Blog entry
Make It a Handmade Christmas 2020 - Week 1
Posted September 22, 2020
WOW, wasn't last Christmas like . . . three months ago? With as strange as the year 2020 has been so far, it’s hard to believe that Christmas is only 93 days away (according to the ever ticking Christmas clock). It’s not too early to start thinking about your Christmas shopping list. A perfect place to start is the 12 week Countdown to Christmas 2020 hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions that is filled with a wide variety of handmade gifts. A good motto to follow: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN! And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE to support small businesses!
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A Mixed Bag - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday
Posted August 13, 2020
This week’s Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday is a mixed bag of fun items, three items from three artists. I checked my thesaurus for synonyms for “mixed bag” and picked out some of my favorites words, some I’ve never seen before : admixture, anthology, collectanea, farrago, gallimaufry, medley, mingle-mangle, potpourri, salmagundi and smorgasbord. What a fun selection of words! And you’ll find this week’s Three for Thursday an equally fun mélange of artisan handmade beauties. The three artists featured are Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions; Jacki of Christie Cottage; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. Enjoy this mixed bag of handmade gifts for a loved one or for yourself.
Awesome Animals - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday
Posted July 30, 2020
Anyone who knows me knows I love animals, always have and always will. No-footed, two-footed, four-footed, six footed or more (except, to tell the truth, female mosquitoes and ticks - uck!). I love animals of all sizes, from huge ones to wee, tiny ones - from blue whales, the largest mammal on earth, to Kitti's hog-nosed bat (or bumblebee bat) the world's smallest mammal at just over 1” long. And I’m always amazed at how animals have evolved to survive. Just think of the Griffon’s vulture which is recorded as the highest flying bird at 37,000 feet to deep sea creatures which live in harsh conditions thousands of feet in the ocean where light doesn’t reach. Amazing!
When I was mulling around what the theme of this week's Three for Thursday blog, I decided on animals. Three animal related items from three handmade artists are featured. The artists are: Linda of VictorianStyleTreasures; Roxanne of watercolorsNmore; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. I hope you enjoy this collection of animal themed items. Be sure to visit the shops to find even more beauties.
Red, White and Blue, Happy 4th of July to You - Artisan Handmade
Posted July 2, 2020
It’s hard to believe that it’s already the first day of July (when I wrote this) with the 4th of July just around the corner. When you mostly are self-isolating, one day looks pretty much like the next. But July 4th will be here this Saturday and I’m looking forward to sitting on the upstairs back porch and watching at least three fireworks shows from the comfort of our own house. Seamus the Moose Dog will sit out there with us - fortunately he is not bothered by the booming noises fireworks can make.
Since the 4th will be here very soon, I wanted to feature three red, white and blue items from three artist friends. The artists are; Charlotte of Covergirlbeads; Pamela of MagdaleneKnits; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. I hope you enjoy this selection of patriotic colored items and will visit the shops (and hopefully purchase) a beauty there.
Summer Flowers - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday
Posted June 4, 2020
Summer will soon be here. Despite the (expected) triple digit heat that has set in here in the Desert Southwest, the water wise flowers I planted last year and in the cool of this spring are blooming up a storm. Everyone who knows me really well knows I love to work in my flower beds . . . and am ecstatic at the resulting blooms. So my beautiful flowers are the inspiration for this week’s Three for Thursday where I feature three items from three artists. This week the artists are: Roxanne of watercolorsNmore; Jacki of Christie Cottage; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. Enjoy the wide range of floral art. Hopefully one or more of the items will soon be on the way to you!
Make It a Handmade Mothers Day - Week 8
Posted April 28, 2020
If you haven't started shopping for Mother's Day gifts, you are quickly running out of time! Just a little less than two weeks and the big day for Mom will be here. To help you out, check out the Mother's Day Countdown 2020 Week 8, a cllection filled with unique artisan items, most of them handmade from the heart. Hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Blu Print blog, each of the unique 39 items from 13 artists will make a memorable gift for Mom on her day. This is the perfect time to start buying a gift(s) for your Mom - and, perhaps, for yourself! These items on the Countdown go quick, and, since many are one of a kind, don't miss out. Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 8, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beautiful gift that was HANDMADE.
Make It a Handmade Mothers Day - Week 6
Posted April 14, 2020
Where did Week 6 of the Mother’s Day Countdown 2020 go? It was here . . . and then was gone. The Countdown is hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Blu Print blog. This week, 36 handmade items from 12 artists were shared. Each unique tem will make a memorable gift for Mom on her day. Since Mother'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 - and, perhaps, for yourself! These items go quick, and, since many are one of a kind, don't miss out. Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 6, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beautiful gift that was handmade from the heart.
Make It a Handmade Mothers Day - Week 5
Posted April 7, 2020
Another week of the Mother’s Day Countdown 2020 has come and gone - Week 5 already!!! Hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Blu Print blog, Thirty-three unique handmade items were shared from 11 artists. Each one will make a memorable gift for Mom on Mother’s Day. Since Mother'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 (and, perhaps, for yourself). Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 5, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beautiful gift that was handmade from the heart.
Make It a Handmade Mothers Day - Week 3
Posted March 24, 2020
It's been over a week now since my husband and I decided to really get serious about social distancing due to COVID-19. I keep hearing how people are bored and have nothng to do. Not true in my case. I keep VERY busy! Now that we're in the Upside Down, I realized - except for yoga and working out at the YWCA for an hour each weekday, eating out with friends now and then, and doing art shows - my life, once I started creating jewelry and selling online, always had a lot of social distancing. And I bet a lot of my artist friends are the same way. OK, enough of that. I just want everyone to stay safe and healthy out there!
Week 3 of the Mother’s Day Countdown 2020 seemed to blow right by. Hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their the Blu Print blog, 30 unique handmade items were shared from 10 artists - each one a wonderful gift for Mother’s Day. Since the big day will be here before you know it - about 7 weeks from now - this is the perfect time to start thinking about and buying a gift(s) for your Mom. Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 3, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beauty that was handmade from the heart.
Make It a Handmade Mothers Day - Week 2
Posted March 17, 2020
Week 2 of the Mother’s Day Countdown 2020, hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their the Blu Print blog, quickly came and went. A total of 48 unique items were shared - each one a perfect Mother’s Day gift - from 16 handmade artists. Since Mother's Day will be here before you know it - about 9 weeks from now - this is the perfect time to start thinking about and buying a gift(s) for your Mom. Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 2, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beauty that was handmade from the heart.
