Wooooooo! Hallowe’en weekend is finally here, and there are spooky Beasties about! Welcome to a special late-night edition of the BeastieBlog… Now, who’s that shadowy caped figure lurking up there? It’s Dracula Beastie! And he’s really dressed to kill, in full evening dress and a red satin-lined cape… But don’t worry, he doesn’t bite. In fact, why don’t we join him in the library? It might be late, but he’s expecting friends… Oh look, here they are! Hey there, Jack O’Lantern Beastie and Skull Beastie! And now they’re ready to head out trick-or-treating! Hopefully they’ll be back in time to join me at my next market… If you happen to find yourself in Dublin this Sunday, be sure to join us at the Smithfield Market Fair from 12-7pm! It’s going to be spooktacular!
What are you all up to for Hallowe’en? And what will you be dressing up as? Let us know in the comments!
Hooray! It’s new Beastie time again… Although today I will be taking a surprise break from the Famous Monsters theme of the last couple of weeks. I’ve been struck down by one of the delightful plagues that’s been doing the rounds lately, so I’ve spent the last few days binge-watching “The Killing” on Netflix and… um… precious little else. Fortunately I got this little monster completed before I buried myself under a heap of blankets on the sofa! He also headed off to his new home in sunny Barcelona this morning (lucky thing!) so what better time to introduce him to you all? Why hello there!
A friend of mine, who has been living in Dublin these last couple of years, decided recently that it was time to head back home to Spain… Well, who can blame him? I’m sure most of us would choose sipping Sangria by the beach over battling through the wind and rain on a dark November morning! But he did want to take home a reminder of his time in Ireland, and so he requested a special little monster Mini-Me!
So, this guy is made from 100% Irish wool… and of course, he had to be green! His lustrous locks are made from a different yarn, though… a wool and alpaca blend, so they’re super-soft!
My friend also discovered the joys of a good IPA while he was living here, so his Beastie buddy was obviously going to get one of those, too! YUM!
Then to complete his look, I kitted this little woolly monster out in the style of his new human friend – a sharp-looking shirt, hoodie and jacket combo! Look, he can even wear his hood up… Although I’m sure he won’t need that so much where he’s going!
I can’t wait to see how he gets on in his new home in Barcelona! Good luck, Beastie! “Cheers!”
And it’s a surprisingly good time for Beastie travel at the moment – drop back in on Friday, when we’ll have an update from a Beastie abroad! See you then!
Wooooooooo! Hallowe’en fever continues to ramp up here in Beastie Towers, with the arrival of another spooky Beastie! Look who flew in through the window earlier, giving me the fright of my life – it’s Ghostie Beastie! Although she’s a little less colourful than the other Beasties, she makes up for it by being surrounded by a haze of netting ectoplasm, which I presume is what helps her to fly. Fortunately, I was able to manoeuvre her towards a darker background to allow you all to see her a little better… …And unlike most of her phantom friends, she seemed perfectly happy to pose for more photos! So there you have it – concrete proof that ghosts exist! And, reassuringly, that they are woolly and cuddly!
Do you believe in ghosts? Let us know in the comments!
Aaaand … Not content with giving us a feature in the “Handmade in Ireland” section of their latest issue, the awesome ladies at Olann And also gave me and the Beasties the nicest shoutout on their recent podcast! I’m so glad I finally found a quiet moment to sit down and watch it all – it’s like having a couple of friends over for tea and a chat. I’d definitely recommend giving it a watch, especially if you enjoy the craftier, yarnier things in life!
As you may have noticed, I’ve been having fun recently putting together a couple of Hallowe’en-themed Beasties. And regular readers will already have met this charming Frankenbeastie on Tuesday… but he wasn’t the first seasonal monster I’ve ever made! Over the last couple of days, I’ve been chatting to Ivonne at Aurian’s Blog about Hallowe’en accessories she could give to her own knitted and crocheted creations, and that made me want to look up some of my first ever Autumnal Beasties. Perhaps you’d like to meet them too?
First up (since we’re not quite at Hallowe’en yet) is Autumn Leaves Beastie! This was one of the last Beasties I made before I moved back to Dublin. As you can see, he’s being helpful and clearing up the fallen leaves from the garden… and his armful of foliage contains maple, oak and ginkgo leaves!
As it happened, Boyfriend was working in a small indie bookshop at the time, which made the perfect backdrop for some more photos… …On more than one occasion! Skull Beastie really enjoyed looking through these macabre titles… …And with his mouthful of little pointy teeth, he’s definitely one of my spookier creations! At around this time, I also made a Beastie with a little felt pumpkin, and I was hoping to share him with you today as well. But, despite combing my monstrous Beastie photo archive, I haven’t been able to track down a single picture of him! I’m sure there’s one out there somewhere – probably stashed away in the memory of a defunct mobile phone – but at least my knitting journal remembers everything! I was able to find my preliminary doodle, and samples of the yarn I used to make him. So if anybody happens to see a purple and yellow Beastie clutching a Jack o’lantern when they’re out trick-or-treating this year, be sure to take a photo and send it to me!
How about you? Do you like changing up your crafting to reflect the seasons? Let me know in the comments! And we’ll be back on Tuesday with another Famous Monster… see you then!
…And this year, I’ve actually had a chance to start getting under way with some seasonal special edition Beasties! Today, I’m excited to introduce you to my first “Famous Monsters” Beastie – Frankenbeastie! Cobbled together from discontinued dyelots and abandoned WIPs, this little monster hasn’t enjoyed the same precise stitching as some of my other creations… … And the tailoring of his outfit leaves a lot to be desired as well. But it’s fine, because I’ve equipped him with this season’s must-have accessory – a pair of electrodes in his neck! Now those will surely add a little extra spark to his personality!
So, what’s the verdict – a thing that should not be, or a misunderstood creature who makes us question what it means to be a Beastie? Let me know in the comments!
And as if that wasn’t enough excitement for one week, I made some time over the weekend to peruse the latest issue of online crafty magazine Olann And. Look who made a special guest appearance in their Handmade in Ireland feature! You can read the full feature here – Knitter Beastie was delighted to be included in the lineup alongside so many other great Irish handmade goodies! There’s also a new edition of the Olann And Podcast up on YouTube, which I’m looking forward to checking out on my next day off. If you want to beat me to it, you can find it here… But no spoilers, please!
We’ll be back on Friday with another blast from the Beastie past – in the meantime, have a great week!
Wow, even with Grim Reaper Beastie keeping an eye on his hourglass, this year seems to have flown in! And although some people (or monsters) are still taking it easy… …Others among us are already thinking ahead to -gulp- the so-called festive season.
Yes, fellow Scrooges all over the world, I am fully aware that it’s not yet October, and that the trees haven’t even started shedding their leaves. I know that we still have Al-Hijra, Rosh Hashanah, Thanksgiving (both Canadian and American), Diwali and Hallowe’en to celebrate before December even begins. But the fact is – and I’m sure many of my fellow crafters will crack a wry smile here – handmade items take time to make, and whether you’re creating a few gifts for friends and family or a whole stall’s worth of goodies, it pays to get cracking on them early. Believe me, the last-minute Holiday Craft Panic is on a par with last-minute shopping, and I have high hopes of avoiding both this year!
So, today I’m going to ask any of you who might be toying with the idea of welcoming a special little monster into your home to get your orders in now, before the madness kicks off! I’ve even managed to persuade Explorer Beastie to pose for a delightful motivational graphic… Please bear in mind that Bespoke Beastie spots will be limited, and it will be a case of first come, first served. So, if you already have an idea, let’s get started! Drop me a line and I’ll begin sketching up your design ASAP.
And if this is all too much, too soon, don’t worry! You’ll still be able to grab yourself a monster friend from our Etsy store, or at one of the many markets I plan to squeeze in between now and the end of the year.
Alrighty, I’d better get back to my knitting! I’m hoping to have the first of my Famous Monsters Beasties ready to share with you next Tuesday…
There’s been work afoot behind the scenes here at Beastie Towers, and today I’m excited to be able to tell you about it at last!
As many of you probably already know, all Beasties are issued with a special passport before they leave for their new homes. This passport contains everything an adventurous little monster (and their new family) needs to know about themselves – who they are, their code number and how to keep in touch with the crew back at Beastie Towers.
Here’s how they looked when I first started making them… Full credit for this idea goes to Boyfriend, and for the last couple of years, it’s been amazing for helping me to keep track of all the Beasties I’ve made. It’s also a handy way to show people that their Beastie is unique! I cut a template to help keep the shields on the front cover consistent, and constant practice has meant that I’ve actually got quite speedy at cutting them out, folding them and filling out the features on each one.
But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m still making every single one by hand! And as the Beasties have started to reach out and colonise new social networks, I’ve had to cram ever more information onto these teeny 5x6mm cards. The end result is… Yikes! Look at all that! The last straw came when I was preparing for a market in the middle of last month, and I realised that two of the social networks I use – Twitter and Instagram – had done the unforgivable and changed their logos… to something undrawable!
A bird? And white lines on a multicoloured background? How am I supposed to draw those over and over without going cross-eyed?! Something had to give… So I bit the bullet and tackled something I’ve been meaning to do for ages. It’s time to let print technology do the work for me!
Aaaand since my expertise in designing for print is pretty much non-existent, I figured it would be a good idea to get a pro on board. Fortunately, I know one! I reached out to Julie from Juleco… I’d already seen work she’d done for other clients, and I knew she’d do a great job.
I got my samples back from the printers last week. So now, without further ado, I’m delighted to share her design with you… Behold! Because I no longer have to draw the crest on the front by hand, I was keen to add in a couple more elements – look, there’s a Beastie on there now! And a couple of nods to their Irish heritage, too. Inside, there’s space for me to write what type of Beastie they are and their code number. The new “tribe” line will allow me to share their genetic origins – all my Beasties are made from natural fibre yarns, and I want to make more of a big deal about this! I’ll still be drawing the “photos”, of course, but having a space to stick them into, instead of drawing directly onto the passport, will mean I can use proper drawing paper. Plus I’ll be less afraid of making mistakes! As for the back… I’m especially pleased that the social media logos no longer look like they were drawn by a 3 year old, but it’s great that I can include info about my Etsy store for the first time, too. I’m also relieved to have somewhere to put my health and safety disclaimer at last – not the most glamorous thing, perhaps, but certainly important!
Massive thanks to Julie for making this project a walk in the park – it was a real pleasure! And if you’re a small business owner looking for help with your brand identity, I’d definitely recommend you get in touch with her… Or at least take a peek in her Etsy shop!
So, what’s the verdict? Are we fans of the new-look passports? Let me know in the comments!
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!
Hurrah! If it’s Tuesday, it must be New Beastie Day! And since we had a no-show last week, today I’m planning to make it up to you all by introducing you to two (yes, TWO!) new Beasties!
First up… look who’s joining us for breakfast! It’s Fry-Up Beastie! Can there be any better way to start your day than a big tasty fry? Well, your arteries may scream “Yes! Quinoa porridge and three servings of organic fresh fruit!” but sometimes a hearty plate full of assorted fried goodies is just the ticket. Plus, no matter how busy you are, after a traditional “full Irish” I guarantee you won’t need to eat again for about 6 hours. Talk about efficiency! The fried breakfast is a familiar sight on tables across the UK and Ireland, but what you find on your plate varies depending on where you are. The least healthy variant is the Ulster Fry, my birthplace’s contribution to world cuisine, thanks to its traditional line-up of both fried potato bread AND soda farls. Truly delicious… but have one of those every day for a week and you’ll probably keel over!
Anyway, Fry-Up Beastie seems pretty content with his portion. Pop it up on the table there, so we can have a closer look! Oooh, yum! Let’s see… Sausages, a fried tomato, bacon rashers, a lovely big puddle of baked beans, black and white pudding and a fried egg. A proper Full Irish… no surprises there, since eagle-eyed Beastie-spotters will already have identified this little monster as a Barróg Beastie, made of 100% Irish wool! I should also point out that all elements of this delectable Beastie feast were cut, stitched and embroidered by my own fair hands, making this a truly home-cooked meal!
And now that we’ve had a hearty breakfast, it’s time for… elevenses! Hey there, Doughnut Beastie! He looks pretty excited to tuck into his favourite treat… …And perhaps we should take a closer look at it ourselves. Mmmm… Strawberry felt frosting with embroidered rainbow sprinkles! Good choice, Doughnut Beastie! Although perhaps you shouldn’t eat all that in one go… It’s nearly the same size as your head!
Wow, for some reason I’m now feeling incredibly peckish! It might be time to raid the fridge…
We’ll be back on Friday for Flashback Friday, since it seems to have been a hit with many of you! In the meantime, what’s your favourite tasty treat? Share it in the comments, and I may immortalise it in glorious felt for my next round of gourmet Beasties…
With Paddy and Plunkett enjoying some well-earned rest after their last round of travels, it’s been left to me and Explorer Beastie to come up with an adventure to share with you this week! Fortunately, we didn’t have to go too far to find something interesting… In fact, we barely had to leave our own neighbourhood!
My friend and fellow craftsperson Niki Collier (who I featured recently in my guest post for craft magazine Olann And’s blog) recently relocated to a new studio space, and she decided it was high time she had a “studio-warming” gathering to celebrate her move. So of course Explorer Beastie and I had to go for a nosey!
The first thing that caught our eye was the impressive Wall of Tools – look at all those scissors! I promise I only experienced a little bit of craft den envy! There are also plenty of Niki’s finished pieces dotted around the studio. That meant there was lots to keep a curious Beastie entertained… …While the grown-ups talked out the angles of a future collaborative project! Can any of you guess who this Beastie might be? One of my favourite pieces in the studio was this little tree. Niki made this when she started felting. Each leaf was contributed by another crafter, and has notes on the back about the properties of the wool used to make it – what breed of sheep it came from, the length of the fibres – as well as the name of the person who donated it. What a great way to learn!
Once we’d seen everything there was to see in Niki’s studio, it was time for us to go and inflict ourselves on the people who occupy the other half of this building! This is the home of RJ Mooney Leathers, and their workshop is incredibly cool! Explorer Beastie had fun checking out all the different leathers… … And look at the machinery! Talk about a vintage-lover’s paradise! Apparently they are all still in perfect working order, too! I’d love to come back and see them in action on a proper work day!
Tour completed, there was time for a quick cup of tea before we headed for home. Since the sun was out, we decided to stroll back along the canal – a great end to a super afternoon! This weekend we’ll be heading to The Grand Social on Liffey Street for the Ha’Penny Market – hope you’ll join us there if you’re in town! Otherwise we’ll see you again on Tuesday, when I hope to have new Beasties to share (AT LAST!)…
Wooooooo! Hallowe’en weekend is finally here, and there are spooky Beasties about! Welcome to a special late-night edition of the BeastieBlog… Now, who’s that shadowy caped figure lurking up there?
It’s Dracula Beastie! And he’s really dressed to kill, in full evening dress and a red satin-lined cape…
But don’t worry, he doesn’t bite. In fact, why don’t we join him in the library? It might be late, but he’s expecting friends…
Oh look, here they are!
Hey there, Jack O’Lantern Beastie and Skull Beastie!
And now they’re ready to head out trick-or-treating! Hopefully they’ll be back in time to join me at my next market… If you happen to find yourself in Dublin this Sunday, be sure to join us at the Smithfield Market Fair from 12-7pm! It’s going to be spooktacular!
