Fave resources of interest

Hi, I just wanted to sum up my favorites for the rest of this year with some resources of interest that a fabulous quilter has shared with me. I found them my favorite thing to read these past months! This information has helped me to be inspired me yet more with the fact of use my spare time more productive and crafty. So, I think the below list of themes can help everyone else no doubt.

1) Why kids need hobbies

2) The benefits of having a hobby when you are in recovery

3) Find your passion: Making room for hobbies 

4) How to start your own urban garden 

5) 11 Healthy hobbies for seniors

6) Transform your craft: How to set up a hobby room in your home 

7) 10 Hobbies that can pay off

I hope you find sparkled ideas!

Happy reading and crafting, 

Blanca

Spring Faves

Hello! Here again to share my belated spring favorites.

Fave Craft⭐

Sewing pin cushions are very handy when being creative with fabrics. I made this one thinking on how I could have it all the time super close during a sewing project. Its perform is just awesome! When I have to pin fabrics on form-dress or join two pieces of fabric,  my wrist pin cushion simple does the work allowing me to reach pins right away😃. I love it! I am thinking on posting the DIY eventually for the creatives out there!

Fave Clothing Piece⭐

Some of my clothes are made by myself. I like to customize them with a simply sleek design, and with a perfect fit. I love to add a delicate feminine detail too, but this upon of what fiber I am working with. My fiber picks are cotton, linen, silk. This eyelet white cotton blouse has been one of my favorite pieces since April. It features bell sleeves and a relaxed fit, round ruffled neckline, and three quarter length sleeves. I made it from a thrift dress skirt.

Fave Local TV Show⭐

Just to let you know this is a local TV show on Fox 2 in St. Louis MO. Their goal is creating a mission to sew the good in the community.

The Thread is hosted by Tim Ezell and Virginia Kerr. It is a fun program to watch for their simultaneously interviewing real people and commenting. I personally enjoy watching it on Saturday from 8:30 am to 9:00 am. The message is amazing each time. To follow The Thread, check out their facebook page here or here

What's your favorite Saturday's early show?

Xoxo,

Blanca

Winter Faves

It has been a month already since winter was over! Time goes so fast! I have been busy with a couture project that is related to a linen pajamas for my husband as well with a knitting design project from an order I took of a local customer. In terms of things I enjoy the most, like a hand-made item, healthy or cool stuff I recently got for my personal use, I think is very nice to show you an updated of my favorites ones of that season, and may you can enjoy them too!

Fave Blush⭐

I like to consider natural healthier choices when come to beauty products. Now this Juice Beauty Blush is one of my lately favorites! I used to have a blush from Real Purity but I wanted to give a try to this one. Both have excellent perform and ingredients. I do not know but lately I do not put nothing on my face than blush, eye liner, eye shadow, and lip balms. This sounds like I am trying to be minimalist already :). So anyway, in terms of quality as well the natural ingredients are very important to me. The most benefits I get from this are the ingredients which are fruits extracts and minerals that are gentle and safe to the body. The Juice Beauty glowing cheek comes in a loose powder consistency. Also it gives a natural beautiful soft rosy look on the cheeks. For more details of it go to https://www.juicebeauty.com/makeup/shop-by-collection/makeup-classics/glowing-cheek-color

Fave Slippers⭐

I am in love with my up cycled slippers! I constructed them from a felted hat and felted socks I made long ago for my husband and me but accidentally  turned this way from washing them in the laundry machine, and we could not wear them any more, were too little. So I thought these two accessories can just be perfect for my winter babushkas. I sew them with wool yarn, and also the soles of a hairy sheepskin old jacket, and there you have them, 100% wool cozy slippers!

Fave Tea⭐

I felt some days on Jan with this viral symptoms that nothing but star anise tea helped me to get enough better. Each Autumn and winter season this herb has been helping me a lot, due to its natural benefits of vitamin C. The tea aroma is just delicious. Also I drink this tea along with a slice of licorice root which it gives a bit of sweet to it. Knowing the effect of this herb that protects and gives strong support for the immune system function, I make sure I keep it in my pantry. I felt in love with this tea all the winter long, and perhaps all year long from now on. I am also using the star anise tea as a tonic for my face! The freshness of it is just sensational and it has anti aging properties as well.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to drop me a line!

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Blanca☺♥

Autumn Favorites

I've been very busy this season with house chores, knitting pieces for a ladies luncheon bazaar at church this month! Below are my favorite things I found on this colorful chilly season!

Favorite Food⭐

 

The nutrients like vitamin C and fiber play a very important role in cranberry's health benefits. Most people commonly consumed this food in a form of juice processed from the berries, instead eating them whole. I've been enjoying by eating them on cereal, oat meal, or just on the meals. I absolutely love, love them and they are not acid anymore to me!

Favorite Kitchen Tool⭐

We recently bought a KitchenAid Artisan at Bedbathandbeyond. This stand mixer is the best thing in my kitchen, not doubt, it is helping me to make bread recipes in a professional level. It also has a quiet sound, and keeps mixing mess-free when using the pouring shield, which is a nice feature. This season for holiday baking, the mixer is my essential tool for producing incredible breads, cakes, etc. It is also taking my baking skills to the next level, and it definitely is helping me to change the way I used to make the gluten-free bread for my hubby. With this essential machine effortlessly knead whole-wheat bread dough without straining on the counter top! I am not buying bread anymore, since I can make my own bread at home! 

Favorite Article⭐

Writing patterns are the challenging part for me. When a project is done I feel very happy. However it demands a lot of thinking and writing. I found this clever and amazing article which helps on how to do an order list of things when patterning a crochet piece. I would like to apply it on my knitting as well.

Lillabjorn Crochet World shares everything you need when writing patterns from sketching to testing them, which inspire me yet more! I like this practical advice. It is marvelous, and I am really fascinated with it!

Favorite Yarns⭐

The highest quality of yarns are my priority. Knit Picks is currently my favorite choice. The fibers are Peruvian and they have nice blends. I love to use those that are 100% such is alpaca, wool or blends that are only from animals, or the ones that are only from plants. I am working with my favorite ones this season like alpaca, and merino wool. The pieces that will be done are slippers, socks, mittens, a hat, and a cowl neck. Over all, I learned that Knit Picks have a nice selection of yarns, enhanced comfort in knitted garments, and are low in price.

Favorite Quote⭐

I think it is healthy to spend time with God daily. It is always inspiring. I like to balance by spending value time with people who are close to me such is my family, and friends and work. I like to analyze what really matters in a conversation and what constructive can be in order to stay or leave it. I was taught when growing up to be wise on choosing anything in my life, as well to have the chance to do well or bad. I love to learn from the scriptures, which fill me with knowledge in the way to be oriented on doing things right. 

Who you like to choose to spend the time with?

Favorite Boots⭐

 

We were looking for Uggs at the local store of Nordstrom Rack on Jan of this year but my husband and I couldn't find my size. Amazingly, we found these wonderful boots branded Bear Paw. They are super comfortable and soft, and warm to my feet. They are made in leather with a softest fur of merino sheep! They are also affordable. Since then, they have been my best friends for the chilly days of the year, and especially this season.

Favorite Movie⭐

I was fascinated when we went to the local amc Square 7 theater. I felt like it was in a mansion home theater, especially with those soft chairs where you can relax and be comfortable. Anyway, the movie is an outstanding film directed by Mel Gibson called Hacksaw Ridge! Based on a true story of a true courageous hero Desmond Doss, who refused to bare arms, and was awarded with the Congressional Medal of Honor. The actor Andrew Garfield plays it spectacular, and he is now one of my latest favorite actors as well.

Favorite Knitted garment⭐

I finished knitting this piece the last days of September and I can not wait to wear it on tanks and dresses. The top fits me just right and it goes well on some of my autumn/spring outfits. It is made in blends of cotton's fibers. I like it very much for the shine, texture, and draping

If you do have any questions, please do not hesitate to let me know, I will be more than happy to answer, this concludes this post of my Autumn favorites!

Blanca😚

Cute ideas on organizing

Wishing a happy week for you all!

It is time to get organized!  I have to show you what can help with cute ideas, and this  special issue from December 2010 on cloth.paper.scissors studios offer many, many creative ways on organizing small to big spaces for wherever you can call it; studio, art space, work space. I got it from Barnes & Noble back on 2011. It is very handy for teachers, students, especially at this time of the year! It illustrates infinity of possibilities, and it is helping me the way how to keep organized specially my yarns, needles, fabrics, books, art projects and many things.

There are inspirational ideas that artists can use to update your art corner over and over, and now I am picking up this magazine again to get inspired on how to reorganize my tiny creative space. I just wanted to let you know that there are many ways to explore on get a nice clean environment for your creativity. The editor's letter explains that some small work spaces measure even as 3 feet wide so from that, you can imaging what you can do if have more room! My favorites pages are the 62 which is same as the cover, 91, 92, 112, 113, 128, 136. On the link you can find more info related to this special issue.

I let you with this beautiful video...




Blessings,

Blanca

Natural Fibers

Fiber is a natural substance produced by plants and animals that can be spun into thread or rope and in a next step woven, knitted, matted or bound.

For clothing natural fibers can give some benefits, such as comfort, good for us and our planet.

Here are some of the natural fibers that develop or occur in the fiber shape. They can be classified according to their origin:

• Vegetables fibers: include among others cotton, jute, flax, hemp, and bamboo

• Animal fibers: include among others silk, wool, cashmere, mohair, alpaca, and angora.

Fabulous fibers features for knitting among others are:

Cotton

It is a soft, fluffy fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case. Under natural conditions, the cotton bolls will tend to increase the dispersal of the seeds. The fiber is most often spun into yarn or thread and is used to make a soft, breathable textile.

Jute

It is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads, Jute is one of the most affordable natural fibers and is second only to cotton in amount produced and variety of uses of vegetable fibers.

Flax

It is also known as common flax or linseed. The textiles made from flax are known in the western countries as linen, and traditionally used for bed sheets, underclothes, table linen, and for hand-made knitting garments.

Silk

It is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvaer of the mulberry silkworm. Silk is produced by several insects, but generally only the silk of moth caterpillars has been used for textile manufacturing.

Wool

It is the textile fiber obtained from sheep. Wool has several qualities that distinguish it from hair or fur: it is crimped, it is elastic, and it grows in staples (clusters). Wool's scaling and crimp make it easier to spin the fleece by helping the individual fibers attach to each other, so they stay together. Because of the crimp, wool fabrics have greater bulk than other textiles, and they hold air, which causes the fabric to retain heat. 

Cashmere wool
 

It is a fiber as wool but is finer and softer, giving its characteristics as compared to sheep's wool. Cashmere is fine in texture, strong, light, and soft. Garments made from it provide excellent insulation, approximately three times that of sheep wool.

Mohair

It is usually a silk-like fabric or yarn made from the hair of the angora goat. Both durable an resilient, mohair is notable for its high luster and sheen, which has helped give it the nickname the "Diamond Fiber", and is often used in fiber blends to add these qualities to a textile. Mohair process dye exceptionally well. Mohair is warm in winter as it has excellent insulating properties, while remaining cool in summer. It is durable, naturally elastic, flame resistant. It is considered to be a luxury fiber, like cashmere, angora and silk, and is usually more expensive than most wool that comes from sheep.

Angora hair or Angora fiber

Refers to the downy coat produced by the Angora rabbit. While their names are similar. Angora fiber is distinct from mohair, which comes from the Angora goat. Angora is known for its softness, thin fibers, and what knitters refer to as a halo (fluffiness). It is also known for its silky texture. It is much warmer and lighter than wool. It also gives them their characteristic floating feel.

Alpaca

Is a domesticated species of  American camelid. It resembles a small llama in appearance. There are two breeds of alpaca; the Suri alpaca and the Huacaya alpaca.

In the textile industry, "alpaca" primarily refers to the hair of Peruvian alpacas but more broadly it refers to a style of fabric originally made from alpaca hair.

Thanks for your time,

Blanca☻♡