Tag: Holidays

Beasties at the Flea - CrawCrafts Beasties

Festive Flea Market Fun!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Crafting, Knitted Beasties, Life at Beastie Towers

Woweeee! It really has been all systems go here at Beastie Towers lately – and in between getting Christmas commissions ready and starting a new job, I haven’t been able to go to half as many of the festive markets as I would have liked. Fortunately, I booked my spot at the Dublin Christmas Flea at the end of October, and I decided that come hell, high water or complete sleep deprivation I was going to be there!

It’s one of the markets I’ve been hoping to go to since I first became a Maker of Monsters, and this year they annexed an extra space in the Point Village in Dublin’s Docklands to make it their biggest event yet. So many stalls of crafty goodness… Plus some excellent vintage and food sellers as well!

Oh yeah, and the Beasties and I were there too!
Beasties at the Flea - CrawCrafts BeastiesHere we are, all set up and ready for Day One… And then a few more Beasties and beanies arrived throughout the weekend…
Crawcrafts Beasties at the Dublin Christmas Flea…Then it was all paws on deck come Sunday! Hallowe’en Beasties don’t usually hang out at Christmas markets, but the prospect of new friends and a new home was too good to miss…
Hallowe'en Beasties are GO! CrawCrafts BeastiesBy the time 6pm rolled around on Sunday, almost every one of my little monsters had toddled off with their new family!

Thanks so much to everybody who stopped in to visit us over the weekend – it was lovely to meet you all, especially those of you I already know a bit from your blogs, or from Instagram and Facebook! And a big thumbs up for the Dublin Flea team as well, who put in an immense amount of work to beautify the venue and let all of Dublin know that the market was happening. Best of all, they gave me a spot right next to the tea stall! You guys are the best!

Right, I’m off to start getting ready for next year’s market now… And for anyone who left the Christmas Flea with a new monster friend in tow, please feel free to share photos of your Beastie’s adventures with us back here at Beastie Towers! You can post to Facebook, share your Instagram pics with the hashtag #beastiesofinstagram, or email photos to crawcraftsbeasties@gmail.com to feature in a blog post in the new year!

Paddy and Plunkett, Livin’ it up in Lanzarote!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Paddy and Plunkett

After last week’s post, some eagle-eyed readers were able to figure out that Paddy and Plunkett are currently enjoying a bit of winter (or late autumn!) sun in Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands. Lucky them! Shall we see where their wandering paws have taken them this week?

It seems like they’ve been making friends with some more of the locals, for starters!
Paddy and Plunkett make another new friend - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesHaving spent a lot of the early part of their stay enjoying the delights of the hotel they’d snuck into, this week they decided to venture further afield.

“Come on Plunkett, let’s head for the hills!”
Paddy and Plunkett go for a Trek - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesPaddy – full of beans as usual – was keen to see the island from the top of this mountain. All the more so after he found out that it used to be…
Paddy and Plunkett go for a Trek - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties…A VOLCANO!

Plunkett was a little less enthused at the prospect of encountering pyroclastic flow and rivers of red-hot lava – he hid behind the sofa when we were checking out Grim Reaper Beastie’s last set of travel pics – but once we’d confirmed that it’s a looooong time since this volcano last erupted, he was happy enough to continue with the climb.

Well, as long as there were frequent stops to admire the view, of course…
The View from the Volcano - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Are we nearly there yet, Paddy?”

“Almost… Just around the next corner!”
Volcano View - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Woooooooah! Look at that!”

Mind you, it was pretty breezy on the edge of the crater, so the boys didn’t stay long. On their way back down to sea level, Paddy spotted their next destination – he was all for making tracks to visit that lighthouse, way off in the distance!
Next Stop, Lighthouse! H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesHowever, Plunkett put his paw down.

“We’re supposed to be on holiday!”
Paddy and Plunkett Catch Some Rays - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd it turns out that it was surprisingly easy to win Paddy over to catching a few late-afternoon rays!

We’ll be back with more monster madness on Tuesday. In the meantime, have a great weekend… And Dubliners, don’t forget that you can catch us at the Creative Collective Ireland Craft Fair in Ranelagh this Saturday and Sunday!
Creative Collective Poster - Creative Collective Ireland/CrawCrafts Beasties

Paddy and Plunkett's New Buddy - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

On The Road Again With Paddy and Plunkett!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Paddy and Plunkett

It’s been a while since we last checked in with Paddy and Plunkett… But after hearing from Grim Reaper Beastie and Fairy Princess Beastie over the last couple of weeks, I reckoned it was only a matter of time before the boys got in touch as well! I wonder where they are?

It seems like their latest adventure got off to an early start, anyway – here’s Paddy up and dressed before the sun is fully over the horizon!
Paddy Greets the Dawn - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesIsn’t that sunrise spectacular? Now, time to explore the hotel!

Woooooah, that’s a lot of stairs to climb! Let’s hope the breakfast buffet is worth it…
Paddy and Plunkett, Stairmasters - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesNearly there! Note the curious human onlookers at the top, too… Honestly, you’d think they’d never seen a Beastie before.
Paddy and Plunkett Take on the Stairs - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesAfter stocking up on breakfast goodies – and filling Plunkett’s waistcoat pockets with extra snacks for later -the boys had every intention of hitting the beach. But then they found this!
A Private Beach! H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesSurely that’s just a wine glass with a plant in it? Nope, think again – it’s a private Beastie beach for one!

But the lads didn’t loaf around for long. After taking a refreshing siesta, they headed out into the neighbourhood… And discovered that perhaps they weren’t as far from home as they first thought!
A Place Like Home - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThey also bumped into some of the locals. This guy wasn’t particularly chatty…
Meeting the Locals... Sort of. H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties…But it wasn’t long before they made a new friend!
Holiday Friends - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesCan anyone figure out where they are? If any of this looks familiar, let me know in the comments! Otherwise, we’ll have to wait until next Friday to find out more…

Hope you all have a fun weekend! We’ll be back on Tuesday with a new Beastie friend for you all to meet… See you then!

A Fitting Backdrop for a Grim Reaper Beastie! N Depping/CrawCrafts Beasties

Grim Reaper Beastie Gets Away From It All

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Knitted Beasties

Hey there everybody!

It’s been a while since I last received word from a globetrotting Beastie, so you can probably imagine how delighted I was when Grim Reaper Beastie got in touch earlier this week! As it happens, he’s been to Hawaii… but of course he had very little interest in going to a luau or hanging out on the beach in a brightly-coloured shirt (hilarious as that would be). I think you’ll agree that he looks much more in his element here…
A Fitting Backdrop for a Grim Reaper Beastie! N Depping/CrawCrafts Beasties… Because as we all know, the Hawaiian islands are a (literal!) hotbed of volcanic activity. And it seems that Grim Reaper Beastie is quite the amateur volcanologist – here he is again, scrambling around among the lava fields around Kilauea on Big Island!
Grim Reaper Beastie in Hawaii - N Depping/CrawCrafts BeastiesI think he looks right at home here, don’t you? However, not all of the rocks were suitable for such up-close inspection… For starters, there’s quite a lot of red hot liquid lava around.
Lava at Kilauea, Hawaii - N Depping/CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd if you think that’s awesome, you should see it after dark!
Lava in the Dark - N Depping/CrawCrafts BeastiesIt also helps to get a bird’s eye view… If you look really closely in the bottom third of this photo, you can see a few fine orange specks where the lava is meeting the sea – and the clouds of steam this produces!
Where the Volcano Meets the Sea - N Depping/CrawCrafts BeastiesFortunately, the lava around here moves pretty slowly, so Grim Reaper Beastie could watch it bubble up from the centre of the earth without having to worry about getting his toes burnt. Here, have a look for yourself!

Can anyone else see a monster face appearing in the hot lava towards the end of the video, or is that just me?!

But not every volcano in this area of Big Island is active. Grim Reaper Beastie finished up his tour at Devastation Trail, which was last affected by the eruption of Kilauea Iki in 1959. Here, shrubs and flowering plants have gradually started to recolonise this stark landscape of stones and cinders!
Grim Reaper Beastie at Devastation Trail - N Depping/CrawCrafts BeastiesA perfect end to a perfect day of exploration!

Thanks to Nicole for letting Grim Reaper Beastie stow away in her suitcase, and for sending me his holiday snaps – it looks like you had a super trip! And be sure to join us again on Tuesday to meet some new Beasties, then next Friday we’ll be sharing more Beastie adventures abroad! See you then!

Christmas Explorer Beastie - CrawCrafts Beasties

Where Does The Time Go?

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Commissions, Crafting, Life at Beastie Towers

Grim Reaper Beastie, by CrawCrafts BeastiesWow, 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…
Time for a Rest! CrawCrafts Beasties…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…
Christmas Orders! Place Your Christmas Orders! CrawCrafts BeastiesPlease 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…

In the meantime, have a monster weekend!

Paddy and Plunkett on the Beach - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Paddy and Plunkett – Last Day of the Holidays

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Paddy and Plunkett

Is it just me, or is there a whiff of change in the air? The sun, when it finally makes it out from behind the clouds, is shining with a more mellow light, and the breezes feel a little cooler than they did this time last week. It seems like summer is coming to an end – although how I’m able to notice this when it never really got started is anyone’s guess! But with the shops filling up with “back to school” supplies, and the evenings starting a little earlier each day, it’s time for a pair of adventurous little woolly monsters to think about heading for home.

But not before they’ve hit the beach one last time! This one looks nice – but where are Paddy and Plunkett?
The Beach At Dungeness - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesI suppose these pebbles would provide perfect camouflage for them. Helllooooooo?

Oh, wait… there they are!
Paddy and Plunkett at Dungeness Beach - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThey really couldn’t have asked for better weather on their last day – look at that sky, reflected in the perfectly still water behind them!
Beautiful Weather Today, Paddy! H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesUnfortunately, at this stage their budget has pretty much completely run out, so the boys will be foraging for lunch.
Mmm, lunch! H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesIs that sea kale? Let’s hope so! Sea kale actually did enjoy a brief spell of culinary popularity in the early 1800s, when a lot of people started growing it in their gardens. Although it’s easy to cultivate, it bruises easily and is best eaten soon after cutting, which is why you’re unlikely to see it in your local supermarket. Still, that doesn’t affect Paddy and Plunkett, who will be tucking in straight away!

And after lunch, perhaps it might be nice to snooze in the sun for a while…
Paddy and Plunkett Catch Some Rays - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Hey Paddy, what’s that noise in the background?”

“Ah, don’t worry about it, Plunkett…”
Paddy, Plunkett and the Nuclear Power Station - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“…It’s just the Dungeness B nuclear reactor.”

“WHAAAAAAAT?!”

Hmmm, how DO they end up in these places? Paddy spent the rest of the day trying to keep Plunkett away from the internet, so he couldn’t read about the many setbacks this power station experienced, both during its construction and ongoing maintenance! By the end of the day, both of them were all tuckered out…
Night-night! H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties…So they thought it was best to get an early night.

I wonder where they’ll be off to next? And how will you be spending the last days of summer (or winter, for those of you in the southern hemisphere)? Let us know in the comments!

Monster Highway in the Forest! CrawCrafts Beasties

More From The Fairy Forest!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie, Knitted Beasties

Explorer Beastie, Away With the Fairies - CrawCrafts BeastiesRegular BeastieBlog readers will know that Explorer Beastie and I were literally away with the fairies a couple of weeks ago! But as I was tidying up the photo files from our trip away, I saw that there were loads of other non-fairy photos that I hadn’t had a chance to use. Away from the hubbub of Fairyville, there was a whole forest for Explorer Beastie to investigate – let’s join him, shall we?
Explorer Beastie Tackles the Undergrowth - CrawCrafts BeastiesHere we go! The undergrowth was pretty dense in some places…

…But elsewhere we found shortcuts better suited to little short Beastie legs!
Monster Highway in the Forest! CrawCrafts BeastiesSoft mossy patches also make the perfect place to stop for a quick nap…
Time for a Rest! CrawCrafts Beasties… And we even found a natural paddling pool in a tree stump!
A Natural Beastie-Sized Paddling Pool - CrawCrafts BeastiesThere was also plenty of clover growing in the forest – surely ONE of these is the lucky four-leafed kind?
Explorer Beastie With Lucky Clover - CrawCrafts BeastiesExplorer Beastie also found somewhere to test his Christmas Fairy skills!
Christmas? Already?! CrawCrafts BeastiesHmmm… there might be room for you at the top of the tree this year…

That said, Explorer Beastie will climb pretty much any tree he can find!
Climbing Trees - CrawCrafts BeastiesBut just when we thought we’d gone through the whole fairy forest without meeting a single magical creature… we caught a glimpse of these through the trees!
Fairies in the Forest! CrawCrafts BeastiesWooooah! REAL FAIRIES!

It’s going to be hard to top this on our next day trip!

Have you had a brush with the magical or mysterious lately? Let us know in the comments!

Explorer Beastie on the Fence! CrawCrafts Beasties

Surprise! We’re on Holiday!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Explorer Beastie, Info

Explorer Beastie Relaxes in the Heather - CrawCrafts BeastiesAaaah, it’s not often that us monster makers get a chance to get away from it all… so when one popped up out of the blue, Explorer Beastie and I grabbed it with both hands/paws! Unfortunately we’re not 100% sure what the internet access will be like at our destination, so we’ll catch up with you all again when we get back on Friday. In the meantime, we might post the odd holiday snap on Twitter or Instagram to make you jealous!

See you soon, and have a great week 🙂

An Irish Pub, in Perugia! A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts Beasties

(B)Easter in Perugia!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family

Beasties on Tour! A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts BeastiesCiao ragazzi!

Wow, what a week it’s been! The Irish weather – not known for its predictability or even-temperedness at the best of times – has been flinging just about everything at us over the last seven days, veering from hot sun one minute to blustery snowstorms the next. So you can imagine how excited we at Beastie Towers were to get word from Italy… Looking at these photos allowed us to escape to beautiful Perugia for a short while, with Antonello and Tiziana Beastie (and of course their trusty Beastiecat Tris) as our guides!

Perugia is right in the heart of Italy, and it’s been an important city since Etruscan (pre-Roman-Empire) times. These days, it’s the regional capital of Umbria, and there’s plenty to see here!

The Beasties started off at St Bernardino church. The incredible marble facade of this renaissance-era church dates back to 1457-61, and was the creation of Agostino di Duccio, a sculptor who started his career working alongside Donatello.
At St Bernardino Church - A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts BeastiesImpressive… Especially to the Beastie-sized tourist! The church also boasts some beautifully detailed bas-reliefs…
Bas-reliefs at San Bernardino - A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts Beasties…And some fences that certain Beasties probably shouldn’t be climbing.
We're on the Fence About San Bernardino... A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts Beasties
Fortunately, they made good their escape before the authorities showed up.

Next stop – the Piazza IV Novembre, home of the Palazzo dei Priori. This was the seat of the mediaeval “first citizens” – representatives of each of the city’s guilds.
Beasties at Piazza IV Novembre, Perugia - A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts Beasties

There’s also a spectacular fountain – the Fontana Maggiore, another masterpiece from the Renaissance era!
Fontana Maggiore, Perugia - A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts BeastiesMind you, looking at all that water would make you feel kinda thirsty…

Pint, anyone?
An Irish Pub, in Perugia! A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts BeastiesAh, Ireland’s great cultural gift to the world – the Irish Pub! And the good news is, there’s one right here in Perugia. There was even live music… And of course the Beasties had the best seat in the house.
Beasties at the Pub - A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts BeastiesWhat a great trip! Thanks to Antonello and Tiziana Beastie for sharing their photos!

And in other monster news… Friday posts are back! Check in with us again on Friday, when Explorer Beastie and I will be sharing what we learned at the Irish Blogger Conference!

Happy BEASTer!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Explorer Beastie, Knitted Beasties

Beaster Egg Hunt - CrawCrafts BeastiesHappy Easter, everybody! The Beasties have been busy organising their own festival, featuring a traditional Beaster Egg Hunt…
Beaster Celebrations - CrawCrafts BeastiesLet’s see if they can gather up the last few eggs before Explorer Beastie’s backpack bursts at the seams!

Hope you all have a great weekend… We’ll be back on Tuesday with more monster mayhem!