Enjoy
*** FREE SHIPPING ***
(USPS Ground Advantage - U.S. only)
Blog entry
An Artisan Handmade Christmas - Gift Ideas - Week 6
Posted October 29, 2019
It’s hard to imagine that we’re half-way finished with the twelve week Countdown to Christmas 2019! Yikes, that means Christmas is bearing down on us and will soon be here! According to the ever ticking Christmas clock, there are only 56 days until Jolly Ol’ Santa and his merry band of reindeer arrive once again. Now is the perfect time to start your holiday shopping and the Countdown is the perfect place! Remember this motto: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN! And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE!
» 14 Comments
An Artisan Handmade Christmas - Gift Ideas - Week 4
Posted October 15, 2019
'
Week 4 of the Countdown to Christmas quickly came and went . . . and a wide variety of wonderful artisan handmade items were left in its wake. According to the ever ticking Christmas clock, there is only 70 days until Christmas is here - once again - too early. Now is the perfect time and this is the perfect place to start your holiday shopping. Follow this motto: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN! And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE!
It's an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Week 2
Posted October 1, 2019
Week 2 of the Countdown to Christmas 2019 has come and gone . . . and unique handmade and vintage items have been left in its wake. According to the ever ticking Christmas clock, there is only 84 days, 23 hours, 5 minutes and those quickly descending seconds (as of 12:01 a.m. Tuesday morning) until Christmas is here . . . once again! 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!
Radiant Red - Artisan Handmade Three for Thursday
Posted September 26, 2019
For friends who know me well, they know red is my all time favorite color. Always has been and probably always will be (although fuchsia and turquoise are right up there, too). I love the vibrancy of the color and that, in ancient Egypt, it represented life, health and victory. Yay!
So when I was musing on what the theme of this week’s Three for Thursday blog, I decided RED was it! Three handmade items with red as a main component of the design are featured from three artisans. The three artists are: Charlotte of Covergirlbeads; Jacki of Christie Cottage; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. I hope you enjoy these picks and will visit the artists studios for more handmade beauties.
New Jewelry - Handmade Earrings and Necklaces by Shadow Dog Designs
Posted September 12, 2019
It has been quite a while since I shared new, one of a kind necklace and earrings designs. The autumn show season has started and it seems I’m making new items, setting up at shows, selling at shows and packing up from shows. So my Shadow Dog Designs online shop hasn’t seen a whole lot of new handmade items posted lately - and many that were posted have sold. But I wanted to share the five newest pieces, plus three that are fairly new and one Halloween and one Christmas design. To see more information about individual items, either click on the photograph or the link under the photo - both will take you to the item in the shop. I hope you enjoy looking . . . and maybe buying!
Colors for Autumn - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday
Posted September 5, 2019
Despite the days still being in the mid- to high-90’s here in the Borderlands (unusual here for this time of the year), the last few mornings have had a tinge of autumn in the air. I’m definitely ready for the cooler breezes and being able to leave the windows open. Purple asters will bloom and the cottonwoods will turn a glorious golden yellow. Fall will soon be here (I hope!).
With autumn in mind, I decided to choose handmade beauties in fall colors for this Three for Thursday titles, appropriately enough, Colors for Autumn. The artists today are: Kathy of KatsAllThat; Pamela of MagdaleneKnits; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. I hope you enjoy my autumn inspired picks and will visit the shops of the artists for more wondrous handmade fall elegance.
Affirmation and Inspiration - Artisan Handmade Three for Thursday
Posted August 15, 2019
“More smiling, less worrying. More compassion, less judgment. More blessed, less stressed. More love, less hate.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
In these days which seem filled with words of hate and division, it’s sometimes hard to remember that there is MUCH more good in this world than there is bad. We just have to be aware of it. The smile of a friend or stranger. An unexpected helping hand. A kind word. Being strong in the face of adversity. That’s why I love the quote above . . . and sometimes use it as my mantra while doing some deep breathing to slow down my sometimes very active monkey mind.
Oldies But Definitely Goodies - Unique Artisan Handmade
Posted July 31, 2019
Whenever someone mentions “Oldies But Goodies,” most people think of old songs, vintage cars, antique furniture or, possibly, themselves (after - ahem - a certain age). “Oldies But Goodies” can also refer to items in handmade shops that have been around for longer than we would like. Whenever something is created and then listed in our shops, we always think it will sell right away. But, for whatever reason, the beauty sits there . . . and sits there . . . and sits there some more. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that particular item - not at all! It just hasn’t found that forever person to give it a forever home.
I asked artisan friends to share two items from their shops that they considered “oldies but goodies.” Many of the items are one of a kind creations and would make a perfect gift for a birthday, anniversary, Christmas, or just because . . . I hope something catches your eye and that you visit the shops of the artists below.
Colours by Donovan - Three for Thursday
Posted July 25, 2019
A couple of days ago, while I was picking up some veggies and fruit from our local Whole Foods, I keyed in on a song that was playing in the background - a song I loved waaaaay back when. When I got home, I looked it up on YouTube, played the video and then let the mix of music from the mid-60’s to early 70’s continue playing. Brought back to many happy, and some sad, memories. One of the songs that played was Donovan Leitch’s “Colours,” a song I adored then and still adore now. I get lost in the peaceful lyrics, the lovely simplicity of the folk guitar accompaniment and Donovan's hauntingly beautiful voice. The song was released in 1965 and, 54 years later, is still a classic. I have played it over and over since “rediscovering” it. The lyrics are shared near the end of the post.
Here’s a link to the YouTube video (version without harmonica):
And here’s an incredible live version of the song with Pete Seeger sitting in on banjo:
New Jewelry From Shadow Dog Designs - Handmade Earrings and Necklaces
Posted July 21, 2019
I like for jewelry to tell a story and to be able to tell a story about what I’m wearing. That’s more important to me than a name, brand or label - Nikki Reed
I just love this quote because I love jewelry that tells a story, too. And if you look at the jewelry in my Shadow Dog Designs handmade shop, many, many of the pieces have such interesting stories to tell. Why buy mass produced necklaces and earrings when artisan handmade jewelry, often one of a kind pieces,has GREAT stories to tell!
