Blog entry
Circles of Our Lives - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
Sometimes the most mundane of things in life suddenly captures my imagination. The other day, when I was outside with Seamus, the very handsome Shadow Dog, I started thinking about circles (yes, my brain does shoot off on a tangent sometimes!). You see circles everywhere: most door knobs, most coins, the sun and moon, the pupil of most animal's eyes and the wheel, just to name a few. Most people don't give them a second thought unless you're a mathematician, an architect or an artist. As a gardener and an avid observer of nature, I daily feel the circle of life all around me on a more cosmological scale: day/night, phases of the moon, seasons, life/death. And then I remembered a Wendell Berry poem, called "Circles of Our Lives", which I will share at the end of this post. This led me to do some reading about circles (inquiring minds want to know!) and copious note taking.
Powerful Pink - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
To most people, the color pink is a “sweet” color: charming, playful, cute, feminine, romantic and so on. But in the past few years, it also represents struggles and the need to warrior on. Think of all the pink worn, especially ribbons, signifying breast cancer awareness. And the pink hats, shirts, and other articles of clothing worn by millions during the recent women’s marches. Thinking on this, pink is not just feminine and sweet, a bubblegum / cotton candy color. It has come to signify power, rising up and demanding equal rights.
Easter Perfection! - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
Easter will be here before we know it, on Sunday, April 16. It was a family tradion, a week or so before Easter, that my Mom would take my sister, my brother and me to the local dry goods store to shop for a new Easter outfit to wear to church. My sister and I always ended up with frilly dresses in pastel shades, new white shoes, lace edged socks (sometimes in colors matching our dress), white gloves and a new mantilla or flower headband. My brother, always with not much choices, ended up with khakis, a white shirt and new brown shoes (and sometimes a new plastic dinosaur for this extensive collection). Were we ever Easter styling! Hopefully all photos of us kids decked out in our Easter finery have been lost.
Perfectly Pink for Valentines Day! - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
Last week’s Wonderful Handmade Wednesday blog focused on artisan made creations using the color red. This week the focus is on the color pink. Pink is another color that has deep associations with Valentine’s Day, often paired with the more emotionally intense red on cards and candies and other Valentine’s items. Although both red and pink represent love, the color red represents heat and passion, while the color pink represents romance and charm. Hot pink is used to communicate playfulness, while light pink is used to communicate tenderness. It is the color of universal love, of others and of oneself. It symbolizes friendship, affection, harmony, inner peace, and approachability (which is why I often will wear a pink top when selling my jewelry at an arts festival).
Handmade Valentine's Day Jewelry by Shadow Dog Designs
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, I thought I’d share a range of handmade earrings and two necklaces from my Indiemade shop; any will be perfect for gift giving to a loved one. Some of the jewelry is obviously Valentine’s related. But most can be worn all year long. The last five designs featured are from my line of meaningful dog rescue jewelry. All have hearts and pawprints, perfect for the woman who loves her dog(s), especially if her four footed friend is a rescue. As always, whenever any of the dog rescue jewelry sells, one half (½) of the purchase price is donated to the Humane Society.
If one or more of the pieces catches your eye, be sure to click the live link below the photo for more information and pictures. I hope you enjoy these one of a kind earrings and necklaces:
Valentines Day Gift Ideas! - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it. It is a day that started with pagan roots, associated with the Roman festival, Lupercalia. Celebrated at the ides of February (February 13-15), Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders, Romulus and Remus. Lupercalia survived the initial rise of Christianity but was outlawed around 496 A.D. when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as St. Valentine’s Day. It is not known, however, which of three St. Valentines (all of whom were martyred) Pope Gelasius was honoring. In 1381, Geoffrey Chaucer, a famous English poet, first associated St. Valentine's Day with romance in a poem he wrote in honor of the engagement between Richard II and Anne of Bohemia. The engagement, the mating season of birds, St. Valentine’s Day and true love were all linked . . . and it’s been a day for lovers ever since.
First Class - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
If you want first class handmade beauties, look no father than this post! Each of the items featured below is the first listing in the online stores of Indiemade artist friends. But don't stop at the first . . . browse all the items in each store, many of which are one of a kind pieces. Each handmade selection has more than a bit of the heart and soul of the artist who created the piece. So be sure to click the link below each photo for more handmade delights.
Peacefully Pink - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
Even though the color pink is not a favorite color, I have come to respect it. That came about when I read an article stating that a person can sell more at handmade art shows if they wear a pastel pink colored shirt. In color psychology, light pink is a positive color inspiring warm, comforting thoughts and is a sign of peace and hope. According to the article, when you wore pink, people found you more thoughtful and insightful and you were more trusted. The author, who sold at shows, swore by wearing pink and said her sales definitely increased once she made the change.
Blooming Trees: Pink and White - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
I almost hate to admit it because I know many people are having a hard winter with snow and extreme cold. I almost hate to admit that the weather here has been awesome, short sleeve shirts with a light jacket at night, I almost hate to admit that many trees are blooming, the pears with their snowy white and the peach and cherries with their perfect pink. I do have to admit that this warm weather is not normal for this time of the year and unexpected freezing temperatures could undo the fountain of flowers that the warmth has brought. But I am going to enjoy the warm sun and the beautiful flowering trees while I can!
Love is in the Air! - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade - February 3, 2016
With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, it seems where ever you go these days, "Love is in the Air" with all the massive displays of Valentine's cards, chocolates, stuffed animals and such. Last year the total retail expenditure for Valentine's Day was a whopping $18.9 billion. Yes, that is with a "B" - a record for sales. It was estimated that the average person celebrating February 14 shelled out $142.31. Men spent about $100 more on gifts than women: $190.53 vs. $96.58. Candy, flowers and jewelry are the three most popular gifts. Interestingly, about 20% of people bought a Valentine's gift for their pet!
