road from the neighbourhood where I used to live when I first moved to Dublin, I had to go and check it out!

Explorer Beastie and I had a great time looking through all the fabrics and trimmings… ALL OF THEM.
There’s also plenty to keep upholsterers and interiors enthusiasts entertained…
…Plus a selection of haberdashery, patterns and a few quirky details to help this lovely spacious shop feel more homely!
You can find out more about The Fabric Counter (including upcoming sewing classes) here, or why not pay them a visit in person?

Thanks so much to Cayeleen for inviting us, and good luck with your new store! Cheers!
And that’s only half the story! Saturday was World Wide Knit In Public Day – a perfect opportunity to catch up with some fellow woollyholics in my local yarn shop!
The Constant Knitter is right in the heart of Dublin’s antique quarter in Francis Street, and is surrounded by galleries, independent cafés and quirky boutiques. Since I’m all about embedding maps today, you can find them here…

… Or non-Dubliners can browse their selection of yarny goodness online!

The Knit in Public event was organised by Dublin Knit Collective, and although I will knit in public pretty much any day of the year, it’s unusual for me to get the chance to knit in company! I had loads of fun chatting with other knitters – including some I hadn’t seen in years – and enjoying lashings of tea and cake!
(In case you were wondering, I tested this cake thoroughly and can confirm that it was as good as it looks!)

There were also PRIZES!
Better yet, I actually won something! (This is NOT normal!) I picked up a lovely Stolen Stitches pattern in the raffle, which I will use as my motivation to someday try my hand at lace knitting.

For the less lazy knitters, there was a speed knitting competition as well – you can find out who won here – but most of us were just happy to take it easy.
Thanks to Dublin Knit Collective and the Constant Knitter for a fun morning!

After that flurry of activity, we’re probably going to put our feet/paws up and get on with some new Beasties over the next couple of days… but don’t forget to pop back in on Friday, when we’ll be catching up with some monster news from overseas! See you then!

Save

Explorer Beastie, Sommelier - CrawCrafts Beasties

Social Beastie-Flies!

Posted on May 24, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie's Dublin, Info

Phew! What a busy week it’s been! After our Etsy photography course a couple of weeks ago, Explorer Beastie and I decided to keep our socialising momentum going… so when an invite to a special sneak-preview-tasting-menu dinner at Oscar’s Bar and Kitchen dropped into our mailbox, we were pretty quick to RSVP! As an extra bonus, the event was being organised by the Irish Blogger Association, which meant that we’d get to meet some more bloggers – in person for once!

Now, I hope you’re hungry… Here come some of the highlights of the meal!
Clockwise from top left – wild boar black pudding starter (proof, if any were even needed, that black pudding is more than just a component of your typical full Irish breakfast), the bbq ribs that were so tasty that I forgot to photograph them first, rhubarb panna cotta for dessert and Explorer Beastie looking on enviously at my Moroccan lamb with aubergine.

Yum! There were also plenty of opportunities for Explorer Beastie to pose with an almost-Beastie-sized wine glass…
… Relax among the tasteful decor…
… And atone for the rest of us eating all that black pudding.
Looking back at my photos as I was putting this post together made me think about how I wouldn’t even have been there enjoying all these delicious delicacies if I hadn’t started writing a blog about the Beasties and their adventures. Blogging has introduced me to people I never would have had the chance to meet otherwise – people who share my interests, or who have introduced me to new ways of looking at the world. People whose work inspires me, or whose stories make me laugh out loud when I read them. In the last week, I was delighted, excited and a little surprised to see I’d passed the 300 followers mark! So thanks to all of you for reading, and especially to those among you who regularly like my posts or comment on them. The Beasties and I are so chuffed to have you all along with us on our adventures!

Further “thank you”s are due to Fiona and the Irish Blogger Association for organising a great night out, and to the staff at Oscar’s for looking after us so well. It certainly looks like I wasn’t the only one who left happy!
Join us again on Friday, when we’ll be checking in with another Beastie abroad! And if blogging has taken you to interesting or unexpected places, we’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Explorer Beastie at the Etsy Offices - CrawCrafts Beasties

Ready for your Closeup?

Posted on May 17, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Crafting, Explorer Beastie, Info

Explorer Beastie and I have been quite the social butterflies recently – we started with the Irish Blogger Conference at the end of last month, and then last week found us hanging out at the Etsy offices in Dublin city centre! We were there for a one-night Product Photography Course, organised by the Etsy Ireland team. When I heard they were running this, I jumped at the chance to go – my own Etsy shop has a hard time competing with my market setup, so I was hoping to pick up some tips to make it a more fun place to visit!

That, and Etsy’s HQ is an excellent place for an adventurous Beastie to explore…
Once everyone had arrived, and helped themselves to some cake…
…We got started! We all had a chance to introduce ourselves, and talk about what we make, and then we tackled the tricky subject of lighting.

We’re always told that it’s best to take photos in natural light, but in Ireland this poses something of a problem. I’m certainly guilty of holding out for a sunny day to take my pictures, and it seems I’m not the only one! Even in the middle of summer, a rainy day here can mean really limited daylight… and correspondingly dark and unimpressive pictures! Some of the others also pointed out that it’s difficult to get consistency in a set of photos, because natural light changes so much from season to season – or sometimes from one minute to the next! Gaaaah! How do you fix this?

Why, you build a lightbox of course! So we did – well, two of the team members took on the task of transforming a simple cardboard box (free from your local supermarket) into a glamourous miniature photoshoot setting!
Here it is, being used as a backdrop for a couple of beautiful Brookwood Pottery mugs! If you’d like to have a go at making your own, YouTube is just brimming over with “how-to” videos… We watched this one before we started. And most of the things you’ll need are either free, cheap or something you’ll already have at home! We all had fun testing it out, too…
…And here’s Cheerleader Beastie enjoying her moment in the spotlight, as Explorer Beastie watches admiringly from the sidelines!
But of course, he couldn’t resist the lure of the limelight…
The light in this lightbox still has a bit of a pinkish hue, but this can be fixed by using daylight bulbs instead of standard lightbulbs. Javier from CartabanCards showed us another way to make a lightbox, this time using LED camping flashlight tubes and pieces of a simple slot-together storage unit. I think the lighting in this one works much better for showing off Beasties in their best light!
Doesn’t Explorer Beastie look handsome? And look at how well this setup worked for this stunning vintage-style doll’s dress from DinahsDolls…
… And how it makes the colours pop in Maeve Croly‘s embroidery sample!
All in all, we had a great time and learned loads! It was super to make contact with some other local Etsyans as well, and swap tips and stories. I’m especially interested to try out Snapseed, which allows you to edit photos on your phone or tablet!

Thanks to the Etsy Ireland team for organising the course, and especially to Claire from mIrishDublin and Javier for teaching us! Claire also put together an Etsy treasury afterwards featuring some of the goodies from each of our shops… if you’re in need of a treat for someone (or for yourself), you could well find it there!

We’ll be back on Friday to check up on a Beastie abroad… in the meantime, if you have any top photography tips of your own please share them with us in the comments!

Have a great week!

The Trouble With April In Dublin…

Posted on April 12, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie's Dublin

… Is that we take the concept of “April showers” to a whole new level. I’d promised Explorer Beastie a day out yesterday (Other Work kept me pretty busy over the weekend), but on Monday morning we were greeted with teeming rain and grey skies. What to do?
Anything outdoors was totally off the menu. And all of our lovely free museums and art galleries are closed on Mondays! Fortunately, I remembered about the Book of Kells!

The Queen at the Book of Kells, from www.tcd.ie — Good enough for the Queen, good enough for us! Image borrowed from http://www.tcd.ie

So I grabbed my umbrella, and Explorer Beastie hopped into my bag for the journey. But when we arrived…
Oh no! Clearly everyone else had the same idea! What now?

“Hey, why don’t we go in here?”

“Here” is the Douglas Hyde Gallery, a small, FREE art space located just inside Trinity College’s Arts Building. I must have walked past it thousands of times when I was a student here, and I never thought to go inside! Time to fix that… Good call, Explorer Beastie!
The exhibitions change fairly frequently, so there’s always something new to see. The current one will be running until the 4th of May, and is definitely worth a look. We especially enjoyed Bill Lynch’s work!
Unfortunately, it hadn’t stopped raining by the time we went to leave…
… But we did get to pose with Douglas Hyde himself on the way out! It’s not often that little woolly monsters get a chance to rub shoulders with former Irish presidents!
As for the Book of Kells… Well, we’ll take you there another day. And it definitely won’t be on a rainy Monday morning!

See you all next week, when I’ll have some more new Beasties for you to meet!

Happy BEASTer!

Posted on March 27, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Explorer Beastie, Knitted Beasties

Happy Easter, everybody! The Beasties have been busy organising their own festival, featuring a traditional Beaster Egg Hunt…
Let’s see if they can gather up the last few eggs before Explorer Beastie’s backpack bursts at the seams!

Hope you all have a great weekend… We’ll be back on Tuesday with more monster mayhem!

	tierneycreates: a fu… on We Wish You A Merry Beast…
	crawcraftsbeasties on We Wish You A Merry Beast…
	quietwatercraft on We Wish You A Merry Beast…
	crawcraftsbeasties on We Wish You A Merry Beast…
	The Hidden Spain on (Mer)Made Just for You!