Latest news with #Axolotl
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Gifts for people who love to knit, sew or crochet
Fox News and its syndication partners may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom. Whether you're shopping for the upcoming Mother's Day holiday, a birthday or any other occasion, finding the perfect gift can be challenging. The pressure is on to find something personal and meaningful (and maybe something they don't already have). One way to simplify the gift-giving process is by leaning into their hobbies. If your loved one enjoys sewing, knitting or crocheting, their passion can guide you to a treasure trove of thoughtful gift ideas. Whether they're crafting-crazy or just crafting-curious, sewing, knitting and crocheting offer endless opportunities for creativity and there's always something they might need or want to elevate their craft. This list gives 10 thoughtful gift ideas appropriately tailored to sewing, knitting and crocheting enthusiasts. Original price: $31.99 A sharp, durable pair of sewing scissors or shears like this pair from Scissor-Tailed is indispensable for anyone who sews. They make cutting fabric a breeze, providing clean and precise cuts that enhance the quality of finished projects. They even come in a nice gift box. You can also opt for this set of scissors that comes with a thread remover and tape measure, too. If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today. This selection of high-quality yarn in various colors can inspire a knitter or crocheter's next project. This 24-pack of mini skeins has a rainbow of vibrant colors with 1,308 yards total of the premium yarn. Want to add something special to your yarn gift? Grace & Able's Arthritis Care Kit is perfect for crafters who need extra love for their hands. This kit is more than a gift – it's a way to help makers keep doing what they love, pain-free. It includes compression gloves crafted with input from a certified hand therapist to support comfort and mobility, Nature's Willow Pain Relief Cream and Tooktake reminder labels to make daily routines easier. Read On The Fox News App 5 Thoughtful Mother's Day Gifts For Aunts, Sisters And Friends Crochet kits have been all the rage lately and help make crafting easy. These handy kits from The Woobles allow you to create adorable stuffed crochet creatures, from classic characters like Snoopy to the more trendy Axolotl. Not only does the brand promise you'll master some of crochet's most common techniques, but you'll also learn the chain stitch and slip stitch. Don't forget to pick up some colorful stitch markers! They help novice crafters keep track of their progress in complex patterns. This stylish and practical pin cushion set with a magnetic holder can be a delightful yet useful addition to a sewing kit. The magnetic holder conveniently keeps pins organized and easily accessible during sewing projects, while the pin cushion adds a touch of charm. If you want to go the extra yard, pick up this colorful sewing kit holder to stash all your essentials. 8 Unique Gift Ideas For The Frequent Traveler We can't forget about quilting enthusiast friends! A rotary cutter allows for smooth, straight cuts, while the self-healing PVC cutting mat protects surfaces and extends the blade's life. Together, they make cutting fabric more efficient and enjoyable. This kit has it all! You might also consider this Gypsy Quilter Gypsy Gripper that helps them keep it in place while they work. Help them keep their sewing needles organized with this beautiful and functional paisley magnetic needle case. It's compact for storage and ensures that every needle has its place and is easy to find. If you really want to get the whole kit and kaboodle, this Singer set has the sewing needles and thread neatly stored in its own organizer for less than $30. 10 Subscriptions And Memberships For Gifts That Keep On Giving This set of 20 ergonomic crochet hooks in various sizes makes crocheting more comfortable and enjoyable. The hooks reduce hand fatigue, allowing crafters to work on their projects for more extended periods. This set has soft-grip handles and a range of sizes to accommodate different yarn weights in a stylish case. Or up the ante with this 73-piece crocheter starter kit that has the hooks plus everything else you need to begin crocheting and an adorable tote bag to store it in. This curated selection of fabrics in various prints can spark creativity for sewing projects and they make a great gift at less than $20. These pre-cut bundles are particularly popular among quilters, offering a variety of patterns that coordinate beautifully for a cohesive project. If they prefer solids over prints, there's a similar set available, or you can just grab both so they have plenty of options! For more deals, visit A set of interchangeable knitting needles offers versatility and convenience for various projects. This set includes needle tips and cables of different sizes, allowing knitters to customize their tools for specific patterns, plus yarn, accessories and a stylish case to store it in – all for less than $30. Get them started with this beginner's kit for knitting socks, with step-by-step instructions, yarn and everything you need to make two pairs. Original price: $199 This portable rolling organizer has 15 pull-out drawers for storing tools, threads and other supplies to keep everything tidy and within reach, ensuring every crafting item has a designated spot. This one moves easily without damaging floors and has colorful drawers that act as both an accent piece for your home and so you can easily color code your supplies. This durable tackle-box style organizer is an excellent choice if they prefer something more article source: Gifts for people who love to knit, sew or crochet
Fox News
22-03-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Gifts for people who love to knit, sew or crochet
Whether you're shopping for the upcoming Mother's Day holiday, a birthday or any other occasion, finding the perfect gift can be challenging. The pressure is on to find something personal and meaningful (and maybe something they don't already have). One way to simplify the gift-giving process is by leaning into their hobbies. If your loved one enjoys sewing, knitting or crocheting, their passion can guide you to a treasure trove of thoughtful gift ideas. Whether they're crafting-crazy or just crafting-curious, sewing, knitting and crocheting offer endless opportunities for creativity and there's always something they might need or want to elevate their craft. This list gives 10 thoughtful gift ideas appropriately tailored to sewing, knitting and crocheting enthusiasts. Original price: $31.99 A sharp, durable pair of sewing scissors or shears like this pair from Scissor-Tailed is indispensable for anyone who sews. They make cutting fabric a breeze, providing clean and precise cuts that enhance the quality of finished projects. They even come in a nice gift box. You can also opt for this set of scissors that comes with a thread remover and tape measure, too. If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today. This selection of high-quality yarn in various colors can inspire a knitter or crocheter's next project. This 24-pack of mini skeins has a rainbow of vibrant colors with 1,308 yards total of the premium yarn. Want to add something special to your yarn gift? Grace & Able's Arthritis Care Kit is perfect for crafters who need extra love for their hands. This kit is more than a gift – it's a way to help makers keep doing what they love, pain-free. It includes compression gloves crafted with input from a certified hand therapist to support comfort and mobility, Nature's Willow Pain Relief Cream and Tooktake reminder labels to make daily routines easier. Crochet kits have been all the rage lately and help make crafting easy. These handy kits from The Woobles allow you to create adorable stuffed crochet creatures, from classic characters like Snoopy to the more trendy Axolotl. Not only does the brand promise you'll master some of crochet's most common techniques, but you'll also learn the chain stitch and slip stitch. Don't forget to pick up some colorful stitch markers! They help novice crafters keep track of their progress in complex patterns. This stylish and practical pin cushion set with a magnetic holder can be a delightful yet useful addition to a sewing kit. The magnetic holder conveniently keeps pins organized and easily accessible during sewing projects, while the pin cushion adds a touch of charm. If you want to go the extra yard, pick up this colorful sewing kit holder to stash all your essentials. We can't forget about quilting enthusiast friends! A rotary cutter allows for smooth, straight cuts, while the self-healing PVC cutting mat protects surfaces and extends the blade's life. Together, they make cutting fabric more efficient and enjoyable. This kit has it all! You might also consider this Gypsy Quilter Gypsy Gripper that helps them keep it in place while they work. Help them keep their sewing needles organized with this beautiful and functional paisley magnetic needle case. It's compact for storage and ensures that every needle has its place and is easy to find. If you really want to get the whole kit and kaboodle, this Singer set has the sewing needles and thread neatly stored in its own organizer for less than $30. This set of 20 ergonomic crochet hooks in various sizes makes crocheting more comfortable and enjoyable. The hooks reduce hand fatigue, allowing crafters to work on their projects for more extended periods. This set has soft-grip handles and a range of sizes to accommodate different yarn weights in a stylish case. Or up the ante with this 73-piece crocheter starter kit that has the hooks plus everything else you need to begin crocheting and an adorable tote bag to store it in. This curated selection of fabrics in various prints can spark creativity for sewing projects and they make a great gift at less than $20. These pre-cut bundles are particularly popular among quilters, offering a variety of patterns that coordinate beautifully for a cohesive project. If they prefer solids over prints, there's a similar set available, or you can just grab both so they have plenty of options! For more deals, visit A set of interchangeable knitting needles offers versatility and convenience for various projects. This set includes needle tips and cables of different sizes, allowing knitters to customize their tools for specific patterns, plus yarn, accessories and a stylish case to store it in – all for less than $30. Get them started with this beginner's kit for knitting socks, with step-by-step instructions, yarn and everything you need to make two pairs. Original price: $199 This portable rolling organizer has 15 pull-out drawers for storing tools, threads and other supplies to keep everything tidy and within reach, ensuring every crafting item has a designated spot. This one moves easily without damaging floors and has colorful drawers that act as both an accent piece for your home and so you can easily color code your supplies. This durable tackle-box style organizer is an excellent choice if they prefer something more compact.
The Independent
20-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
From an Aztez god to Minecraft star. Why does Mexico love the axolotl so much?
Legend has it the axolotl was not always an amphibian. Long before it became Mexico 's most beloved salamander and efforts to prevent its extinction flourished, it was a sneaky god. 'It's an interesting little animal,' said Yanet Cruz, head of the Chinampaxóchitl Museum in Mexico City. Its exhibitions focus on axolotl and chinampas, the pre-Hispanic agricultural systems resembling floating gardens that still function in Xochimilco, a neighborhood on Mexico City's outskirts famed for its canals. 'Despite there being many varieties, the axolotl from the area is a symbol of identity for the native people,' said Cruz, who participated in activities hosted at the museum to celebrate 'Axolotl Day' in early February. While there are no official estimates of the current axolotl population, the species Ambystoma mexicanum — endemic of central Mexico— has been catalogued as 'critically endangered' by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species since 2019. And though biologists, historians and officials have led efforts to save the species and its habitat from extinction, a parallel, unexpected preservation phenomenon has emerged. Axolotl attracted international attention after Minecraft added them to its game in 2021 and Mexicans went crazy about them that same year, following the Central Bank's initiative to print it on the 50-peso bill. 'That's when the 'axolotlmania' thrived,' Cruz said. All over Mexico, the peculiar, dragon-like amphibian can be spotted in murals, crafts and socks. Selected bakeries have caused a sensation with its axolotl-like bites. Even a local brewery — 'Ajolote' in Spanish — took its name from the salamander to honor Mexican traditions. Before the Spaniards conquered Mexico-Tenochtitlan in the 16th century, axolotl may not have had archeological representations as did Tláloc — god of rain in the Aztec worldview — or Coyolxauhqui — its lunar goddess — but it did appear in ancient Mesoamerican documents. In the Nahua myth of the Fifth Sun, pre-Hispanic god Nanahuatzin threw himself into a fire, reemerged as the sun and commanded fellow gods to replicate his sacrifice to bring movement to the world. All complied but Xólotl, a deity associated with the evening star, who fled. 'He was hunted down and killed,' said Arturo Montero, archeologist of the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas. 'And from his death came a creature: axolotl.' According to Montero, the myth implies that, after a god's passing, its essence gets imprisoned in a mundane creature, subject to the cycles of life and death. Axolotl then carries within itself the Xolotl deity, and when the animal dies and its divine substance transits to the underworld, it later resurfaces to the earth and a new axolotl is born. 'Axolotl is the twin of maize, agave and water,' Montero said. Current fascination toward axolotl and its rise to sacred status in pre-Hispanic times is hardly a coincidence. It was most likely sparked by its exceptional biological features, Montero said. Through the glass of a fish tank, where academic institutions preserve them and hatcheries put them up for sale, axolotl are hard to spot. Their skin is usually dark to mimic stones — though an albino, pinkish variety can be bred — and they can stay still for hours, buried in the muddy ground of their natural habitats or barely moving at the bottom of their tanks in captivity. Aside from their lungs, they breathe through their gills and skin, which allows them to adapt to its aquatic environment. And they can regenerate parts of its heart, spinal cord and brain. 'This species is quite peculiar,' said biologist Arturo Vergara, who supervises axolotl preservation efforts in various institutions and cares after specimens for sale at a hatchery in Mexico City. Depending on the species, color and size, Axolotl's prices at Ambystomania — where Vergara works — start at 200 pesos ($10 US). Specimens are available for sale when they reach four inches in length and are easy pets to look after, Vergara said. 'While they regularly have a 15-years life span (in captivity), we've had animals that have lived up to 20,' he added. 'They are very long-lived, though in their natural habitat they probably wouldn't last more than three or four years.' The species on display at the museum — one of 17 known varieties in Mexico — is endemic to lakes and canals that are currently polluted. A healthy population of axolotl would likely struggle to feed or reproduce. 'Just imagine the bottom of a canal in areas like Xochimilco, Tlahuac, Chalco, where there's an enormous quantity of microbes,' Vergara said. Under ideal conditions, an axolotl could heal itself from snake or heron biting and survive the dry season buried in the mud. But a proper aquatic environment is needed for that to happen. 'Efforts to preserve axolotl go hand in hand with preserving the chinampas,' Cruz said at the museum, next to a display featuring salamander-shaped dolls. 'We work closely with the community to convince them that this is an important space.' Chinampas are not only where axolotl lay its eggs, but areas where pre-Hispanic communities grew maize, chili, beans and zucchini, and some of Xochimilco's current population grow vegetables despite environmental threats. 'Many chinampas are dry and don't produce food anymore,' Cruz said. 'And where some chinampas used to be, one can now see soccer camps.' For her, like for Vergara, preserving axolotl is not an end, but a means for saving the place where the amphibian came to be. 'This great system (chinampas) is all that's left from the lake city of Mexico-Tenochtitlan, so I always tell our visitors that Xochimilco is a living archeological zone,' Cruz said. 'If we, as citizens, don't take care of what's ours, it will be lost.'
The Hill
20-02-2025
- General
- The Hill
Ancient deity, pet and endangered species. Why is axolotl Mexico's most beloved amphibian?
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Legend has it the axolotl was not always an amphibian. Long before it became Mexico's most beloved salamander and efforts to prevent its extinction flourished, it was a sneaky god. 'It's an interesting little animal,' said Yanet Cruz, head of the Chinampaxóchitl Museum in Mexico City. Its exhibitions focus on axolotl and chinampas, the pre-Hispanic agricultural systems resembling floating gardens that still function in Xochimilco, a neighborhood on Mexico City's outskirts famed for its canals. 'Despite there being many varieties, the axolotl from the area is a symbol of identity for the native people,' said Cruz, who participated in activities hosted at the museum to celebrate 'Axolotl Day' in early February. While there are no official estimates of the current axolotl population, the species Ambystoma mexicanum — endemic of central Mexico— has been catalogued as 'critically endangered' by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species since 2019. And though biologists, historians and officials have led efforts to save the species and its habitat from extinction, a parallel, unexpected preservation phenomenon has emerged. Axolotl attracted international attention after Minecraft added them to its game in 2021 and Mexicans went crazy about them that same year, following the Central Bank's initiative to print it on the 50-peso bill. 'That's when the 'axolotlmania' thrived,' Cruz said. All over Mexico, the peculiar, dragon-like amphibian can be spotted in murals, crafts and socks. Selected bakeries have caused a sensation with its axolotl-like bites. Even a local brewery — 'Ajolote' in Spanish — took its name from the salamander to honor Mexican traditions. Before the Spaniards conquered Mexico-Tenochtitlan in the 16th century, axolotl may not have had archeological representations as did Tláloc — god of rain in the Aztec worldview — or Coyolxauhqui — its lunar goddess — but it did appear in ancient Mesoamerican documents. In the Nahua myth of the Fifth Sun, pre-Hispanic god Nanahuatzin threw himself into a fire, reemerged as the sun and commanded fellow gods to replicate his sacrifice to bring movement to the world. All complied but Xólotl, a deity associated with the evening star, who fled. 'He was hunted down and killed,' said Arturo Montero, archeologist of the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas. 'And from his death came a creature: axolotl.' According to Montero, the myth implies that, after a god's passing, its essence gets imprisoned in a mundane creature, subject to the cycles of life and death. Axolotl then carries within itself the Xolotl deity, and when the animal dies and its divine substance transits to the underworld, it later resurfaces to the earth and a new axolotl is born. 'Axolotl is the twin of maize, agave and water,' Montero said. Current fascination toward axolotl and its rise to sacred status in pre-Hispanic times is hardly a coincidence. It was most likely sparked by its exceptional biological features, Montero said. Through the glass of a fish tank, where academic institutions preserve them and hatcheries put them up for sale, axolotl are hard to spot. Their skin is usually dark to mimic stones — though an albino, pinkish variety can be bred — and they can stay still for hours, buried in the muddy ground of their natural habitats or barely moving at the bottom of their tanks in captivity. Aside from their lungs, they breathe through their gills and skin, which allows them to adapt to its aquatic environment. And they can regenerate parts of its heart, spinal cord and brain. 'This species is quite peculiar,' said biologist Arturo Vergara, who supervises axolotl preservation efforts in various institutions and cares after specimens for sale at a hatchery in Mexico City. Depending on the species, color and size, Axolotl's prices at Ambystomania — where Vergara works — start at 200 pesos ($10 US). Specimens are available for sale when they reach four inches in length and are easy pets to look after, Vergara said. 'While they regularly have a 15-years life span (in captivity), we've had animals that have lived up to 20,' he added. 'They are very long-lived, though in their natural habitat they probably wouldn't last more than three or four years.' The species on display at the museum — one of 17 known varieties in Mexico — is endemic to lakes and canals that are currently polluted. A healthy population of axolotl would likely struggle to feed or reproduce. 'Just imagine the bottom of a canal in areas like Xochimilco, Tlahuac, Chalco, where there's an enormous quantity of microbes,' Vergara said. Under ideal conditions, an axolotl could heal itself from snake or heron biting and survive the dry season buried in the mud. But a proper aquatic environment is needed for that to happen. 'Efforts to preserve axolotl go hand in hand with preserving the chinampas,' Cruz said at the museum, next to a display featuring salamander-shaped dolls. 'We work closely with the community to convince them that this is an important space.' Chinampas are not only where axolotl lay its eggs, but areas where pre-Hispanic communities grew maize, chili, beans and zucchini, and some of Xochimilco's current population grow vegetables despite environmental threats. 'Many chinampas are dry and don't produce food anymore,' Cruz said. 'And where some chinampas used to be, one can now see soccer camps.' For her, like for Vergara, preserving axolotl is not an end, but a means for saving the place where the amphibian came to be. 'This great system (chinampas) is all that's left from the lake city of Mexico-Tenochtitlan, so I always tell our visitors that Xochimilco is a living archeological zone,' Cruz said. 'If we, as citizens, don't take care of what's ours, it will be lost.'
Associated Press
20-02-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Ancient deity, pet and endangered species. Why is axolotl Mexico's most beloved amphibian?
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Legend has it the axolotl was not always an amphibian. Long before it became Mexico's most beloved salamander and efforts to prevent its extinction flourished, it was a sneaky god. 'It's an interesting little animal,' said Yanet Cruz, head of the Chinampaxóchitl Museum in Mexico City. Its exhibitions focus on axolotl and chinampas, the pre-Hispanic agricultural systems resembling floating gardens that still function in Xochimilco, a neighborhood on Mexico City's outskirts famed for its canals. 'Despite there being many varieties, the axolotl from the area is a symbol of identity for the native people,' said Cruz, who participated in activities hosted at the museum to celebrate 'Axolotl Day' in early February. While there are no official estimates of the current axolotl population, the species Ambystoma mexicanum — endemic of central Mexico— has been catalogued as 'critically endangered' by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species since 2019. And though biologists, historians and officials have led efforts to save the species and its habitat from extinction, a parallel, unexpected preservation phenomenon has emerged. Axolotl attracted international attention after Minecraft added them to its game in 2021 and Mexicans went crazy about them that same year, following the Central Bank's initiative to print it on the 50-peso bill. 'That's when the 'axolotlmania' thrived,' Cruz said. All over Mexico, the peculiar, dragon-like amphibian can be spotted in murals, crafts and socks. Selected bakeries have caused a sensation with its axolotl-like bites. Even a local brewery — 'Ajolote' in Spanish — took its name from the salamander to honor Mexican traditions. Before the Spaniards conquered Mexico-Tenochtitlan in the 16th century, axolotl may not have had archeological representations as did Tláloc — god of rain in the Aztec worldview — or Coyolxauhqui — its lunar goddess — but it did appear in ancient Mesoamerican documents. In the Nahua myth of the Fifth Sun, pre-Hispanic god Nanahuatzin threw himself into a fire, reemerged as the sun and commanded fellow gods to replicate his sacrifice to bring movement to the world. All complied but Xólotl, a deity associated with the evening star, who fled. 'He was hunted down and killed,' said Arturo Montero, archeologist of the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas. 'And from his death came a creature: axolotl.' According to Montero, the myth implies that, after a god's passing, its essence gets imprisoned in a mundane creature, subject to the cycles of life and death. Axolotl then carries within itself the Xolotl deity, and when the animal dies and its divine substance transits to the underworld, it later resurfaces to the earth and a new axolotl is born. 'Axolotl is the twin of maize, agave and water,' Montero said. Current fascination toward axolotl and its rise to sacred status in pre-Hispanic times is hardly a coincidence. It was most likely sparked by its exceptional biological features, Montero said. Through the glass of a fish tank, where academic institutions preserve them and hatcheries put them up for sale, axolotl are hard to spot. Their skin is usually dark to mimic stones — though an albino, pinkish variety can be bred — and they can stay still for hours, buried in the muddy ground of their natural habitats or barely moving at the bottom of their tanks in captivity. Aside from their lungs, they breathe through their gills and skin, which allows them to adapt to its aquatic environment. And they can regenerate parts of its heart, spinal cord and brain. 'This species is quite peculiar,' said biologist Arturo Vergara, who supervises axolotl preservation efforts in various institutions and cares after specimens for sale at a hatchery in Mexico City. Depending on the species, color and size, Axolotl's prices at Ambystomania — where Vergara works — start at 200 pesos ($10 US). Specimens are available for sale when they reach four inches in length and are easy pets to look after, Vergara said. 'While they regularly have a 15-years life span (in captivity), we've had animals that have lived up to 20,' he added. 'They are very long-lived, though in their natural habitat they probably wouldn't last more than three or four years.' The species on display at the museum — one of 17 known varieties in Mexico — is endemic to lakes and canals that are currently polluted. A healthy population of axolotl would likely struggle to feed or reproduce. 'Just imagine the bottom of a canal in areas like Xochimilco, Tlahuac, Chalco, where there's an enormous quantity of microbes,' Vergara said. Under ideal conditions, an axolotl could heal itself from snake or heron biting and survive the dry season buried in the mud. But a proper aquatic environment is needed for that to happen. 'Efforts to preserve axolotl go hand in hand with preserving the chinampas,' Cruz said at the museum, next to a display featuring salamander-shaped dolls. 'We work closely with the community to convince them that this is an important space.' Chinampas are not only where axolotl lay its eggs, but areas where pre-Hispanic communities grew maize, chili, beans and zucchini, and some of Xochimilco's current population grow vegetables despite environmental threats. 'Many chinampas are dry and don't produce food anymore,' Cruz said. 'And where some chinampas used to be, one can now see soccer camps.' For her, like for Vergara, preserving axolotl is not an end, but a means for saving the place where the amphibian came to be. 'This great system (chinampas) is all that's left from the lake city of Mexico-Tenochtitlan, so I always tell our visitors that Xochimilco is a living archeological zone,' Cruz said. 'If we, as citizens, don't take care of what's ours, it will be lost.'
