The NorthWesternBelle

March has been keeping me busy! We're still working on the Custom Sigil Cape order, which should be complete this week. I really lucked out finding a crafty friend to cut the vinyl and give me pointers for ironing it on (parchment paper is apparently better than the expensive Teflon sheets that are sold specifically for this purpose). I'll be going at the first one tonight; it will be my first attempt at applying heat-transfer vinyl, so wish me luck! Speaking of capes, we've been getting a lot of hits on Etsy for "white cape," so I implored the lovely and talented Taiza P. to create one. Unsurprisingly, she did not disappoint: My friends are so beautiful :) This is the wonderful and amazing Dia, who was kind enough to let us use her beauty to market our handmade goods. Pretty sure she could pull anything and everything off.  This particular cape has an extra-large hood and is very flowy! It's perfect for a ghost or a spirit of any sort. I suspect it ...

So, round about the 10th of last month I started writing a post that never got completed. That's NOT going to happen this time! At least, you know, I hope not. It's the busy season at my full-time gig, so down time available for blogging is hard to come by. You will be happy to hear that we've only been neglecting the blog so far in 2015. We've been keeping plenty busy with custom cape orders and a couple of custom afghans. I've also resumed my weekly appointment to play in the mud thanks to my amazing hubby. More on that later! First, custom order recap. Early in January I received a message through Facebook asking about making custom capelets for some professional cosplayers. We had black fabric on hand, so the construction was inexpensive and quick! They ordered three elbow length black capelets with oversized hoods, and the always-amazing Taiza P. was actually able to create two extra! They need to be photographed and listed for sale...I'll get around to...

In January 2015 I received an inquiry on Etsy about producing a custom burlap cape. The question came in through the listing for our gold-threaded burlap cape , and the client wanted one done in black. The amazing Taiza P was able to recreate the pattern of the gold cape pretty closely, but opted to add some length. When she was done, she all but gushed about how it is the best cape she's ever made! And boy, did it turn out spectacularly. The pictures, not so much, but I assure you: the cape is awesome. Are you looking for a cape to complete your costume? Message us with the specifics of what you want. We can create a cape in any color/fabric combination imaginable, and aim to do so for the lowest possible cost! Thanks for looking! Always Yours, The NWB

After I played it once a few weeks ago, my toddler has decided that Nightmare Before Christmas should be played on repeat as often as possible. Granted, he's detoured a little bit now to Finding Nemo, but he's still asking for NBC at least a few times a week. He's three, and I love it, so of course I can't ever deny it. I thought I'd get sick of it, as it so happens with many other movies that he wants to watch over and over again, but after what seems like the millionth viewing, my love for NBC is as strong as ever. What can I say? I've always been a Burton fan, even after having been exposed to Edward Scissorhands much too young (hey, it's scary to a five year old!), and regardless of what my mother did to keep me from watching his movies. She did keep me from seeing NBC until I was a teenager, though, and James & The Giant Peach, because reasons (I'm assuming...). But I was hooked on Burton from the first time. So, naturally I'm passing that...

So, the day (literally) that our cape inventory came online, my good friend Missy messaged me on Facebook about a custom Ruby Red from Once Upon a Time cape. Now, OUAT has been on my Netflix watchlist forever, but I haven't actually started watching it (boo, I know. I'm fired). So, I googled it found the following: This cape is serious business! Of course, the costume designers and some bloggers have the resources to get their hands on this $27/yard brocade fabric. We, decidedly, did not! Though Missy was willing to pay the hefty price, actually replicating this cloak would be a LOT of work. Ms. Confessions of a Seamstress even says it: she had to surge all of the edges to keep this stuff from fraying. Not my idea of a great time, and the serger we have access to is actually about an hour away. So, not practical or economical. With labor it would have been about $400. That's a LOT for a Halloween costume. So, we went in search of the perfect imitation fabric--the...

Time is running out to get 25% off all pre-made capes on Etsy with Coupon Code CAPEDWONDER! We've sold a few over the last couple of weeks, but there are plenty more to be had! Check them out: The blood-stained model: two of these available, both extra long with button and loop closures.  There's one of these wrinkle-free, light-gray polyester capes with black ribbon tie remaining in stock! Measures 45" from neckline. Two collared black capes in stock, perfect for any Vampire costume! One long (pictured), one short. One of these beautiful apricot hooded capes left in stock! Lace detail and white ribbon tie closure. All of these lovely capes and more are available on Etsy , courtesy of our lovely and talented seamstress, Taiza P. She is so great. So great, in fact, that she makes custom capes, too! There's still time to order a custom-made cape or cloak in time for Halloween! In fact, I'll be blogging about our most recent cust...

The lovely and very talented Taiza P. has created a whole lot of handmade costume capes for the NWB's Halloween inventory ! They are each unique and there are many styles available. Lined & Hooded Cloak in Gold-Threaded Burlap Black Cape with Straight Collar - Two Available! All of these and more are available now on Etsy! Sheer Black with Hood , 3 available! Wrinkle-free Gray Polyester with Hood , 2 available! Apricot & Lace Hooded Cape , 2 available! Blood-Stained Gray Hooded Cloak , 2 available! Silver Lame Hooded Cape with Black Stitching , extra long Silver Lame Hooded Cape Reversible Silver Lame and White Lace Hooded Cape Sheer Pinstriped Hooded Cape We also do custom capes! In fact, we made one over the weekend for a Skeletor costume. Stay tuned for the post about that project! Thanks for looking, Loves! Always Yours, The NWB