About By The Nook
I was halfway up the stairs with a pile of laundry when the text came in.
My friend's mom had passed. Suddenly. No warning.
She wasn't just my friend's mom. She was someone I loved—the kind of person whose voice filled a room. Funny in a way that caught you off guard. After all these years, I can still hear her. That's how you know someone mattered.
I stood there, frozen. Holding laundry. Holding heartbreak.
My friend was a working mom with young kids. Now she had to grieve while still functioning. Still making lunches. Still showing up. That sounds impossible to me.
No one could fix this. But maybe I could give her something that helped her feel it.
So I gathered a few things: A woven blanket with one her mom's "all time" phrases—No vale, nada que ver! A journal for the letters she hadn't written yet. And a note that said: Create your space.
She wrapped herself in all of it—and for a moment, had a place to fall apart.
A soft place to land. A corner that asks nothing but gives everything. A way to hold feeling when words fall short. A nook.
That's why I started By The Nook. Three years ago, on Etsy.
I make story carriers—woven blankets that hold the illustrations, words, and memories that matter.
Maybe you need to tell someone they matter—a grandmother who has everything, a book lover, a friend who needs comfort, a daughter leaving home. Maybe you're celebrating something—a milestone, a new beginning, a chapter worth marking. Or maybe this one's just for you—one who decorates with intention and personality.
If you're here now, you're at the beginning of a new chapter—where By The Nook stands on its own. I'm glad you found us.
Thank you for stepping in. I hope you'll stay.
—Daniela
I was born and raised in Venezuela, and moved to the U.S. in my late twenties — part grad school, part escape from the political madness back home. I didn't expect to meet the love of my life in Pittsburgh… but here we are.
We're raising three amazing kids, surrounded by family and good friends. We love it here — the people, the city, the schools, the chaos of sports schedules.
Still, a big part of my heart lives elsewhere.
I miss my parents deeply. They come as often as they can — but it's never quite enough. I miss my siblings, my nieces and nephews, my extended family and friends. All of it. The flavor, the warmth, the rhythm of home.
Most days, you'll find me at one of my kids' games — basketball, gymnastics, baseball, for the most part. I try to go to everything. It fills my days, my heart, and my social life.
I'm a homebody at heart. I love spending the whole day at home — working, crafting, or just taking care of our space. I wake up early just to be wrapped in a blanket, sipping good coffee, admiring the view from my couch — or reading, drawing on my iPad, or falling down a Pinterest rabbit hole.
There's always a good chance I'm rewatching Ted Lasso or Schitt's Creek at some point in the day. I've watched those shows more times than I care to admit — some might say I'm a bit obsessed.
If we ever meet, you'll hear my accent right away. It's loud and proud — like the best parts of where I'm from. So to you, my visitor, I say: Mucho gusto!
"The blanket itself is fabulous and I'm already getting so many compliments! But Daniela the seller was extraordinary. The item isn't even available in England but Daniela went out of her way to help me get it anyway. I'm so happy with my purchase and hoping to keep it as a family heirloom for years to come."
- Sophie
On Etsy May 2025
"Daniela expertly crafted this for my friend's 40th birthday and I couldn't be more pleased. It's cozy and larger than I expected— perfect for her to cuddle with her 4 kids under while reading aloud to them!"
- Kayla
On Etsy Jan 2025
"I couldn't be happier with my custom blanket! The seller was incredibly responsive from the start and went above and beyond to make sure everything was just the way I wanted. The final product exceeded my expectations — it's beautifully made, high-quality, and exactly what I envisioned."
- Christine
On Etsy May 2025