Embroidery – Page 4

A Beastie Birthday Bonanza!

Posted on June 1, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Crafting, Knitted Beasties

It’s new Beastie day! So it must be… Friday? Yes, we’re breaking with tradition a little here, but after giving this very special pair a brief introduction in Tuesday’s post, I couldn’t wait a whole week to give you the guided tour! This cheerful monster couple were created as a very special birthday gift for author and long-term BeastieBlog reader Tammie Painter, and were requested by her husband as a surprise to round off their recent trip to Ireland.

So, after several top-secret design discussions, we decided to dress the Beasties in miniature versions of the outfits worn by their human counterparts on their wedding day!
That meant a sophisticated black dress with pin-tucked bodice and a floaty organza top layer for Tammie Beastie…
… With a hook-and-eye fastening closure at the back. These are my new favourite dress fastening!
Meanwhile, Mr Husband Beastie was cool and casual in a Hawaiian-style shirt and shorts.
Alas, a true Hawaiian print comes up too large for Beastie-sized clothes! So I picked out a blue fabric that came as close as possible to the colours in the reference photos I worked from…
… And then added a pair of boxy-framed glasses to complete the look!
Very stylish.

But wait a sec… What’s going on here?
Aha! Good call, Beasties!
Those hand-knitted Aran sweaters are much more suitable for exploring the Emerald Isle! Oh, and look…
… They have bags, too! A red felt backpack for Mr Husband Beastie, and a teal shoulder bag for Tammie Beastie! Now, what can they put in there?

How about a sketchbook and pen, to record the highlights of the trip?
Or maybe snacks for long bus journeys!
And if you have snacks, you’ll need something to wash them down with. Hop Monster IPA, anyone? This special Beastie brew comes in a needle-felted bottle, with hand-embroidered felt label!
Or, for the designated drivers, a nice hot cup of tea from the travel flask might be just the thing.
And last but not least… Don’t forget your reading material! This Ireland travel guide will surely come in handy, while “The Trials of Herc-Woollies” will make the plane journey home pass much more quickly!

(Oh, and human readers can pick up a copy of the non-Beastie version, “The Trials of Hercules” for FREE right now! Find out more here)
“Hmmmm… I think we’d better pack all of it, just to be on the safe side!”
And now I reckon they’re ready to go!
Bon voyage, Beasties!

Have any of you got big plans for the weekend? And if so, what will you be packing in your backpack? Tell us all about it in the comments!

Aaand we’ll be back on Tuesday as usual, with more antics from Paddy and Plunkett. See you then!

Ballerina Scientist Beastie, Personalised Handmade Gifts by CrawCrafts Beasties

Arts? Science? Why Choose?

Posted on March 20, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Crafting, Knitted Beasties

Hey there Beastie friends! I hope you all had a super weekend… Especially any of you who were celebrating St Patrick’s Day on Saturday!

Today on the BeastieBlog, we’re weighing in on an issue that has been troubling humans for centuries – the ongoing battle between the arts and the sciences. And is it really true that if you have an interest in one, you’ll have no aptitude for the other?

For Beasties, the answer is a big HECK NO! Why would you ever limit yourself to just one? Meet this little monster lady, who just headed off to her new home last week.

With her long, flowing blonde locks and winning smile, she’ll look every inch the ballerina when she’s in her dance studio… This Beastie loves her ballet! So I made her a pair of pumps with ribbon laces…

… And a very feminine pink net tutu as well.

As you can see, the tutu actually fastens with snaps, to make sure it doesn’t fall off mid-pirouette!
But she’s not going to dance away the whole day! Time for a quick costume change…

… And it’s off to the lab! Because like her new human friend, this Ballerina Beastie is also a scientist!

Hey, don’t forget your bag!

Because Ballerina Scientist Beastie’s human counterpart is especially interested in DNA and associated fields of research, I thought a little personalised embellishment on her bag might be in order. And what’s that inside?

It’s a Beastie-sized laptop! This little felt computer has an embroidered keyboard, appliqué felt details and magnets inside to make sure it closes with a nice neat “click”.

So, with that safely packed away again…

…It’s time to head off in search of adventure!

Thanks to my lovely customer Arlyng for requesting this special Beastie as a gift for her friend! I enjoyed the challenge of capturing all her interests in one Beastie project.

As for you, where do you stand? Do you think of yourself as more of a scientist or an artist? Or, like this Beastie, do you make time for both? Let us know in the comments!

We’ll be back on Friday, with a look at the community crafting project we took part in recently… See you then!

Pict in PA Beastie, a very special monster commission by CrawCrafts Beasties

A Picture-Perfect Beastie!

Posted on February 27, 2018June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Crafting, Knitted Beasties

Well hello there! And despite the best efforts of the mean ol’ flu bug that temporarily disrupted my blogging last week, I’m now back in the land of the living. Hurrah! So, shall we celebrate by meeting a new Beastie? I think so!

Those of you who keep up with Laura at A Pict in PA might see some eerily familiar features in this Beastie face…

I’ve been reading and enjoying Laura’s blog for a good while now… I love hearing about what she and her family have been up to (their summertime road trip posts are a particular favourite), and having a nosey through the latest additions to her art journals! I also try to keep up with her sister blog, Pict Ink, which is dedicated completely to her art and illustration projects.

So, as you can probably imagine, I was super-excited when Laura got in touch with me to request a Beastie friend of her very own… Well, excited with just a sprinkling of terror. Because doing a preliminary sketch for anyone is always a shot in the dark, but drawing for someone who I know has mad monster-drawing skills? Eeeeek! Fortunately, Laura’s blog was a veritable goldmine of ideas, and I was able to pick out some Beastie accessories that I thought might appeal to her wide-ranging interests!
First, we had to pay woolly tribute to her go-to hairstyle of choice – the messy bun!

Then, one of the things I really wanted to include in this Beastie’s kit was a camera. Like me, Laura still has a soft spot for “real” cameras, and I’d say she doesn’t go far without her trusty DSLR! Thanks to the wonders of the internet, I was able to find photos of the make and model she uses, and then Beastify it for her little monster friend.

I couldn’t resist taking a few extra shots to show you the camera’s key features – viewfinder, screen, prestigious “Kniton” branding…

…But my favourite bit is taking it apart! The lens and strap are both removable.

Linking in neatly with Human Laura’s enthusiasm for photography is her love of film and musicals – and having read about the Dorothy-style red spangly slippers she picked up to wear on Oscars night, I thought a Beastie-sized pair might be a fun way to reflect her movie-buff side!

Like the originals, they’re cosy and sparkly… and these ones close with snaps so they’re easy to take off! They’ll also help Laura Beastie to stand up on her own two feet.

Then there’s another clue to her fondness for the silver screen tucked away safely in here…

You can always be sure that when a Beastie gets a bag, there’s going to be stuff in there! In this case…

… It’s a hand-embroidered cinema ticket and book! There’s a little bit of Dublin history in here as well – the Screen was a small cinema in the city centre which closed in 2016. Now its name lives on in felt and teeny sewing! As for the book, Poe is one of Human Laura’s favourite authors… And how could I resist a name that lends itself so well to a yarn-based pun?

Wow – this is an epic one, isn’t it? But the final element of this Beastie’s outfit was – taaaa daaaah – a pair of felt-framed glasses. And they’re removable, too!

Now she’s all ready for her first adventure!

All she has to do is to click her heels together three times and…

… She’s away!

Thanks so much to Laura for commissioning this fun and challenging project! Hopefully we’ll see this Beastie popping up again the next time the Picts hit the road!

And speaking of hitting the road… I’d better get going myself! I’ve just realised I owe you all a March calendar page, so look out for that landing on the BeastieBlog shop in the next day or so.

Enjoy the rest of the week… And we’ll see you again on Tuesday with another new Beastie friend!

A Busy Beastie… And Her Best Friend!

Posted on January 9, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions

Hello everybody, and welcome to the first proper BeastieBlog post of 2018! I hope you all got a bit of a break over the holidays – I know I certainly took advantage of the end-of-year lull to catch up on some sleep! But it’s great to be back, and right now is actually one of my favourite times of year. Yes, really! Because NOW I can finally start sharing my Christmas commissions with you all!

It was tricky to choose which of my latest Beasties I’d introduce you to first… But in the end, the honour has gone to this little monster lady!

At a time of year when many of us are resolving to make changes in our lives or try new things, I thought that this multitalented Beastie might provide a little inspiration. She was created as a special companion for a lady who works as a translator, so she speaks a couple of languages…

…And she’s also interested in art history, so she never leaves home without a handy sketchpad and pen! You just don’t know when inspiration will strike.

Of course, she’d never get anything done if she had to carry all this stuff around in her paws. So I made her a cool satchel-style bag to put everything into!

Perfect! She certainly looks happy… But what’s that I hear?

Aha! Beastie’s best friend… A sweet little felt pooch to keep her company while she works.

Because this Beastie was going to live in Germany, I modelled her four-legged friend on traditional German breeds, like the German pinscher and Jagterrier. Hello there, pup!

I think it might be time for walkies… What do you reckon?

And of course, there’s always time for hugs and treats!

This year certainly is off to a good start! How about you – any big plans for 2018? Let us know in the comments… and if one of your new year’s resolutions is to be more organised, don’t forget to download your FREE Beastie calendar pages from the store!
January is there now, and February will be added shortly!

We’ll be back next week, when I’ll be sharing snaps of my biggest ever custom order! See you then!

Dublin Football Beastie, Ready To Go! CrawCrafts Beasties

Dublin The Beastie Fun!

Posted on December 12, 2017June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Knitted Beasties

Wow, what a hectic week it’s been! And before I introduce you to another pre-Christmas new Beastie, I wanted to say a big THANK YOU to everybody who came along to meet me and my little monsters at our recent Christmas markets! It was so nice to see the faces behind some of my favourite Instagram accounts, catch up with Beastie buddies I’ve met at past events, and make some new friends, too. You all rock!

Now, we’re really keeping it local with this week’s new Beastie – she’s a true Dublin girl! She was created as a surprise birthday gift for a lady who’s a big Dublin GAA fan, and who loves her coffee. Knowing that, and with a few photos to work from, it was easy to sketch up some ideas for a little monster friend!

Then, a few tweaks and a lot of teeny sewing later… She was ready!

This Beastie has soft, curly wool and alpaca hair, and a pair of super-cool glasses…

… Which she can take off, if she likes.

She’s also proudly sporting the latest Dublin GAA football jersey, complete with sponsor logo and the team crest!

I used a combination of hand embroidery and appliqué to get these details as close as possible to the real thing… here, take a closer look at that teeny tiny Dublin crest!

There’s also a little personalisation on the back of the jersey, to make this gift extra special!

And finally… That all-important cup of coffee! This Beastie’s new human friend is especially fond of Americano, so that’s what she’s drinking too. I thought it might be fun to add a wisp of crema around the edges, to give the coffee that proper barista-made look!

Now, making Beasties makes me very happy… But what makes me happier is seeing them well settled in their new homes! So you can imagine how delighted I was to receive this photo of these two girls posing together for the camera!

Hopefully this is the first of many fun adventures for this pair! And if you’d like to know how you (or someone you love) would look as a little woolly monster, I’m already starting to take orders for 2018! Sooo…
Find out more about the design process here
or get in touch with me through the Contact page to book your spot!

Next week, join us for a look back through the highlights of 2017 – it’s been quite a year! See you then!

Beastie-sized Vinyl, by CrawCrafts Beasties

Making Sweet Monster Music!

Posted on December 5, 2017 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Knitted Beasties

Hey there everybody!

I’m taking a break from frantic pre-market Beastie making to share a new Beastie with you… A rare thing at this time of the year, since so many of my pre-Christmas commissions are destined to be presents, and I wouldn’t want to spoil any surprises! But I received confirmation that this little monster lady had made it safely to her new home at the end of last week, and I reckoned it was high time I introduced her to the world.

Meet Weekes Beastie!

This was an extra special make, because she was requested by a fellow blogger! I always get a kick out of Ms Weekes’s witty posts – they’re a delicious cocktail of history, daily life and humour, and I’ve now lost count of the number of times I’ve nearly choked on my breakfast tea because I’m laughing so hard. So, if you haven’t already, make sure you add Daze & Weekes to your regular reading list. Go on, do it now! We’ll wait here for you.

All done? Good. Let’s continue with the tour, and take a closer look at that hoodie!

Weekes Beastie’s hoodie is modelled on her human counterpart’s favourite item of clothing – an official “Cats” zip-up sweater with – gasp – cat ears on the hood!

As you can see, this is a very useful addition for a Beastie. Her own pointy ears fit snugly in there, keeping them nice and toasty! Then I finished off the hoodie with an embroidered “Cats” logo, zip, and a drawstring for the hood.

She can also take the hood down, if she likes.

That way, you can get a better look at her makeup, piercings and classic Sinead O’Connor hairstyle!

But, most importantly, lets talk about what she’s got in her paw. Because Weekes is not just a blogger – she’s also a talented singer and musician, and her debut album Pocket Bible is out this week! So, it only seemed right and proper to pay tribute to this momentous occasion in felt and teeny sewing…

And, of course, there’s a special edition Beastie-sized record inside the sleeve!

Obviously, this version will only play on special Beastie stereos… But don’t worry! You can pick up a proper human copy for yourself when the full album is released this Friday – that’s the 8th of December 2017. All the info you need is on weekesmusic.com, plus you can also listen to the four singles, find links to curated Spotify playlists and learn a little bit about the stories behind the song lyrics!

Meanwhile, it looks like the two Weekeses have already been out adventuring together…

Beastie’s first outing in England 🌿 @crawcraftsbeasties 💚

A post shared by xWG || #dazeandweekes (@dazeandweekes) on Dec 2, 2017 at 2:43pm PST

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What have you all been up to this week? Let us know in the comments! Oh, and don’t forget that the Beasties and I will be here later this week…
… So if you find yourself in or near Dublin, pop on down and say hello! We’d love to see you!

A Monster Family, by CrawCrafts Beasties

It’s a Family Thing

Posted on February 21, 2017June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Commissions, Knitted Beasties

Isn’t this year flying in already? I can’t believe it’s been nearly two months since I was putting the finishing touches on the new Beasties I’ll be introducing to you today!

So before another month zips by, let’s catch up with the last Beasties of 2016 – a happy little monster family!
These Beastie parents are justifiably proud of their sweet new arrival, who I made sure to wrap up in a toasty merino wool blanket, to keep those December chills at bay!
And just look at Mama Beastie… She’s so stylish in her checked shirt and satin bomber jacket!
Of course, Beastie Dad is no slouch in the style stakes either! He’s a bit of a Manchester United fan (or maybe that’s Monschester United?) so he pretty much lives in his favourite football shirt…
… Although since it was the middle of winter when he left Beastie Towers, it would have been irresponsible of me to let him out without a jacket. So I made him a classic felt parka, complete with a fur-lined hood!
This look might have been a little inspired by his favourite band… So I kitted him out with a copy of Oasis’s breakthrough album “Definitely Maybe” to keep him and his new family entertained. If you look closely, you’ll see that this is a super-rare Beastie-fied special edition!
The album cover is as close a replica of the real thing as I could recreate in felt and teeny embroidery. Yikes! Remind me to start this kind of work in the summer, and not leave it until the very darkest days of December like I did last year!

OK Beasties, I think that’s everything you need. Time to head off and meet your new family!
The best bit is that they arrived just as their human counterparts dashed to the hospital to welcome their own little person into the world – what are the chances? I couldn’t have planned that better if I’d tried!

Phew! Now that we’re almost up to date with new Beasties, next week I’ll be sharing some of the latest news from Beastie Towers… including my new photography toy and why it’s nice to be incommunicado every once in a while. See you then!

(Mer)Made Just for You!

Posted on February 14, 2017June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Knitted Beasties

After Explorer Beastie’s trip to the northwest coast last week, it seems like a good idea to carry on with this maritime theme for a little longer! How do you all feel about meeting a real, live Mermaid Beastie?Look, there she is… elegantly running her paws through her tresses, as mermaids are wont to do. Now, at the risk of running aground on some treacherous rocks, let’s take a closer look at this elusive Beastie… You may never see her like again!

First, you’ve probably noticed that she’s wearing a rather fetching seashell bikini top… A girl has to keep up with fashion, even if she does live underwater.
She also has a friendly starfish in her hair, to keep her lustrous locks out of her eyes.
But of course, you probably want proof that this isn’t just a regular girl Beastie in a costume. So, here you are – check out her beautiful, scaly, sparkly tail!
Sharp-eyed Beastie spotters will also notice that her tail is stitched in such a way that she can lounge coyly on rocky outcrops, rather than sitting bolt upright…
… Although this shot captured her just as she got tired of posing for the camera, and she prepared to swim off to new and exotic shores! Since she left just before Christmas, I’m sure she found the waters around Ireland pretty chilly, but fortunately it wasn’t long before I received confirmation that she had arrived safely in her new home!
Heehee! It looks like she’s settling in well – and possibly challenging the Christmas fairy bear for her spot at the top of the tree!

Thanks for joining me for another New Beastie day – I’ll have the last of my Christmas commissions to share with you next week, so be sure to drop back in for that! And join us again on Friday for part 2 of Explorer Beastie’s trip to the very top of Ireland. See you then!

A Beastie-Size Tardis! CrawCrafts Beasties

Knock knock! Who’s There?

Posted on January 31, 2017June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Commissions, Crafting, Knitted Beasties

– Doctor.
– Doctor who?
– Exactly!
Aaah, they say the old jokes are the best… but perhaps that one might be the exception to the rule!

That said, the new Beastie I’d like to introduce to you today ties in quite well with the retelling of a corny old joke. The character he’s based on is known for his ability to regenerate and reappear as essentially the same person… albeit in a different body, with different personality traits. And even the tales of his adventures have made a comeback and evolved in recent years, creating a whole new army of fans!
Yes, you’ve guessed it – it’s Doctor Who Beastie!

Some of you might remember that I already made a Doctor Who Beastie, back in December 2015… But given the original Time Lord’s continuing popularity, I figured it was only a matter of time before I was asked to “regenerate” Doctor Who Beastie!

Of course, in keeping with the tradition of Doctor Who’s various distinct regenerations, and the fact that all Beasties are unique, there have been some subtle changes between this Beastie and his previous incarnation…
As you can see, his complexion has changed to a bright sunny yellow, and he’s clearly visiting a different dentist! But his tailor and hairdresser did such a good job last time around that he’s decided to stick with them…… And underneath his practical tweed jacket, he’s still rocking the same bright red braces and matching bow tie!Finally, I kitted him out with a Beastie-sized Sonic Screwdriver – essential for getting a teeny Time Lord out of all sorts of intergalactic scrapes!But surely you’re not going to walk to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, Doctor Who Beastie?Aha! I thought not! A cosy felt TARDIS will work much better.Perfect!Well, almost… Even though I gave him strictest instructions to head directly to his new home, and to be sure to get there in time for Christmas, he took it into his woolly head to go adventuring instead!

Days passed, then weeks… And still no Beastie! I didn’t know what to do – contact NASA and see if they’d noticed anything whizzing past the Hubble space telescope? Ring the BBC and ask for Professor Brian Cox? But then…
He popped out of whatever black hole he’d vanished into, and arrived on his new doorstep apparently none the worse for wear after his longer-than-anticipated journey!

Even better, although he wasn’t home for Christmas, with uncanny Time Lord timing he did manage to pick the next best date for this grand entrance – his new buddy’s birthday!

Here’s a taster of what he discovered when he started exploring his new home planet…… And don’t forget to stop by Tatie’s World to see more of this Beastie’s antics!

Thanks to Tajana for sharing her Beastie pics with me… And for being so patient while we waited for the Beastie Tardis to find her house!

Next week, we’ll be finding out what Paddy and Plunkett have been up to in their first adventure of 2017… See you then!

Beastie Meets Beasties at the Oregon Zoo

Posted on December 6, 2016June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family

Wow, it’s been a busy week here in Beastie Towers… AGAIN!
Fortunately, not all of the global Beastie family are entangled in Christmas market preparations. So today I’m going to leave you in the capable hands (and paws) of Tammie and her mischievous monster companion Finn McSpool, as they have some close encounters with the residents of Oregon Zoo. Enjoy!

Tammie Painter

I know I promised a continuation of my tales from Orvieto for today’s post, but I thought I’d take a little break from the Italian adventures and share a recent outing that’s a little more local.

As you know, Finn McSpool recently moved to the U.S. from Ireland (although he’s thinking about packing his bags and returning after learning the results of our latest election). He’s done a little local exploring to Portland’s Japanese Garden, but this week was his first trip to see some local beasties at the Oregon Zoo. Late November may not be the best weather for wandering around a zoo, but Mr. Husband and I discovered a few years ago that on the Monday after Thanksgiving, you pretty much have the place to yourself.

I know many people hate zoos and think they’re cruel, but the Oregon Zoo is an outstanding steward for animal, environmental, and ecological issues, including…

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