Tag: Monsters

Paddy and Plunkett have a Picnic - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

A Quiet Stroll in the Countryside… Or is it?

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Paddy and Plunkett

Paddy, Plunkett and some late Bluebells - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesAt last! The sun has broken through the clouds and it feels like summer again! Not that it matters to Paddy and Plunkett, whose extended holiday is still ongoing… let’s find out where they are today!
Paddy Admires the View - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesIt certainly seems nice and peaceful, anyway. And look, Paddy’s spotted some distant Beastie relatives – well, they are all made of wool, right?
Proto-Beasties? H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesBut all is not as it seems!

“Hey Plunkett, what’s that building up there?”
Paddy and Plunkett Catch a Glimpse of English History - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Glad you asked, Paddy – I’ve been reading up on this! That’s part of the remains of Battle Abbey. Can you believe that we’re standing on what is believed to be the site of the Battle of Hastings? Look, there’s a stone slab here to mark the spot where the English leader King Harold is supposed to have fallen!”
Professor Plunkett Takes a History Lesson - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“Yikes! What happened to King Harold?”

“Arrow through the eye, apparently – the famous Bayeux Tapestry captured the whole thing…”

The Death of King Harold at the Battle of Hastings - Photo from historytoday.com
The Death of King Harold at the Battle of Hastings – Photo from historytoday.com

“In fact, Paddy, forget what you’ve been seeing on Game of Thrones lately… The Battle of Hastings was a pretty gruesome episode in English history! Casualties on both sides were so numerous that the leader of the victorious invading Norman army, who later became known as William the Conqueror, was ordered by Pope Alexander II to atone for this immense loss of life. So he built a church here – it was finished in around 1094.  Then in the late 13th century, it was remodelled into Battle Abbey.”

“Wow, that’s some history! How on earth do we follow that?”

“How about some lunch?”

“Good thinking, Plunkett!”
Paddy and Plunkett have a Picnic - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

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Beach Beasties Take a Weight Off - CrawCrafts Beasties

Summertiiiiiiime… And the livin’ is Beastieeeee!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Crafting

Summertime Wedding Beasties, by CrawCrafts BeastiesHappy Tuesday, everyone! And look, I’ve some new Beasties for you to meet!

I’m delighted to introduce you to Beach Babe Beastie and her new Beastie hubby, Outdoor Adventure Beastie!
A Closeup of the Happy Couple - CrawCrafts BeastiesThe person who requested these two little monsters wanted them as a wedding gift for a couple who she described as “summer people” – when the sun starts to shine, they’re the first to dash outside to soak up some rays on the beach or seek out adventure in the countryside! So rather than dress their Beasties up in stiff, formal wedding garb, we decided to go for outfits and accessories that would reflect their love of those long, hot summer days.

Ready for the guided tour? Great – ladies first, then!
Beach Babe Beastie, by CrawCrafts BeastiesWith her sunkissed blonde hair and Beastie-sized bikini, Beach Babe Beastie is all set to spend her honeymoon basking on golden sands somewhere in the tropics. And look, someone has brought her a cocktail to sip as she sunbathes!

Then once the sun slips below the horizon, she can pop on a cute floral-print skirt and head out for a relaxed dinner with her Beastie Beloved!
Dressed for Dinner - Beach Babe Beastie, by CrawCrafts BeastiesI also gave her a little tote bag, to hold her sunscreen – she needs to preserve her lovely rose-pink complexion, after all.
Beastie Beach Tote - CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd of course, she needed a pair of film-star sunglasses to complete her look!
Beastie Sunglasses! - CrawCrafts BeastiesNow, where’s that husband of hers got to? Oh, there he is!
Outdoor Adventure Beastie, by CrawCrafts BeastiesHe’s a real outdoors enthusiast, who loves keeping fit and camping under the stars. All this activity has helped him grow a bit taller and musclier than your average Beastie!
Another Big Tall Beastie! CrawCrafts BeastiesWhile I was making these Beasties, I thought it might be a good opportunity to redesign my Beastie backpacks – the new-style ones close with Velcro instead of snaps, and I think they’re a better, more realistic shape and more sturdily constructed.
New Look Beastie Backpack, by CrawCrafts BeastiesThey still hold everything an adventurous Beastie needs for a day away, too – in this case, a big bottle of water and a tasty cheese sandwich!
Beastie Backpack Contents, handmade by CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd finally, this guy had to have a pair of sunglasses!
Ready for the Great Outdoors - CrawCrafts BeastiesAll we need now is a bright sunny day for them to enjoy! But until then, they’ve managed to find a decent substitute…
Hey! That's my Desk! Sunbathing Beasties, by CrawCrafts BeastiesHurry up, summer… I need my desk back!

Hope you’re enjoying less apocalyptic weather where you are – my must-have summer accessory this past week has been my umbrella! What do you keep in your beach bag or backpack?

Paddy and Plunkett Reach Beachy Head - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Life is Beachy for Paddy and Plunkett!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Paddy and Plunkett

Paddy and Plunkett Hit The Beach - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesIt’s back to Blighty on the BeastieBlog today! As it turns out, Paddy and Plunkett are still in beautiful Sussex, and they’re finding plenty there to keep them entertained. We’ll join them on the beach in a minute, but first they wanted to share a couple of photos from the village of East Dean, which they passed through on the way… Check out the famous former “resident” of this picturesque cottage!
Sherlock Holmes Lived Here - H CrawfordCrawCrafts BeastiesA little further along the road, the boys came to Birling Gap, where they got their first glimpse of the stunning white cliffs known as the Seven Sisters.
First Glimpse of the Seven Sisters, East Sussex - H Crawfor/CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd they really are WHITE! Plunkett was kicking himself for not thinking to pack his sunglasses!
Plunkett Being Dazzled at the Seven Sisters - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThe cliffs maintain their shiny brightness thanks to natural erosion – the soft chalk rock is constantly being nibbled away by the sea, which means that plants and lichens never really get a chance to take over the pristine white surface. Because of this, the Seven Sisters are often used as a stand-in for the more famous White Cliffs of Dover in films and TV… The Dover cliffs are so close to the huge international port that they’re no longer allowed to erode naturally, so they’re a little less white than they used to be!

Let’s follow the boys down onto the beach!
Paddy and Plunkett Among the Pebbles - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesWith all those white pebbles lying around, it would be quite easy to lose them down here – they’re surprisingly well camouflaged!

After a few games of hide and seek among the stones, the lads decided to spend the afternoon strolling along the clifftop path which links Birling Gap with Beachy Head. On the way, they passed the wonderfully-named Belle Toute lighthouse… Although it was never considered a particularly good lighthouse (according to Wikipedia, its position on the clifftop meant that sea mists often obscured the light, and those people who most needed to be able to see it – sailors venturing too close to the rocky shore – had their view blocked by the cliffs), it is a well-known local landmark, and it’s even appeared on the silver screen a couple of times! And it’s lucky that it’s so popular – in 1999, the cliffs Belle Toute stands on threatened to crumble away from under it and drop it into the sea, so the whole lighthouse was picked up and moved inland! It’s now enjoying a comfortable retirement as a B&B, safe from the ravages of the tides, and its job has been taken over by a much younger, better positioned lighthouse.

Here it is – Beachy Head Lighthouse, which greeted the boys at the end of their wander!
Paddy and Plunkett Reach Beachy Head - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesWhere will you be spending this weekend? Be sure to share your adventures with us in the comments!

A Beastie Postcard from Italy!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family

Its a rainy old day here in Dublin… and that makes it even nicer to get an update from some Beasties abroad! I’m sure many of you will remember Antonello and Tiziana Beastie and their cat Beas-Tris from previous monster adventures… But if you’re new here, why not take a second to catch up with their first trip to their local Irish pub and their (B)Easter weekend away in Perugia?
Beastie Beverages! A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts BeastiesToday, they’re on the road again – this time, they’re visiting the Abruzzo region in central Italy, home to the country’s oldest National Park. The park’s headquarters are located in the picturesque town of Pescasseroli, a place with plenty to keep two curious little Beasties entertained!

First stop was the beautiful church of St Peter and St Paul, which dates back to the 14th century. Never satisfied with the view from the ground, our adventurous friends climbed a nearby tree to get a better look!
Church of St Peter and St Paul, Pescasseroli - A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts BeastiesThe church also has this colourful floral wall on its left side… Spot the Beasties!
The Floral Wall at Pescasseroli - A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts BeastiesBut being surrounded by all this natural greenery had an unexpected effect on Beas-Tris – could it be that she felt the call of the wild?
Beas-Tris Hears the Call of the Wild - A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts BeastiesAnd no sooner had her Beastie minders managed to extract her from her hiding place in the herbaceous border, she was off again – this time, scaling the elaborate metal vine sculpture that was entwined around this staircase!
Rescuing Beas-Tris from the Vine - A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts BeastiesIt’s lucky that Antonello Beastie and Tiziana Beastie are both excellent climbers… And generous pet owners. Figuring that Beas-Tris was in need of some four-legged company, they decided to spend the rest of the day in the park’s zoo. Here, sick and injured animals from the park are taken in and cared for until they’re ready to be released back into the wild. The local wildlife certainly makes for some interesting viewing – did you know that this part of Italy is still home to wild boar, lynx, deer and bears?

Yes, bears!
A Poorly Bear at the Park Zoo, Pescasseroli - A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts BeastiesThe Beasties met this one, who is currently feeling a little under the weather. Hopefully he’ll soon be well enough to be left back in the woods where he was found. As you can see, Beas-Tris decided to stay close to her parents here!

And now, time for one more group photo before we head back home!
Beasties at Pescasseroli Park Zoo - A de Girolamo/CrawCrafts BeastiesThanks to Antonello and Tiziana Beastie (and their human counterparts) for sending us these photos! They’ve certainly brought a bit of sunshine to my day.

Has anyone else encountered some interesting wildlife recently? Let us know in the comments! And don’t forget to drop back in on Tuesday, when I hope to have some new Beasties for you all to meet…

Paddy, Plunkett and the Sundials - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Kings of the Castle!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Paddy and Plunkett

Paddy and Plunkett at Arundel Castle - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesHmmm, who’s that lurking in the undergrowth outside Arundel Castle? Paddy and Plunkett picked the perfect day to explore this mediaeval castle in West Sussex – just look at that sunshine! Let’s join them as they take a trip around this incredible place, which has been the home of the Dukes of Norfolk (and their predecessors) for nearly a thousand years!

Given the most un-British weather that day, it made sense for them to start in the rose garden…
Paddy, Plunkett and the Sundials - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThere were a only a few roses out, but the boys found a sundial to keep themselves entertained! That said, it wasn’t long before they were overcome with curiosity… Time to explore the castle! Let’s go!
Climbing the Stairs to the Keep - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesPaddy Gawps at Arundel Castle - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesArundel Castle is a bit of an architectural hodge-podge – the oldest parts were built in the late 11th century and subsequent generations left their mark on the building, both inside and out. In the late 16th-early 17th century, the 14th Earl of Arundel (nicknamed “the Collector Earl”) went on a bit of an interiors shopping spree, and many of his purchases can still be found in the castle today! Although the castle was damaged in the English Civil War, repairs were eventually carried out in the early and late 1700s, and a further round of restoration, completed in 1900, produced the remarkable building that stands today.

All this means that architecture buff Plunkett is in seventh heaven! However, Paddy maybe isn’t the most willing audience for his musings…
Very Different Beasties - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties…Not when he can hang out with the man-at-arms and his cat, anyway!
Paddy, Man-at-Arms in Training - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesAt least it’s given Plunkett a chance to brush up on his Latin.
Plunkett and Monk, Latin Enthusiasts - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThey also met a former castle resident in the private chapel – well, kind of.
Paddy, Plunkett and the Duchess - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesBut the bright sunshine soon lured the lads back outside. It would be a shame to miss the opportunity to see the gardens in all their glory! First stop was this formal garden, created as a memorial to the “Collector Earl”, which was full to bursting with beautiful tulips. Then they headed to the Stumpery – a novel concept garden where native woodland plants are encouraged to grow over the stumps of felled trees. This creates a really unusual and artistic display… and a great habitat for local wildlife!
Arundel Castle Gardens - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThe boys also encountered a few curiosities on their travels… A whole family of scarecrows, and a rather unusual sign!
Arundel Garden Curiosities - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesPaddy thought it might have been the first cryptic clue in a treasure hunt… He spent the rest of the day trying to figure out what it meant. Perhaps he’ll have something to show for his mental exertions next time we catch up with these two!

What have you all got planned for the weekend? For any yarn-lovin’ folks out there, don’t forget that tomorrow is World Wide Knit In Public Day – what better excuse to grab your needles and make a start on a fun new project?

Enjoy!

 

 

Beasties Abroad - CrawCrafts Beasties

May in Beastie Towers

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

Explorer Beastie With S Twist Yarns - CrawCrafts BeastiesWow, May was a busy month for us this year! It feels like the Beasties and I were on the go all the time, taking full advantage of all the fun and games that the crafting and blogging communities have to offer! So, today I’ve decided to follow the lead of Jem Arrowsmith Knits and Claireabelle Makes, and do a roundup of everything we got up to last month. I’d like to relive every moment in glorious technicolour – and hopefully it will keep you all entertained until I can share the top secret projects I’ve been working on lately behind the scenes!

First up, new arrivals! May saw the addition of two new Beasties to our worldwide monster family – another Diver Beastie and a sweet little Fairy Princess Beastie!
Fairy Princess and Diver Beasties - CrawCrafts BeastiesWe also got updates from a few Beasties abroad – Antonello and Tiziana Beastie headed to Perugia with their Beastiekitty in tow, MiniBeastie discovered some appropriately teeny alpine plants at Wisley Gardens, and Finn McSpool settled into his new home in Portland, Oregon!
Beasties Abroad - CrawCrafts BeastiesOh, and of course Paddy and Plunkett were out and about!
Boozy Barfly Beasties - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesBut for once, they weren’t the only ones living the high life! Explorer Beastie and I ventured out of the Beastie Towers craft lab and learned about taking better photos, met some fellow bloggers over dinner and took some time out in the countryside!
May Events - CrawCrafts BeastiesWe also enjoyed meeting up with some of our crafty colleagues – it’s always fun for me to talk shop with other people who find wool and fabric as compelling as I do, and Explorer Beastie likes making new friends too! Here he is hanging out chez Guadalupe Creations, and getting up close and personal with some felt viruses at Niki Collier‘s studio!
Meeting Other Crafters - CrawCrafts BeastiesYou’d think after that little lot, we’d be ready for a rest… but no! Here’s a taster of one of the Beastie projects we have in the pipeline for the coming months…
New Work Sketch - CrawCrafts Beasties…AAAAAND I’m really excited to announce that, for the summer at least, I’ll be cutting back on the amount of time I spend in Other Work to focus more on all things Beastie! As well as working through my latest batch of commissions, I’m hoping to convert some of this extra free time into market appearances, testing out some new designs and, dare I say it, starting to get ready for Christmas! That, and we might finally squeeze in a holiday somewhere!

(I wish… :D)

We’ll be back on Friday with more monster shenanigans! See you then!

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Paddy and Plunkett, Centurions - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Roman Around With Paddy and Plunkett!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Paddy and Plunkett

Paddy and Plunkett, Centurions - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesIt may have been a while since we last caught up with Paddy and Plunkett, but that doesn’t mean that they haven’t been up to their usual tricks! Last month they set off to the south east of England, hoping to escape the decidedly un-spring-like weather we were enduring here in Ireland at the time. Luckily for them, they were greeted by sunny days, and lots of fun things to do!

Plunkett got to choose the first port of call – Fishbourne Roman Palace – but as you can see above, Paddy insisted they get into character first! Plunkett soon retook the lead though… here he is admiring the famous “Cupid and Dolphin” mosaic inside the palace.
Plunkett Appreciating the Mosaics at Fishbourne - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesFishbourne Palace is considered the largest Roman villa discovered in the UK to date, and some of the decorated mosaic floors are in perfect condition. Plunkett asked a passing human to take a picture of this one for him as a souvenir – look at the detail!
Closeup of the Boy and Dolphin Mosaic at Fishbourne - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesBut not all of the villa is in this pristine state. Other past inhabitants of this area have left their mark on Fishbourne too – look what the boys found here!
That Shouldn't Be There! Saxon Burial at Fishbourne - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesAccording to our trusty friend Wikipedia, Fishbourne burnt down in around 270AD, and was subsequently abandoned. Apparently they were doing extensive renovations at the time, so perhaps the builders decided to focus their energies on building a new villa, instead of fixing up an old one. Paddy is reasonably sure that this could have been the first recorded instance of an insurance scam, but Plunkett, as usual, needs more convincing. Anyway, many years later, the site was used as a Saxon burial ground – some of the graves cut right down through the mosaic floors! A few of them, like the one above, have been left in situ… But some of the Saxon remains have been exhumed for closer inspection by curious visiting Beasties.
Paddy, Plunkett and the Saxon - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesOnce the lads had seen everything inside the villa, they headed outside to have a look around the grounds. The gardens have been restored and filled with the kind of plants the Romans would have had here back in the palace’s heyday, and also included a “Triclinium”, or outdoor feasting area.
Paddy and Plunkett at the Triclinium - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesThis would have been covered in sumptuous fabrics, allowing the family to sprawl around in the sunshine and enjoy tasty treats. Here’s Paddy demonstrating how to get the best out of your Triclinium.
How to use your Triclinium - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties“I think I could get used to this, Plunkett! Pass the stuffed dormouse!”

After they’d enjoyed picnic-ing like Romans, Paddy got to choose the afternoon’s entertainment. He decided on a trip on the Chichester Ship Canal… the passenger boats are captained by volunteers, so all the proceeds from the hour-and-a-quarter-long cruise go towards the upkeep and restoration of the canal. There was plenty to see along the way…
Paddy Watching Wildlife - H Crawford/Crawcrafts Beasties…Or was there?
Paddy Takes the Wheel - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesUh-oh! We all know what happens when Paddy takes the wheel… I wonder where they’ll end up next?

Be sure to join us on Tuesday for more monster antics! And in the meantime, have a super weekend!

Explorer Beastie & Garcia Beastie

Your Daily Dose of Beastie!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Info

Out and About With Explorer Beastie - CrawCrafts BeastiesI have a confession to make… If it wasn’t for those little woolly monsters of mine, I would have no online presence at all. Except an email address. Oh, and maybe an Etsy account. But that really would be it. So I owe the Beasties a big thank you – for dragging me out of my technological fortress of solitude, and for being willing to pose for the endless photos that I’m SO glad I don’t have to be in myself. Through them, I’ve been able to make contact with people all over the world, and get a sneaky peek at their latest craft successes, their studios and, most importantly, what they had for dinner! How awesome is that?

As a result, I’ve started gathering up social media accounts like they were Pokémon (oops, showing my age there with that oh-so-dated reference). And that means that on pretty much any given day, there will be breaking Beastie news somewhere on this vast interweb we all inhabit. So today I thought I’d give you the roadmap to all our online homes… I’d hate to think any of you were missing out somewhere! We’ll start with…

Instagram

… Because it’s my favourite. It’s so easy – I take a photo, I monkey around with it in the editor and BAM! Done! I also find it good for keeping up with the people whose pictures I actually want to see – not too much sponsored content, and no pesky algorithms deciding what appears on my screen. Well, not yet, anyway. Come and find us there! There’s something new almost every day. And don’t forget to share your own monster pics using #beastiefamily and #beastiesofinstagram!

Twitter

…Is the newest addition to the family, so I’m still getting the hang of it! I’ve managed to find a few of you on there already, but I figured some readers might not know that I even HAVE Twitter yet – in fact, that’s part of the reason for this post! You can expect new stuff here every couple of days, and possibly more once I get my head around what’s going on.

Facebook

Oh, Facebook. I’d love to spend more time with you, but your mobile apps really do make the experience less than enjoyable. However, I do still try to post new stuff at least a couple of times a week, and it’s another great place to share your own Beastie pics if you’d like to! It’s also a good way to get in touch if you don’t want to use the email contact form. On Facebook, you’ll find links to all my latest BeastieBlog posts, plus fun stuff like this recent snap of Explorer Beastie “helping” in the garden.

Pinterest

I’ve read time and again that maintaining a Pinterest profile is a great way to develop your crafty business. I will be the first to admit that I have no idea how this might work, but hey – it’s fun anyway! And it appeals to the magpie tendencies that have led me to accumulate boxes of old magazine clippings and photos that I just can’t bear to throw away. Here are a couple of the boards I update most!

 

And finally…

In a flurry of enthusiasm after the Irish Blogger Conference just over a month ago, I joined Snapchat. It was peer pressure! Everyone else was doing it! And I wanted to bagsy my username (@crawcrafts – soooooper imaginative). But… um… what exactly is it FOR? And why are there no instructions? I’m also disconcerted by the fact that every time I open the thing, my phone camera switches on and I’m greeted by my own bewildered face staring back at me. So if any of you have any hints you’d like to share, even if they are “you’re not 15, what on earth are you doing on Snapchat?”, please let me know in the comments!

We’ll be back on Friday with an update from Paddy and Plunkett. And if you’re looking for us in the meantime, now you know where to find us!

The Voyage of the "Beastie" - FocalHeart/CrawCrafts Beasties

Beasties Ahoy!

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions

All Dressed Up and Ready to Dive! CrawCrafts BeastiesAttentive Beastie fans will surely remember this guy from last Tuesday’s post! Diver Beastie headed off to join, of all things, a marauding crew of pirates across the water in the UK. Incredibly, his arrival coincided perfectly with his new pirate captain’s birthday… They even had a portrait photographer handy when they met for the first time!
Diver Beastie Meets the Cap'n - FocalHeart/CrawCrafts BeastiesAs you can see, he made his journey in a treasure chest – I figured it was the best way to help him fit in.
Diver Beastie and His Treasure Chest - FocalHeart/CrawCrafts BeastiesIt looks like he’s got on the Cap’n’s good side already!
Diver Beastie and the Cap'n - FocalHeart/CrawCrafts BeastiesI reckon it’s time to meet the rest of the crew! All aboard the good ship Beastie!
All Aboard the Good Ship Beastie! FocalHeart/CrawCrafts BeastiesPirate Beastie is on the lookout for treasure in the crow’s nest, while Diver Beastie has found himself a comfy seat in the stern…
This is the Life! FocalHeart/CrawCrafts BeastiesIt looks like the hold is already packed with pieces of eight… But is any pirate likely to pass up the opportunity to find MORE TREASURE?

Nope, I didn’t think so! Off we go!
The Voyage of the "Beastie" - FocalHeart/CrawCrafts BeastiesBut wait a second – the ship seems to be riding low in the water. What’s going on here?
A Stowaway on the Pirate Ship - FocalHeart/CrawCrafts BeastiesEeeeeek! A stowaway! Looks like Pint Beastie might have had one too many bottles of grog and fallen asleep in the hold. Well, it’s probably too late to turn back now, so… Congratulations Pint Beastie! You’re the newest member of this happy band of buccaneers! Now it’s time for them all to sail off in search of adventure – and yes, more treasure!
Pirate Beastie and Crew Sail Off in Search of Adventure - FocalHeart/CrawCrafts BeastiesWho knows where this boatful of brigands will wash up next?

Thanks to Noémie at FocalHeart for sending me her photos, including some taken by the Cap’n himself! All of us here at Beastie Towers love to see how our monster friends around the world are getting on.

As usual, we’ll be back on Tuesday – stop by to find out what Explorer Beastie and I have been up to over the past week! And in the meantime, have a great weekend!

Paddy and Plunkett Enjoy a Hot Whiskey - H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Paddy and Plunkett in the City of Many Names

Posted on by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Paddy and Plunkett

Last time we caught up with Paddy and Plunkett, they were enjoying a bit of fun along the shorelines of northwest Northern Ireland…
Beach Beasties Frame 3 - CrawCrafts BeastiesPerhaps for the best, Plunkett took the wheel for the next leg of the journey – a trip to Northern Ireland’s second-largest city. Depending on which route you take, you might see a sign welcoming you to “The Walled City”. This place has also been called “The Maiden City”, after it withstood three separate seiges in the 17th century… the most famous of which lasted 105 days. Here’s Paddy inspecting one of those famous city walls!
Paddy Takes a Look at the City Walls - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesHave you guessed where the boys are yet?

You score full marks if you said “Derry”. You also score full marks if you said “Londonderry”. And there are bonus points for anyone who went with Derry-slash-Londonderry, the even-handed semi-official renaming that led local broadcaster Gerry Anderson to coin the nickname “Stroke City”. Derry/Londonderry’s name dispute is such a contentious issue that it has its own Wikipedia page. And although “Derry” has been around longer (it’s an Anglicisation of “Daire”, the Irish for “oak wood” or “oak grove”, a name first definitely recorded in The Annals of Ulster in 1121) and is used on signage in the Republic of Ireland, the British name “Londonderry” is still the official, legally-recognised name, since Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom.

Then again, not everybody agrees with that. And sometimes signs are adjusted accordingly.

Road sign, Derry/Londonderry - Photo by SeanMack, via Wikipedia
Photo credit – By SeanMack – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3652350

But whatever name it goes by, it’s a great place to visit! In 2013, it was the first city in the United Kingdom to be awarded the title “UK City of Culture”, and its beautiful buildings, buzzing city centre and vibrant nightlife make it a perfect getaway for two adventurous little Beasties. Plunkett was super-impressed by an incredible piece of urban knitting he found…
Plunkett and the Urban Knitting - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesLook at the size of it! It almost completely covers two of the old townhouses on this street!
Knitted Graffiti in Derry/Londonderry - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesOne place history buff Plunkett was particularly keen to see was the recently-refurbished Bishop’s Gate Hotel.
The Bishop's Gate Hotel - H Crawfor/CrawCrafts BeastiesThis stunning building was once a private members’ club called the Northern Counties Club. The Club first opened its doors in 1902, and over the years welcomed notable visitors such as Winston Churchill and WB Yeats, among others. But times change, the Club closed, and the building fell into disrepair. Fortunately, in 2012 the Inner City Trust stepped in, and renovation work began. The Bishop’s Gate Hotel opened earlier this year… Let’s have a look inside!
Inside the Bishop's Gate Hotel - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesNice!

Apparently, it’s already proving popular with tourists, locals… and Beasties! The lads thought they deserved a hearty lunch in the bar after all their wanderings. And they treated themselves to a hot whiskey as well.
Paddy and Plunkett Enjoy a Hot Whiskey - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesAlthough maybe they shouldn’t have…
Boozy Barfly Beasties - H Crawford/CrawCrafts BeastiesPerhaps they should have ordered a smaller one! We’ll catch up with these two again when they’ve had a chance to sleep it off.

In the meantime, enjoy the weekend… Explorer Beastie and I will be back on Tuesday to share the tips and tricks we learned at our product photography lesson last night, courtesy of the good folks at Etsy Ireland! See you then!