Commission – Page 10

Baker Girl Beastie in the Kitchen- CrawCrafts Beasties

Flashback Friday – Baker Girl Beastie

Posted on September 23, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Commissions, Flashback Friday, Knitted Beasties

It’s time for another browse through the BeastieBlog archives… and since we’ve been talking a lot about treats already this week, it only seemed fair to have another treat-y Beastie to see us into the weekend! Hands up who remembers…
…Baker Girl Beastie!

I made this Beastie at the start of 2015, and she was one of my first “real” commissions. It was exciting to be making a monster for someone who I didn’t previously know… and a little nerve-racking, too!

Fortunately, the lady who requested this little monster girl had a good idea of what she wanted. First up – red hair, to match her own…
… And a cute little printed cotton dress, protected by a hand-embroidered apron!
But the most important accessory was her big pink cupcake!
In fact, I recently revisited this idea, and made some larger stand-alone felt cupcakes!
They’re really fun to make, and right now I’ll take any opportunity to flex my newfound felting muscles!

One thing I noticed while putting this post together was how much my Beastie photography has improved in the past year and a half, even if I do say so myself! It just goes to show that practice makes… um… maybe not perfect, but definitely better!

It’s been a while since I heard from Baker Girl Beastie… hopefully either she or her human will see this and drop us a line! Then again, perhaps she’s training hard for the next season of “The Great British Bake Off”! Are any of you planning to spend some time in the kitchen this weekend? Let us know in the comments!

The Best-Laid Plans of Mice and Monster-Makers…

Posted on September 13, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Info, Life at Beastie Towers

Oh dear. Ever just have one of those days?Yes, I know I promised new Beasties galore today, and I even have a couple of little monsters who are oh-so-keen to meet you all! But alas, they’re just not quite ready yet… A small matter of one accessory that is refusing to coooperate. However, the good news is that I think I’m finally close to breaking its spirit and bending it to my will, so you’ll definitely be able to meet them all next week!

You’ll also surely be reassured to learn that I haven’t spent the whole weekend cussing at tiny pieces of felt. It’s been a busy one here at Beastie Towers! There have been commission sketches to prepare…

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… And, in case you missed my all-over-all-the-social-media-announcement last week, I did a guest post for local crafty magazine Olann And!

My Featured Craftspeople! CrawCrafts Beasties — My Featured Crafters! Clockwise from left: Dinah’s Dolls, Guadalupe Creations, Niki Collier Design.

It was great to have a chance to introduce their readers to some of my favourite Dublin craftspeople – two of whom (Niki Collier and Ann from Dinah’s Dolls) are also fellow WordPress bloggers. So do stop by their blogs if you get a second, they’re some seriously talented ladies!

And if that wasn’t enough to keep me out of mischief, I’m also gearing up to head to the Ha’Penny Market at The Grand Social again this Saturday!

We had such a great time on our last visit, and this is the first Saturday we’ve had free since then, so we’re really looking forward to it! As always, feel free to pop in and say hi – we’d love to see you!
Alrighty, time to recommence battle with those accessories! We’ll be back on Friday, with photos from the day trip Explorer Beastie and I took last Saturday. See you then!

Another Monster Big Day!

Posted on August 2, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Commissions, Knitted Beasties

Hey there Beastiebuddies! It’s Tuesday again, so that means I am duty bound to introduce you to the newest arrivals here at Beastie Towers – and since wedding season is still in full swing, it looks like you’re actually getting TWO new Beasties for the price of one. Don’t say I ain’t good to ya!

Ooookaaay, where shall we start? Aha! Here comes the bride now.
Isn’t she pretty? I loved styling her beautiful long hair!

Her dress is an understated yet elegant ivory satin, with a fitted wool bodice and net petticoats, and she has a veil to match… topped with pale yellow roses, to complement her golden skintone.
This Beastie bride’s human counterpart is a big fan of board games, so I also made her a personalised miniature Scrabble tile necklace to complete her outfit!
And what’s that in her paw?
It’s a “Carcassonne” board game, shrunk to Beastie size! Apparently this is the human bride’s very favourite board game, and I thought Beastie Bride would like one too.
I used felt as the background, then appliquéd hand-cut pieces of felt on for the larger blocks of colour, before adding in the details and lettering with hand-stitched embroidery. The finished box measures just 5x6cm!

But let’s not forget about the groom! He’s looking dapper in a navy felt and wool suit, and his golden yellow tie is a thoughtful nod to his lady-wife’s complexion.
And because he’s an enthusiastic Latin scholar and budding writer, I couldn’t quite convince him to leave his dictionary and favourite pen at home…
…But I did manage to attach them both to his jacket…
…So he can show off his sweet dance moves at the reception!
Congratulations to the bride and groom, and thanks to Niamh for requesting this fun commission as a gift for her friends!
We’ll be back on Friday, when we’ll be checking up on Paddy and Plunkett. Let’s hope the sun is still shining on them, wherever they are…

Until then, have a super week!

Happy Families at Beastie Towers!

Posted on July 22, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Commissions, Crafting, Knitted Beasties

Well, now that we’re back in Beastie Towers, suitably rested and relaxed from our little holiday, it’s business as usual here on the BeastieBlog! I’ve some new Beasties to introduce, and they’re super-excited to meet you all. So, without further ado, here they are… a whole FAMILY of Beasties!

These were made as a very special commission to celebrate the arrival of human baby Roibín… so of course the most important element was a little baby Beastie!
Look how cosy he is in his stripey handknitted blanket! I’ve given him big wide-open eyes and a little tuft of blond hair as well, to more closely match his human counterpart. But of course, we’d better not forget about Mum and Dad…

First of all, pretty Mama Beastie is modelling a mostly hand-stitched skater-style dress… yes, I’m FINALLY trying to do more of my monster tailoring on the sewing machine! All the stitches you can see in the photo are done by hand, but my machine made short work of speeding through the seams. I’ve also made Mama Beastie a necklace similar to the one her human normally wears!
And check out her beautiful blonde merino wool locks!
But what about Papa Beastie? Ah, here he is.
More tailoring here – this time, a bespoke checked shirt! After watching “The Great British Sewing Bee”, I’ve learned the benefit of strategically placing template pieces so the fabric’s patterns line up better on the finished article. I have to admit to being quite pleased with how this little shirt turned out!
And since Mama Beastie is holding the baby, what’s Papa Beastie got? Well, it turns out he’s a bit of a musician, so…
Perfect! Now he can play a gentle lullaby to send Baby Beastie off to sleep!
Here’s wishing this little monster family a nice quiet weekend together! And have any of you got fun family time planned for the next couple of days? Let us know in the comments!

As usual, we’ll be back on Tuesday… and there will be another new Beastie for you to meet, too. See you then!

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David Bowie Beastie, A Special Commission by CrawCrafts Beasties

Scary Monsters (And Super Beasts)

Posted on July 12, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Commissions, Knitted Beasties

Loyal Beastie spotters will already have seen this picture on our Instagram yesterday, but in case you missed it here’s a clue to the identity of the new Beastie you’ll be meeting today…

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And here’s how he turned out – meet David Bowie Beastie!
Or should that be Beastie Stardust? Either way, I had fun playing makeup artist to a real life monster rock star! The famous “stripe” is mainly felt appliqué, but with the finest lines embroidered in black cotton…
…Then I picked some chunky merino yarn to recreate his signature brilliant red feathered hairdo!
Since this Beastie is going to live with a human mum and her recently-arrived little one, we decided to keep his accessories to a minimum – just in case he ends up babysitting! Even so, I thought I could add a touch of glam rock style to his jumpsuit by using a shiny cotton and viscose yarn, and popping on some over-the-top satin shoulder pads…
Thanks to Tracy for requesting this very special Beastie as a gift for her friend! The idea had been stewing in my brain for a while, and it was great to finally have an excuse to make it a reality.

Here’s wishing you all a monster week, and don’t forget to share your favourite David Bowie song with us in the comments!

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Beach Beasties Take a Weight Off - CrawCrafts Beasties

Summertiiiiiiime… And the livin’ is Beastieeeee!

Posted on July 5, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Crafting

Happy Tuesday, everyone! And look, I’ve some new Beasties for you to meet!

I’m delighted to introduce you to Beach Babe Beastie and her new Beastie hubby, Outdoor Adventure Beastie!
The person who requested these two little monsters wanted them as a wedding gift for a couple who she described as “summer people” – when the sun starts to shine, they’re the first to dash outside to soak up some rays on the beach or seek out adventure in the countryside! So rather than dress their Beasties up in stiff, formal wedding garb, we decided to go for outfits and accessories that would reflect their love of those long, hot summer days.

Ready for the guided tour? Great – ladies first, then!
With her sunkissed blonde hair and Beastie-sized bikini, Beach Babe Beastie is all set to spend her honeymoon basking on golden sands somewhere in the tropics. And look, someone has brought her a cocktail to sip as she sunbathes!

Then once the sun slips below the horizon, she can pop on a cute floral-print skirt and head out for a relaxed dinner with her Beastie Beloved!
I also gave her a little tote bag, to hold her sunscreen – she needs to preserve her lovely rose-pink complexion, after all.
And of course, she needed a pair of film-star sunglasses to complete her look!
Now, where’s that husband of hers got to? Oh, there he is!
He’s a real outdoors enthusiast, who loves keeping fit and camping under the stars. All this activity has helped him grow a bit taller and musclier than your average Beastie!
While I was making these Beasties, I thought it might be a good opportunity to redesign my Beastie backpacks – the new-style ones close with Velcro instead of snaps, and I think they’re a better, more realistic shape and more sturdily constructed.
They still hold everything an adventurous Beastie needs for a day away, too – in this case, a big bottle of water and a tasty cheese sandwich!
And finally, this guy had to have a pair of sunglasses!
All we need now is a bright sunny day for them to enjoy! But until then, they’ve managed to find a decent substitute…
Hurry up, summer… I need my desk back!

Hope you’re enjoying less apocalyptic weather where you are – my must-have summer accessory this past week has been my umbrella! What do you keep in your beach bag or backpack?

A Beastie Postcard from Italy!

Posted on June 24, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family

Its a rainy old day here in Dublin… and that makes it even nicer to get an update from some Beasties abroad! I’m sure many of you will remember Antonello and Tiziana Beastie and their cat Beas-Tris from previous monster adventures… But if you’re new here, why not take a second to catch up with their first trip to their local Irish pub and their (B)Easter weekend away in Perugia?
Today, they’re on the road again – this time, they’re visiting the Abruzzo region in central Italy, home to the country’s oldest National Park. The park’s headquarters are located in the picturesque town of Pescasseroli, a place with plenty to keep two curious little Beasties entertained!

First stop was the beautiful church of St Peter and St Paul, which dates back to the 14th century. Never satisfied with the view from the ground, our adventurous friends climbed a nearby tree to get a better look!
The church also has this colourful floral wall on its left side… Spot the Beasties!
But being surrounded by all this natural greenery had an unexpected effect on Beas-Tris – could it be that she felt the call of the wild?
And no sooner had her Beastie minders managed to extract her from her hiding place in the herbaceous border, she was off again – this time, scaling the elaborate metal vine sculpture that was entwined around this staircase!
It’s lucky that Antonello Beastie and Tiziana Beastie are both excellent climbers… And generous pet owners. Figuring that Beas-Tris was in need of some four-legged company, they decided to spend the rest of the day in the park’s zoo. Here, sick and injured animals from the park are taken in and cared for until they’re ready to be released back into the wild. The local wildlife certainly makes for some interesting viewing – did you know that this part of Italy is still home to wild boar, lynx, deer and bears?

Yes, bears!
The Beasties met this one, who is currently feeling a little under the weather. Hopefully he’ll soon be well enough to be left back in the woods where he was found. As you can see, Beas-Tris decided to stay close to her parents here!

And now, time for one more group photo before we head back home!
Thanks to Antonello and Tiziana Beastie (and their human counterparts) for sending us these photos! They’ve certainly brought a bit of sunshine to my day.

Has anyone else encountered some interesting wildlife recently? Let us know in the comments! And don’t forget to drop back in on Tuesday, when I hope to have some new Beasties for you all to meet…

A Sprinkle of Fairy Dust…

Posted on May 31, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Commissions, Crafting, Knitted Beasties

Hooray! It’s time to spread a bit of new Beastie magic here at Beastie Towers!

This friendly little monster may look like any other Beastie…
… But her accessories might give you a clue about her special secret identity!
Crown, sparkly wings, tutu, wand… Yep, I think we might have a Fairy Princess Beastie here!

All her accessories are handstitched and embellished by yours truly… Well, apart from the tutu. I’m proud to announce that, for once, I embraced 20th century technology and used my sewing machine for the waistband!

So, without further ado, let’s see how Fairy Princess Beastie’s outfit comes together.
Beautiful!

This little monster lady also marks another step forward in Beastie-volution – look at her paws, specially adapted to help her hold onto her wand without help.
As we’re now just heading into summer here in the northern hemisphere, Fairy Princess Beastie should definitely be warm enough in her elegant floaty skirt. But what happens when the weather starts to get colder again?

Don’t worry, Fairy Princess Beastie – we’ve got you covered!
I couldn’t resist knitting a couple of Beastie-sized sweaters in colours that would complement her lovely fuschia-pink skin tone. The blue one even has sparkles!

And of course, these open up all sorts of mix’n’matching possibilities…
This Beastie has already headed off to Germany, to help her new best friend celebrate her birthday! She made sure to bring along a gift, too… Beastie colouring-in pages!
Here’s wishing them lots of magical monster adventures together!

We’ll be back on Friday to share more tales of Beasties abroad… In the meantime, if you’d like a special monster friend of your own, give us a shout. We’d love to hear from you!

The Voyage of the "Beastie" - FocalHeart/CrawCrafts Beasties

Beasties Ahoy!

Posted on May 20, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions

Attentive Beastie fans will surely remember this guy from last Tuesday’s post! Diver Beastie headed off to join, of all things, a marauding crew of pirates across the water in the UK. Incredibly, his arrival coincided perfectly with his new pirate captain’s birthday… They even had a portrait photographer handy when they met for the first time!
As you can see, he made his journey in a treasure chest – I figured it was the best way to help him fit in.
It looks like he’s got on the Cap’n’s good side already!
I reckon it’s time to meet the rest of the crew! All aboard the good ship Beastie!
Pirate Beastie is on the lookout for treasure in the crow’s nest, while Diver Beastie has found himself a comfy seat in the stern…
It looks like the hold is already packed with pieces of eight… But is any pirate likely to pass up the opportunity to find MORE TREASURE?

Nope, I didn’t think so! Off we go!
But wait a second – the ship seems to be riding low in the water. What’s going on here?
Eeeeeek! A stowaway! Looks like Pint Beastie might have had one too many bottles of grog and fallen asleep in the hold. Well, it’s probably too late to turn back now, so… Congratulations Pint Beastie! You’re the newest member of this happy band of buccaneers! Now it’s time for them all to sail off in search of adventure – and yes, more treasure!
Who knows where this boatful of brigands will wash up next?

Thanks to Noémie at FocalHeart for sending me her photos, including some taken by the Cap’n himself! All of us here at Beastie Towers love to see how our monster friends around the world are getting on.

As usual, we’ll be back on Tuesday – stop by to find out what Explorer Beastie and I have been up to over the past week! And in the meantime, have a great weekend!

Who's That Beastie? - CrawCrafts Beasties

In Search of Sunken Treasure…

Posted on May 10, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Commissions, Knitted Beasties

Regular visitors to the BeastieBlog might remember Pirate Beastie, who went to live with Pirate-in-Training Thom last Autumn.
They’ve been having some great adventures together ever since – they even got to meet Captain Jack Sparrow at Hallowe’en! But it seems like these two daring buccaneers have run into some difficulty lately – namely, how do you get at treasure that’s trapped in a sunken shipwreck?

So a special request was put in, and this little monster answered the call!
Um, can you really get down to the ocean floor like that? Where’s all your Beastie dive kit?

Oh, super! There it is. Don’t forget your flippers, too…

And now it’s time to put it all together! First of all, he has a belt with a felt dive knife…

…Then it’s time to put on the flippers!

His oxygen tank is mounted on the back of his BCD (buoyancy control device, the black vest-like thing), and it’s connected to his regulator and dive mask…
…So it’s really easiest to put everything on at once!

And that leaves just one more thing to do – a little research on some of the interesting creatures he may encounter on his underwater travels!

(Diver Beastie is reading “Unusual Creatures – A Mostly Accurate Account of Some of Earth’s Strangest Animals” by Michael Hearst. Great fun for those of us interested in nature’s oddities!)

I can’t wait to see how this Diver Beastie settles into his new home. And thanks to Noémie from FocalHeart for welcoming another Beastie into her family!

Don’t forget that Friday posts are back, so we’ll see you later in the week for more Beastie antics with Paddy and Plunkett!

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