lunes, 21 de octubre de 2013

Fabric of Britain Knittings Golden Age [HD]



I absolutely loved watching this video. Knitting is one of the most beautiful crafts in the world. Never stop knitting, never stop filling your life and that one of others with the uncomparable touch, feeling and overall experience of a handknitted garment!

I feel so lucky to be part of it!

My Favourire Season.



It is already autumn and I am enjoying the soft sunshine, chilly evenings and beautiful steady warm weather now that the rainy season has ended. It is in this season that time for reflection over the last eight months has an opportunity. This year is ending and in about a bit more than two months one of the hardest years for my family and me will be coming to an end. I really can't wait. In times of great challenges, both healthwise and finantially wise, if there is something that I have come to be reminded of is about appreciating the people and the good things in my life. The gift of faith, the gift of health, the gift of music, the gift of handcrafts, and last but not least, the gift of love.

So I have spent more time with music -mainly playing my piano and singing while driving- and knitting, crocheting, weaving and sewing. The joy and unattachment from difficulties they all bring is immense. I tend to be more productive while under great stress, it is like my whole self screams for a lifesaver before I feel like drowning.

Lately I have been learning new knitting techniques where I mainly gave myself the gift of two online courses, one in Tunisian Crochet, and another one in Broomstick Lace through Craftsy, both by Jennifer Hansen (absolutely an enthusiastic and great teacher), which I am enjoying very much. I am still on a basic level, however the door towards creativity and knowledge it has opened makes me feel very happy and look forward to becoming even better at it.

Time to plan knitting for the coming chilly weather. Well, we do not have real cold weather here but it is still an excuse to bring out the wool yarns and have fun like I have been with a Kolka yarn made in Mexico. I love it, I have been knitting this quick and funky design from Knit.Wear magazine -which I think is so fashionable without pushing it-, and I am almost done with it (below). I will post a picture of it once it is done and tried out.

Thanks for visiting!




jueves, 17 de octubre de 2013

Surprises.


Has it happened lately to you that a particular day ends with a totally unexpected surprise? It's been a while since I had such a day and I must say it was quite beautiful. For some of you it might sound strange to know that finding spinning wheels in Mexico is not easy at all. Well it is pretty much like finding a needle in a haystack. The way thread is handspinned in Mexico is through a spindle which obviously requires practice, patience and skill.
Well, just by doing a quick search over the web I learned that someone close to home was actually selling a real spinning wheel brought into Mexico from Germany. Well, I was thrilled. I ended that very day purchasing it and feeling very lucky about it. Why? Because it is a real antique flax spinning wheel with more than a hundred years old. When I look at it my mind tries to imagine who owned and used it, and which must have been her story. I own it now, somehow destiny wanted me to find it because very few people can appreciate something like this like me. It is so sad that very rarely people here actually know what a spinning wheel is. I find this to be so sad, especially when spinning wheels were once a very important household item whose presence was crucial to the well being of a family. I can't wait to make my own history with it. It is amazing that it still works! I just love how it looks in my studio next to my loom.

So now jumping to another favourite topic -knitting-, I recently finished this fabulous sweater designed by Debbie Bliss. I obviously used a different yarn than the one suggested from her line because although I did see it at a store I considered it to be extremely expensive. So back in Mexico I found a very beautiful handspinned all wool yarn made in Aguascalientes, Mexico. I love the results and can't wait to use this coming winter.

Thanks for visiting!