Heartful Handmade Blog

way cool warmth

Rosetung's freestanding cowls/turtlenecks are multi-taskers: (1) They warm your neck, (2) they can be pulled up to warm your head or face, and (3) they make you look way cool.

warm your helping hands

The Manuela Ramos Movement is a Peruvian feminist organization.  It was founded in 1978 "to create favorable changes for women so they could fully enjoy their citizenship, including gender equality."  In 1993, the group built "The House of the Woman Artisan" to provide training, consultancy, and credit to women artisans from around the country to help them market their handcrafted goods.  The Manuela Ramos Movement has joined with Novica to broaden the reach of the wonderful work of these women.

a warm and arty noggin

Rosetung is a self-described "artist-crafter-designer" who took the names of the two grandmothers this Etsy shop owner never knew.  A browse through the shop proves the truth, and the understatement, of that description.  Rosetung's kritted and crocheted creations exude style and artistic expression.  And the preference for natural fibers--wool, silk, cotton--makes them almost precious. 

off the grid wool socks

Victoria Collins went off the grid in 1984.  She packed up and headed for a moutain top in New Hampshire.  Then she invested in sheep and set about living at one with nature, respecting the land and, in her own unique way, "contributing to feed and clothe America."  Victoria's Maple Winds Farm, in Groton, New Hampshire, has run on wind and solar power for over 25 years, but modern satellite internet service brings her handiwork down off the mountain top and directly into our homes.  I was searching for good handmade wool socks.  What I found at Maple Winds Farm is good handmade wool socks woven from hand spun yarn made with wool from sheep in Victoria's small herd on the mountain. 

flip-flops for you hands

I was so happy to come across the DebzCreations Etsy shop because I love this style of hand warmer, and it's not easy to find.  I don't know why they're called fingerless gloves, though.  They seem more like convertible mittens to me.  Anyway, whatever you want to call them, they're great.  I bought a pair (not Debz) a few years ago, and love the convenience of taking them off while leaving them on.  Fishing for keys, unlocking the door, or whatever you usually have to remove your gloves or mittens for, is just a matter of flipping the hood over your fingers.  They're practical and they're practically loss-proof. 

affordable luxury

Alfredo Falcon was born into a family in Peru that has produced woven textiles for several generations.  He lives in the Huaycan district and has collaborated with Novica for several years.  This collaboration has helped him grow his business and he now employs others to help him.  Alfredo loves knitting and crocheting and he combines handwork with work done on classic machinery that allows him to stay true to Inca and Colonial motifs. 

sock-comfy slippers

Pawfelts wool felt slipper socks are perfect winter house shoes.  Snuggly warm as soft wool socks, but more substantial because they're felted (a process that tangles the wool fibers so they lock into a strong matted material).  Pawfelts are available in men's and women's sizes and come in a wide variety of colors and color combinations.  Some are ankle high, some are sock high.  All are washable and will conform to the shape of your foot.

unmatched solemates

Marianne Wakerlin is the Socklady.  She makes colorful, whimsical, artistically inspired pairs and sets of happily unmatched socks.  She should sew soles onto them because they beg to be worn without shoes.  Using recycled cotton yarns that are dyed and spun in small family-owned U.S. businesses, the Socklady's uncommon socks are created at her home in central Vermont.