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Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Week 10

 

 

 

Here we are at Week 10 of the Countdown to Christmas.  Only two more weeks left! The Countdown is a chance for mostly handmade artists to share three of their beautiful gift ideas and for all to browse and, hopefully, purchase.  The ever ticking Christmas clock doesn’t let up - according to it, Santa will start his journey in only 27 days!  Need a perfect start to your Christmas shopping? The Countdown is the place to do just that!  A good motto to follow: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN! And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE!

 

New Artisan Handmade Earrings and Necklaces by Shadow Dog Designs

 

 

Autumn has finally made its way here to the Borderlands.  Am enjoying the cool wind blowing through the window as I sit and type this or as I create new necklaces and earrings. It’s wonderful to be able to turn off the AC, open the windows and screen doors and air out the house.  Better sleeping weather, too. Autumn is the best!

 

Speaking of Autumn, the handmade show season continues.  My next is the Western Hills Fall Bazaar, a 41 year tradition.  It’s a new show for me. Am trying it out because other artist friends kept saying how good it was.  LOTS of foot traffic, I’ve been told. Have LOTS of new earrings to take and some new necklaces. We’ll see.

 

Because of shows, I haven’t listed a huge amount of new items in my Shadow Dog Designs jewelry shop since the last time I shared, almost a month ago.  But here are the handmade beauties:  six pairs of new earrings, two new necklaces and two oldies but goodies to make the count an even ten.  Enjoy!

Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Week 1

 

 

WOW, wasn't last Christmas like . . . last month? Yikes!  According to the Christmas clock, there is only 90 days, 22 hours, 30 minutes and those quickly descending seconds (as of 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning) until Christmas is here . . . once again!  And it's even closer by the time your read this "Make it an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Week 1" blog post!

Need Some Love - Artisan Handmade

 

 

 

There is something ALL handmade artists go through:  you design a beautiful piece of jewelry, or create a fabulous painting, or crochet an intricate piece of table art, or . . . the list goes on and on.  You have put so much of yourself into the piece, you love it and you are sure it will sell very, very quickly. Unfortunately, there it still sits in your shop . . . and you have no idea why!

Necklaces and Earrings - New Jewelry from Shadow Dog Designs

 

 

That's the thing with handmade items. They still have the person's mark on them, and when you hold them, you feel less alone.

 

Aimee Bender, The Color Master: Stories


 

I love the idea that when you hold a handmade item, that you feel less alone.  I hope that everyone who wears a piece of my handmade jewelry feels that way! The one of a kind jewelry definitely has my “mark” with many good wishes and peaceful intentions added.

School Daze - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade

 

 

When I drive the back way to Spa for Paws, where Seamus goes to romp and play with his doggie friends three days a week, we pass by an elementary school.  Today I noticed on the school sign that the first day of school is August 13, with teachers back at school August 3!!! What??? No wonder I have been bombarded with “back to school” brochures and coupons in the mail. I imagine that there a huge amount of ads on regular TV, but since I only watch PBS, NetFlix or the like, I don’t see them.  Thank heavens for that! But it sure seems awfully early for school to begin. Where has the summer gone???

 

The school sign prompted the theme for today’s Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade, titled School Daze.  The artisan handmade items chosen will be welcome “just because” first day of school gifts, to help counteract the daze of school starting up again.  The meaningful, unique items chosen span a wide range of ages, from kindergarten/first grade through high school. I hope one of the beauties goes to school that first day!

New Handmade Jewelry from Shadow Dog Designs - Necklaces and Earrings

 

 

This quote by Rebekah Joy Plett pretty much says it all when you are a handmade artist:

 

 

“When you buy something from an artist you are buying more than an object. You’re buying hundreds of hours of errors and experimentation. You’re buying years of frustration and moments of pure joy. You’re not buying just one thing, you are buying a piece of a heart, a piece of a soul… a piece of someone else’s life.”

Summer Fun - Artisan Handmade

 

 

Even though summer has not officially arrived - the Summer Solstice will show up on Thursday, June 21 at 4:07 a.m. Mountain Time here in the Borderlands - thermometers tell another story.  June is the month for triple digits here with a high UV index. Then the temperatures cool down when the monsoon season arrives with its amazing lightning displays and much needed rain.  Despite the June heat, we go about our daily lives enjoying the out of doors, albeit in the mornings and evenings mostly: gardening, cooking on the grill, hiking, star gazing, birding, etc. With an altitude of 3740’, we still have gloriously cool mornings and evenings to enjoy being outside.

Colors to Love! - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade

 

 

Most artists absolutely love a wide range of colors - that’s part of being an artist, right?  Vibrant colors and subdued colors, they all have their places in designs. As Wassily Kandinsky, a Russian painter who is credited with painting the first purely abstract works, once said:

 

"Color is a power that directly influences the soul."

 

I totally agree!

Blues, Turquoise and Teals - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade

 

 

 

According to scientific studies, blues, turquoise and teals have been found to be some of the most relaxing colors, both mentally and physically, especially the lighter shades.  Peaceful, calm and gentle, these colors have tremendous power to manage stress. They are very soothing colors that help calm the mind, slow down the heart rate, lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety.  From home decor to clothing to jewelry, the colors are favorites.  

 

Today’s Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade features beautiful items created by handmade artists in the three colors:  blue, turquoise and/or teal. I hope you enjoy these choices . . . and feel a bit more relaxed after looking (and perhaps purchasing)!

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