The NorthWesternBelle

Hey, y'all. It's been a minute. The first quarter of 2019 was rough, but here we are on the other side of tax day and we're still trucking on. We'll keep at it. I've been having a lot of fun in the Mud Bakery. So much so that I forget that content is part of my job, too. My video production cycle waned over the last few months, but I'm back at it to capitalize on the Game of Thrones Season 8 premiere last Sunday, and the next five frantic weeks until the season ends. Then (let's be honest), the slow down-curve of interest until the prequel series gets serious. Whenever that may be. Admittedly, I was late to the GOT bandwagon. I didn't start watching the HBO series until Season 7 was airing, and I didn't read the first book until last month. So, still a noob, but no one is more zealous than a convert, right? Right. And I am solidly in the late convert camp when it comes to A Song of Ice & Fire and zealous as hell. Last week, the week lea...

I'm happy to report that the momentum that started at the beginning of October has only continued! Yesterday, October 20, we received a record-breaking five orders, for six items, before noon! Check it out: So awesome! Three of those orders were for capes, which are shipping out today. The other two orders were for handmade goods: Another Death Star and TWO matching Jack Skellington Beanies for 1 year old boys (which, seriously? CUTE!). I'm not going to lie: getting orders for three handmade things at once is a little intimidating. I've structured my Etsy listings so that production time estimates allow me some room in these types of situations. I'm planning to have them all out by Friday at the latest. It's Tuesday, so that's totally doable, considering I already have the supplies on hand. I will probably have to buy more polyfil stuffing...the Death Star pillows take about half of a 12 Oz bag each, but I'm pretty sure that I've got at least t...

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

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...

Yeah, I'm a huge nerd. So, this happened. I was at work yesterday without any polyfil stuffing to finish my pillow-sized Death Star . So, to pass the time, I made this Death Star hat, which turned out swimmingly! Am I seriously the only one who thought of this? Because I haven't seen any others on the Internet. So, if you end up with one of these awesome things from one of your crafty friends, you're welcome! The construction was pretty basic: an adult sized hat made of acrylic gray yarn, worked in rows, with ear flaps (which, I will probably leave off the next one). The super laser is just a flat, three-row circle, also worked in rows and with an invisible join to finish it off. The detail work is sewn on in a lighter gray. With all the stitching, this hat ended up being a Teen/Small Adult size. I'll be getting a listing created for it this weekend, so stay tuned! Update: it's for sale now!  https://www.etsy.com/listing/204203754/crochet-death-star-beanie...

That's no moon... It's my new favorite crochet item EVER! So, the fabulous George Takei posted a picture of a crocheted Death Star pillow a few days back on his Facebook page. Basically everyone I know proceeded to send it to me/post it on my FB page/ask me about making one. The nerd in me couldn't resist. She never can. I seriously am in love with this tiny one. It's approximately 6" across (16" circumference). I made it using the Mathematically Perfect Sphere pattern I found on Pinterest. The super laser is just a flat circle, and I stitched on the details based on Google Images of the Death Star. I'm keeping this one for myself because I love it so much. It seriously makes my nerd heart swoon. I did also manage to locate the pattern for the pillow-sized one that Mr. Takei loved so much, and BONUS! It was free on Ravelry (pattern by Patricia Castillo). It's taking me a bit longer to finish, since it's going to end up being about 2...

While fiber and clay are my main mediums of choice, every now and then I'm inspired to paint. I haven't had any formal training, which bothers me, but I can't seem to resist the urge to put pigment to paper when the inspiration hits. I've worked a lot with acrylics in the past, and some oils (they require a lot of clean up that I don't particularly care for), but my experience with watercolor is pretty limited. I've been obsessing over watercolor tattoos, of late, and I really think the medium is ripe for exploration. So, I gave it a shot while the boys were still sleeping last weekend. This is probably my favorite of the bunch. The splatter effect probably should have been put down first, but whatever. This is not my first painted jelly fish; I did one in acrylic paint for my son's room before he was born. It is, however, the first watercolor jellyfish I've ever attempted. And it turned out okay. Certainly there will be more to come. This is ...

This listing on Etsy used to be a made-to-order, but you can buy the hood pictured for 25% off list price today, June 9, 2014! It is one-size-fits most. Pictured below is my 3 year old, who has a 20" head circumference. The hood also fits my 23" circumference head comfortably (though, not as adorably).  Need a particular size? Send us a message on ETSY about a custom order! Processing is usually three to five business days. 

So, I'm pretty much a huge nerd. That fact seems to catch people off guard, but it's true nonetheless. I married an equally huge nerd, too, so we are raising an inevitably nerdy child (go on, ask me how many TMNT shirts my 3 year old has. The answer is two, and the hat. That's just how we do!). Last week, I checked an item off my nerd to-do list: I purchased tickets to Salt Lake Comic Con! The hubby and I are going, and I convinced my best friend, Carmy, to make the three hour journey from Idaho to Utah so she can go with us! That's really where the story of this particular piece of work started. Carmy and I might be a tad obsessed with Adventure Time. You know Adventure Time, right? If not, you should, because it is completely random and awesome. Anyhow....Carmy had decided that she wanted to go as Princess Bubblegum before she'd even purchased a ticket. That, naturally, led me to realize that I should DEFINITELY dress up as Marceline the Vampire Queen! Se...