Free US shipping thru August 31st!!!

I've just gotten some wonderful news and I thought I would pass on this greatness to all my wonderful customers. So I decided to continue my free US shipping on all may handmade items thru August 31st!!! Yes I said free US shipping on all my Halloween cloaks, art, metal work, paintings and more. Everything in my shop now has free shipping! So instead of changing 121 listings, just wait for me to send you an adjusted invoice. I can also just refund your shipping price if you want to pay right away. So head on over to my shop for this great deal. http://www.mwestdesigns.etsy.com.

Attaching the hood on a cloak

Attaching a hood to a cloak is actually quite easy. After the two hood pieces have been sewn together and the body of the cloak has been sewn together, then you are ready to attach the hood. Take the body of the cloak and find the center and then pin the center of the hood to it. Pin each end and then you just have to take little tucks in the hood to align it with the body. After that has all been pinned together then you just sew a strait stitch. And VOILA your hood is attached. Check out the finished cloak at http://www.etsy.com/listing/54696085/dark-green-hooded-handmade-cloak-cape

Garnet Red Velveteen Cloak

I fell in love with this velveteen the second I saw it. It is a beautiful deep garnet red color. And it is a soft and heavy fabric, plus it's all cotton. I had some issues with this fabric because I needed to use the serger on the edges so they wouldn't fray. I had been putting off buying new blades for my Singer serger, but I ended up finding them on line. It was so much easier once I received the new blades. I had to use a size 16 needle because the fabric was so thick. I imagine someone wearing this cloak to be crowned for Homecoming or over their wedding dress for a winter wedding. Check it out at http://www.etsy.com/listing/54605484/garnet-red-hooded-velveteen-cloak-cape

I found this beautiful purple fabric the other day at the fabric store. It is a gorgeous shade of regal purple.

After cutting the whole thing out I started sewing. I used black thread on both the sewing machine and the serger. I folded both sides under on the tie to finish the edges. After sewing all the seams, I then serged everything to give it a nice finished look. Then I sewed the hem and put the tie on. After ironing everything, I have a beautiful purple cloak. Check it out at http://www.mwestdesigns.etsy.com

A dress a day

Ever since reading the book Julia & Julia, I have been fascinated by this concept of creating something new everyday. It seems like such a huge commitment. Well I have found another wonderful creative person who is taking on this and creating a dress a day. She takes old dresses and makes them into these cute new ones. Her budget for this whole thing is $365. Follow her here http://newdressaday.wordpress.com/.

Another form of "destashing"

Many people talk about destashing. Usually it has do deal with supplies. Everyone has a pile of cute whatever, or something neat that they found, and it has been taking up space for a long time. Sometimes it just feels good to purge all those items and sell them, or give them away. But I was pondering the act of destashing my art. Finding new homes for my personal art collection. I have been a professional artist for about 13 years. And I have many art pieces that have had an emotional connection that I have kept and displayed throughout my home. Why not destash some of these and start over. Doesn't a bare wall just get the creative juices flowing. What about a bare room or even the whole house? Wouldn't that just start a frenzy of creativity. Why not let the past go and move on to a new a bright future with new and exciting artwork.

A Monday and I'm in a Treasury!!!

It has been a great weekend with rain and bouts of sunshine in-between. And today the sun is hopefully going to shine all day. It will be a great Monday, plus picotee on Etsy put my painting in a treasury! The treasury is called Turquoise dream and it has some beautiful jewelry pieces, and photos, purses and lots of other neat things. My painting is called "Spring in the Sandhills" and it is turquoise and red. Check it all out here and have a great Monday! http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4bf0fe9f15706d91ff15bbc7/turquoise-dream#4bf146444d168eef6ecc02ea