Blog entry

Make It a Handmade Christmas 2021 - Week 8

Already, week 8 of the Countdown to Christmas 2021 has come on gone!  It’s hard to believe that there are only four 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 45 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 to support hard working indie artists! 

New Jewelry Handmade by Shadow Dog Designs

This month, I want to share eleven new pieces of jewelry with you, seven pairs of earrings and four necklaces.  All are one of a kind pieces and all are designed and handmade by me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs.  I've somewhat grouped them according to theme, starting off with Halloween and Day of the Dead earrings, since those celebrations will soon be very here.  Then a pair of Christmas tree earrings (the holidays will be here sooner than we think!).  The last seven range anywhere between sweet and petite and fun and funky.  If something catches your eye, be sure to click the photo or the link below the photo to be taken to the item in the shop.  There you can read the specifics and browse more pictures.  I hope you enjoy these newest beauties!  

Perfect for Halloween and Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos celebrations:

Every Flower - Artisan Jewelry by Shadow Dog Designs

EVERY FLOWER IS A SOUL BLOSSOMING IN NATURE

Gerard de Nerval

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I love growing flowers.  Since moving to the Desert Southwest, it has been a long experiment to see what survives and what doesn’t.  Not only does the summer heat make some plants struggle, but we had an unexpected deep freeze this past winter.  But since the monsoon season has arrived early this year with much needed rain (yay!) and cooler temperatures (yay!), my flower beds are thriving.  The zinnias that were grown from seed have just started to bloom - they are an experiment so we’ll see how they do.  Grandpa Otts morning glories and sunflowers are aso blooming, along with the yellow and native lantana (which started back in March) and cheerful moss-rose purslane.  And, of course, the bright fuchsia pink Knockout roses keep chugging right along.  An all-time favorite flower, hollyhocks, are just about bloomed out.  I've been taking photos and hope to share some in a blog later on.  I revel in the beauty of flowers!

Miracle of a Single Flower - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday

If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change. – Siddhartha Gautama Buddha

Flowers are one of my favorite things.  I wander the yard several times each day, visiting all the flowers I’ve planted and feel at peace and happy (even when I see the leafcutter bee has been at work).  The types of flowers are varied.  Knockout roses, verbena, gold columbine, geraniums, hollyhocks, sunflowers, zinnias, larkspur and more have all been planted (some from seed, some from bought plants) and are in various stages of growing / blooming.  I'm also enjoying the mimosa tree which has just started to bloom with it's wispy pink flowers that are visited by countless pollinators and hummingbirds.  And the bottlebrush tree survived the deep freeze we had here this winter, and even though it lost some limbs, there are a few blooms on it!  Flowers are definiey miracles.

So, with all this blooming beauty (or blooms to be anticipated), I decided this week’s Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday would be about flowers.  I’ve chosen three floral items from three handmade artists: notecards, baby items and jewelry.  The artists are:  Roxanne of watercolorsNmore; Pamela of MagdaleneKnits; and, me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs.  I hope you find joy in these picks!