tierneycreates – Beastie HQ

Beastie Poker Night - CrawCrafts Beasties

Monster Engagement Celebrations!

Posted on July 21, 2020June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Knitted Beasties

Hey there everyone! And, as hinted at in last week’s post, welcome to “What I Did During Lockdown, Part Two”! It turns out that tierneycreates Beastie wasn’t just shopping online… She was also on the lookout for love! And since Human Tierney recently celebrated her own engagement, what better time to pair her monster counterpart up with a good lookin’ Beastie fella?

Well hello there!
He’s certainly dressed to impress, in a crisp white t-shirt and hand-embroidered baseball cap. Let’s get a closer look at that, shall we?

Just like human Tierney’s beau, this guy is showing some love for the Denver-based Colorado Avalanche ice hockey team… And how could any monster maker resist a team logo that incorporates a Bigfoot foot? I used 100% wool felt for the hat body, then appliquéd the large blocks of colour before embroidering in the finer details.

Hmmm… I wonder what else this woolly monster has in common with his human counterpart?

Well, it looks like he might be a dab hand (or paw) in the kitchen!
Yum! I’d almost eat this myself… If it wasn’t entirely made out of wool. The portion is probably better suited to a Beastie-sized appetite anyway. Are you hungry, Mr Beastie?
“Well sure… But in this shirt?”

Oh, good point. Here, pop your favourite cooking apron back on.
Much better!
And how about a small digestif to round off the meal? It seems our Beastie friend is something of a bourbon connoisseur, and only the finest whisky will do – Monster’s Mark!

This tasty tipple is presented in a bottle with hand-embroidered label, embroidered felt seal and needle-felted “wax”-dipped top!

It will also be the perfect accompaniment to… Poker night!

Here we go! He’s sitting at the card table, we’ve dealt the cards… And wow, he’s a high roller! Those are $100 chips he’s betting with!

I think we should call it, and take a look at that hand.
It doesn’t get much better than that – a royal flush! And it looks like romance may indeed be on the cards… He’s got a pawful of hearts, featuring teeny-tiny embroidered portraits of himself, tierneycreates Beastie and Mikelet the (miniature) miniature Schnauzer.

So, any news you want to share with us?
Ooooh, is that an engagement band on your magic magnetic paw? And rumour has it that there was one in the box for a certain lady monster too… Congratulations, Beasties! May you enjoy many happy years of warm woolly happiness together.

And on that high note, it’s time to wrap up for this week! Catch you again next Tuesday!

Beastie Accessories Galore! CrawCrafts Beasties

Beastie Accessories Bonanza!

Posted on July 14, 2020June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Commissions, Crafting, Knitted Beasties

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.

Ordering online - tierneycreates.com — tierneycreates Beastie indulging in a little retail therapy, borrowed from tierneycreates.com

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!

Beastie Besties - tierneycreates Beastie and Dog by CrawCrafts Beasties

Flashback Friday – One Beastie and her Dog

Posted on May 1, 2020June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Flashback Friday

Hey there everybody! As promised in Tuesday’s post, I’m going to reintroduce Flashback Friday posts… Just while we’re all stuck indoors. Also, it might help me remember what day of the week it is!

So, who’s up first? Well, this Beastie recently had a sheltering-in-place adventure with her human, and that’s what made me think of revisiting my own photoshoot pictures from a couple of years ago. So let’s say a big hello to tierneycreates Beastie…
… And her miniature miniature schnauzer, Mikelet!

One of my favourite features of this Beastie is her amazing hair. Check it out! There’s a bit of a story behind the making of these luscious locks though… You can find it in the original post from 2018, here.
She also left Beastie Towers with two outfits…
… 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.

And let’s not forget that little woolly pooch!
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!

For a full breakdown of this Beastification, you can check out tierneycreates Beastie’s spot in the Beastie Gallery, here. And you can keep up with her adventures in the “Beastie Adventures” section of Tierney’s blog!

Cheers for joining us for the reboot of Flashback Friday… Enjoy the weekend, and we’ll be back on Tuesday with more monster fun!

Secrets of Beastie Photography

Posted on August 17, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Ideas

Over the last couple of weeks, the subject of Beastie photography has raised its head a few times in the comments! And that got me looking back at all the crazy things I’ve done over the years in the name of capturing a blog-worthy Beastie snapshot. Better still, it made me think of the sneaky fixes that other Beastie-wranglers around the world have shared with me!

So, I thought it might be fun to combine some of this knowledge into one handy post. Because, let’s be honest, sometimes those little woolly monsters just aren’t feeling the photoshoot, and getting them to cooperate can be hard work!
The first challenge in Beastie photography is keeping these little guys on their feet. Their sometimes overwhelming desire to just pitch over and have a quick lie-down is probably something they get from me.

Fortunately, help is at hand! A simple wire stand like this one takes the weight off their little short legs, and helps to keep them standing while you adjust your camera settings.
As you can probably tell, this is super-easy to make… All you’ll need is a length of florist’s wire, which you bend like this:
Taa-daaaah!
Of course, sometimes you leave home without a stand in your bag, and that calls for a little improvisation! On my recent trip to Germany, I discovered that my snazzy business card holder makes an excellent substitute…
… And Explorer Beastie is a dab hand at seeking out twigs to hold onto when his energy levels start to dip, too.

Other discoveries include using sticky tape…

David Beastie at the Library — Image borrowed from tammiepainter.com

Thanks, Tammie and Mr Husband!

Velcro is also an option – Tierney came up with this one for keeping her Beastie’s boots on, and I borrowed the idea for my latest commission!Then once they’re standing, the world is their oyster!
I especially like pictures of Explorer Beastie where he’s toddling away from the camera – yes, he may be small, but he’s not going to let that get in the way of a good adventure!

Also, don’t forget about those paws! Show that your Beastie is interacting with the world around them by getting them to touch things within arm’s reach. Check out these two pictures…
See the difference? Although the fish was moving a bit too quickly to be photographed properly in the photo on the right, doesn’t Explorer Beastie look so much more interested in him than he was in the mongoose in the image on the left? And notice how his paw is on the glass in that picture, rather than just hanging by his side. It really works!

But the prize for the most intrepid Beastie photoshoot to date has to go to Tammie. She found a way to snap her Beastie, Finn McSpool, underwater.

Underwater Adventuring - Extreme Beastie Photography — Extreme Underwater Beastie photo borrowed from tammiepainter.com

You can read the story behind that monster adventure here! And if you have any tips of your own, please share them in the comments!

Here’s to a weekend of Beastie photography fun… Enjoy!

Beastie-sized Vinyl, by CrawCrafts Beasties

Friday Social #8 – Beasties, Books and a Blast From the Past

Posted on July 13, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Life at Beastie Towers

Hey there everybody, and happy Friday to you all! It’s been a busy week here in Beastie Towers… But I’m not able to share the fruits of my recent monster labours with you just yet. Fortunately, other members of our Beastie family have been out wreaking their own particular brand of woolly havoc in the wider world – specifically, in the library!

Diligent readers will no doubt remember tierneycreates Beastie’s very first adventure a couple of weeks ago… To her local library!

tierneycreates Beastie in the Library — Photo borrowed from tierneycreates.com

Now, I’ve always known that Beasties had a love of the written word… As you can see in this totally legit archive picture of a REALLY early monster friend (seriously, this might be one of the first 5 I made) hanging out with famous fictional crime novelist JB Fletcher!

Schtocks, She Wrote - Classic Beastie Picture from the Beastie HQ Archives - CrawCrafts Beasties — Image may have been digitally manipulated/entirely falsified.

However, there does seem to have been a spate of Beastie library visits lately… And in fact, one Beastie has gone so far as to convince his local book-lending establishment to give him a job. Look at him there… hard at work!

Of course, it probably goes without saying that this little woolly guy’s first day on the job didn’t exactly go without a hitch. Check out the full story here – it’ll have you in stitches!

And Sinéad Beastie has also been out and about, enjoying the sunshine in her local park.

Spent the loveliest of afternoons with @juliamusings and Sinéad Beastie on the common 👗🌳🍃🌤

A post shared by xWeekes ll @weekes (@dazeandweekes) on Jun 23, 2018 at 2:29pm PDT

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Extra points for the sterling example of Beastie twinning in this picture!

Oh, and for anyone who’d like to see more of Sinéad Beastie, I just added her profile to the Gallery on the Beastie HQ website. Check it out here, or take a moment to revisit Mermaid Beastie from a couple of years ago!

So, have you any monster activities planned for the upcoming weekend? Be sure to tell us all about it in the comments below! And we’ll be back again on Tuesday with more from Explorer Beastie – see you then!

A New Addition to the Beastie Family!

Posted on June 26, 2018June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Crafting

Hello everybody! Wow, can you believe we’re nearly at the end of June already? It’s really flown in… But I figure we have just enough time to squeeze in another new Beastie post before we fully jump into July! So, allow me to formally introduce my latest Beastie commission – tierneycreates Beastie!
Some of you may have met her already – she’s been very active on Tierney’s blog from the moment she arrived in her new home! But this project had me trying my hand at some new/long-neglected techniques which I’d like to share with you… And besides, it’s pretty much traditional to give every Beastie commission their 15 minutes of fame on the BeastieBlog! Now, on with the show!

Let’s start with the outfits, shall we? This little monster lady has a choice of two ensembles – a hand-stitched felt t-shirt in a burgundy shade that goes beautifully with her delicate orange complexion, and a cosy handknit Aran sweater for cooler days and possible return trips to her Irish homeland.
Beautifully modelled, tierneycreates Beastie!
And like many of my recent commission pieces, she’s rocking an excellent pair of Beastie-size specs! Those are removable, by the way.
My Mum also suggested that I start using props in my accessory photos to give you all an idea of their actual size. She’s full of good ideas!

Next, let’s talk hair. Oh, this hair! You see, I went a bit over the top trying to copy Human Tierney’s very awesome skinny dreads. Early in the Beastification process, I decided that the chunky wool I planned to use was entirely the wrong texture. But I figured that if I needle-felted it, it would become dread-ier… And I’d have an excuse to do some needle felting. Double win! Unfortunately, post-needle-felting, my crazy eyes detected too much fuzziness and uneveness in the strands. “I know! I’ll wet felt them to even them out!”

And once I’d started down that road, I couldn’t very well turn back. Cue several cycles of felting, waiting for the pieces to dry, attaching them and then realising I’d need more. Fortunately, we had a minor heatwave as my deadline approached, or I would have had to send tierneycreates Beastie out the door with wet hair!

That said, all this practice has really honed my wet felting technique… Something I plan to make use of in future projects! Oh, and here’s how those dreads turned out…
Also pictured is tierneycreates Beastie’s hand-knitted slouchy beanie hat, inspired by one Human Tierney recently made for herself, but with one slight difference – strategically-placed earholes to help hold it in place on her head!

Then, to complete the top-to-toe ensemble – check out those natty little Beastie boots!
The yellow stitching is modeled on my own beloved DM boots, but I chose a nice sky blue for the Beastified version to add a pop of colour!

Phew! Are you still with me? Because that’s not all.

This Beastie needs a bag!
Human Tierney is a very talented quilter, and I wanted to reflect this in one of her accessories. So I selected some fabrics, cut teeny-tiny squares and pieced them together to create a miniature quilted panel, which I then stitched onto the exterior of a felt bag made to my usual pattern. This is the first quilting I’ve done in about 20 years – although the less said about my teenage efforts (which remain in my parents’ attic to this day) the better! And now tierneycreates Beastie can carry around her trusty laptop and library card in style!

So, that’s everything, right?
Not quite! I think we forgot somebody…
They’re a schnauzer household chez tierneycreates, so it only seemed right that this Beastie should have her own canine companion! And because the humans in the home already have a miniature schnauzer called Mike, this miniature miniature schnauzer has been named “Mikelet”!

Ready for walkies, Mikelet?
And of course, there’s always time for a cuddle!
You can see where tierneycreates Beastie and Mikelet went on their walk in Tierney’s latest Beastie-based post… And don’t forget to join us again on Friday when I’ll be sharing a Beastie adventure of my own!

See you then!

Finn McSpool Storms Kilkenny Castle - T. Painter/CrawCrafts Beasties

Friday Social #7 – What’s Goin’ On? Beastie Family Update

Posted on June 22, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Life at Beastie Towers

Well, as you all know, I’ve been taking a bit of a break from the computer these past couple of weeks… But luckily for me, other members of the Beastie family have been busily snapping and blogging away in my absence! So today, I wanted to say a big “thank you” to those hard-workin’ folks, and to make sure everybody gets a chance to share in these monster adventures.

First up, a familiar monster face…

Yes, Mr Finn McSpool is back, and is sharing the first of his Irish adventures! Check out Tammie’s blog to see what mischief he got up to in Kilkenny Castle!

Also, those of you who follow Tammie already will know that she released her latest novel, “The Bonds of Osteria” at the end of last month. And fortunately, she had a heap of Beasties on hand to help her with her marketing efforts… This is my favourite promo shot!

Beasties Promoting "The Bonds of Osteria" - T Painter/CrawCrafts Beasties — Also borrowed from tammiepainter.com!

If that made you chuckle too, you’ll find more in this post… And don’t forget to check out the Books section of Tammie’s site for more info on the Osteria Chronicles, where you can buy your copies, and all ongoing special offers.

Next up… A sneak preview of a new Beastie!

tierneycreates Beastie, A Personalised Knitted Monster by CrawCrafts Beasties — One of my own photos, for once!

Meet tierneycreates Beastie, a brand-new addition to our ever-expanding global tribe of little knitted monsters!

I’ll be formally introducing you all to this Beastie lady on Tuesday, but I was so overwhelmed by Tierney‘s welcome-to-your-new-home post on her blog (not to mention the comments from her own loyal band of readers) that I couldn’t NOT share it with you! So please take a sec to jump over and read “I’m A Monster!!!“, and its hilarious followup “Beastie Outing: Trip to the Library“… In which an overzealous knitted monster demonstrates how NOT to use a barcode scanner.

@crawcraftsbeasties The tierneycreates beastie got a little silly today at the library and she tried to make her new library card work under Library’s barcode scanner…

A post shared by tierneycreates (@tierneycreates) on Jun 14, 2018 at 5:42pm PDT

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Tierney’s site tagline is “A fusion of textiles and smiles”, and it definitely delivered on both those counts for me this week!

So, that little lot should provide you with some fun weekend reading! We’ll be back on Tuesday to see what tierneycreates Beastie has in that shoulder bag of hers… Then Explorer Beastie will be presenting the first of many, many posts about Germany next Friday!

See you then!

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