Category: Explorer Beastie

Beastie New Year!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie, Knitted Beasties

Explorer Beastie by the Fire - CrawCrafts Beasties

Happy new year, everybody!

Well, nice as it’s been to put our feet/paws up and relax over the holidays, the Beasties and I are now ready to launch ourselves at 2015. Let’s see what delights it can offer to a lady and her ever-growing brood of woolly monsters!

But first, a quick overview of 2014 – looking back, it was a pretty eventful year! It saw Beasties venturing into uncharted waters…
Diver Beastie
… Catching up with old friends…
Explorer Beastie & Garcia Beastie
… Dabbling in the arts…
Artist Beastie
…And growing to new heights!
Beastie Group
Together, we’ve been to markets, pop up shops and high street stores, so we’ve learned a lot about the best places to introduce Beasties to new human friends. And as a result, my little monsters have headed off to homes in some far-flung places, including Germany, the USA and Norway! I’ve also had fun making some personalised Beasties to order… This is Colm Beastie, who, like his namesake, enjoys running marathons and the odd pint of Guinness. I LOVED doing his hair!
Colm Beastie - CrawCrafts BeastiesI also made a sister for Explorer Beastie. She hit the road almost as soon as she was off the knitting needles, and was last seen enjoying Christmas dinner in Argentina!
Explorer Girl Beastie - CrawCrafts Beasties
And of course, Explorer Beastie has been popping up all over the place!
AmpelmannCatching some rays, Beastie-style

Chatsworth HouseExplorer Beastie on the TubeI’m intrigued to see where his travels take him in 2015!

And that brings us neatly back to the whole point of this post – what are we going to get up to this year? I figure that if I share some of my plans with you all on the BeastieBlog, I’d be that little bit more likely to actually DO them. So, in 2015, the Beasties and I solemnly swear to…

  • Keep in touch more often, with more photos, blog posts and Facebook updates
  • Revive and revitalise our Etsy store
  • Hang out at markets more, because we always have a great time there
  • Learn some new skills – just to keep things interesting!

Stay tuned to see how we get on… and thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello during 2014. Hopefully you’ll stick around and follow us on more monster adventures! And we’d love to hear your plans for the coming year – how will you be spending 2015?

Explorer Beastie in Autumn

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie

On the road again...

A couple of weeks ago, Explorer Beastie and I had a chance to head out West and enjoy a little quiet time. Autumn is far and away my favourite season, and I’d argue that the Irish countryside looks its best at this time of year. We definitely got more than our fair share of “mists and mellow fruitfulness”, as you will see! Our first discovery was a toadstool among the fallen leaves in the garden…
Explorer Beastie with Toadstool

Then we headed out into the fields to see what natural goodies we could harvest!
Exploring the Fields

I was particularly keeping an eye out for sloes on this expedition, but I needn’t have worried. The blackthorn trees were weighed down with these super-bitter berries, which, like a lot of us, become a lot mellower and nicer to be around with the addition of a little gin. My sloe gin stocks have been sorely depleted after two consecutive bad years, so I was pleased (or relieved) to see such a bumper crop! Picking the sloes is usually an arduous task, involving multiple scrapes and jabs from the vicious thorns that give the trees their name, so it was good to have a little extra help this time around.
Explorer Beastie Picking Sloes

We were also on the lookout for more immediately edible treats – blackberries! We took these home and used them to make miniature apple and blackberry pies…
Explorer Beastie finds Blackberries
… Once Explorer Beastie had finished gadding about in the brambles.
Explorer Beastie's Bramble Trapeze

There were plenty of other natural treats to be found along the way… unfortunately, I lack the equipment and expertise to make these beautiful hedgerow fruits into something tasty! Maybe next year…
HawsRosehipsElderberries

After that, we had just enough time to say hello to the cows…
Explorer Beastie with Cows
… And take a few artsy shots of glistening mist-spangled spiderwebs…Spiderwebs in the Mist

…Before heading home to toast our toes by the fire!

How do you spend a perfect autumn day? Let me know in the comments!

Explorer Beastie’s London Adventures (Part 2)

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie

Explorer Beastie at St Paul's Cathedral

Oh dear, a new post is looooong overdue! At least I have a reasonable excuse this time – I started a new job last Monday! Between that and moving house over the summer, it’s been quite the eventful year… I figured I’d better check in now before something else happens!

My last post might have given the impression that London begins and ends in Kew Gardens – at least for Beasties. But that couldn’t be further from the truth! Explorer Beastie managed to see a lot, given the short time (and short legs) he had. Our first port of call was the Victoria and Albert Museum – this has to be one of my favourite places in London, and I always try to visit when I’m here. Every time I go, I find something I hadn’t seen before! I enjoyed introducing Explorer Beastie to the Dacre Beasts…
Explorer Beastie and the Dacre Beasts

… And he loved the massive glass sculpture in the entrance hall!
Explorer Beastie at the V&A

He even made a friend!
Explorer Beastie with Owl

Of course, we were at Kew all day Saturday…

Explorer Beastie in the Palm House
…But on Sunday we found ourselves in the City, next to St Paul’s Cathedral.
Explorer Beastie at St Paul's
We took a walk across the Millenium Bridge, where we able to check out some of the newest additions to London’s skyline… and a few older ones as well!

Explorer Beastie and the ShardExplorer Beastie and Tate ModernExplorer Beastie on the Millenium BridgeExplorer Beastie, the Cheese Grater and the Walkie Talkie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had to pass them all by though, because we were on the way to… Shakespeare’s Globe! Explorer Beastie even made it up onto the stage…
Explorer Beastie at the Globe

On our last day, we made a pilgrimage to I Knit in search of woolly treats. It was just a short hop on the Tube…
Explorer Beastie on the Tube

… And Explorer Beastie turned it into yet another networking opportunity. He had a great time chatting away while I made some very important purchasing decisions!
Explorer Beastie at I Knit

All that left me with just enough time to cram my suitcase full of yarn before dashing to the airport. After all that, I might just need a holiday… see you soon with more Beastie adventures!

Right on Kew… Beasties Explore the Gardens!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie

Explorer Beastie & Garcia Beastie

My trip to London over the weekend wasn’t just for me… It was also the perfect opportunity for Explorer Beastie to catch up with an old friend! Garcia Beastie left his skis behind for a day to join us at Kew Gardens for a spot of horticultural exploring… as you shall see.
Beasties set off for adventure!

Luckily for us, the Great British weather decided to show its finer side! We got one of those perfect early autumn days for our visit – warm, bright sunshine with just a hint of coolness in the air. Lovely stuff! Also, it turns out Beasties get into Kew Gardens free of charge! But of course, it wasn’t long before they were up to mischief…
Beasties Climbing Olive Trees

I turned my back for five seconds, and the pair of them were halfway up one of the gnarly old olive trees in the Mediterranean Garden! Since they were so intent on climbing, I thought they’d enjoy the Xstrata Treetop Walkway…

Beasties in the Treetops
Up here, you can stroll around in the treetops to your heart’s content! Explorer Beastie scaled the barriers to make sure he got the best views…
Explorer Beastie scaling the fenceExplorer Beastie surveying the lie of the land…And he did get to see some surprising things!

Sweet Chestnuts on the treeGreen Parrot at KewSweet chestnuts growing at the very top of the tree, and an unusual bird having them for lunch! Kew Gardens is full of these green parrots, which are actually wild – they’re the descendants of escaped pets. We saw several large groups doing fly-by displays during our visit, and they’re hard to miss… they’re pretty noisy! The scenery up there wasn’t bad either…

Treetop walkwayTemperate House from the Treetop Walkway

Back on dry land, we made Beastie-sized tracks towards the Pagoda, a 10-storey Chinese-style folly that has been standing in Kew since 1762!

Beasties Walking to the Pagoda

The building is doubly impressive up close…

Pagoda at KewPagoda Closeup

 

 

 

 

 

 

…And there is also a Japanese-style gate and zen garden nearby!

Beasties with Japanese LanternBeasties at the Zen Garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

But we couldn’t stop for long, because there was plenty more exploring to do! Our next port of call was Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, where Garcia Beastie helped out a lady who seemed to have lost her head over something…
Garcia Beastie StatueGarcia Beastie Statue Closeup

 

 

 

 

 

And then, a spot of lunch.

Giant Picnic Table
Suitably refuelled, we took in some of the Intoxication Season exhibits…

Explorer Beastie with Hallucinogenic Cactus… had a wander around the Princess of Wales Conservatory…

Explorer Beastie with Cactus
… explored the world of underwater plants…

Underwater Plants at Kew

…And took a trip to the top of the Palm House!
Explorer Beastie at the Palm House

As the light began to fade, there was just enough time to take some final pictures with the rather imposing Plantagenet Falcon, one of the “Queen’s Beasts”. These ten heraldic-inspired sculptures line the path outside the Palm House, and are replicas of statues that stood outside Westminster Abbey during the Queen’s coronation in 1953. Perhaps I should arrange something similar along the street outside Beastie Towers…
Beasties with the Plantagenet Falcon

And so ended another monster day out! More London-based Beastie adventures next time!

 

Exploring the Kaziranga Forest Trail… and then some!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie

Explorer Beastie with ElephantsExplorer Beastie Watching the Elephants

Sounds exotic, doesn’t it?

The best part is that we didn’t even need to leave Dublin to do it! Explorer Beastie was most miffed when he found out that I haven’t shared the photos of our trip to Dublin Zoo yet, especially since he had so much fun posing with the animals. So, to keep the peace at home, here some of the highlights of our day out!

One of the first places we went was the Kaziranga Forest Trail – isn’t that so much more exciting than “the elephant house”? Since I was last in Dublin Zoo, they’ve built a whole new enclosure for their Elephant Poolgroup of Asian elephants, which more closely resembles their natural habitat. It’s surrounded by trees (that covers the “Forest Trail” element, then) and there are pools of water for them to swim in as well!

Our next port of call was the African Plains, where Explorer Beastie put his climbing skills to good use to get a proper look at the giraffes, rhinos and gorillas!

Explorer Beastie with GiraffeExplorer Beastie with RhinosExplorer Beastie with Gorilla

 

 

 

 

 

But the highlight of our visit was meeting the newest addition to the Dublin Zoo family… an okapi! These incredibly pretty creatures live in the dense forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and they’re related to giraffes. It was a real treat to be able to see one of these beautiful, graceful animals so close to home!
Explorer Beastie with OkapiOkapi at Dublin Zoo

 

 

 

 

 

Well, after all that exploring, we both felt a little like these orangutans…Sleepy Orangutans

… And we figured it was time to head home for a nap! But we’ll be back for more Beastie adventures soon!

Postcard from Liverpool

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie

Explorer Beastie at Ashford

Hello there, Beastiebuddies! My Beastiesitter Helen is very busy at the minute, so I thought I’d share my latest adventures with you myself. As you know, I have spent the last week or so visiting the great human city of Liverpool, and I thought it would be interesting to travel out into the surrounding countryside too. Here I am looking at the river in a village called Ashford – I wish I’d brought my curragh with me for this!

Further down the road, I found this place!
Chatsworth House
A palace fit for a Beastie king! They had even set the table for my arrival!
Dinner Table at Chatsworth HouseOf course, I was very flattered… but I politely explained that I had brought my own sandwiches, and then made my way out into the gardens to find somewhere to eat them.
Willow Sculpture

Success! I found this brilliant willow sculpture in the grounds of the house… perfect for a Beastie to hide in!

 

Suitably refreshed, I journeyed onwards to the Heights of Abraham. I couldn’t resist sneaking aboard the cable car… Look how high up I am!

Heights of Abraham Cable Car

 

Quite a novelty for a Beastie – normally we see everything from much closer to the ground!

 

Teatime at the Heights of Abraham

 

 

Once I reached the top, I reckoned it was time for a cup of tea and a spot of birdwatching… perhaps I might be able to convince one of the birds to give me a lift back down the hill!

Well, that’s all my news for now. I’m off to do some more exploring! I’ll be back with more tales of adventure soon!

Monster hugs,

Explorer Beastie x

Explorer Beastie Heads to the ‘Pool

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie

Explorer Beastie in a Crystal Cave

So, the Pop Up Shop has popped back down again, and as I was unpacking the Beasties who didn’t find their new homes this time around, I was hit by a disturbing thought.

Um, where is Explorer Beastie?

OH HOLY MOLY! Did he sneak into someone’s shopping bag and venture off to parts unknown?

Fortunately, a timely delivery of some holiday photos stopped my rising panic in its tracks. He DID stow away in someone’s luggage, and I will be having words with him about that, but luckily for both of us, said luggage belonged to my parents. So I can rest assured that he will be coming home at some point, and he got to enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to Liverpool. And he really got to see all the sights – here he is looking out over the city, with the Liver Building in the background…
Explorer Beastie in Liverpool

…And he followed this up with a trip to see some of Liverpool’s most famous residents!
Explorer Beastie Meets The Beatles

The Beatles theme continued, with a visit to Penny Lane…
Explorer Beastie at Penny Lane

…And then he headed off to the Japanese Garden at the Festival Gardens.
Beastie in the Japanese Garden

It’s lucky he didn’t send me this picture first, or I wouldn’t have known where to find him!

Last I heard, he was planning to see what the surrounding countryside had to offer… so I suppose I’ll be sharing those photos next time around! Stay tuned…

He’s Back!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie

Explorer Beastie in Glasnevin

Ta-daaaaah! Explorer Beastie is back in Dublin. Well, for the moment, anyway. While I was away sunning myself in the West of Ireland (yes, that CAN happen) over Easter, he took a trip to the northern suburbs of the city to have a look around Glasnevin Cemetery.
Explorer Beastie with Knotwork Headstone

Not everyone’s idea of a good time, perhaps, but Glasnevin Cemetery is actually a fascinating place. For starters, some of the monuments are beautiful – check out the knotwork design on this one!
Explorer Beastie with Graves

There are over 1.5 million people buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. That’s more than currently live in the County Dublin region! Among them are significant figures from Ireland’s past – Daniel O’Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell and Michael Collins, to name a few – as well as many of our most famous writers, artists and musicians. Glasnevin also makes an appearance in James Joyce’s Ulysses, and Explorer Beastie appears to have caught up with Mr Joyce himself in the gift shop…
Explorer Beastie with James Joyce

Meanwhile, I have enjoyed a relaxing week away! I’ve been flexing my farming muscles, babysitting these little sweethearts…
Calves

…being inspired by the scenery…
Lake at Dusk

…And most importantly, knitting like a fiend! I have a bunch of new Beastie bodies ready to be decorated – I wonder what they’ll be?

Beasties in the Garden

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie, Info, Knitted Beasties

Explorer Beastie in the Kale
I’m yet to knit a Beastie with green fingers (or any visible fingers, for that matter), but it seems to me that they’re managing fine in the garden without them. Here’s Explorer Beastie, celebrating his return home from his travels by mucking around in some kale!
Explorer Beastie and Gardener Beastie
He’s not the only one outside today. I guess this must be Gardener Beastie, who is clearly hard at work!
Gardener Beastie with Seedlings
It looks like she’s already pulled up some carrots for dinner. Now she just needs to check on the seedlings…

Gardener Beastie with Rhubarb
…admire the rhubarb…

Gardener Beastie with Ladybirds
…and say hello to some helpful garden friends.

Gardener Beastie Accessories
She also insisted I include a close-up of her beautiful felt gardening basket and seed packet.

In other news, the BeastieBlog is going to be a bit quiet for the next week and a half! I’m off to Roscommon (the land where internet fears to tread) to help out on the farm. Away from the distractions of the digital age, I will have no excuses not to knit like a woman possessed… which is just as well, because I have another selling opportunity on the horizon! Check out Creative Collective Ireland on Facebook for more details!