Blog entry

Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Week 10 Favorites - 2024

Wow!  Christmas will be here in only 28 days, less than a month away!  And there are only two more weeks left in the Countdown to Christmas 2024!  The ever ticking Your Christmas Countdown Clock doesn’t let up and keeps ticking down those seconds until Santa and his herd of flying reindeer make a nighttime visit to leave welcome gifts or lumps of coal. Since the holiday gift giving season is lurking just around the corner, Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions are once again hosting a twelve-week Countdown of artisan handmade / designed items on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog.  The Countdown is the place for handmade artists to share three of their beautiful (often one of a kind) creations. This week ten artists shared 30 items, a wide range of wonderful gift ideas:  many styles of jewelry, decorative thimbles, art t-shirts, art prints, keychains, gift card holders, crocheted baby gifts and many other unique items.  Need a perfect start or end to your holiday shopping?  Shop the Countdown to Christmas; browse and purchase that special piece for that special person!  An excellent rule of thumb to follow this holiday season: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN!  And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE to support small, independent artisan shops!

In addition to promoting each handmade item from the Countdown collection to my "Countdown to a Handmade Christmas 2024" Pinterest board and on my Twitter feed, I decided to share one item from each of the artists who participated this week.  Here are my "favorites" picks of the items - hard to chose!  I hope you enjoy these unique items!

Christmas in July 2024 - Artisan Handmade Gifts - Week 3

It’s a bit over halfway through the year and Christmas will be here before we know (just like in years past!).  Because of this, it’s never too early to start shopping for unique holiday gifts for a loved one!  Santa will be clattering around with his herd of reindeer in about 5 ½ months - actually 166 days (from when this blog was posted) according to the ever ticking CHRISTMAS CLOCK.  

Artist friends were asked to participate in a “Christmas in July” promotion, sharing three items - one that was “Christmasy” (in design or colors, etc.) and two others that didn’t have to be.  Last week, Christmas items were showcased in a new blog.  This week the items are a mixture of Christmas and non-Christmas creations.  Since many of these beauties are one of a kind, be sure to shop early (and often) so you don’t miss out.  And please visit the shops of the artists for even more wonderful items that are handmade or designed from the heart.  Hopefully items featured here or in the shops will make it into your shopping basket.  Buy for a loved one . . . and be sure to treat yourself!   Remember:  SHOP SMALL and SHOP HANDMADE!

Make It a Handmade Mothers Day 2024 - Artisan Gifts - Week 9

Watch out!  Mother’s Day will be here very, very soon - in fact, in less than 2 weeks, on Sunday, May 12.  It’s still not too late to order a handmade gift (do it now!) from the beauties shared this week on the Countdown to Mother's Day 2024 Week 9.  The Countdown was hosted again this year by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog.  Hard to believe this is the last week of the Countdown - time sure flies by!  Despite that, 11 handmade artisans shared a total of 33 wonderfully unique items, some of them one of a kind designs. Browse the wide range of eye catching shares for this week, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom, Grandmother, aunties (or yourself!) something that was HANDMADE from the heart!  By shopping small, you'll also support a small indie business (and for that, we are eternally grateful!).  Featured below are my favorites from the Countdown:

Make It a Handmade Mothers Day - Artisan Gifts - Week 4

It's hard to believe that Week 4 of the Countdown to Mother's Day 2024 Week 4 has come . . . and gone so quickly!  We're near the end of March with Easter next Sunday, March 31.  But the Countdown to Mother's Day 2024 doesn't take a break!  The fun Countdown, hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog, is the place where artisans come together and share three of their unique items.  This week 13 artists shared a total of 38 lovely items - each one a perfect gift for Mother’s Day.  Since Mom's day will be here before you know it, this is the perfect time to start thinking about and buying a gift(s) for your Mom, grandmother, aunties and other much loved women.  Be sure to browse all the wonderful handmade / designed shares for Week 4, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy  a unique beauty that was artisan made from the heart.  This year, definitely Make it a Handmade Mother's Day!