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Christmas in July 2024 - Artisan Handmade Gifts - Week 2

Posted July 4, 2024

 

 

Christmas seems to arrive earlier and earlier each and every year.  Because of this, it’s never too early to start shopping for those perfect holiday gifts for a loved one!   Believe it or not, the jolly man in red and his reindeer show up in a little over 6 months - actually 173 days (from when this blog was posted) according to the ever ticking CHRISTMAS CLOCK.  


Christmas in July has become a big thing in stores on line stores and all over social media, so I decided to host one here on my Shadow Dog Designs blog.  I asked artist friends to share three items - one that is “Christmasy” (in design or colors, etc.) and two others that don’t have to be.  Each week, one item will be showcased in a new blog, this being the first blog featuring a Christmasy item from each artist.  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 artisans featured for even more wonderful creations that are handmade / designed from the heart.  Hopefully one or more items featured here, on the next two blogs or in the artisans’ shops will make it into your shopping basket.  Buy for a loved one . . . and treat yourself!   Remember this year:  SHOP SMALL and SHOP HANDMADE!

 

 

 

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» Tagged: bell earrings, caladiums, Christmas, Christmas earrings, Christmas gift tags, Christmas gifts, Christmas gifts for her, Christmas gifts for women, Christmas in July, Christmas jewelry, Christmas tree earrings, Flower Power, gaillardia, green, handmade, handmade bracelet, handmade Christmas earrings, handmade Christmas gifts, handmade earrings, holidays, lampwork beads, lampwork flower beads, let it snow, note cards, photography, poinsettias, red, red coral pendant, reindeer earrings, Rudolph, snowmen, snowmen ornaments, Swarovski crystal earrings, Swarovski crystals, Swarovski earrings, throw pillow, tote bag, vintage-style tags, weekender bag

Hot Fun Under the Summer Sun - Artisan Handmade Gifts - 2024

Posted June 6, 2024

 

 

The official start of summer will soon be here.  It takes place here in El Paso on June 20 at 2:50 p.m,  Officially June 20 will have 12 hours, 8 minutes and 59 seconds of sunlight, about 4 hours and 9 minutes longer than on the shortest day in December.  To celebrate the hot, hot summer days, I asked artist friends to share two items that represent “hot summer fun” - something with hot colors, a sun, beach or tropical theme,  sunflowers and the like.  Some items shared are more on the blazing summer side and some represent a more mellow, cool summer.  However, ALL are artisan handmade / designed and many are one of a kind pieces.  So if something catches your eye on this Hot Fun Under the Summer Sun - Artisan Handmade Gifts - 2024 blog, please click the photo or the link below the photo for more information and pictures of the individual item.  Hopefully one or more will make it into your shopping basket - treat yourself or someone else to a unique artisan beauty!  And remember: SHOP SMALL and SHOP HANDMADE!  Small artisan shops will THANK YOU!

 

 

 

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» Tagged: artisan, artisan handmade, baby gift, beach ball bag, beach gifts, beach path, blog, blue, butterfly wing earrings, cat pillow, ceramic flower earrings, crochet, crochet pattern, Czech glass earrings, embossed necklace, enamel, Florida, Flower Power, flowers, gaillardia, handmade, handmade earrings, handmade gifts, handmade gifts for summer, handmade jewelry, handmade necklaces, hibiscus, home decor, hot fun, I feel like a beach, jewelry sets, Key West lighthouse, keychain, lampwork beads, lampwork earrings, lawyer, note cards, ocean, orange, orange sunshine necklace, photography, red, resting beach face, sea glass jewelry, sea shells, seed bead bracelet, Shadow Dancers, Shadow Dog Designs, ShadowDogDesigns, summer, summer sun, sun earrings, sundress, sunflower earrings, sunflower necklace, Swarovski crystals, t-shirt, the beach is calling, tote bag, tropical, vintage, watercolor print, weekender tote, wood resin earrings, yellow, yellow amber

Gorgeous Gifts - Artisan Handmade for Valentines Day!

Posted January 7, 2024

 

 

Valentine’s Day, February 14, will be here before we know it.  When you walk into most stores shortly after Christmas (or even sometimes before!), hearts, cupids and other items in pink and red will assail you from every direction.  Flowers, candy and gifts are exchanged between loved ones throughout the United States and in many other countries around the world . . . all in the name of St. Valentine.  Although the exact history of St. Valentine (or Valentinus) is shrouded in mystery (there are actually three St. Valentines recognized by the Catholic Church to consider!), February has long been celebrated as a month of romance.  Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both ancient Roman (Lupercalia) and Christian traditions, with a few other influences thrown in for good measure. 

 

This year for Valentine's Day, don't think abour buying mass produced from large companies.  Think, instead of supporting a small, indie business, people who actually make or design the items themselves.  Scroll down and you'll see 26 items, many are one of a kind and handmade from the heart!  Any of items highlighted will make a wonderful gift for a loved one.  Remember:  SHOP SMALL and support a small indie artist!

 

 

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» Tagged: amethyst purple, black onyx, blue hearts, boho, boho earrings, bracelet, ceramic, chocolate, coffee beans, coffee mug, crochet pattern, crystals, druzy quartz, enamel earrings, fleurette mum, flower ornament, flowers, gaillardia, gemstones, gifts, gnomes, hand painted, handmade, handmade bracelet, handmade gifts, handmade necklace, handmade Valentines gifts, heart earrings, heart leggings, heart pendant, heart washcloths, hearts, horse, horses with hearts, hoses, howlite, jasper pendant, kryptonite, labels, lampwork, lampwork pendant, leggings, love, party favors, personalized, photography, pink, pink hearts, red, red hearts, rhodochrosite, rose, stickers, Swarovski crystals, sweatshirt, tote bag, Valentine gifts for her, Valentine's Day gifts, Valentines gifts, Valentines gifts for women, Valentines tags, vintage, wash cloth, watercolor, wire wrapped bracelet, wood ornament, yellow, you and me

Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - 2022 - Week 2

Posted September 27, 2022

 

 

Week 2 of the Countdown to Christmas 2022 has already come and gone . . . and unique artisan handmade / designed items have been left in its wake.  According to the ever ticking Christmas clock, there are only 88 days until Christmas is here . . . once again!   With the rapidly approaching gift giving season in mind, Julie and her wonderful sidekick, Harry, of Blue Morning Expressions are hosting a twelve-week Countdown to Christmas 2022 of artisan handmade items on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog in their Shopify shop.  The twelve week time period was chosen to correspond with the ubiquitous Christmas carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas''. This week, there were 38 shares by 13 artists with a wide range of gift ideas: jewelry of all sorts, lampwork beads, party stickers and tags, hand crocheted baby gifts, holiday keychains, photographic art and digital art.  If you need a perfect start to your Christmas shopping, the Countdown is the place to do just that!  An excellent motto to follow is: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN.  And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE to support small indie businesses!

 

 

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» Tagged: autumn, baby gift, baby hat, baby Mary Janes, bird, Blue Morning Expressions, BlueMorningExpressions, Christmas, Christmas earrings, Christmas gifts, Christmas keychain, Christmas ornament, Christmas tree, crochet, earrings, exotic wood pendant, flower, gaillardia, gifts, guitar pick earrings, Halloween, handmade Christmas gifts, handmade earrings, handmade jewelry, handmade necklaces, Happy Holidays, holiday gifts handmade holiday gifts, home decor, hoodie, Jack O'Lantern, jewelry, key chain, keyring, lampwork, lampwork glass beads, leaf. clock, music earrings, nature, necklaces, ornament, party favors, pendant, pumpkins hummingbird, red, red bird, Shadow Dog Designs, ShadowDogDesigns, silver, snowman earrings, snowmen, Swarovski crystals, thankful, Thanksgiving, throw pillow, wood pendant

Flower Gardening in the Desert

Posted June 25, 2019

 

 

My husband and I have been living in our cosy little house in the Desert Southwest for 7 ½ years now, 5 years as renters and 2 ½  years as owners. As I always say, “The house is OK, but it’s the yard I love.” At the time we moved, we had three large dogs so needed a larger backyard, unlike most of the postage stamp size yards that seem so prevalent now.  We have only one large dog now and the backyard is his kingdom.

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» Tagged: bees, buddlei, butterflies, butterfly bush, desert, flower gardening, flowers, gaillardia, gardening, gaura, Grandpa Otts, hummingbirds, kniphofia, lantana, mango popsicle, morning glories, oleanders, plants, pollinators, salvia, sunflowers, water wise, whiling butterflies
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