Inside La Catedral Studios - CrawCrafts Beasties

Our New Studio Home!

Hey there Beastie buddies! It’s been a bit of a hectic week here at Beastie Towers… Yes, I know I’ve been saying that A LOT recently, but it seems like every week that passes brings even more action than the one before! So, what’s this week’s slice of news? Well, it’s a biggie – I took a studio space!

Up until now, my monster-making activities have always taken place in the comfort of my own home. And that was great, up to a point… A point that usually corresponds with the onset of the festive season. Then – CRAFTSPLOSION! Piles of wool, felt and fabric had been steadily colonising the living areas of Beastie Towers, making it nearly impossible for the non-crafting members of the household (sorry, Boyfriend!) to find a spot to sit down at the end of a working day. Trying to contain the sprawl wasn’t really an option either – it seemed like a lot of my valuable crafting time was spent trying to find things I’d only just tidied away.

Then, I started taking sewing classes with Zaria at The City Seamstress, and I was very taken with the incredible building where she has her workshop. Through a small door on a side street, up a flight of stairs… And you’re in the most amazing eclectic art space! I began to wonder if the Beasties could maybe find a home there too. So, on a whim, I applied – and was offered a place the same day! Care to take a look? Follow me!
The Back Loft at La Catedral Studios - CrawCrafts BeastiesWe’re just down this passageway, in the open-plan Back Loft area! Turn the corner and…
My Studio! CrawCrafts BeastiesPlease excuse the mess… I’m still in the process of moving in! A bit of that craftsplosion I mentioned earlier will definitely take care of those empty walls and clear tables, too.

For the moment, I’ve been enjoying spreading out across my new desk…
Colonising the Desk - New Studio - CrawCrafts Beasties… While still having a separate fabric-cutting and ironing station!
Ironing Table! CrawCrafts Beasties

Filling up the shelves is fun, too!
New Studio Shelves! CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd here’s a sneaky peek at some of the communal spaces. I’m really looking forward to relaxing in the roof garden this summer.
Inside La Catedral Studios - CrawCrafts BeastiesToday, I brought along the first (and most important) decorations for my studio walls as well – pictures and cards from some of my Beastie friends! Perhaps a few of you will spot something familiar in here…
Beastie Memorabilia! CrawCrafts BeastiesOh… And one more thing. This studio comes with a free feline friend! Hey there, Ophelia!
Ophelia the Studio Kitty - CrawCrafts BeastiesIsn’t she pretty? Expect to see a lot of her in future posts! Apparently she has a bit of a thing for yarn though, so I’m making sure all my storage boxes are kitty-proof!

So, welcome to our new home! I hope you enjoyed the tour… And if any of you have any decor tips, please share them in the comments. I haven’t done any interior designing since I painted my entire bedroom teal at age 14, so I’m not hugely confident in my abilities!

Also, I’ll be taking a bit of a break from blogging over the next couple of weeks as I get settled into this new space and get caught up with some of the other work I’ve been neglecting lately! But we’ll be back soon with new Beastie friends to meet and fresh monster adventures. See you then!

Explorer Beastie with Spring Daffodils - CrawCrafts Beasties

Early Spring at Beastie Towers!

Did you know that, according to the Celtic calendar, Spring in Ireland begins at the start of February? Most of the time, it doesn’t feel particularly Spring-like until well into March (especially last year!) but 2019 has been so mild. Explorer Beastie’s miniature daffodils have been blooming for a couple of weeks already!
Explorer Beastie with Spring Daffodils - CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd with the warming temperatures and gradually lengthening days, activity levels have been picking up a little too! Today I wanted to share some of the extra-curricular activities that have been keeping me and the Beasties busy this past while.

A Spring Clean… For My Skills!

Aaaah, the sewing machine! My old nemesis. For too long, your ways have eluded me… In fact, slow as it is to stitch seams by hand, it has often seemed quicker than the usual sew it-rip it-resew it-rip it process that usually accompanies a stint on the machine.
Vintage Singer Sewing Machine - CrawCrafts BeastiesBut this year, I decided enough was enough. Let’s master those sewing machine demons! So I signed up for a class with The City Seamstress. I’ve already picked up some valuable tips that have made my work better (and helped my confidence, too) and right now I’m working on a project which is neeeearly finished, so I should hopefully be able to share pics very soon!

And as well as learning, I’ve been teaching too! January was a really busy time for my knitting classes – it’s like half of Dublin decided to put “learn to knit” at the top of their New Year’s Resolutions list! This spurred me on to tackle something I’ve been meaning to do for a while… Make up a really easy sweater pattern.
A Super-Easy Srping Sweater - CrawCrafts BeastiesYou see, a lot of students want to take on the challenge of making a jumper quite early on… But even the simplest-looking designs often have next-level knitting skills lurking in the pattern. And while some new knitters thrive on being thrown in at the deep end, more than a few are put off by the idea of fancy shaping techniques, decorative seams and the alphabet soup of abbreviations that crop up in many “beginner” patterns.

So, what you see in the picture is sleeve #2 of an almost-finished sweater of… Just rectangles! And yes, the design is probably far from original, but this version is mine! That makes it easier to guide people through all the pre-knitting preparations, like sizing and choosing yarn, and also to suggest tweaks if anyone wants to put their own stamp on it.

Also, I get a new sweater.

But it can’t be all work and no play, of course. There has to be time for a…

Spring Breaaaaaaaak!

That means a quick trip out to Donegal with my brother, now pretty much a February tradition. This is the third year we’ve hit the road and headed about as far north-west as it’s possible to go in Ireland without falling into the sea. You can catch up with the epic 2017 and 2018 travelogues if you missed them!

Explorer Beastie sat this one out – well, he had to look after his garden, and I really think he should agree to take a bath before he goes on any more location photoshoots – but we did have company for the trip…
A Furry Friend for Our Road Trip - CrawCrafts Beasties… And I couldn’t resist leaving a monster behind on one of the beaches, just to prove I’d passed through!
Rock Monster in Donegal - CrawCrafts BeastiesWe also had a delicious lunch at Nancy’s Barn in Ballyliffin… Well worth a visit if you find yourself in this part of the world!

And Finally…

A few Beasties have been helping author (and Beastie Buddy) Tammie Painter to celebrate the launch of her latest book, Domna Part Two: The Solon’s Son!

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This novel is the second in a series of six about ambitious, resourceful Sofia Domna, whose plans are knocked sideways by a chance encounter in her local marketplace. If you haven’t discovered this series yet, you really should… And the best bit is that Tammie (generous to a fault) is giving away the first novel, The Sun God’s Daughter, to anyone who signs up to her mailing list. Go on, you know you want to!

Well, that’s all the news from here… What have you all been up to? Is Spring springing where you are? Be sure to tell us all about it in the comments!

Kale! Vegetable Garden - CrawCrafts Beasties

Winter Garden Wandering II – Into the Vegetable Patch!

Hello there Beastie friends! It’s got a little chillier since we last saw each other, but that doesn’t seem to have dampened Paddy and Plunkett’s spirits. Here’s where I lost track of them last weekThrough the Archway - CrawCrafts Beasties… And look, I’ve finally caught up with them – in the vegetable garden!

There’s Paddy, reveling in the green glory of some particularly vigorous parsley. No wonder I didn’t spot him straight away!
Paddy in the Parsley - Vegetable Garden - CrawCrafts BeastiesMeanwhile, Plunkett is checking out his rhubarb for signs of life. Hmmm, looks like we could almost have an early harvest soon!
First Rhubarb - Vegetable Garden - CrawCrafts Beasties

Even beds that seem empty at first glance are already putting up shoots… Shoots that Beasties notice before humans do! Paddy is already excited about these future raspberries.
Future Raspberries - Vegetable Garden - CrawCrafts BeastiesBut, pleasant as the thought of hot summer days spent munching juicy raspberries may be, that’s not going to fill any Beastie bellies today! And the first rumblings of Paddy’s stomach add a sudden note of urgency to this vegetable garden foray… What can the boys find to eat right now? Surely there has to be something better on the menu than parsley and baby rhubarb stew?

Luckily, there is.
Kale! Vegetable Garden - CrawCrafts BeastiesHurray for kale! Super tasty, and super good for you… And very much in season, even right now! YUM!

Grab one of those big frilly leaves each, boys, and let’s get to the kitchen!

And here’s what I’ve been doing with my kale lately – a tasty, filling soup using dried stuff from the cupboard and the kind of veggies you can usually find stashed in the bottom of your fridge. I adapted this recipe from the River Cottage Veg Everyday cookbook – out of necessity at first, because I was missing a few of the ingredients, and had to substitute what I could find to bulk it out. Then, after making the “real” recipe, I decided I liked my version better! Give it a try, and see what you think…

Kale and Barley Broth

You will need:

  • 2 Stock Pots (or stock cubes) made up with 1 litre boiling water
  • 50g pearl barley, rinsed
  • 50g red lentils, rinsed
  • 2 big handfuls of kale leaves, washed and with tough stalky bits cut away, then cut fine
  • 1 big carrot, peeled and cut into small dice
  • 1 stick celery, cut into small dice
  • 100g frozen peas
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

Bring the stock to the boil in a big ol’ saucepan, then add the lentils and barley, turn down the heat, and simmer for 20 minutes. Use this time to prep your vegetable ingredients!

The barley should now be almost tender, so add your diced celery, carrot and frozen peas to the mix, and wait for it to come back up to a simmer.

Then, add in your kale and cook for another 2-3 minutes. You want the kale to be tender, not soggy, after all!

Taste a spoonful, and season with salt and black pepper if you think it needs it.

Then grab a bowl, and feast to your heart’s content!

Well, hopefully that will keep you all going until next week, when I’ll have a new Beastie for you to meet! And if you do give the recipe a try, leave us a comment below to tell us how you got on!

Paddy, Plunkett and a Random Marigold - CrawCrafts Beasties

Winter Garden Wandering with Paddy and Plunkett!

Hello everybody! Well, we may be in the very depths of winter here in the northern hemisphere, but since we all made it through Blue Monday yesterday, it’s onwards and upwards from here! And after introducing a few new Beasties recently (catch up here and here) I thought it might be nice to get out for some fresh air, and take my new camera for a spin.

Of course, Paddy and Plunkett were more than happy to put themselves forward as models! So, we headed out into the garden to see what’s growing… Care to join us?

I caught up with Plunkett while he was tending to his hyacinths. He’s very proud of them, as you can see.
Plunkett with Hyacinths - CrawCrafts BeastiesBut then Paddy popped up, and suggested that it might be nice to take a wander outside.
Paddy pops in with an idea - CrawCrafts BeastiesTurns out he’s pretty persuasive.

And look! You can still find colour in the garden if you search in the right places…
Paddy, Plunkett and a Random Marigold - CrawCrafts Beasties… Although some of these places are easier to get to than others.
Climbing Beasties! CrawCrafts BeastiesStill, if it’s winter colour you’re after, this cheerful display of berries certainly fits the bill!
Paddy, Plunkett and some berries - CrawCrafts BeastiesThe view’s not bad either. Look how green everything is!
Enjoying the View - CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd when the boys spotted some long grass on the other side of the hedge, they knew exactly what to do next…
Hide and Beast - CrawCrafts BeastiesThere’s always time for a quick game of hide and seek!

But wait a sec… Where are they off to now? Wait for meeeeeeee!
Through the Archway - CrawCrafts BeastiesUh-oh! Looks like they’ve momentarily given me the slip. Hopefully I’ll be able to track them down before next week’s post!

How about you? Are you eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring before you venture back outdoors, or have you been enjoying walking in your own winter wonderland? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

We’ll be back next week with more from Paddy and Plunkett. I’m sure I’ll catch up with them eventually…

Beastie New Year 2019! CrawCrafts Beasties

Beastie New Year, Everybody!

Hey there Beastie friends! And a very happy new year to you from all of us here at Beastie Towers!
Beastie New Year 2019! CrawCrafts Beasties
2019 has barely begun, but we’re already super-excited at the prospect of a fresh shiny new year, all crammed with possibilities! And, looking back, 2018 was a pretty awesome twelve months.

For starters, it was my first full year of not having a part-time job to prop up my monster-making habit. And while that was occasionally terrifying (because I’m a sucker for luxuries like food and shelter), I was lucky enough to have a few alternative means of making ends meet thrown my way.

Top among these was starting to teach knitting classes in my local yarn emporium, The Constant Knitter. How cool is that? I’ve met some great people along the way… And watching them progress from learning the first steps to becoming the kind of hardcore knitting addicts who sit up half the night to finish a project has to be one of the best feelings in the world!
Knitter Barróg Beastie, by CrawCrafts Beasties

I also gave some new Beastie-based projects a go too… The biggest leap here was the framed Beastie family I made at the beginning of the summer.
A Beastie Family Portrait Frame - CrawCrafts BeastiesWow, talk about a learning curve! But totally worth it… And now that I’ve done one, I’m definitely up for taking on more projects like this!

Then, later in the year, the surprise hit of the Christmas market season – Kitty tree decorations!
Tree Ornaments in Box - Cat Tree Decorations - CrawCrafts BeasI made these to tempt the attendees of the Dublin Cat Fair back in November, and thanks to a shout-out from the organisers on Facebook before the event, they sold out! From then on, I could barely keep up with demand, even when I was frantically making more behind my table on market days! I’ll definitely be adding these to my festive lineup for 2019.

But I believe I promised you new Beasties in this post, so new Beasties you shall have! The pre-Christmas rush usually sees some fresh Beastie faces gracing my market stall, and they don’t always get the attention they deserve. So, without further ado…

Watermelon Beastie - CrawCrafts Beasties
First up is Watermelon Beastie! I had noticed that Beasties tend to embrace the less-than-healthy end of the dietary spectrum, so Watermelon Beastie is here to help balance that out a little. And their pink and green colouring so nicely complements that slab of delicious juicy melon, don’t you think? Look out for more fruit’n’veg munching monsters in the new year!

But those of you with a sweet tooth can rest assured that Beasties are still happy to share your favourite treats with you. Cookie Beasties and Doughnut Beasties were as popular as ever in 2018!
Sweetie Beasties - CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd my All-Irish Beasties were still happy to down a tipple or two… Tea, anyone? Or would you maybe prefer a pint of the Black Stuff?
Tae Beastie and Pint Beastie - CrawCrafts Beasties

Meanwhile, others decided that the most important thing was to stay toasty – cosy sweaters and tweed scarves ahoy!Cosy Irish Beasties - CrawCrafts BeastiesI also brought along a new Unicorn Beastie… It didn’t take them long to find a home!
Unicorn Beastie, by CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd finally… Some of you might recognise this woolly little monster face from Paddy’s Christmas tale last week. Yes, a Christmas market lineup wouldn’t be complete without…
Santa Beastie, by CrawCrafts Beasties… SANTA BEASTIE!

Phew! There were a few more there than I bargained for, so I suppose we’ll have to tackle the first of the Christmas commissions next week. In the meantime, thank you all SO MUCH for hanging out with us in 2018, and a very Beastie new year to you all!

Oh, and if your life isn’t Beastie-ful enough already, don’t forget that our 2019 downloadable Beastie calendar is available now!
Beastie 2019 Calendar title page - CrawCrafts BeastiesCatch you next Tuesday!

 

Santa Beastie - Beastmas 2018 - CrawCrafts Beasties

Happy Beastmas!

Hey everybody! We’re baaaaaack! It’s been a crazy couple of weeks, but we just wanted to swing by to wish you all…

A very merry Beastmas!

And while I’m here, how about a seasonal Beastmas tale? Pull up a chair, grab some mulled wine and a fistful of mince pies, and let me tell you all about…

Paddy’s Santa Trap!

‘Twas the night before Beastmas,
And up in Beastie Towers,
Paddy wasn’t sleepy
– He’d been awake for hours!

Sleepless Paddy - Beastmas 2019 - CrawCrafts Beasties

He’s thinking about Santa,
And reindeer, elves and toys…
And bringing all the Beastmas gifts
To Beastie girls and boys.

He says, “They need a helper
To aid them in their task.
But Beastmas is so busy!
There won’t be time to ask!”

Paddy's Idea - Beastmas 2018 - CrawCrafts Beasties

So he thinks, “I’ll build a Santa trap!
That will slow him down.
And then I’ll ask him for a job,
While he’s stuck on the ground!”

He sets to work, and builds a trap
With hammer, nails and wood.
Four feet tall and eight feet wide
– It’s looking pretty good!

Paddy Building - Beastmas 2018 - CrawCrafts Beasties

Now, carpentry is heavy work.
Paddy’s eyes begin to close.
He settles down beside the fire,
And has a little doze.

But while Paddy is dreaming,
A shadow moves and shifts.
Hey look! It’s Santa Beastie
With a big bag full of gifts!

Santa Beastie Arrives - Beastmas 2018 - CrawCrafts Beasties

He dodges Paddy’s Santa trap
– He doesn’t even stall –
He spots the cookies left as bait
And then devours them all!

Santa Beastie with Cookie - Beastmas 2018 - CrawCrafts Beasties

But then he looks back at the trap.
Such craftsmanship! Such care!
And that’s when he sees Paddy
Who’s sleeping, unaware!

A Gift for Paddy - Beastmas 2018 - CrawCrafts Beasties

He pulls a parcel from his bag,
Leaves it by Paddy’s side.
Then vanishes, like magic,
As Paddy’s eyes spring open wide.

Paddy rushes to the Santa trap.
Oh no! There’s nothing there!
But when he opens up his gift,
He really doesn’t care.

“Come join me at the North Pole,”
The note inside it reads.
“Your building skills are awesome,
You’re just the Beast we need!”

So that’s how Paddy’s Santa trap
Made a Beastmas wish come true.
And if you ask, Santa Beastie
Might do the same for you!

Santa Beastie - Beastmas 2018 - CrawCrafts Beasties

Happy Holidays, everybody!

We’ll be back next week with new Beasties to kick off 2019 in style! See you then!

Godzilla Beastie! CrawCrafts Beasties

A Festive Beastie Weekend!

Hey there Beastie friends! It’s just a quick “hello!” from me today, because (and I might have mentioned this once or twice lately) we’re going full tilt here in Beastie Towers right now! But I really wanted to share some photos of the lovely market we went to this past weekend – a fun, festive affair in one of the beautiful Georgian houses that surround Merrion Square park in central Dublin.

Take the Beastie Tour!

I caught up with Woolly Jumper Beastie in the entrance hall…
Festive Christmas Tree at the Irish Architectural Archive - CrawCrafts BeastiesOoooh, look at that Christmas tree!

This building is home to the Irish Architectural Archive, and our Beastie friend took full advantage of their miniature Dublin skyline sculpture to do his best Godzilla impression!
Godzilla Beastie! CrawCrafts BeastiesThen I lost him for a moment – I could have sworn he was right next to this leaf and berry arrangement a second ago!
Festive Beastie Berries! CrawCrafts BeastiesAha! Found him. That’s some pretty good camouflage, though.

Now, upstairs to join your friends at the market!
Stone Stairs at the Irish Architectural Archive - CrawCrafts BeastiesThat’s better!
Christmas on the Square Stall - CrawCrafts Beasties

We had a great time here, and many of the Beasties you see in the photo above headed off to new homes over the course of the day! We were also kept in good festive spirits by a kind gentleman who wandered the building for the duration of the market bearing a tray of complimentary mulled wine… How civilised!

I hope the Beasties behaved well enough for us to be invited back next year!

And speaking of markets…

I’ve a teeeeny favour to ask. A whole heap of Dublin markets have been made to close their doors this year, and the future of those that remain is looking a little wobbly.

The organisers of the Dublin Flea market are lobbying Dublin City Council to make some provision for market spaces in Dublin’s ongoing development plan. They want to ensure that markets and indie retailers aren’t squeezed out by the bigger players… And we want to support them! The Beasties and I love our markets, and we’d hate to see them become a thing of the past.

And even if you don’t live in Dublin, your signature still counts! Because you might want to visit at some stage, right? And wouldn’t it be nicer to travel to a city with its own unique identity?

So, please take a sec to click through and sign their online petition here.

Alrighty, back to my crafting table I go! We’ll be back next Tuesday with a quick reminder about our last market of the festive season. See you then, and have a great week!

 

Cat Sweater Beasties, by CrawCrafts Beasties

Beasties! Cats! Gin!

It may only be Tuesday, but it seems like we’re already in party mode here at Beastie Towers! Come and join us as we pick a name for the 2018 sloe gin batch, as promised last week, and give you a sneak peek of some of the other kitty-inspired goodies we’ll be bringing to the Dublin Cat Fair this Sunday! First up…

It’s Sloe Time!

Thanks to all of you who contributed pun-tastic name suggestions for this year’s Beastie Towers Blend sloe gin! The only downside was that they were all so good that I couldn’t choose one purely on merit, and I decided to hand over the reins to chance instead. Well, chance and a couple of Beastie assistants.

First, I gathered up all the suggestions, wrote them on slips of paper, folded them neatly and… Fed them to Crablet.
Decisions decisions - Crablet is Helping - CrawCrafts BeastiesThen I called on Explorer Beastie to pick a winner.
Picking a Winner - CrawCrafts BeastiesThis didn’t exactly go according to plan.
Explorer Beastie Falls In - CrawCrafts BeastiesBut Explorer Beastie is made of sturdy stuff. Look, he’s got one!
We Have a Winner! CrawCrafts BeastiesWho is it?
Who Won? CrawCrafts BeastiesTaaaa-daaaaah! 2018 is the year of “Sloe on the Uptake”, courtesy of Tammie!
Sloe on the Uptake! CrawCrafts BeastiesOf course, Explorer Beastie would have to pick the most messily-written slip of the bunch! But an excellent result. And now I can finally get those bottles labelled!
2018, The Year of Sloe on the Uptake! CrawCrafts BeastiesThanks, Tammie… And to all of you who took part! I reckon I’m all set with sloe puns for at least the next decade!

Now, how about another…

Cat Fair Preview!

This morning I assembled a sampling of my Cat Fair specials together for a pre-market photoshoot. Care to take the tour?

First of all, I thought some snow-white kitties for the tree would be a good addition to the lineup! The grey ones from last week got a good response, so let’s see how these work out. Do you have a favourite?
White Cat Tree Ornaments - CrawCrafts BeastiesI also turned my hand to making some stitched embroidery hoop pictures. I’ve been meaning to do this for years! There’s a small (4in/10cm) version and a large (6in/15cm) one.
Cat Frames - CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd of course, the Beasties had to get a slice of the action! First up, I made some Beasties in cosy, smiley cat sweaters.
Cat Sweater Beasties, by CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd there will also be Beasties with their own felty, feline friends, like this guy!
Cat Owner Beastie by CrawCrafts BeastiesPlus I reckon a few other little woolly monsters will stow away in my Beastie backpack on market day… I’ll see how much space I have!

And on that note, I’d better get back to my sewing table! Join us for more Beastie shenanigans next Tuesday, and in the meantime, have a great week!

A Bevy of Hallowe'en Beasties, by CrawCrafts Beasties

Happy Hallowe’en!

Woooooooooooo!

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

Beasties at Hallowe'en - CrawCrafts Beasties

Soooo…

Have a spooktacular Hallowe’en!

And here are some seasonal monsters to get your own festivities started!
Dracula Beastie's Library - CrawCrafts BeastiesFirst of all, we’ve got Dracula Beastie stopping in for a bite!

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

Who sewed this guy together? CrawCrafts BeastiesWell, as long as nobody lets this guy in.
Grim Reaper Beastie, by CrawCrafts Beasties
Have a monster time… And don’t forget to tell us all about your own Hallowe’en plans in the comments!

Sloes Featured - Foraging - CrawCrafts Beasties

A Beastie Foraging Feast!

Hello there Beastie friends! How was your weekend? Ours turned out to be surprisingly fruitful, when we went for a late autumn walk in the Irish countryside! Join us as we head out foraging in nature’s larder… Well, if Explorer Beastie can be coaxed out of the flower beds.
Autumn Flowers - CrawCrafts Beasties

A Sloe Day for Foraging

We honestly weren’t expecting great results from our wanderings… Although it’s been a super year for blackberries, birds and other free food enthusiasts had long since stripped the best pickings from the hedgerows. And our other quarry, the humble sloe, didn’t seem to enjoy the unusually warm weather this summer as much as the rest of us did. All our usual picking spots were turning up bare!

But fortunately, Explorer Beastie stopped to check out this cushiony bit of moss growing among the spines of a blackthorn…
Moss in the Hedge - CrawCrafts Beasties… And turned up some sloes clinging to the branches of its neighbour!
Foraging for Sloes! CrawCrafts BeastiesFor those of you who are unfamiliar with sloes, they’re the fruit of the blackthorn tree. And although they’re related to plums and damsons, and look mighty like blueberries, you reeeeealllllly don’t want to just eat them. They’re unbelievably bitter, and biting into one will leave your mouth feeling like you’ve been wandering in the Sahara for a week! No, we have other plans for these… More on that later.

Continuing with our walk, we decided to check in on some four-legged friends further along the road.
Friends in the field - CrawCrafts BeastiesThis little lady calf was especially keen to come over and say hello. But wait a sec, what’s she spotted over there?
Curious Calf, Foraging Helper! CrawCrafts Beasties– GASP! –

It’s a monster mushroom!
Monster Mushroom ahoy! CrawCrafts BeastiesWhat a beauty! And we were so sure that mushroom season was over!

“Look! It’s nearly the same size as me!”
Monster with Monster Mushroom - CrawCrafts BeastiesYum! But what should we do with it?

Back in my own Unphotogenic Kitchen…

Cutting Mushrooms - CrawCrafts BeastiesExplorer Beastie supervised while I chopped the prized fungus into wedges, and we made up the numbers with a couple of large brown mushrooms from the greengrocer.

Then, with a little monster magic (and an onion, some ready-made puff pastry, crème fraîche, gruyere cheese and a smidge of bacon)… TA DAAAAH!
Dinner - A Foraging Feast! CrawCrafts BeastiesMushroom tart à la Beastie! It was really rather good, even if it didn’t photograph particularly well. I don’t think the food bloggers out there have to worry about this turning into a cookery blog anytime soon!

And as for those Sloes…

Those other fruits of our foraging trip are destined to become sloe gin!

These bitter little berries undergo a marvellous transformation when they’re soaked in gin, sweetened with sugar and left alone for 3 months. (But then again, who wouldn’t respond favourably to such treatment? Ha!)

The end result is a fruity, bright pink liqueur which is delicious by itself, or topped up with sparkling water and some ice. I’ve been making a batch every autumn for the last few years, and I’ve amassed quite a collection. Feast your eyes on the wondrous Gin Gallery!
Gin Gallery - Foraging - CrawCrafts BeastiesAs you can see, every batch gets a pun-tastic name. Previous (long since departed) incarnations include Sloe Learner and Sloe Train to Oblivion, and that Vintage Reserve on the left is now a whopping 5 years old! Apparently the brew improves with age, so I’m going to see how long I can keep it.

But this year, a name is yet to suggest itself. Oh no! But I know there are a few of you out there who share my appreciation of a good/bad pun, so I’m opening the naming question to the floor. Leave your choicest boozy puns in the comments, and my favourite will grace the bottles of the 2018 batch!

Have any of you enjoyed foraging success this autumn? Share your food-for-free stories with us below. And also, pleeeeeeeease be super-careful when foraging for yourselves, especially where mushrooms are concerned!

Good hunting!