Hey there everyone! It’s a rainy old day here in Dublin, but even blustery showers can’t dampen my excitement about today’s post. This is essentially “What I Did During Lockdown, Part 1″… A monster haul of Beastie accessories for a very special woolly girl.
Hey there, tierneycreates Beastie!
For anyone who hasn’t met her before, tierneycreates Beastie lives with Tierney of tierneycreates.com. She regularly pops up in Tierney’s blog posts (she recently took a trip to the library) and occasionally takes on the task of writing them herself when her human counterpart is busy.
Like a lot of people, tierneycreates Beastie went a bit crazy ordering stuff online while we were all sheltering in place.
Since the only person making Beastie accessories is yours truly, this meant I really had my work cut out for me!
First of all, she ordered some refreshments. And with many of my local off-licences offering home deliveries at the time, I decided it might indeed be a good idea to get in on that racket. Two bottles of Hop Monster IPA (a favourite Beastie tipple) coming right up!
With libraries closed, getting her paws on some reading material was also high on tierneycreates Beastie’s to-do list. Human Tierney loves books about craft, personal development and home decor, so these titles should go down a treat.
Next, she realised that this hat…
… Needed a matching scarf.
“But hey, it’s not winter just yet! I should probably update my summer wardrobe as well. Oooh, polka dots!”
Into the cart it goes.
Fortunately there are always a few Beasties knocking around here at Beastie Towers, so I was able to tailor it to tierneycreates Beastie’s approximate measurements!
However, all this staring at the computer screen was beginning to take its toll.
“I know! I’ll treat myself to a smartphone… Then I can order from anywhere!”
Fair enough. One Beast-iPhone coming right up!
Look how teeny it is! I have enough trouble trying to type on the human-sized ones. This super-slim model is made from felt with a shiny reflective ribbon screen so it looks the part.
Of course, tierneycreates Beastie isn’t just shopping for herself. So that her beloved miniature miniature Schnauzer Mikelet can join her on longer adventures…
… She picked up a doggy backpack, just like the one Human Tierney uses to bring Mike the Miniature Schnauzer out and about!
The top of the backpack is open with a drawstring so Mikelet can peek out and stay involved in the action. It also goes rather nicely with the sundress!
And finally, one of my most challenging Beastie accessories to date. She asked for…
… A sewing machine!
This top-of-the-range miniature marvel is what every Beastie quilter dreams of. Bernina may make the creme-de-la-creme of human-sized machines, but if you’re a little woolly monster, a Beastnina is what you want to have on your craft table.
So, what the Beastie wants, the Beastie gets! But how on earth do you make one? Well, I began by building a framework from wire, and filled out the shape by sculpting it with needle-felted wool. Then I hand-stitched a tailored felt “skin” to go on top, so the machine would have the same smooth lines as the full-size version. Finally, the details were added with embroidery and appliqué. Phew!
Still, I bet it’ll help tierneycreates Beastie to start stitching up a storm in no time.
I just hope she still has time to help Tierney with her blog posts every now and again!
Here’s the finished haul…
… And I was delighted to get a picture of Miss Beastie looking very summery in her new outfit!
Thanks so much to Tierney for this awesome project, and for enabling her Beastie’s online shopping addiction! For any of you who have also been (over)indulging in a little mail-order lately, you can confess all in the comments below. We won’t judge!
We’ll be back next Tuesday with another new Beastie for you to meet – stay safe and see you then!
I created this Beastie as a very special birthday gift for an active lady who loves to spend time in the great outdoors. And since she lives in Scotland, I needed to make sure the weather never had a chance to rain on her parade (or hiking trail). That’s why she’s wearing a very fetching handknitted bobble hat…
… A rain jacket with handy hood…
(Did you notice the teeny embroidered zips?)
I stitched some felt treads to the soles of these boots to make them extra-grippy, and finished them with some embroidery thread laces. Now she’s fully equipped from head to toe!
This one is handstitched from 100% wool felt, and should hold everything she needs.
Why, you ask? Well, this Beastie lady also enjoys a game of 
Shinty sticks have a distinctive wedge-shaped head that sets them apart from the sticks used in hockey, hurling and other related sports like cammag (from the Isle of Man), bando (Wales) and Knattleikr (played by the Vikings in Iceland). In my quest to get the shape right, I was lucky enough to find 
Thanks to Anne for requesting this very special Beastification for her sister-in-law’s birthday!
Hello there!
WOW! I had so much fun with this! I used two slightly different shades of pink to give the colour extra depth, and unwinding the strands to separate the individual plies produced this tumble of luxuriant curls. Then a combination of carefully-placed stitches and a little precision styling with my needle-felting needle helped me to copy my human subject’s favourite swept-over-the-shoulder hairstyle.
… And as you can see, the long-sleeved version in a cute turquoise, green and cerise floral print with felt collar and buttons won out. Good choice!
It really complements her hair and healthy blue complexion, don’t you think?
… And a paintbrush, so she can let her creative side shine through too.
Finally, I copied her human counterpart’s cool glasses!
As usual, they have real clear plastic lenses and are removable. However, with this pair, I developed a new technique for making glasses that allows me to slim down the frames a little.
But hang on a second, Miss Beastie – don’t you have a birthday party to get to? Best get moving, you’re only sixteen once!
I’d say her future is as bright as her hair – what do you reckon?
Hmm, then again… Perhaps not, if you actually want to get anything done.
This set of hammer, torch and pocket knife headed off to Illinois with 
… And the pocket knife opens to reveal a sharp(ish) felt blade!
Next, some of the more unusual work related items I’ve created – a Beastie-sized micropipette and cell culture flask!
Honestly, these little monsters can (and do) turn their paws to just about anything! You can find out which Beastie left Beastie Towers with this lot 
As I said in the 
(I also kinda love her tiara… It’s probably not workplace-suitable attire, but let’s give it a mention anyway!)
This Beastie-sized needle-felted croissant and hand-embroidered newspaper celebrate the way 
… And a scan through the news of the day!
Phew! After that lot, you’d almost need to take the weekend off and put your feet up! Did I miss any favourite Beastie accessories out in my round-up? If I did, be sure to give me a nudge in the comments!
I was reminded of this when I looked back at “Definitely Maybeast” in 
Another bit of teeny sewing that somehow fell into the BMML (Before Magic Magnifying Lamp) era. I look at these now and wonder how I’m not blind! This appliquéd felt and embroidery board game was an important part of the accessory lineup for a 
The Beastie TARDIS was made of felt, and reinforced with foam and interfacing so it didn’t collapse in like a woolly tent! I lined the inside with shiny silver material for a space-age feel, and embroidered on the window panes and lettering. The doors also close with velcro so the Doctor can travel in safety.
… I made a second one! And I took more photos that time. You can see the original posts about these commissions 
… And only went a bit overboard by making the lens and strap removable.
Oh well, sometimes you just have to! Laura’s little monster left Beastie Towers with a whole heap of other accessories too – check them out 
… I did end up with the ferocious-looking gold and silver dragon that my customer asked for! You can relive the entire, um, interesting experience 
While Dad was harking back to the “Madchester” era in a football shirt and parka. Check out the furry hood!
I also can’t believe I managed to do all that teeny embroidery on the album cover before I got my wondrous magnifying lamp!
Back before we were all confined to our homes, in a time when it was still perfectly normal to sit in a room and have a chat with someone, I was lucky enough to be interviewed by 
… And her miniature miniature schnauzer, Mikelet!
… And a whole heap of accessories!
Her “survival kit” pays tribute to a few of Human Tierney’s favourite things – quilting, blogging and visiting her local library.
The match was placed here to give you an idea of just how teeny he is… Although I can’t guarantee he won’t be playing fetch with it later!
Hey there, FrankenBeastie!
Woooooooo! SCARY!
Finally, I dressed him in a ragged-edged shirt and faded charcoal trousers.
Let me know if you bump into him when you’re out for your daily half hour of exercise!
First of all, you can see she’s sporting a very lovely handknitted Aran sweater. This Beastie’s human counterpart loves to travel… And although she’s been to some pretty far-flung destinations, the Aran Islands (which lie just off Ireland’s west coast) remain one of her favourite places to visit. What better way for a Beastie to celebrate this connection than with knitwear?
And now, how about something to tie into her working life? For a time, our Beastification subject worked for St Patrick’s Athletic Football Club – a Dublin team based in Inchicore, just to the west of the city centre. She’s also the head of a family of self-confessed football addicts… That made this a prime candidate for being included in the accessory lineup!
When it’s not holding the ingredients for her latest gastronomic experiments, she can use it to carry everything she needs for her other favourite pastime – getting lost in a good book!
As you can see, I’ve provided her with a selection of Beastie-appropriate titles – The Monster Family Cookbook and a classic Hercwool Poirot crime thriller!
… And let the good times roll!
Thanks to Niamh for choosing to celebrate her Mum’s retirement the Beastie way… And for all her help in getting the blend of accessories just right!