Monsters – Page 9 – Beastie HQ

Inside La Catedral Studios - CrawCrafts Beasties

Our New Studio Home!

Posted on March 6, 2019June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Info, Life at Beastie Towers

Hey there Beastie buddies! It’s been a bit of a hectic week here at Beastie Towers… Yes, I know I’ve been saying that A LOT recently, but it seems like every week that passes brings even more action than the one before! So, what’s this week’s slice of news? Well, it’s a biggie – I took a studio space!

Up until now, my monster-making activities have always taken place in the comfort of my own home. And that was great, up to a point… A point that usually corresponds with the onset of the festive season. Then – CRAFTSPLOSION! Piles of wool, felt and fabric had been steadily colonising the living areas of Beastie Towers, making it nearly impossible for the non-crafting members of the household (sorry, Boyfriend!) to find a spot to sit down at the end of a working day. Trying to contain the sprawl wasn’t really an option either – it seemed like a lot of my valuable crafting time was spent trying to find things I’d only just tidied away.

Then, I started taking sewing classes with Zaria at The City Seamstress, and I was very taken with the incredible building where she has her workshop. Through a small door on a side street, up a flight of stairs… And you’re in the most amazing eclectic art space! I began to wonder if the Beasties could maybe find a home there too. So, on a whim, I applied – and was offered a place the same day! Care to take a look? Follow me!
We’re just down this passageway, in the open-plan Back Loft area! Turn the corner and…
Please excuse the mess… I’m still in the process of moving in! A bit of that craftsplosion I mentioned earlier will definitely take care of those empty walls and clear tables, too.

For the moment, I’ve been enjoying spreading out across my new desk…
… While still having a separate fabric-cutting and ironing station!

Filling up the shelves is fun, too!
And here’s a sneaky peek at some of the communal spaces. I’m really looking forward to relaxing in the roof garden this summer.
Today, I brought along the first (and most important) decorations for my studio walls as well – pictures and cards from some of my Beastie friends! Perhaps a few of you will spot something familiar in here…
Oh… And one more thing. This studio comes with a free feline friend! Hey there, Ophelia!
Isn’t she pretty? Expect to see a lot of her in future posts! Apparently she has a bit of a thing for yarn though, so I’m making sure all my storage boxes are kitty-proof!

So, welcome to our new home! I hope you enjoyed the tour… And if any of you have any decor tips, please share them in the comments. I haven’t done any interior designing since I painted my entire bedroom teal at age 14, so I’m not hugely confident in my abilities!

Also, I’ll be taking a bit of a break from blogging over the next couple of weeks as I get settled into this new space and get caught up with some of the other work I’ve been neglecting lately! But we’ll be back soon with new Beastie friends to meet and fresh monster adventures. See you then!

Explorer Beastie with Spring Daffodils - CrawCrafts Beasties

Early Spring at Beastie Towers!

Posted on February 19, 2019June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Explorer Beastie, Life at Beastie Towers

Did you know that, according to the Celtic calendar, Spring in Ireland begins at the start of February? Most of the time, it doesn’t feel particularly Spring-like until well into March (especially last year!) but 2019 has been so mild. Explorer Beastie’s miniature daffodils have been blooming for a couple of weeks already!
And with the warming temperatures and gradually lengthening days, activity levels have been picking up a little too! Today I wanted to share some of the extra-curricular activities that have been keeping me and the Beasties busy this past while.

A Spring Clean… For My Skills!

Aaaah, the sewing machine! My old nemesis. For too long, your ways have eluded me… In fact, slow as it is to stitch seams by hand, it has often seemed quicker than the usual sew it-rip it-resew it-rip it process that usually accompanies a stint on the machine.
But this year, I decided enough was enough. Let’s master those sewing machine demons! So I signed up for a class with The City Seamstress. I’ve already picked up some valuable tips that have made my work better (and helped my confidence, too) and right now I’m working on a project which is neeeearly finished, so I should hopefully be able to share pics very soon!

And as well as learning, I’ve been teaching too! January was a really busy time for my knitting classes – it’s like half of Dublin decided to put “learn to knit” at the top of their New Year’s Resolutions list! This spurred me on to tackle something I’ve been meaning to do for a while… Make up a really easy sweater pattern.
You see, a lot of students want to take on the challenge of making a jumper quite early on… But even the simplest-looking designs often have next-level knitting skills lurking in the pattern. And while some new knitters thrive on being thrown in at the deep end, more than a few are put off by the idea of fancy shaping techniques, decorative seams and the alphabet soup of abbreviations that crop up in many “beginner” patterns.

So, what you see in the picture is sleeve #2 of an almost-finished sweater of… Just rectangles! And yes, the design is probably far from original, but this version is mine! That makes it easier to guide people through all the pre-knitting preparations, like sizing and choosing yarn, and also to suggest tweaks if anyone wants to put their own stamp on it.

Also, I get a new sweater.

But it can’t be all work and no play, of course. There has to be time for a…

Spring Breaaaaaaaak!

That means a quick trip out to Donegal with my brother, now pretty much a February tradition. This is the third year we’ve hit the road and headed about as far north-west as it’s possible to go in Ireland without falling into the sea. You can catch up with the epic 2017 and 2018 travelogues if you missed them!

Explorer Beastie sat this one out – well, he had to look after his garden, and I really think he should agree to take a bath before he goes on any more location photoshoots – but we did have company for the trip…
… And I couldn’t resist leaving a monster behind on one of the beaches, just to prove I’d passed through!
We also had a delicious lunch at Nancy’s Barn in Ballyliffin… Well worth a visit if you find yourself in this part of the world!

And Finally…

A few Beasties have been helping author (and Beastie Buddy) Tammie Painter to celebrate the launch of her latest book, Domna Part Two: The Solon’s Son!

View this post on Instagram

First there was cake to celebrate my latest book launch…and then there was a call to the fire department. Check out Finn McSpool’s latest antics and learn about my recent release, Domna Part Two: The Solon’s Son, on the blog (link in bio). . #finnmcspool #beastiefamily #newbooks #bookrelease #booklife #writerscommunity #writersoninstagram #authorsofinstagram #bookstagrammer #newbookrelease #kindle #kindleunlimited #whattoread #bookworm #cake #celebrate #readersofinstagram #amreading #fantasyfiction #strongfemalecharacters

A post shared by Tammie Painter (@tammiepainter) on Feb 8, 2019 at 3:20pm PST

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

This novel is the second in a series of six about ambitious, resourceful Sofia Domna, whose plans are knocked sideways by a chance encounter in her local marketplace. If you haven’t discovered this series yet, you really should… And the best bit is that Tammie (generous to a fault) is giving away the first novel, The Sun God’s Daughter, to anyone who signs up to her mailing list. Go on, you know you want to!

Well, that’s all the news from here… What have you all been up to? Is Spring springing where you are? Be sure to tell us all about it in the comments!

Paddy Meets The Nomadic - CrawCrafts Beasties

A Titanic Adventure for Paddy and Plunkett!

Posted on February 12, 2019 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Paddy and Plunkett

Hello everybody! Well, I think the title says it all – the terrible twosome are out on tour again, and look where they’ve washed up! I think Belfast’s Titanic Quarter had better brace itself…
Paddy was only a little disappointed that he wasn’t allowed to climb up on one of the silvery points and shout “I’m the king of the world!” at passers by. But once Plunkett pointed out that no-one would be able to see him up there anyway, he agreed that a portrait on the steps was a better way to go.

They also encountered a Beastie-sized version of the famous ship herself!
This sculpture by English artist Andy Stallard shows the celebrated liner as an Airfix model kit… And local engineering firm Harland and Wolff (who built the real Titanic) assisted in its creation!

Further along, you can meet another member of the Titanic family… Not a sister ship exactly, but definitely part of the clan!
This is the Nomadic, the last surviving White Star Line ship in the world!

White Star’s “Olympic” class of liners, which included the Titanic and her sister ships the Olympic and the Britannic, were designed to impress the whole world with their over-the-top luxury and enormous size. Unfortunately, this meant that some of the ports they called at were simply too small to let them in! That’s where the Nomadic and her sister ship, the Traffic, came in handy.

These smaller “tender” ships brought passengers and their luggage, plus cargo, mail and supplies for the ship, from the harbour at Cherbourg out to where the massive liners were moored. Nomadic was primarily reserved for the first and second class passengers, which meant that she was much fancier than your average tender! In her heyday, she was tricked out with cushioned benches, tables, porcelain water fountains, a buffet bar and separate ladies’ and gents’ toilets, and her interiors were lavishly decorated.

It hasn’t all been fun and games for her though… In her lifetime, she’s served in two World Wars, performing duties such as minesweeping and transporting troops. She’s been a floating restaurant in Paris, and has narrowly avoided being scrapped on more than one occasion! She finally came home to Belfast in 2006, after several maritime and historical groups clubbed together to raise the money to buy her and restore her to her former glory.

The first phase of renovations were completed in 2012, and isn’t she looking great?
Paddy is most impressed!

And there was more to come in their tour of Belfast’s historic docklands! Time to hop on the Wee Tram, to take us to our next destination!
Beastie legs are of course wee-er than human legs, and more in need of rest!

And here we are at… The Titanic Slipway!
This is where the Titanic was built and launched, more than 100 years ago. This slipway was originally designed to accommodate 3 ships, but because the Olympic-class liners were so big, the area was reconfigured for 2 larger vessels. The line of posts down the left side of the photo shows how long Titanic was – Plunkett is mesmerised by the sheer scale of it! Meanwhile, Paddy has gone to trace the ship’s “footprint”, which is outlined in granite cobbles, and lit up in blue after dark!

Then there was one more famous ship to visit – one that, unlike the Titanic and her sisters, survived the First World War, and got to retire to the Belfast docklands! Meet HMS Caroline, the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland… One of the largest naval battles in history.
And as the sun set on another Beastie adventure, the boys took a detour to visit a new addition to the Titanic Quarter… One that they thought I would especially like to see.
This is the Great Light, which was opened to the public last summer. It’s made from the lenses of a lighthouse on Mew Island, the smallest of a group of 3 islands called the Copelands that lie just off the coast of north County Down. As a young’un, I spent many happy weekends running around neighbouring Lighthouse Island (yes, I know… The lighthouse used to be on Lighthouse Island!), and the sweeping light of the lighthouse became a familiar sight after dark. I was also rudely awoken by the foghorn one night as well, but that’s another story!

Anyway, the lighthouse was upgraded in 2014, and now has a blinking, solar-powered LED lamp. And it turns out that the 130-year-old original lamp is a valuable part of the area’s maritime heritage! So now it lives here, where it’s much easier for people (and Beasties) to visit. Thanks, boys!

That’s all from us this week… Join us again next Tuesday, when we’ll be back on dry land for more monster shenanigans! See you then!

PS Any links in this post are there because I think they’re interesting, not because Paddy and Plunkett are being paid to promote certain attractions!

Kale! Vegetable Garden - CrawCrafts Beasties

Winter Garden Wandering II – Into the Vegetable Patch!

Posted on January 29, 2019June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Life at Beastie Towers, Paddy and Plunkett

Hello there Beastie friends! It’s got a little chillier since we last saw each other, but that doesn’t seem to have dampened Paddy and Plunkett’s spirits. Here’s where I lost track of them last week…… And look, I’ve finally caught up with them – in the vegetable garden!

There’s Paddy, reveling in the green glory of some particularly vigorous parsley. No wonder I didn’t spot him straight away!
Meanwhile, Plunkett is checking out his rhubarb for signs of life. Hmmm, looks like we could almost have an early harvest soon!

Even beds that seem empty at first glance are already putting up shoots… Shoots that Beasties notice before humans do! Paddy is already excited about these future raspberries.
But, pleasant as the thought of hot summer days spent munching juicy raspberries may be, that’s not going to fill any Beastie bellies today! And the first rumblings of Paddy’s stomach add a sudden note of urgency to this vegetable garden foray… What can the boys find to eat right now? Surely there has to be something better on the menu than parsley and baby rhubarb stew?

Luckily, there is.
Hurray for kale! Super tasty, and super good for you… And very much in season, even right now! YUM!

Grab one of those big frilly leaves each, boys, and let’s get to the kitchen!

And here’s what I’ve been doing with my kale lately – a tasty, filling soup using dried stuff from the cupboard and the kind of veggies you can usually find stashed in the bottom of your fridge. I adapted this recipe from the River Cottage Veg Everyday cookbook – out of necessity at first, because I was missing a few of the ingredients, and had to substitute what I could find to bulk it out. Then, after making the “real” recipe, I decided I liked my version better! Give it a try, and see what you think…

Kale and Barley Broth

You will need:

2 Stock Pots (or stock cubes) made up with 1 litre boiling water
50g pearl barley, rinsed
50g red lentils, rinsed
2 big handfuls of kale leaves, washed and with tough stalky bits cut away, then cut fine
1 big carrot, peeled and cut into small dice
1 stick celery, cut into small dice
100g frozen peas
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Bring the stock to the boil in a big ol’ saucepan, then add the lentils and barley, turn down the heat, and simmer for 20 minutes. Use this time to prep your vegetable ingredients!

The barley should now be almost tender, so add your diced celery, carrot and frozen peas to the mix, and wait for it to come back up to a simmer.

Then, add in your kale and cook for another 2-3 minutes. You want the kale to be tender, not soggy, after all!

Taste a spoonful, and season with salt and black pepper if you think it needs it.

Then grab a bowl, and feast to your heart’s content!

Well, hopefully that will keep you all going until next week, when I’ll have a new Beastie for you to meet! And if you do give the recipe a try, leave us a comment below to tell us how you got on!

Paddy, Plunkett and a Random Marigold - CrawCrafts Beasties

Winter Garden Wandering with Paddy and Plunkett!

Posted on January 22, 2019June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Life at Beastie Towers, Paddy and Plunkett

Hello everybody! Well, we may be in the very depths of winter here in the northern hemisphere, but since we all made it through Blue Monday yesterday, it’s onwards and upwards from here! And after introducing a few new Beasties recently (catch up here and here) I thought it might be nice to get out for some fresh air, and take my new camera for a spin.

Of course, Paddy and Plunkett were more than happy to put themselves forward as models! So, we headed out into the garden to see what’s growing… Care to join us?

I caught up with Plunkett while he was tending to his hyacinths. He’s very proud of them, as you can see.
But then Paddy popped up, and suggested that it might be nice to take a wander outside.
Turns out he’s pretty persuasive.

And look! You can still find colour in the garden if you search in the right places…
… Although some of these places are easier to get to than others.
Still, if it’s winter colour you’re after, this cheerful display of berries certainly fits the bill!
The view’s not bad either. Look how green everything is!
And when the boys spotted some long grass on the other side of the hedge, they knew exactly what to do next…
There’s always time for a quick game of hide and seek!

But wait a sec… Where are they off to now? Wait for meeeeeeee!
Uh-oh! Looks like they’ve momentarily given me the slip. Hopefully I’ll be able to track them down before next week’s post!

How about you? Are you eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring before you venture back outdoors, or have you been enjoying walking in your own winter wonderland? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

We’ll be back next week with more from Paddy and Plunkett. I’m sure I’ll catch up with them eventually…

Hey Sisters! Go Sisters!

Posted on January 15, 2019June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Knitted Beasties

Hello there Beastie friends! I’ve another fresh new Beastification to share with you today… And better yet, it’s a two-for-one deal! I give you – the Beastie Sisters!
This happy pair were made as a Christmas gift for two real-life human sisters, Emily and Holly.

Let’s meet Holly Beastie first!
Human Holly is super into horses, so a Beastie with an esquestrienne flavour fitted the bill perfectly. I started at the top, with a traditional black peaked riding hat…
…And her soft alpaca hair is pulled neatly in underneath in a very stylish bun.
Then her outfit is completed with a natty little hand-sewn tweed jacket… Which really unbuttons!
And underneath, she’s got a crisp white shirt and ribbon tie.

Anything else? Oh yes, here’s a riding crop in case you need it!
Perfect! And then for little sister…
…A sweet little ribbon-tie dress, with a cute Matryoshka doll print! Ideal for little hands to play with.
I also love her hairstyle!
These are the same alpaca tresses that Emily Beastie has (they are sisters, after all!) but they look completely different cut short in a halo of soft curls.

And of course, Holly Beastie needs an accessory too. Here you go!
Looking good!

And we all know that when a Beastie has a bag, there’s usually something inside. This is the perfect place to stash a tasty snack for later… And maybe she’ll even share it with her sister!
And with that, these two were ready to go! They hopped in a box, and made it to their new home just in time for the Christmas festivities. According to inside sources, they spent most of their first day there being helped into and out of their outfits!

Next week, we’re taking a break from new Beasties to check in with Paddy and Plunkett for the first time in 2019. I’m not sure what they’re up to, but they did want me to remind you that their handsome green faces are gracing the first page of the Beastie Calendar for this year. You can still download your copy from our online store here.

See you then!

Beastie New Year 2019! CrawCrafts Beasties

Beastie New Year, Everybody!

Posted on January 1, 2019June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Knitted Beasties, Life at Beastie Towers

Hey there Beastie friends! And a very happy new year to you from all of us here at Beastie Towers!

2019 has barely begun, but we’re already super-excited at the prospect of a fresh shiny new year, all crammed with possibilities! And, looking back, 2018 was a pretty awesome twelve months.

For starters, it was my first full year of not having a part-time job to prop up my monster-making habit. And while that was occasionally terrifying (because I’m a sucker for luxuries like food and shelter), I was lucky enough to have a few alternative means of making ends meet thrown my way.

Top among these was starting to teach knitting classes in my local yarn emporium, The Constant Knitter. How cool is that? I’ve met some great people along the way… And watching them progress from learning the first steps to becoming the kind of hardcore knitting addicts who sit up half the night to finish a project has to be one of the best feelings in the world!

I also gave some new Beastie-based projects a go too… The biggest leap here was the framed Beastie family I made at the beginning of the summer.
Wow, talk about a learning curve! But totally worth it… And now that I’ve done one, I’m definitely up for taking on more projects like this!

Then, later in the year, the surprise hit of the Christmas market season – Kitty tree decorations!
I made these to tempt the attendees of the Dublin Cat Fair back in November, and thanks to a shout-out from the organisers on Facebook before the event, they sold out! From then on, I could barely keep up with demand, even when I was frantically making more behind my table on market days! I’ll definitely be adding these to my festive lineup for 2019.

But I believe I promised you new Beasties in this post, so new Beasties you shall have! The pre-Christmas rush usually sees some fresh Beastie faces gracing my market stall, and they don’t always get the attention they deserve. So, without further ado…

First up is Watermelon Beastie! I had noticed that Beasties tend to embrace the less-than-healthy end of the dietary spectrum, so Watermelon Beastie is here to help balance that out a little. And their pink and green colouring so nicely complements that slab of delicious juicy melon, don’t you think? Look out for more fruit’n’veg munching monsters in the new year!

But those of you with a sweet tooth can rest assured that Beasties are still happy to share your favourite treats with you. Cookie Beasties and Doughnut Beasties were as popular as ever in 2018!
And my All-Irish Beasties were still happy to down a tipple or two… Tea, anyone? Or would you maybe prefer a pint of the Black Stuff?

Meanwhile, others decided that the most important thing was to stay toasty – cosy sweaters and tweed scarves ahoy!I also brought along a new Unicorn Beastie… It didn’t take them long to find a home!
And finally… Some of you might recognise this woolly little monster face from Paddy’s Christmas tale last week. Yes, a Christmas market lineup wouldn’t be complete without…
… SANTA BEASTIE!

Phew! There were a few more there than I bargained for, so I suppose we’ll have to tackle the first of the Christmas commissions next week. In the meantime, thank you all SO MUCH for hanging out with us in 2018, and a very Beastie new year to you all!

Oh, and if your life isn’t Beastie-ful enough already, don’t forget that our 2019 downloadable Beastie calendar is available now!
Catch you next Tuesday!

Santa Beastie - Beastmas 2018 - CrawCrafts Beasties

Happy Beastmas!

Posted on December 24, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Life at Beastie Towers, Paddy and Plunkett

Hey everybody! We’re baaaaaack! It’s been a crazy couple of weeks, but we just wanted to swing by to wish you all…

A very merry Beastmas!

And while I’m here, how about a seasonal Beastmas tale? Pull up a chair, grab some mulled wine and a fistful of mince pies, and let me tell you all about…

Paddy’s Santa Trap!

‘Twas the night before Beastmas,
And up in Beastie Towers,
Paddy wasn’t sleepy
– He’d been awake for hours!

He’s thinking about Santa,
And reindeer, elves and toys…
And bringing all the Beastmas gifts
To Beastie girls and boys.

He says, “They need a helper
To aid them in their task.
But Beastmas is so busy!
There won’t be time to ask!”

So he thinks, “I’ll build a Santa trap!
That will slow him down.
And then I’ll ask him for a job,
While he’s stuck on the ground!”

He sets to work, and builds a trap
With hammer, nails and wood.
Four feet tall and eight feet wide
– It’s looking pretty good!

Now, carpentry is heavy work.
Paddy’s eyes begin to close.
He settles down beside the fire,
And has a little doze.

But while Paddy is dreaming,
A shadow moves and shifts.
Hey look! It’s Santa Beastie
With a big bag full of gifts!

He dodges Paddy’s Santa trap
– He doesn’t even stall –
He spots the cookies left as bait
And then devours them all!

But then he looks back at the trap.
Such craftsmanship! Such care!
And that’s when he sees Paddy
Who’s sleeping, unaware!

He pulls a parcel from his bag,
Leaves it by Paddy’s side.
Then vanishes, like magic,
As Paddy’s eyes spring open wide.

Paddy rushes to the Santa trap.
Oh no! There’s nothing there!
But when he opens up his gift,
He really doesn’t care.

“Come join me at the North Pole,”
The note inside it reads.
“Your building skills are awesome,
You’re just the Beast we need!”

So that’s how Paddy’s Santa trap
Made a Beastmas wish come true.
And if you ask, Santa Beastie
Might do the same for you!

Happy Holidays, everybody!

We’ll be back next week with new Beasties to kick off 2019 in style! See you then!

A Festive Beastie Weekend!

Posted on December 4, 2018June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Info, Knitted Beasties, Life at Beastie Towers

Hey there Beastie friends! It’s just a quick “hello!” from me today, because (and I might have mentioned this once or twice lately) we’re going full tilt here in Beastie Towers right now! But I really wanted to share some photos of the lovely market we went to this past weekend – a fun, festive affair in one of the beautiful Georgian houses that surround Merrion Square park in central Dublin.

Take the Beastie Tour!

I caught up with Woolly Jumper Beastie in the entrance hall…
Ooooh, look at that Christmas tree!

This building is home to the Irish Architectural Archive, and our Beastie friend took full advantage of their miniature Dublin skyline sculpture to do his best Godzilla impression!
Then I lost him for a moment – I could have sworn he was right next to this leaf and berry arrangement a second ago!
Aha! Found him. That’s some pretty good camouflage, though.

Now, upstairs to join your friends at the market!
That’s better!

We had a great time here, and many of the Beasties you see in the photo above headed off to new homes over the course of the day! We were also kept in good festive spirits by a kind gentleman who wandered the building for the duration of the market bearing a tray of complimentary mulled wine… How civilised!

I hope the Beasties behaved well enough for us to be invited back next year!

And speaking of markets…

I’ve a teeeeny favour to ask. A whole heap of Dublin markets have been made to close their doors this year, and the future of those that remain is looking a little wobbly.

The organisers of the Dublin Flea market are lobbying Dublin City Council to make some provision for market spaces in Dublin’s ongoing development plan. They want to ensure that markets and indie retailers aren’t squeezed out by the bigger players… And we want to support them! The Beasties and I love our markets, and we’d hate to see them become a thing of the past.

And even if you don’t live in Dublin, your signature still counts! Because you might want to visit at some stage, right? And wouldn’t it be nicer to travel to a city with its own unique identity?

So, please take a sec to click through and sign their online petition here.

Alrighty, back to my crafting table I go! We’ll be back next Tuesday with a quick reminder about our last market of the festive season. See you then, and have a great week!

A Happy Beastie Family - CrawCrafts Beasties

A Whole New Beastie Family!

Posted on November 27, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Knitted Beasties

Hey there Beastie friends! We’re broadcasting a little later than usual, because as we all know, proximity to the holiday season wreaks havoc with the best-laid plans of mice and monster-makers. Buuuuut I’m optimistic that I can make it up to you by distracting you with a whole family of new Beasties!

They actually left Beastie Towers some time ago, but only reached their new home over the weekend. So I’m really happy that I can finally share them without spoiling any surprises! Look, here comes the first one now… Hello there!
Ooooh, nice dress… Care to give us a twirl?
Lovely!

Now, I think this little fellow is also part of the family.
Uh-oh! He’s missing his mum… Time to hand him back!
You might just be able to see that she has special velcro paws, so that she can hug him extra tight.

But we can’t stay home all day – it’s time to get to work! Mama Beastie is also a doctor, so I’ve got her white coat pressed and ready to wear.
And with Baby Beastie peacefully napping in the nursery, Dad Beastie just manages to nab a quick cuddle as Mama Beastie dashes out to the hospital!
Let’s chat to him next. Hey, Cool Dad Beastie!
Looks like he’s about to tuck into some lunch! A slice of pepperoni pizza…
… Topped with lashings of every Beastie’s favourite spicy sauce – Tabeastco!
Let’s hope he doesn’t accidentally get any on that nice checked shirt! Very stylish.
Now, how about one more family portrait before we go?
Beautiful!

Big congratulations to baby Michael who celebrated his christening on Sunday, and to his proud parents David and Naomi! And thank you to Louise, Peter and Isabel for knowing that a full-family Beastification is the best way to mark such an important event.

And while I’m doing thank yous – cheers to the lovely people I met at the Dublin Cat Fair this past weekend! I so enjoyed chatting to you all, and hopefully I’ll see you at next year’s fair. I promise I’ll bring more Tree Kitties next time.
Aaaaand finally – the wonderful Georgian houses of Dublin’s Merrion Square are throwing open their doors for Christmas on the Square this coming Saturday, and the Beasties will be there! Find us in the Irish Architectural Archive at no.45 from 10am-5pm. Full details are here if you need ’em!

Hope to see you there! And if not, I’ll be back with a quick post next Tuesday… Possibly even at the usual time!

	tierneycreates: a fu… on We Wish You A Merry Beast…
	crawcraftsbeasties on We Wish You A Merry Beast…
	quietwatercraft on We Wish You A Merry Beast…
	crawcraftsbeasties on We Wish You A Merry Beast…
	The Hidden Spain on (Mer)Made Just for You!