It’s been a while since we’ve had a new Beastie to meet… In all the heady whirl of making plans and enjoying a few trips away, I appear to have let the monster-making slide somewhat. But all that changes today! Fresh off the needles and ready to get to work on the ranch… It’s Cowboy Beastie! Cowboy Beastie was commissioned by my buddy Aoife from Diplodocus Books, as a birthday gift for her boyfriend. He’s a big fan of all things Wild West, and apparently he was quite taken with Aoife’s own Beastie friend, Crumb. They met at a market we did together a couple of years back!This was a bit of a last-minuter… But fortunately I was able to take a sneaky shortcut, by showing Aoife the sketches I did for CowGIRL Beastie, who I made back in November! With a few tweaks to make this Beastie his own man, we were ready to go! As you can see, he’s bought his checked shirt in the same store… … And of course, he has his trusty lariat – with authentic Honda knot… … But I’ve given him a tousled mop of sandy hair, and he’s clearly going to a different dentist! That leaves just one more thing to complete his look… … That all-important cowboy hat! With this one, I shaped the brim to give it the characteristic curled sides.
And doesn’t he wear it well? Now all he needs are some Beastie-sized cattle to round up! We’ll be back next week with more monster fun and games… In the meantime, I heartily recommend going to check out Aoife’s beautiful hand-bound journals on Diplodocus Books’ Facebook page. Or find her on Instagram, where she shares new designs and some of her own illustrated journal pages! I wish my diary was as colourful and interesting as hers is!
Plunkett has been in architectural heaven since the lads headed to Cambridge a few weeks back…… And he’d happily continue on in this vein indefinitely.“Oooh, look! It’s the Norman doorway of the famous Round Church. Paddy, did you know that it’s one of four mediaeval round churches that are still in use in England todaaaaa…”
“No way, Plunkett! It’s my turn to decide what we’re doing! Come on, we’re off to…… The Botanic Garden! Mad plants ahoy!”There are over 8,000 species of plants crammed into this 40 acre garden, from every imaginable habitat. Deserts, bogland, jungle… You name it, it’s here! And of course, Paddy was determined to see (and climb) as many of them as possible. This photo was taken just as he spotted something good. Seconds later, only a Paddy-shaped dust cloud remained.But Plunkett takes things at a more sedate pace. That has its rewards too… Look what he found!This is a jade vine, which hails from Indonesia. If you can believe it, this crazy-looking hanging plant is a member of the legume family – it’s a long way from your average runner bean though!In the wild, the jade vine is pollinated by bats, which up until recently has stopped it from producing any seeds. However, thanks to one devoted research student getting stuck in and pollinating the flowers by hand, the vine has set seed for the first time. Now seeds are being sent to other botanic gardens around the UK – maybe even one near some of you!
Meanwhile, Plunkett finally caught up with Paddy…… Just in time to take the stepping stone path across the bog garden’s lake!And on the other side, they were first plunged into the cool green depths of a bamboo forest…… Before emerging in the arboretum!“Hey look, Plunkett! This tree has a wall in it!”
“Hmmm… I wonder why?”
Later research revealed that this wild pear tree had split, and the brickwork is there to keep it together. The tree doesn’t appear to mind though – it certainly seems to be doing just fine!
And further down the road in the pinetum, Paddy found ample fodder for some really terrible puns!Uh-oh! He’s had enough, and scarpered to The Mount to check out the view. Fortunately, he’s still happy to share the chair he found here with his old buddy – as long as Paddy promises to keep quiet! Have you had any horticultural adventures recently? If so, please be sure to leaf a comment below! Or feel free to share your worst plant-based pun… Paddy’s always on the lookout for new material.
Here’s wishing you all a super week, catch you next Tuesday!
Wilkommen, Beastie-Freunde!Explorer Beastie and I are just back from a great few days in Cologne and Düsseldorf! And there’s plenty here for both humans and monsters to enjoy… care to join us for a spin through the highlights of our trip?
First stop – Cologne! And of course, we had to go and have a look at the famous cathedral. This twin-spired Gothic masterpiece dominates the city skyline, and it only took 632 years to build! Still, the extra effort seems to have been worth it… The Kölner Dom is still the biggest cathedral in Germany, and thanks to those spires, it has the largest façade of any church in the world.
It is also, it turns out, really difficult to photograph. I’m still kicking myself for leaving my proper camera in the baggage lockers at the station and only bringing my phone with me! But take our word for it – this is a real-must see. From the outside, which is just dripping with statues, flying buttresses and gargoyles, to the stained glass and high arched ceilings of the interior, it’s stunning from every angle. Oh, and it’s free to go in too – WIN!
As it turns out, we got a better view of it from further away. This is what you see from the rail bridge over the Rhine, where Explorer Beastie enjoyed a bit of boat-spotting and clambering among the padlocks attached to the fence as well! Of course, sightseeing can make a Beastie pretty thirsty. Time for a glass of Kölsch, the region’s speciality beer… Prost! Better not have too many of those, Explorer Beastie – day 2 is THEME PARK DAY!
Phantasialand is just outside Cologne, and I last visited it -gulp- at the turn of the century, when I was still in my teens. Eeeek! Despite much monster cajoling, I’m sad to say that my zeal for rollercoasters has waned somewhat since those days. Explorer Beastie was a little disappointed, but I was able to get him back on side by letting him hang out with a dragon for a while after lunch. Plus there’s always plenty for a Beastie to see, even when you’re technically too small to go on most of the rides. After all those high jinks, it was time for a stroll through the streets of Düsseldorf, our home for the long weekend.
We frequently found our feet (or paws) leading us down Königsallee, a leafy canalside walk near the centre of town. It’s lovely for a stroll… … A sit… …Or a chance to take a moment and watch the world go by. We also enjoyed meeting the creatures who grace the ironwork on the side of one of the bridges, even if we didn’t spot their living counterparts in the water below! A little further down the road, the view is quite different. First, you pass the Rheinturm, Düsseldorf’s tallest building… Officially, it’s a telecoms tower, but there’s also a revolving restaurant and observation deck up there for those with a good head for heights!
But for us, the sunny riverside location of Düsseldorf-Hafen beckoned, so we kept our paws on the ground and took in the sights of this redeveloped dockland area instead. These unusual buildings greet you as you head towards the water… The white, silver and red brick “Neuer Zollhoff” blocks were designed by Frank Gehry, and are supposed to represent a family – the shiny silver building, the “child”, reflects its brick and white plaster “parents”. But, as you can see, its warped stainless steel walls double up as a handy funhouse mirror, perfect for monster shenanigans! Some of the older buildings in the area have been given a fresh new makeover, too. Explorer Beastie’s favourite was this former storage facility, now being scaled by 29 brightly-coloured “Flossis”, created by Stuttgart-based artist Rosalie. There are a few nods to the area’s industrial past here, too… High five, old-school dockland crane!
And as the weekend wound down, we spent a lazy Sunday morning in the park… Although thanks to this rather dramatic signpost, we elected not to feed the ducks!
“Entenbrot ist Ententod” – literallly, “Duck bread is duck death”. Erk!
And what would a holiday be without a few friends in tow? Some of you may recognise my first Goth Beastie, Miss Chelsea Wool-fe, in this photo where she’s accompanied by Explorer Beastie and her chum Marge the Glamorous Pug. A perfect end to a super weekend!
Where are you all off to this summer? Let us know in the comments!
You might remember Paddy and Plunkett spotting this rather lovely place from their punt trip along the River Cam a couple of weeks back… Plunkett was especially taken with the beautiful buildings of King’s College, and decided to make it his first port of call the minute his paws were back on dry land!
On the way there, the Beasties passed the front gate of another of Cambridge’s many colleges… This is Trinity College, which has the reputation of being the wealthiest of all the city’s educational establishments. It was founded by Henry VIII, who at that time was going around the country closing down monasteries and helping himself to the land they owned. The colleges at Oxford and Cambridge, being religious organisations and quite moneyed, were next in his sights. They appealed to Henry’s sixth wife, Catherine Parr, and managed to reach a compromise – instead of closing some of Cambridge’s existing colleges down, they were amalgamated as Trinity College AND given a nice little gift of some of the confiscated monastery lands to get them started! To this day, it remains one of the biggest landowners in Britain. Henry VIII is still here keeping an eye on things, too – that’s his statue standing guard over the entrance!
But this isn’t where we’re going… Onwards to King’s College! Nearly there now!
Plunkett couldn’t wait to get inside, but it seems that Paddy is dragging his paws a little… “Please keep off the grass? But it’s such a beautiful day!”
Of course, Paddy has a knack for bending the rules to suit himself… “Ha! It’s still the same lawn, y’know!”
Rebellious impulses satisfied, it was finally time for Plunkett to get his history fix!
King’s College formerly went by the less snappy name of “The King’s College of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge”, and a good number of British monarchs were involved in its founding and construction. Henry VI got the ball rolling in 1441, and he also laid the first stone of the College’s famous chapel in 1446. His original plan for a modest establishment for “12 poor scholars” was abandoned when he learned about a bigger, fancier college that William of Wykeham had founded in Oxford (60 years earlier – I guess news travelled more slowly in those days), so he updated the charter of King’s College, calling for a superior institution with more grandiose buildings and a larger number of students. Unfortunately, he then got tied up in the Wars of the Roses, and work slowed due to lack of funds. It took another two generations of King Henrys to finish the chapel, which was the only part of Henry VI’s plan to actually be realised. Let’s go and take a look, shall we? “Huh. I don’t get it, Plunkett… What’s the big deal?”
“Paddy, look up!” And even Paddy’s breath was taken away by the fantastic fan-vaulted ceiling! It’s the largest of its kind in the world, and Plunkett could have gazed at it all day. Luckily, Paddy was good enough to point out that the glorious stained glass windows were also worth a look! This chapel is still very much in use, and is most famous for its choir, who perform in services almost every day during term time. But the biggest event in the King’s College Chapel calendar is the annual Carol Service on Christmas Eve, which has been broadcast on the BBC for decades, to a global audience!
There are also lots of beautiful little details to be spied, if you stop to look at things from a Beastie-eye point of view. Plunkett found this very fine door lock, although he was a little confused about which step he was supposed to be minding… “Step? What step? It’s been completely worn away by big stomping human feet!”
Meanwhile, Paddy had ended up somewhere far spookier… The Tomb Chapel! Trust him to find the most ghoulish thing on offer here! I expect he’ll be waiting in the shadows to jump out at Plunkett when he wanders in…
“Who, me? Never!”
Uh-huh. I’ll believe that when I see it, Paddy!
More from Paddy and Plunkett in a couple of weeks! And next Tuesday, look out for a new Explorer Beastie adventure – see you then!
Hey there BeastieBuddies! Can it really be May already?!
After a bit of a cold snap here recently, it feels like Spring is back on track again… And right about now is when bluebells have their moment in the sun! Having seen so many pictures of beautiful bluebell woods just about everywhere over the bank holiday weekend, Paddy and Plunkett decided to take a break from adventuring and seek out some of these colourful natural wonders for themselves… As you can see, bluebells are perfect for a Beastie-sized game of hide and seek. “BOO!”
“Gaaaaah! Paddy, I had no idea you were even there!”
But it turns out that there was an even bigger surprise just around the corner for Plunkett – the lads aren’t the only creatures out enjoying the bluebells today… “Paddy, what’s that noise?” “Hey, look! It’s a bee, Plunkett!”
“A BEE?! AAAAAAARRRRGH!” We all know that Plunkett is something of a nervous character. So while Paddy made friends… …Plunkett was heading for the hills! But he really shouldn’t have worried. This bee is one friendly critter. I’ve actually been meaning to develop a pattern for this busy little lady for ages! My Mum has been working tirelessly over the last couple of years to make life easier for our native bees, which are facing all kinds of problems due to habitat destruction and a particularly nasty parasite called the varroa mite. I had hoped to provide her with a swarm of felt bees to promote her Bee Garden project at Moneypenny’s Lock on the Newry Canal last summer, but of course I didn’t quite get around to it!
This year, the springing of spring got me thinking about bees again… and it happened to coincide with a call for submissions for a Craftivism event in The Make It Shop in Manchester by The Snail of Happiness, whose blog I’ve been following and enjoying since I started here a couple of years back. Finally, the extra nudge I needed!
So in the past week, three little felt bees have buzzed off to the UK, each with a hand-drawn mini-zine about some simple things we can all do to help out our hardworking insect friends. And yes, Mum finally got some bees of her own to snap in her Bee Garden! So, what’s next for the bees? Well, I had a lot of fun making them, and once I’d figured out the angles of the pattern, it was actually quite a simple make! So I’m toying with drawing up the templates and putting them out there so everyone can have a go – what do you all think? Let me know in the comments!
I’ll be honest with you… Paddy and Plunkett were more than a little miffed that Explorer Beastie didn’t invite them along on his recent trip to Copenhagen. So, when they had the chance to hitch a lift to another bike-loving city (one a bit closer to home), you won’t be surprised to hear that they were off like a shot!
And where did they end up? Aha! In beautiful sunny Cambridge!
Although it’s most famous for its universities – Plunkett actually considered applying here, but was disappointed by the human-centric approach these institutions take to the history of architecture – this little city that sits just outside London has plenty of other activities to keep a pair of curious little monsters entertained.
…Like these! “Awww, Plunkett! Let’s have a go – the humans make it look so easy!” “Hmmm, let’s see… Yeeees, it feels stable enough! But maybe we should let someone else drive?” “DEAL!”
As it turns out, Plunkett took to these little boats (called “punts”) like a duck to water. He appreciated their sturdy construction, visibly-displayed safety information cards and the fact that they packed cosy blankets and umbrellas for the inevitable quirks of the British weather. And after a few minutes of gliding gently under the weeping willows, he was utterly sold! A punt can hold 12 humans, plus a couple of stowaway Beasties, so Paddy and Plunkett were happy to share theirs with a family from the US. Strangely, they’d never met a Beastie before – what are the chances?
As for Paddy… Well, you know Paddy. Not even the “Bridge of Sighs” could dampen his mood! This Bridge of Sighs got its name courtesy of Queen Victoria, who said it reminded her of the famous Ponte dei Sospiri in Venice. It didn’t matter that she’d never been to Venice, and that the two bridges actually look nothing alike… I don’t think even Paddy would have dared to contradict her!
And although the bridges gave Plunkett plenty to look at, he was also interested in the brick walls that line the river and keep the banks in check. These walls are carefully maintained, and repaired when necessary. Further along, the boys came to the part of the river known as “The Backs” – so named because you float past the back doors of some of Cambridge’s most famous colleges. “Look at this, Paddy! The guide says this is King’s College… … I think I’d like to go here next!”
Join the boys when they return to dry land in a couple of weeks. Next week, I hope to have something new to share with you, so stay tuned!
Aaaah, cherry blossom! When you see those trees turned out in their delicate pink and white flowers, it’s usually safe to say that spring has well and truly sprung… Even in Ireland!
In St Stephen’s Green, right in the centre of Dublin, there’s a short walkway by the bandstand that’s lined with cherry trees. It’s one of my favourite places in the city at this time of year, so I decided to take Explorer Beastie out for a stroll there the other day. He seemed quite taken with it, and was happy to pose under the trees for a few photos… Spot the Beastie! Then he realised that you can have WAY more fun kicking through the fallen flowers, and pretending that they’re pink snow. Oh, and they make a pretty natty fashion accessory, too… Very nice. But is this really the best place to view this seasonal spectacle? Of course not! We need to be up higher. Aaah, that’s much better! It took more than a little coaxing to get him back down again, but fortunately there were some colourful displays in the flower beds in the centre of the park that needed closer inspection… …Even if that meant breaking a couple of rules along the way.
Oi! Can’t you read?! Luckily I was able to scoop him up and sneak him away in my bag before the park attendants came along, but there’s every chance Explorer Beastie is now officially on the run from the law!
We’ll be back with more monster adventures next week – Paddy and Plunkett have been on another expedition, and they’ve sent me some great photos which I can’t wait to share with you! Until then, you can get a second dose of Beastie goodness this week, courtesy of Melissa at Knitting the Stash, who published a really lovely feature about us on her blog over the weekend! Fellow yarn and fibre addicts will find lots to love in Melissa’s posts – a knitter, spinner, vlogger and occasional sheep farm visitor, there’s really nothing this lady can’t turn her hand to! Be sure to check out Knitting the Stash if you haven’t already, and thanks again to Melissa for letting us join the party!
I really wasn’t sure what I was going to write about today. I have a lot of things on the go at the minute, but none of them are at a newsworthy stage yet, so this morning found me (only a little desperately) trawling through my copious Beastie photo archive, plus ALL my emails, in the hope of finding some pictures that I haven’t used before.
But the good news is that my search wasn’t in vain! What are the chances?! I found a series of lost Paddy and Plunkett pics from an adventure they had last spring, at a time when I was super-busy. I had kept them back for future use, and then forgotten about them (sorry lads)… Until today! Let’s take a trip into the past, shall we? And perhaps in more ways than one…
“Hey Plunkett, where are we? And what’s with the coins stuck in the tree?” “Glad you asked, Paddy. See that water down there? We’re at an ancient holy well!” “Oooooh!”
There are hundreds of holy wells dotted all over the island of Ireland. And while some of them are marked with big, glitzy shrines decorated with flowers, statues and religious trinkets, many of them are so simple you’d hardly notice them. They’re often found in wild, remote places… like this one, tucked away in the corner of an ancient forest. Like many holy wells, the water here is said to have healing properties. In fact, some wells are specialists, offering relief from dental problems, diseases of the eye, back pain, digestive trouble… You name it, there’s probably a well for it! This one was allegedly used by St Colmcille (also known as St Columba), an Irish abbot from the 6th century who brought Christianity to what is now Scotland. The sign beside the well says he “performed many acts of healing” here, although it doesn’t take a stance on whether he or the water deserves the credit!
Further down the road is another well. This one is a specialist… in the treatment of warts! The rags in the tree branches are tied there as part of the cure. As the fabric rots away, your troublesome wart should also magically vanish. But before you start thinking this is an especially warty part of the country, don’t worry! The rags can also signify a request for help, which will be answered once the cloth has disintegrated. The well itself is just underneath the trees, bubbling up from this moss-covered boulder. After this, the boys had time for one more well before they headed home for dinner. St Aidan’s Well seems more formal than the first two, and is associated with nearby St Aidan’s church. Although St Aidan’s (formerly St Caden’s, after a follower of St Patrick) has been the site of a church since the 13th century, the well has been in use much longer and suggests that the area had spiritual significance back in pre-Christian times too. In fact, although most wells are now associated with a Christian saint, it’s thought that these places were considered sacred or significant long before Christianity arrived on these shores.
I think that definitely makes them worth a closer look, don’t you? Are there any interesting ancient places near you? Tell us all about them in the comments!
And as usual, we’ll be back next week – hopefully with at least one finished monster project to share! See you then…
Yep, Explorer Beastie is back today with more snaps from our recent trip to lovely sunny Copenhagen! For this second post, we thought we’d stray away from the more typical tourist haunts and go hunting for the two places we always seem to end up in whenever we travel – graveyards and botanical gardens. We were pretty excited to discover that Copenhagen had examples of both! Care to join us?
After a hearty breakfast at the Laundromat Café (it’s a laundry, and a café, AND a second-hand bookstore – what more could you need?) we pointed our feet/paws in the direction of Assistens Kierkegård… Turns out it was pretty much just around the corner! If you’re looking for somewhere ghoulish and spooky, this place isn’t going to be your cup of tea at all. With its wide open spaces and tree-lined walkways, it’s really more like a park than a cemetery – and the locals seem to use it as one. That morning, it was full of people taking the baby out for a stroll, or cutting through on their way to work… All of them enjoying the bright sun and the peace that reigns inside the gates. Assistens Kierkegård is the last resting place of many famous Danes – in our wanderings, we came across the graves of Hans Christian Andersen, Søren Kierkegaard and Niels Bohr – but one of my favourite spots was the small Russian cemetery, tucked away in a quiet, shaded corner. I could have stayed here all day… But Explorer Beastie was anxious to get to our next port of call, the Botanisk Have. It was back towards the city centre, and conveniently near the Torvehallerne food hall – that was lunch sorted! Suitably refuelled, it was time for some springtime fun among the crocuses… Followed by a chance to view the gardens from higher ground… …And indulge in a little early sunbathing! Oooh, what’s in here? The Palm House is the main attraction in the Botanical Gardens… And unlike the one in Dublin, you can climb a winding spiral staircase to the top and look down into the treetops! But WOW, is it hot up there – within seconds, my camera lens had completely steamed up! Explorer Beastie would NEVER be seen in public without his trademark beanie hat, so he retired to the cooler environs of my bag until we came back down. But once we moved to one of the more temperate houses, he was up to his usual tricks again… It was nearly impossible to persuade him to hop back into the bag and head for home. So, look out Copenhagen! I have a feeling we’ll be back… What do you always look out for when you visit a new city? Let us know in the comments!
Cowboy Beastie was commissioned by my buddy Aoife from Diplodocus Books, as a birthday gift for her boyfriend. He’s a big fan of all things Wild West, and apparently he was quite taken with Aoife’s own Beastie friend, Crumb. They met at a market we did together a couple of years back!
This was a bit of a last-minuter… But fortunately I was able to take a sneaky shortcut, by showing Aoife the sketches I did for CowGIRL Beastie, who I made back in November!
With a few tweaks to make this Beastie his own man, we were ready to go! As you can see, he’s bought his checked shirt in the same store…
… And of course, he has his trusty lariat – with authentic Honda knot…
… But I’ve given him a tousled mop of sandy hair, and he’s clearly going to a different dentist!
That leaves just one more thing to complete his look…
… That all-important cowboy hat! With this one, I shaped the brim to give it the characteristic curled sides.
Now all he needs are some Beastie-sized cattle to round up!
We’ll be back next week with more monster fun and games… In the meantime, I heartily recommend going to check out Aoife’s beautiful hand-bound journals on Diplodocus Books’ Facebook page. Or find her on Instagram, where she shares new designs and some of her own illustrated journal pages! I wish my diary was as colourful and interesting as hers is!
… Just in time to take the stepping stone path across the bog garden’s lake!
