Knitted Beasties – Page 7

A Bevy of Hallowe'en Beasties, by CrawCrafts Beasties

Happy Hallowe’en!

Posted on October 31, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Knitted Beasties, Life at Beastie Towers

Woooooooooooo!

We couldn’t resist popping in an extra post to celebrate the Beasties’ favourite holiday!

Soooo…

Have a spooktacular Hallowe’en!

And here are some seasonal monsters to get your own festivities started!
First of all, we’ve got Dracula Beastie stopping in for a bite!

Then Ghostie Beastie’s going to drift through later on.
And who knows… If the party starts to quieten down, Frankenstein’s Monster Beastie might well be on hand to bring it back to life!

Well, as long as nobody lets this guy in.

Have a monster time… And don’t forget to tell us all about your own Hallowe’en plans in the comments!

Autumn in Dublin's Parks - CrawCrafts Beasties

Dublin in Autumn

Posted on October 9, 2018June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie's Dublin, Knitted Beasties

Hello there, Beastie friends! How’s your week been? I’m juggling a couple of ongoing monster projects just now, but unfortunately none of them are at a publishable stage yet! So for today’s post, I thought I would share some pics of Dublin’s parks in their autumn finery instead. Care to wander with us?
Living in the middle of a city is great – if you feel like walking, there’s always somewhere interesting to walk to. And in Dublin, we’re lucky to have several beautiful parks right in the city centre! So anytime I’m in town, I’ll usually find an excuse to take a toddle around St Stephen’s Green, at least. It’s probably Dublin’s most famous and busiest park, since it’s just a stone’s throw from Grafton Street, one of our main shopping districts.

Explorer Beastie is posing in one of my favourite bits of St Stephen’s Green – an avenue of lime trees that leads away from the main gate. Lush and green in spring, shady and cool in the summer… And in Autumn, a riot of yellow leaves!

We would have taken more pictures here, but the downside of being in a popular park is that a Beastie could easily get trampled underfoot. Time to cut across to the far gate and seek out a hidden gem only a few streets away!

Much better! This is Iveagh Gardens… It may not be a truly secret garden, but it certainly feels that way. Two of the three main entrances are set well back from the street, and the park is full of quiet walks and crumbling statues.
Explorer Beastie also likes this big heap of rocks, which provides the perfect mountaineering challenge for an adventurous Beastie!
And from the top, you can enjoy the spectacle of the trees glowing in the Autumn sunshine. (Or catch your breath a bit, whichever fits!)

On this walkabout, we had an ulterior motive – to audition potential candidates for a holly-packed Beastie calendar page for December! Explorer Beastie threw himself into the challenge with gusto – braving the prickly leaves to help you all to better organise your busy lives.
Actually, those prickles don’t seem to be bothering him much at all…
And with the photoshoot complete, we were able to enjoy kick back and enjoy the morning sunshine.
Explorer Beastie really appreciates how tall he looks in the slanted sunlight – well, his shadow at least!

We even had a chance to meet some of the park’s residents…
… Although some of them were a little camerashy!
So, have your paws taken you anywhere interesting lately? And how is Autumn (or Spring) in your part of the world? Be sure to tell us all about it in the comments!

Oh, and don’t forget to grab your free Calendar Pages for the last three months of 2018, and see which photos made the cut for November and December.

See you again next week for more monster adventures!

Woolly Wedding Gift II – The Groom Arrives!

Posted on October 2, 2018June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Crafting, Knitted Beasties

Hey everybody! I hope the new week (and new month) are treating you well! It’s been another busy week here at Beastie Towers… So much so that last Tuesday’s post feels like a loooong time ago! But you might remember meeting this lovely Beastie lady…
… And getting a brief peek at the handsome monster man in her life, too!
This happy pair were created as a one-of-a-kind wedding gift, to be given to the groom on the big day itself! So perhaps we should take this opportunity to get to know him a little better.

Hey there, Mr Adam Beastie!
Ahhh, look at that winning smile!

In keeping with the “us as we are everyday” wardrobe brief, I kitted him out in knitted jeans and a bright green felt t-shirt. I think the zingy lime shade really makes the most of his lovely blue complexion!
And what’s this? Do we have another guitar-playing Beastie in our midst? I think so!
As usual, I’ve tried to capture the essence of Human Adam’s favourite guitar in Beastified form! This process always takes a while – when I made my first Beastie guitar many years ago, I couldn’t have imagined the huge number of shapes the humble guitar could potentially take! Every Beastie guitar calls for a serious tweaking of existing templates – if not a complete redesign.

That said, the end result always makes me smile… And I’m grateful that I’ve never (yet) been asked to Beastify something really tricky, like a tuba or a trombone! Perhaps you’d like to play us something, Adam Beastie?
Aaaah, music to my ears! And it looks like I’m not the only one enjoying it…
His Beastie Bride certainly seems to be a fan too! Oh, and who’s this coming over to join them?
It’s Zoey, their fuzzy, faithful Beastiedog!
Beastie Zoey was an essential part of this wedding gift, and I brought her to life through the magic of needle felting! She’s also wearing a felt collar personalised with her initial, so there’s no mistaking who she is.

Oh, it looks like she’d like to get to know YOU a little better!
But of course, her heart belongs to her adopted mum!
Looks like doggies really ARE a Beast’s best friend!

And now that everyone’s here, it’s time for…
…WALKIES!

Thanks again to Kristen for requesting this super-special wedding gift, and trusting me to Beastify her family! It’s been a lot of fun, and got me trying out some new skills to boot!

Oh, and in case you missed Saturday’s post, I blitzed the final 3 calendar pages of 2018 at the end of last week, and uploaded them all together as a single handy package.
As usual, they’re totally free… So don’t forget to grab your copy from our online store! And October’s page is a bit special, because it’s another colour-it-yourself drawing. We’d love to see your finished masterpieces, so tag ’em on Instagram or Twitter with #beastiegallery so I can enjoy them!

To inspire you, here’s one Weekes did earlier!

View this post on Instagram

Took time out for some relaxing adult colouring thanks to @crawcraftsbeasties 🍂🍁👩🏻‍🎨 @tammiepainter I featured Finn in his most likely position 🙄 #beastiegallery 🎨

A post shared by xWeekes ll @weekes (@dazeandweekes) on Oct 1, 2018 at 7:01am PDT

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

And now I’m off to set a good example, and colour mine in too! I’ll be back next week with some autumnal pictures from Dublin’s parks, so be sure to join us then!

Have a super week!

Woolly Wedding Day!

Posted on September 25, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Knitted Beasties

Hello there Beastie friends! It’s Tuesday again, and guess what? It’s another new Beastie day! I think I might have mentioned once or twice that I had a pretty busy summer, and I love that I can share these creations with you at last. Today’s project was commissioned as a very special surprise gift from a bride-to-be to her new hubby on their wedding day. So, no pressure!

How about we start with the beautiful Beastie bride?
The brief for this Beastification was to show how this couple looks every day, rather than their one-off wedding outfits. So Mrs Kristen Beastie is wearing her favourite yoga pants and a stylish vest top… Although I couldn’t resist adding some extra detail on the back of the top to make it extra special!
I also had a great time capturing her multi-toned blonde hair!

Oh, and in case you were wondering what that blue stripe across her front in the first picture was…
It’s a Beastie-sized yoga mat in its own custom-made bag! The mat has an embroidered edge that matches Mrs Beastie’s vest top, while the bag has a handy drawstring closure decorated with silver beads.

And speaking of all things silver and sparkly… Perhaps it’s time to add a little extra glamour to the proceedings!
Waaaay back at the beginning of this Beastification, Kristen Beastie’s human counterpart sent a few photos to help me along. One of them showed her dressed for a big night out, with a twinkly tiara to complete the look. She asked if I could make a Beastie-sized version… How could I resist a challenge like that?!

I used silver-coated wire and Swarovski crystal beads to create the teardrop-shaped loops of the original in miniature. It was fun to work with these new materials, but they’re much harder on your hands than the soft wool and felt I usually work with. So, I have a new respect for all the jewellery makers out there! And although I wasn’t able to capture it on camera, the sparkle and rainbow reflections from the crystal beads when they caught the sunlight was off the charts! I might need to make one of these for myself…

After that, this little monster lady just needed one more thing to complete her lineup of accessories…
Well, she has to keep her energy up, doesn’t she? And since a Beastie could easily take a bath in a human-size grande latte from international coffee purveyors Starbucks, she’s chosen a caffeinated pick-me-up from her local Starbeasts instead. Delicious!

This Beastie beverage comes in a wool felt cup, with needle-felted sculpted lid and a hand-embroidered Starbeasts logo. And it just fits nicely in her little woolly paw!
Ready to go!

But wait, you probably need more than one person for a wedding! Has anyone seen Mr Beastie?

Aha! There he is.
A handsome fellow indeed! But you’ll have to wait until next week to meet him… And there might be another family member joining us in the pictures too, so stay tuned!

Also, don’t forget to swing by again on Friday for a between-the-numbers post about Beastie calendars… See you then!

Paddy and Plunkett in the Woodlands at Heligan - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Heligan II – Meeting Monsters!

Posted on August 28, 2018June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Knitted Beasties, Paddy and Plunkett

Hello everybody! And yes, a new week might have begun for the rest of us, but adventurous Irish Beasties Paddy and Plunkett are still enjoying the sights of the Lost Gardens of Heligan. If you missed part 1 of these two little monsters gadding about in the garden, you can find it here… Otherwise, let’s see if we can catch up with them now!

Aha! There’s Plunkett, anyway. And he appears to have found a pleasant pond in a shady corner…
But he’s very intrigued by these alien-looking plants sprouting by the fence. Maybe you shouldn’t have stayed up late last night reading “The Day of the Triffids”, Plunkett?
Hmmm… I don’t think these are sentient, mobile plants bent on world domination, but they could be giant hogweed, which is almost as nasty. These botanical beasts pack quite a punch in their phototoxic sap, which can cause blistering and scarring on human skin. I’m not sure if it has any effect on little woolly monsters, but it looks like Plunkett isn’t taking any chances. He’s gone to seek out some safer exotic plants…
These giant rhododendrons are definitely more his style, don’t you think? And once you’ve enjoyed the spectacular floral display, you can wander through the leafy tunnel under their branches!

This brings us out in the Heligan woodlands, where Plunkett has caught up with Paddy at last.
I reckon they were lucky to find each other at all – the grounds here include 60 acres of woodland! And it doesn’t help that Paddy is being suspiciously quiet for once…

“Shhhhh, Plunkett! She’s sleeping!”
This is the Mud Maid, one of the famous mud sculptures which decorate the path through the woods. She appears to be living my own personal dream life of dozing all day in the shade of the trees… Although I could happily skip the part in her creation where she was covered in yogurt to encourage lichen to grow on her face and hands!

But uh-oh, is Paddy dashing ahead again? And, as he skips merrily along the fence, he doesn’t appear to have noticed that other monsters besides himself are at large in this forest…
Fortunately, Plunkett is looking out for him… But can Paddy hear his warnings?

“Paddy! Behind you! There’s a giant about to eat you for lunch!”

“What? You’re going to eat a giant lunch? You know, I am starting to feel a bit peckish… Wait for me!”A narrow escape for Paddy there! But all that was forgotten by the time they made it to the table…
After all, it’s hard to dwell on the past when lunch is a bathtub-sized bowl of soup. Yum!

We’ll be joining Paddy and Plunkett again in a couple of weeks… But don’t forget to stop back in on Friday, when we’ll be getting ready for September with a new calendar page!

See you then!

A Shy Baby Beastie - CrawCrafts Beasties, Beastie HQ

Beastie Super Science!

Posted on July 3, 2018June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Commissions, Crafting, Knitted Beasties

Hello everybody! It’s a new week, and a new month… So I reckon we’d better have a new Beastie, too! Following my first experimental leap into the world of the Scientist Beastie…
…I got a request for another science-minded monster from the same customer, who wanted a special gift for a friend! And this one has even more of a twist, because…
… She’s also a SUPERHERO!

Here, take a look! I made her some special accessories to keep her heroic alter-ego a secret… A hand-stitched felt mask and a silky cape to billow behind her as she flies off to fight evil.
I also created a personalised superhero logo to go on her jumpsuit, in colours that complement her outfit and her delicate rose-pink complexion. Brand identity is very important in the superhero universe, y’know.

But who’s this? Looks like there’s someone else here too… Although apparently they’re feeling a little bit shy. Can we maybe see that pretty face?
Yay! That’s much better.
Supermum Scientist Beastie’s human counterpart is also a proud mum… So it only seemed right that this monster lady had a little girl Beastie of her own to keep her company. Ready for your closeup, Baby Girl Beastie?

She’s inherited her mum’s lovely pink skin tone, and her rich chestnut-coloured hair too. But hers is still baby-fine, so she loves to wear it in a cute pineapple ponytail on top of her head. I’ve completed her outfit with stripey legs and a sweet botanical-print cotton skirt!

But hey, where does the scientist bit come in?

Right now, actually. It’s time to head off to the day job! On with the lab coat…… And grab a coffee along the way!

Once she arrives, she’s got everything she needs for her working day, too. Supermum Scientist Beastie’s human counterpart is a biologist, so I made Beastified versions of some of the equipment she uses – a cell culture flask and a micropipette!
I used a combination of sewing and needle felting techniques on these accessories to get the shaping just right… I even ended up stitching the flask with fishing line to keep it as close to transparent as possible!
Phew! I reckon I just about captured all the facets of this busy Beastie’s life! What do you think?
Don’t forget to drop back in on Friday for more German shenanigans (or should that be Germanigans?) with Explorer Beastie! And if you missed part 1, you can catch up here. See you then!

A Beastie Birthday Bonanza!

Posted on June 1, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Crafting, Knitted Beasties

It’s new Beastie day! So it must be… Friday? Yes, we’re breaking with tradition a little here, but after giving this very special pair a brief introduction in Tuesday’s post, I couldn’t wait a whole week to give you the guided tour! This cheerful monster couple were created as a very special birthday gift for author and long-term BeastieBlog reader Tammie Painter, and were requested by her husband as a surprise to round off their recent trip to Ireland.

So, after several top-secret design discussions, we decided to dress the Beasties in miniature versions of the outfits worn by their human counterparts on their wedding day!
That meant a sophisticated black dress with pin-tucked bodice and a floaty organza top layer for Tammie Beastie…
… With a hook-and-eye fastening closure at the back. These are my new favourite dress fastening!
Meanwhile, Mr Husband Beastie was cool and casual in a Hawaiian-style shirt and shorts.
Alas, a true Hawaiian print comes up too large for Beastie-sized clothes! So I picked out a blue fabric that came as close as possible to the colours in the reference photos I worked from…
… And then added a pair of boxy-framed glasses to complete the look!
Very stylish.

But wait a sec… What’s going on here?
Aha! Good call, Beasties!
Those hand-knitted Aran sweaters are much more suitable for exploring the Emerald Isle! Oh, and look…
… They have bags, too! A red felt backpack for Mr Husband Beastie, and a teal shoulder bag for Tammie Beastie! Now, what can they put in there?

How about a sketchbook and pen, to record the highlights of the trip?
Or maybe snacks for long bus journeys!
And if you have snacks, you’ll need something to wash them down with. Hop Monster IPA, anyone? This special Beastie brew comes in a needle-felted bottle, with hand-embroidered felt label!
Or, for the designated drivers, a nice hot cup of tea from the travel flask might be just the thing.
And last but not least… Don’t forget your reading material! This Ireland travel guide will surely come in handy, while “The Trials of Herc-Woollies” will make the plane journey home pass much more quickly!

(Oh, and human readers can pick up a copy of the non-Beastie version, “The Trials of Hercules” for FREE right now! Find out more here)
“Hmmmm… I think we’d better pack all of it, just to be on the safe side!”
And now I reckon they’re ready to go!
Bon voyage, Beasties!

Have any of you got big plans for the weekend? And if so, what will you be packing in your backpack? Tell us all about it in the comments!

Aaand we’ll be back on Tuesday as usual, with more antics from Paddy and Plunkett. See you then!

Goth Beastie with Flowers - CrawCrafts Beasties

Blooming Beasties!

Posted on May 4, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Flashback Friday, Knitted Beasties, Life at Beastie Towers

May started this week… and that also heralds the traditional start of summer in Ireland! Now, the weather never feels truly summery until we hit June, but you can’t argue with tradition, can you? And this idea goes way back – the Celtic festival of Beltane falls at around this time each year, signalling that it was time to start moving livestock to their summer pastures. Customs associated with this celebration include variations on the theme of bonfires (lighting them, driving cattle between a pair of them, jumping over them) and decorating homes, trees and even livestock with flowers.

In the name of safety – not even Paddy was up for jumping over a bonfire – we’re going to focus on the second of these. So, bring on the Beastie-ful floral tribute!

Look, here’s Bride Beastie to get us started! The heather flowers complement her bouquet quite nicely, don’t you think?
The flowers in St Stephen’s Green in Dublin are always amazing at this time of year… As this tea-drinking Beastie discovered!Explorer Beastie is also partial to some blooms, when he finds them…
… And there’s nothing more relaxing than enjoying your favourite beverage in the garden on a sunny day. Right, Red Lemonade Beastie?
Even Minibeasties can get a slice of the floral fun – thanks to LucyAnn from LucyAnn & Luna Craft for this pic!
Oh, and we’d better not leave Paddy and Plunkett out!Yikes, this flower fever is contagious! It’s even spread to those Beastie characters who usually see things in black and white…
So now there’s no excuse not to feel nice and summery… Even if you’re in the southern hemisphere! Enjoy the weekend (especially those of you who’ll be getting an extra day thanks to the May bank holiday) and we’ll be back on Tuesday for some fresh Beastie fun!

Paddy and Plunkett Reach Beachy Head - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Friday Social #6 – Beastie Adventures From Near and Far!

Posted on April 27, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Knitted Beasties

Well hello there, Beastie people! And look, the weekend is very nearly here! So I thought it might be fun to catch up with some other members of the far-flung Beastie family… it appears that a couple of them have been taking advantage of the (vaguely) improving weather!

For starters, any of you who enjoyed meeting my Magical Unicorn Beastie on Tuesday will definitely get a kick out of reading about Finn McSpool’s recently-discovered “magic” powers on Tammie’s site…

Finn McSpool in the Garden - T Painter — Finn sees the future! Picture from tammiepainter.com

… Plus, if you happen to share my complete lack of horticultural skills, I bet you’ll really enjoy a virtual wander around a garden in which things actually grow!

Now, let’s hop over to the other side of the pond, and catch up with Sinéad Beastie, over on Daze & Weekes. She’s just back from Amsterdam, the lucky little monster!

Sinead Beastie, Jumping on the Bandwagon - dazeandweekes.com — Jump on that Bandwagon, Sinead Beastie! Photo from dazeandweekes.com

For your convenience, Sinéad has visited some of the highest-quality (ahem!) tourist traps that this great European city has to offer, and she can’t wait to share her findings with you all!

Aaaaand if all that has you counting down the days to your own summer break, I can help you get your planning started!
May’s Beastie calendar page is in the store now!

As usual, it’s totally free… And you only need to fill out your name and email address in the order form, then the internet pixies will drop your copy directly into your inbox!

Get yours!

Alrighty, that’s all the news from Beastie Towers and beyond… And now I’m planning to spend the weekend working away on the next batch of Beasties! If you’ve got any monster plans, be sure to tell us all about them in the comments.

See you on Tuesday for more Beastie shenanigans!

A Magical, Mythical Monster!

Posted on April 24, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Crafting, Knitted Beasties

Finally! I’ve stumbled on proof that unicorns are in fact real!

Except maybe they look a little different to what popular culture and centuries of mythologising might have led us to believe… Perhaps they look a little Beastie-er!
Hey there, Unicorn Beastie!

This sweet little monster maiden kinda knows that she’s special.
I mean, look at her magical multicoloured hair, for starters…
… And unlike most Beasties, she gets to have a TAIL!

Plus, she woudn’t be a real unicorn without…
Taaa-daaaaah! There’s the evidence we needed.

And Unicorn Beasties have revealed themselves to be surprisingly similar to rhinos – which we know exist – in that their horn is made entirely from super-compacted hair (ie, carefully sculpted needle-felted wool). Even the most hardened uni-skeptic couldn’t argue with that logic.

Of course, being a Unicorn Beastie meant that this monster lady had a few very specific wardrobe requirements. But her tailor-made floral print dress was easily adapted to accommodate her long, flowing tail!
Perfectly stylish! Then I thought she’d also need a handy satchel to hold all her magical unicorn accessories…
What’s inside, you ask? Well, since Unicorn Beasties primarily eat pink heart-shaped cookies…
“I’m just going to tuck this away safely for later…”
Hmmm… We’ll see how long that lasts!

Aaaaand if you feel like you need a little monster magic in your life, you might be interested to hear that this particular Beastie is currently in need of a home! Click below to be spirited away to the virtual shelves of the Beastie HQ Store!

Go to Store

Are there any mythical creatures which you think deserve the Beastification treatment? Let us know in the comments! And we’ll be back on Friday to share some more adventures from the Beastie family, so be sure to join us then!

	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!