Hey there Beastie friends! I hope you’ve all been having a good week. For the last while, a couple of big commissions have been keeping me super-busy… So many accessories! I’m really looking forward to being able to share the finished projects with you all very soon, but in the meantime I thought I’d use this Flashback Friday post to revisit some of my most challenging Beastie accessories EVER!
Weekes Album Cover, 2017
I was reminded of this when I looked back at “Definitely Maybeast” in last week’s Flashback Friday post. This project predated the arrival of my magic magnifying lamp, and I’m still wondering how I managed to see to do those stitches in the dead of winter. You can read more about the creation of this Beastie in the Gallery – she has some pretty cool stuff!
Carcassonne Board Game Box, 2016
Another bit of teeny sewing that somehow fell into the BMML (Before Magic Magnifying Lamp) era. I look at these now and wonder how I’m not blind! This appliquéd felt and embroidery board game was an important part of the accessory lineup for a wedding commission though, so it was totally worth cutting all those tiny felt pieces and stitching them in place.
The TARDIS (x2!)
I made my first Doctor Who Beastie for a Christmas order in 2015… And how can a little woolly Time Lord travel the galaxy without a specially-adapted old-style police phone box?
The Beastie TARDIS was made of felt, and reinforced with foam and interfacing so it didn’t collapse in like a woolly tent! I lined the inside with shiny silver material for a space-age feel, and embroidered on the window panes and lettering. The doors also close with velcro so the Doctor can travel in safety.
And when I posted about this make, despite the fact that my photos back then were hardly top notch, one of my regular blog readers decided that the man in her life would appreciate a Beastie Doctor of his own! So…
… I made a second one! And I took more photos that time. You can see the original posts about these commissions here and here.
From what I can remember, the trickiest part was cutting out the square panels under the windows. I invested in a rotary cutter, mat and metal ruler to help, but it was still slow going. Beastie Doctor Who seemed happy enough with the results though!
A Beastie-Sized Camera, 2018
Oh, I had fun with this one! It’s got it all – teeny sewing, a bit of embroidery, and I was able to incorporate a knitting pun to boot. I made this for Laura from A Pict in PA – she’s a keen photographer, and, like me, she still likes to use a proper camera for her pictures. That’s worth celebrating! So I copied the shape of her DSLR as closely as possible…
… And only went a bit overboard by making the lens and strap removable.
Oh well, sometimes you just have to! Laura’s little monster left Beastie Towers with a whole heap of other accessories too – check them out here!
And then finally… Sometimes Beastie accessories take a while to get right. But this one stands out as the most challenging ever – even now! Paws up if you remember…
The Beastie Dragon, 2015
This was one of those projects that just wouldn’t behave. I’d get one aspect sorted, only to have something else start causing problems! But I learned a lot about prototyping and materials choices from making it, and despite many, many discarded templates…
… I did end up with the ferocious-looking gold and silver dragon that my customer asked for! You can relive the entire, um, interesting experience here.
Well, that’s it for this time… But don’t worry if your favourite accessory didn’t make the cut this time around! I so enjoyed putting this together that I might do a second Beastie Accessories Roundup in a couple of weeks. Suggestions welcome, if you want to pitch in your two cents in the comments!
Have a monster weekend!
While Dad was harking back to the “Madchester” era in a football shirt and parka. Check out the furry hood!
I also can’t believe I managed to do all that teeny embroidery on the album cover before I got my wondrous magnifying lamp!
Back before we were all confined to our homes, in a time when it was still perfectly normal to sit in a room and have a chat with someone, I was lucky enough to be interviewed by 
… And her miniature miniature schnauzer, Mikelet!
She also left Beastie Towers with two outfits…
… And a whole heap of accessories!
Her “survival kit” pays tribute to a few of Human Tierney’s favourite things – quilting, blogging and visiting her local library.
The match was placed here to give you an idea of just how teeny he is… Although I can’t guarantee he won’t be playing fetch with it later!
Hey there, FrankenBeastie!
Woooooooo! SCARY!
Finally, I dressed him in a ragged-edged shirt and faded charcoal trousers.
Let me know if you bump into him when you’re out for your daily half hour of exercise!
First of all, you can see she’s sporting a very lovely handknitted Aran sweater. This Beastie’s human counterpart loves to travel… And although she’s been to some pretty far-flung destinations, the Aran Islands (which lie just off Ireland’s west coast) remain one of her favourite places to visit. What better way for a Beastie to celebrate this connection than with knitwear?
And now, how about something to tie into her working life? For a time, our Beastification subject worked for St Patrick’s Athletic Football Club – a Dublin team based in Inchicore, just to the west of the city centre. She’s also the head of a family of self-confessed football addicts… That made this a prime candidate for being included in the accessory lineup!
When it’s not holding the ingredients for her latest gastronomic experiments, she can use it to carry everything she needs for her other favourite pastime – getting lost in a good book!
As you can see, I’ve provided her with a selection of Beastie-appropriate titles – The Monster Family Cookbook and a classic Hercwool Poirot crime thriller!
… And let the good times roll!
Thanks to Niamh for choosing to celebrate her Mum’s retirement the Beastie way… And for all her help in getting the blend of accessories just right!
Now, I don’t mind admitting that this was a pretty big project. All Beastifications are important, of course, but it was hinted that this pair would be joining the wedding party on the day. They’d be given the monster task of looking after (not eating!) the wedding cake, and the ceremony and reception were to take place in the oh-so-fancy Merchant Hotel in Belfast.
The jackets close with a snap fastener, and are completely removable. Underneath, a shirt with felt collar and cuffs completes the look… Then a black ribbon bow tie adds a final flourish. Here’s Mr P Beastie to give us a close-up!
Let’s just take another look at those jackets… First of all, they’re fully lined!
I used a lighter weight wool and viscose blend felt for this, to make sure the jackets kept their lines and didn’t end up looking like bulky winter coats. They’ve got black satin collars, and…
… I even copied the cuff buttons from the human-sized version!
… And then sending them down the aisle with a special accessory each!
Meanwhile, Mr D Beastie decided to toast to the success of the marriage with a refreshing Beastie-sized pint.
Strategically-placed magnets mean that the Beasties can set their goodies down and hit the dancefloor at the end of the night, too!
And while they’re off honeymooning, we might indulge in a bit more holiday reminiscing ourselves! Join us next week for more from 
… Which is apparently hovering above us somewhere!
But how is he holding onto that thing?
Now he can grab all sorts of cool stuff.
A Beastie has to stay fit, after all! And since this little guy’s human counterpart works in a gym, he’ll fit right in there too. Especially in his cool shorts and muscle vest outfit…
Wait a sec, who’s that I hear?
It’s our Beastie’s trusty pup – a Beastie-sized Pekingese! (Or should that be Beastie-ngese?)
SUNGLASSES!
… Because this modelling malarkey is tougher than it looks!
Admittedly, she doesn’t look very detective-y just yet. Let’s get ready for work!
Aha! That’s better. This might also be a good time to admire her lustrous red locks and sweet star print tunic!
I always knew this Beastie would be going to live in Texas, so this sweet fabric was the perfect nod to her new home in the Lone Star State.
A nice frothy felty cappucino is the best way to start the day. Yum!
Rockin’ it! Time to grab your bag and go!
Oh cool, Beastie-sized crochet! Just in case she has any downtime.
Every detective needs her badge! This Beastie-sized version is made of felt, with teeny embroidered details and a magnet inside to hold it in place.
Hey there, Cool Dad Beastie – and sweet little Baby Girl Beastie too! This charming woolly pair were requested as a super-special Father’s Day gift for a new dad. A very new dad… Father’s Day 2019 was his first! So, to help the festivities go with a trademark Beastie bang, these two little monsters needed to make sure that their human counterparts recognised them straight away.
Her new human friend is heading for her first birthday, so this Baby Beastie is also a little bigger than some of the 
… And these straps unclip too, making the sling removable!
Here you go, Dad Beastie!
I think it’s time for a hug!
Heehee! Look how teeny she is!
And look, he’s into craft beer too! These two new friends will have lots to talk about. Regular BeastieBlog readers will recognise the brand of beer from 
Yum!
Thanks so much to Deirdre from 
We’ll be back next week (hopefully!) with more monster mayhem… See you then!
And, in Russian-doll-like fashion, that’s removable too!
Aha! It’s a blue running top! I chose a colour that matches the shirt Human Bruce got for taking part in the Dublin Marathon… See, I told you he was sporty! His stripey beanie hat is also a marathon souvenir.
Good work, Beastie Bruce! It gives me great pleasure to present you with this special Beastie-sized medal.
How about a tasty croissant to snack on? It’s Human Bruce’s favourite way to start the day! This one is made of felted wool – the perfect low-fat, high-fibre treat for a Beastie on the go.
I think he’s finally good to go!
Oh, and although he’s been wearing them throughout all the pictures in this post, let’s not forget those glasses! Some careful work with needle and pliers meant that I could capture the thin metal frames of Human Bruce’s specs.
Phew! It’s only when I write a post like this that I realise how much goes into each and every Beastification. Still, this was such a fun project. Then seeing Human Bruce sharing pictures of his new monster buddy was the icing on the cake!