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| "The greatest of all mistakes is to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can." Liz Smith |
THE SEED CARRIER
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| Courtesy of PortaSemilla |
Baby carrier holds a special place in Nicolle Teresa's heart.
The first one she made was
when her eight-month-old
baby outgrew the ring sling
a friend had given her as a
gift. The carrier was a
revelation. "If I had known
about this style before, I would have preferred it to the ring sling. It's a lot simpler and comfortable. But people here (in Puerto Rico) are not all that familiar with it," she said. When this young mother considered a home-based, money-making
venture she didn't have to search far or wide for an idea: sharing her pleasure in a product she loved seemed the most obvious answer.
So she set up her own line of handmade baby carriers and
named it PortaSemilla (Seed carrier) so that "your seed can
keep growing close to your heart."As she writes in a brochure
for her product, "carriers allow babies to feel cuddled as
when in the womb of the mother. They can listen to mommy's voice and to her heartbeat."
Teresa's carriers, which she herself sews, are simple, colorful
and well made. Patterned after the Asian Mei Tai, they are
fashioned out of cool, easy fabrics such as tencel, linen, regular
and organic cotton (Soon she will be using hemp material).
No two carriers are alike, each one "a unique piece to make the
mother feel special." Or a father.
Certain details stand out: the padded sections at the shoulders
to ease supporting the weight of the baby and a pocket
conveniently placed to store must-carry items. The latest model
features a hoodie to hold the baby's head while sleeping.
If carrying a baby comfortably while performing daily tasks is
the carrier's main advantage, there are other benefits to be derived
as well. Teresa points out that using a carrier makes babies
happier and less anxious, helping to reduce colic episodes.
And since it maintains the baby in an upright position, babies
can pass gases more easily.
When using a carrier, correct positioning of the child is essential,
advised Teresa. More specifically, a carrier should hold the baby
with its knees in a straddle to ensure proper hip positioning.
According to International Hips Dysplasia Institute,
hipdysplasia.org, some types of baby carriers may put a baby
at risk of developing dysplasia, or dislocation of the hip, because
they restrain a baby's legs in an unhealthy position (hanging
down). This is specially critical during the first few months of
the life of the baby, when its body is still developing.
"The healthiest position for the hips is for the hips to fall
or spread (naturally) apart to the side, with the thighs sup-
ported and the hips and knees bent" in a straddle or frog
position, informs the institute through its website,
hipdysplasia.org. "Free movement of the hips without
forcing them together promotes natural hip development."
The PortaSemilla line, which also includes ring slings and
backpacks, can be found at ConCalma in old San Juan,
La Chiwinha, near the University of Puerto Rico, and
Taller Caribe in Rincón. Also available on the internet at
etsy.com/shop/PortaSemilla and at Teresa's website
(www.portasemilla.weebly.com). For more information
(in Spanish) check http://portasemilla.blogspot.com/
Concalma, 207 Calle San Francisco, old San Juan
787.421.4212
La Chiwinha
1054 Calle González, Urb. Santa Ríta, Río Piedras.
787.925.0707
FUN JEWELRY
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| Necklace by Raiza Ascanio |
And then there is fun jewelry which makes up for its lack of bling
with creativity and pizzazz. Two Puerto Rican designers to watch
out for their wildly ingenious creations are Raiza Ascanio Orro
and Marsi Caraballo. Both have the knack of turning the homeliest
materials into unusual, playful pieces that any woman would enjoy
wearing.
Raiza likes to make necklaces by winding colored threads around
plain cotton cord and adding elements such as stones and tassels
or perhaps small pencils ( to write down something on the spur
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| Marsi Caraballo's Ojal Line |
Marsi is a recycler who uses
paper postcards in lieu of
beads or precious stones.
She cuts each card into
small interesting shapes
and lets the newly
reconfigured colors create
an intriguing abstract design.
The result is a delicate pop
of color dancing at the end
of the ear wire. Or she cuts out the card
into colorful disks and joins them into interesting combinations to
adorn a simple metal chain.
Raiza's jewelry: at Concalma, old San Juan; Museum of Art of Puerto Rico (MAPR) store, Santurce; Siddhia Hutchinson Fine Art Gallery, Vieques; online at Etsy.com or write to raizaascanio.com for more information.
Marsi: at Concalma and on Facebook at Ojal - Wearable Collage
SIMPLE TIP:
When making pasta, don't throw the hot water away once the
spaghetti is cooked but use some of the leftover water to steam whatever
vegetables you are serving for dinner. Drain the pasta water
into a deep bowl and then pour some of it back into the pot, place a
steamer, throw in the vegetables, cover and steam. Voilá!
Since the water is already hot, you will shorten the cooking
time and in any case vegetables don't need to cook that long.
In fact, they are always tastier --and healthier -- if a little crunchy!
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| Photography by Denise Blasor "Each of us is stranded on his or her own existential island." Jonathan Franzen |
©2013 Lorraine Blasor All Rights Reserved✍
Copyright ©2013 Lorraine Blasor All Rights Reserved
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