Beasties – Page 14

Rugby Beastie, Ready to Play - CrawCrafts Beasties

A Rugby Star is Born!

Posted on February 5, 2019June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Commissions, Knitted Beasties

Happy Tuesday, everyone! And today I have a real monster treat for you all… The first new Beastie of 2019! Here he is – a brand new Rugby Beastie!
It’s been a while since I made a Rugby Beastie – you can check out past members of Team Beastie here and here – but they’re always a fun challenge.

For starters, I usually make them a little taller than regular Beasties. Human rugby players often stand a few inches above the rest of us, so it only seems right!
So, in knitting terms, this guy is rocking an extra row on his torso, and a couple of extra rows to lengthen his legs!

And now, he needs some kit! This Rugby Beastie was requested by a lovely lady who met me at one of my markets before Christmas. She wanted a gift for her son… A lucky monster mascot to cheer him on from the sidelines at a very important match that would be taking place at the end of January.

So, it made sense to dress him in the team’s colours. That’s a deep blue rugby shirt with white collar and trim, completed with an appliquéd and embroidered star motif.

He’ll also need a ball, or we won’t be able to play! As with many previous Rugby Beasties (and even rugby supporter Beasties) he’s carrying a Beastified version of the official Ireland rugby ball.

And finally… Check out that hair!
The colour is inspired by his human counterpart, and the yarn I used was a luxurious blend of alpaca and wool. You’ll have to take my word for it, but it’s unbelievably soft.

Now, I reckon you’re ready to hit the pitch!
And hopefully he worked a little monster magic for his teammates, too!

Join us again next Tuesday, when Paddy and Plunkett are off to Belfast to check out one of the city’s most popular attractions. See you then… And have a monster week in the meantime!

Kale! Vegetable Garden - CrawCrafts Beasties

Winter Garden Wandering II – Into the Vegetable Patch!

Posted on January 29, 2019June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Life at Beastie Towers, Paddy and Plunkett

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 week…… 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!
Meanwhile, Plunkett is checking out his rhubarb for signs of life. Hmmm, looks like we could almost have an early harvest soon!

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.
But, 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.
Hurray 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!

Posted on January 22, 2019June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Life at Beastie Towers, 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.
But then Paddy popped up, and suggested that it might be nice to take a wander outside.
Turns out he’s pretty persuasive.

And look! You can still find colour in the garden if you search in the right places…
… Although some of these places are easier to get to than others.
Still, if it’s winter colour you’re after, this cheerful display of berries certainly fits the bill!
The view’s not bad either. Look how green everything is!
And when the boys spotted some long grass on the other side of the hedge, they knew exactly what to do next…
There’s always time for a quick game of hide and seek!

But wait a sec… Where are they off to now? Wait for meeeeeeee!
Uh-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…

Hey Sisters! Go Sisters!

Posted on January 15, 2019June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Knitted Beasties

Hello there Beastie friends! I’ve another fresh new Beastification to share with you today… And better yet, it’s a two-for-one deal! I give you – the Beastie Sisters!
This happy pair were made as a Christmas gift for two real-life human sisters, Emily and Holly.

Let’s meet Holly Beastie first!
Human Holly is super into horses, so a Beastie with an esquestrienne flavour fitted the bill perfectly. I started at the top, with a traditional black peaked riding hat…
…And her soft alpaca hair is pulled neatly in underneath in a very stylish bun.
Then her outfit is completed with a natty little hand-sewn tweed jacket… Which really unbuttons!
And underneath, she’s got a crisp white shirt and ribbon tie.

Anything else? Oh yes, here’s a riding crop in case you need it!
Perfect! And then for little sister…
…A sweet little ribbon-tie dress, with a cute Matryoshka doll print! Ideal for little hands to play with.
I also love her hairstyle!
These are the same alpaca tresses that Emily Beastie has (they are sisters, after all!) but they look completely different cut short in a halo of soft curls.

And of course, Holly Beastie needs an accessory too. Here you go!
Looking good!

And we all know that when a Beastie has a bag, there’s usually something inside. This is the perfect place to stash a tasty snack for later… And maybe she’ll even share it with her sister!
And with that, these two were ready to go! They hopped in a box, and made it to their new home just in time for the Christmas festivities. According to inside sources, they spent most of their first day there being helped into and out of their outfits!

Next week, we’re taking a break from new Beasties to check in with Paddy and Plunkett for the first time in 2019. I’m not sure what they’re up to, but they did want me to remind you that their handsome green faces are gracing the first page of the Beastie Calendar for this year. You can still download your copy from our online store here.

See you then!

Spencer Beastie, A Personalised Commission by CrawCrafts Beasties

Beasties Are Doin’ It For Themselves!

Posted on January 8, 2019 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Crafting

Aaaah, the new year! It’s a time when many of us think about taking on a new interest, or learning a new skill… And perhaps more than a few of you are considering trying your hand at a little DIY.

Well, the Beasties are WAAAAAY ahead of you on that one! Meet Spencer Beastie, a practical little monster who lives for building, creating and fixing things.
Spencer Beastie was requested by our good buddy Melissa at Knitting the Stash, as a gift for her husband. And he’ll have to be VERY on the ball to keep up with Human Spencer, who is always working away at something cool. In fact, Human Spencer’s latest oeuvre is a complete renovation of an old prison bus… It’s amazing! You can catch up with the project on his YouTube channel, or keep an eye on his progress on Instagram, here.

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Prison bus gets a hook. The bus didn’t seem to mind #skoolieconversion #welding #skoolie #skoolielife #prisonbus #buslife #vanlife

A post shared by wood/stone/steel (@metaspencer) on Jan 6, 2019 at 5:18pm PST

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So, I thought a good starting point would be to make sure that Spencer Beastie can pull his weight when there’s work to be done. Go go magic magnetic paws!
Not only can he now hold things, he can also “hang out” on metal surfaces in the prison bus!

Then with Melissa’s guidance, I was able to copy Human Spencer’s tattoo…
… Glasses…
… Favourite hat…… And trademark bandana handkerchief!

Now, what’s that? A backpack?
I think we all know what that means… Let’s see what’s inside!
Aha! Everything a Beastie needs to tackle a serious refit project – a Beastie-sized torch, pocket knife and hammer!

And of course, each piece contains a magnet so that Spencer Beastie can hold them by himself!
Finally, for those of you who are suckers for the teeniest of tiny details, the torch contains a glass bead “bulb”…
… And the blade of the pocket knife really folds out!
Well, I think you’re ready to help out in the workshop, Spencer Beastie! Better get packed up and make the journey Stateside…
And the best bit is, you can see him settling in to his new home! Melissa very kindly featured Spencer Beastie in the latest episode of her podcast series… Check it out here!

It gets Beastie-ful at 15 minutes, but I so enjoy Melissa’s engaging, interesting shows that I’d recommend watching from the start. Who knows, it might inspire you to pick up the needles and get knitting this year!

And that’s all from me this week… But I’ll be back next Tuesday with more of the Beasties who found new homes during the festive season! Hope to see you then!

Beastie New Year 2019! CrawCrafts Beasties

Beastie New Year, Everybody!

Posted on January 1, 2019June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Knitted Beasties, Life at Beastie Towers

Hey there Beastie friends! And a very happy new year to you from all of us here at Beastie Towers!

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!

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.
Wow, 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!
I 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…

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!
And 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?

Meanwhile, others decided that the most important thing was to stay toasty – cosy sweaters and tweed scarves ahoy!I also brought along a new Unicorn Beastie… It didn’t take them long to find a home!
And 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!

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!
Catch you next Tuesday!

Santa Beastie - Beastmas 2018 - CrawCrafts Beasties

Happy Beastmas!

Posted on December 24, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Life at Beastie Towers, Paddy and Plunkett

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!

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!”

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!

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!

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

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

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!

Happy Holidays, everybody!

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

A Festive Beastie Weekend!

Posted on December 4, 2018June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Info, Knitted Beasties, Life at Beastie Towers

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…
Ooooh, 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!
Then I lost him for a moment – I could have sworn he was right next to this leaf and berry arrangement a second ago!
Aha! Found him. That’s some pretty good camouflage, though.

Now, upstairs to join your friends at the market!
That’s better!

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!

A Happy Beastie Family - CrawCrafts Beasties

A Whole New Beastie Family!

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

Hey there Beastie friends! We’re broadcasting a little later than usual, because as we all know, proximity to the holiday season wreaks havoc with the best-laid plans of mice and monster-makers. Buuuuut I’m optimistic that I can make it up to you by distracting you with a whole family of new Beasties!

They actually left Beastie Towers some time ago, but only reached their new home over the weekend. So I’m really happy that I can finally share them without spoiling any surprises! Look, here comes the first one now… Hello there!
Ooooh, nice dress… Care to give us a twirl?
Lovely!

Now, I think this little fellow is also part of the family.
Uh-oh! He’s missing his mum… Time to hand him back!
You might just be able to see that she has special velcro paws, so that she can hug him extra tight.

But we can’t stay home all day – it’s time to get to work! Mama Beastie is also a doctor, so I’ve got her white coat pressed and ready to wear.
And with Baby Beastie peacefully napping in the nursery, Dad Beastie just manages to nab a quick cuddle as Mama Beastie dashes out to the hospital!
Let’s chat to him next. Hey, Cool Dad Beastie!
Looks like he’s about to tuck into some lunch! A slice of pepperoni pizza…
… Topped with lashings of every Beastie’s favourite spicy sauce – Tabeastco!
Let’s hope he doesn’t accidentally get any on that nice checked shirt! Very stylish.
Now, how about one more family portrait before we go?
Beautiful!

Big congratulations to baby Michael who celebrated his christening on Sunday, and to his proud parents David and Naomi! And thank you to Louise, Peter and Isabel for knowing that a full-family Beastification is the best way to mark such an important event.

And while I’m doing thank yous – cheers to the lovely people I met at the Dublin Cat Fair this past weekend! I so enjoyed chatting to you all, and hopefully I’ll see you at next year’s fair. I promise I’ll bring more Tree Kitties next time.
Aaaaand finally – the wonderful Georgian houses of Dublin’s Merrion Square are throwing open their doors for Christmas on the Square this coming Saturday, and the Beasties will be there! Find us in the Irish Architectural Archive at no.45 from 10am-5pm. Full details are here if you need ’em!

Hope to see you there! And if not, I’ll be back with a quick post next Tuesday… Possibly even at the usual time!

Cat Sweater Beasties, by CrawCrafts Beasties

Beasties! Cats! Gin!

Posted on November 20, 2018June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Crafting, Knitted Beasties, Life at Beastie Towers

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.
Then I called on Explorer Beastie to pick a winner.
This didn’t exactly go according to plan.
But Explorer Beastie is made of sturdy stuff. Look, he’s got one!
Who is it?
Taaaa-daaaaah! 2018 is the year of “Sloe on the Uptake”, courtesy of Tammie!
Of 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!
Thanks, 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?
I 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.
And of course, the Beasties had to get a slice of the action! First up, I made some Beasties in cosy, smiley cat sweaters.
And there will also be Beasties with their own felty, feline friends, like this guy!
Plus 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!

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