Enjoy

*** FREE SHIPPING ***

(First Class Ground Advantage - U.S. Only)

 

July 2018

Monday Twitter Tree - Artisan Handmade - July 30, 2018

 

 

Please share you tweets and links on the host blog:  CHRISTIE COTTAGE

 

 

 

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.”

It's an Artisan Handmade Three for Thursday - Polymer Clay

 

 

I think there is something very special about handmade work.  You can appreciate the thought, detail and time that have been invested into creating something amazing, whether it is great or small.  In my opinion, handmade goods are accessible works of art. 

Tami Gagne

 


 

What an amazing quote . . . and one I agree with 100%.  There is always something very special about a handmade item since part of the artist’s heart and soul goes into each piece created.  You will definitely see what I mean when you look at the work of the artist’s featured today. Not that I planned it this way - it just happened - but the the three artists included in this week’s Three for Thursday blog are all polymer clay artists (who also work in other mediums), creating such amazing and diverse art.  The artist’s are: Pati Bannister of patibannister; Julie Cleveland of Blue Morning Expressions; and Susana Paredes of EarthExpressions. I have purchased from all three of these polymer clay artists and can guarantee that their work is superb. 

Monday Twitter Tree - Artisan Handmade - July 16, 2018

 

 

Please share your tweets and links with the host blog:  CHRISTIE COTTAGE
 
 
 

It's an Artisan Handmade Christmas in July!

 

 

 

I always thought Christmas in July was a very modern “holiday,” a marketing ploy since there are no holidays between July 4 and Labor Day (in the U.S.).  But much to my amazement, the first mention of Christmas in July was in Werther, an 1892 French opera with libretto by Édouard Blau, Paul Milliet, and Georges Hartmann.  In the opera, a group of children rehearse a Christmas song in July, to which a character responds: "When you sing Christmas in July, you rush the season."

First in the Shop - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade

 

 

I always enjoy browsing through the handmade shops of artist friends.  So much talent and such creativity! This week’s Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade features the first item in each shop (as of when this blog was being worked on) featured here:  First In the Shop. Oftentimes the first item is the newest - sometimes it’s not. Either way, the items are all wonderful and each will fill that need for a gift perfectly.  

 

Remember:  SUPPORT INDEPENDENT, HANDMADE ARTISTS

 

Monday Twitter Tree - Artisan Handmade - July 9, 2018

 

 

 

Please share your tweets and links with the home blog:  CHRISTIE COTTAGE