The NorthWesternBelle

This post has been a long time coming, considering this project was accepted in November and finished in December 2017. Better late than never, right? Right. (Edit 3/16/18: I did make a couple of videos about this project! Check them out here: Part 1 & Part 2 .) Spoiler! They're awesome. So, pretty much as soon as I lost my job at the end of October, my mother in law commissioned 30 mugs - 10 cat themed and 20 dog themed - to be Christmas gifts for her pet sitting clients. I'd never taken on such a large project, but I had the time to do it, so I was excited! And also seriously nervous about getting that many mugs through the entire process with enough time to ship them to NM before Christmas. To-be cat mugs. Dog mugs. The dog mugs were thrown to be 4" tall and 4" wide. The handles were all hand-pulled. Right about midway through production of all the cups, the studio hired me as a part-time office assistant. I went from spending two and a ...

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

Two custom orders off, one more to start and finish to go! I seriously love these Death Stars. What nerd doesn't want one of these? They look awesome, even naked! But the finishing details really make the pillow complete.  You can snuggle with this thing all day and night! My three-year-old totally approves! The buyer told me it will be a Christmas gift. So, Merry Christmas, fellow nerd!!  I also finished and shipped out this wicked custom Jack Skellington Hat.  My first use of the ANGRY EYES! It's for a little boy's Jack Skellington costume. I hope he loves it! He turned out with plenty of attitude, and I love it! One more, just for fun... Yes. Rocking it on Etsy so far this month and LOVING it. Get your custom orders in and keep me busy making awesome handmade shenanigans! Thanks for looking, Loves! Always Yours, The NWB

Got an order last night for one of the PILLOW sized Death Stars! I am probably going to have to buy more dark gray yarn. Which means a trip to the craft store :) I am totally excited to make another one! I think this time I'll actually use a smaller hook on the super laser so that it is the right size proportionally. This one is still awesome, with its SUPER size super laser. The next one is going to be even better :) So, I'm off to get started on it! Have a fabulous Monday =D Thanks for looking, Loves! Always Yours, The NWB

I love October. I do! It's true. I love it a lot because it means that a) I can start wearing comfy sweaters again and b) HALLOWEEN is coming! And this October I've got a new reason to love it: sales! On Tuesday of last week (September 30) I told Taiza P. that the first pre-made cape would sell on Etsy before the end of the week. And I was right! It's like I've got ESPN or something. We actually sold two capes; this lovely sheer striped one that Taiz made a few years back: And the custom Skeletor cape was paid for and shipped out. I might love this picture of my hot hubby modeling it for us too much. He was pretty stoked that we were making a Skeletor cape. Also, I ended up making TWO (yes, TWO) mini Death Star Plushes last week. I really love making them, and can pretty much get one completed in a day (granted my three year old can be persuaded to entertain himself). On my first mini death star I stitched the trench in with the details. On the one ab...

Received payment for a made-to-order one of my most favorite things ever this morning! Yup, that's right; one of these: I'm really excited to be making a new one (you thought I was kidding about keeping the first one, didn't you? Well I wasn't!), and should have it finished by tomorrow. I'm so glad that I get the chance to make crochet goodies for complete strangers! Until today, sales on Etsy have been limited to vintage items (afghans & buttons). So, getting an order for one of my handmade crochet items is probably more exciting to me than it should be. I have a feeling that the 2014 Holiday Season is going to be profitable for The NWB. Keep those custom orders coming!! Thanks for looking, Loves! Always Yours, The NWB

The prototype Death Star Pillow is complete and is available now on Etsy! Front view... Back view... I seriously love this! I think on the next one, though, I'll use a much smaller hook for the super laser. It's not quite proportional like it should be, but it's still pretty awesome. Building such a big sphere requires a LOT of counting, and this one ended up being about 24" inches in circumference. I could probably get away with making a 25 in one by using slightly bigger hook. I like how tightly this one is weaved, though. Get one today for your most nerd-tastic friend or family member! C'mon...who doesn't love Star Wars? Besides my Aunt, who thought the "death star" was a real thing. She gets a pass, though, because she is other wise awesome. The miniature version is also available on Etsy as a made-to-order item. I'm still thinking that I'll have to keep the mini prototype, but the full-size prototype is probably going to...

The NWB received its first custom order request this weekend! We received a message on Friday afternoon about creating a custom cape in purple burlap. It's going to be for a Skeletor costume, which makes me ridiculously happy! I knew my nerdy people would find us eventually! The customer sent me two photos for reference (as if I needed them!) Without any on hand, Taiza P. and I headed out in search of purple burlap at our local fabric stores. Unfortunately, we had no luck. Fortunately, though, Taiza did have a perfectly purple polyester on hand, which she turned into this cape in record time: My hubby was kind enough to be our Tough Guy model :) This cape is much lighter than a burlap one would be, and is going to be easier to wear. We figured that even if our Skeletor client didn't want it, someone would, but the consensus opinion is that this is perfect for Skeletor! As luck would have it, the client likes this one! It is definitely going to be less scratchy...

I just love the Nightmare Before Christmas, and I loved it BEFORE it was all sorts of popular (shut up, Hipster). My three year old has started asking to watch it repeatedly, though, so we'll see if I still love it as much as I do by the time he gets tired of it. The process can take months, but I'm thinking my love for it will persevere. In the mean time, I'm making these awesome Jack Skellington hats in all sizes! You can place an order for your custom hat on Etsy. Get it in time for Halloween by placing the order before October 15 . Processing is two to three business days, and shipping is via USPS Priority Mail. All hats are built in durable acrylic yarn that is fully washable. I have 15 years experience with crochet, and all ends are securely sewn in. Specify what size and finishing options (ear flaps & ties, contrasting finishing edge, added elements like a poof ball at the top!). All sizes from infant to adult XL are available, and each hat will be uni...