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4th of July - Celebrate a Handmade Red, White and Blue Holiday!

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson.

The 4th of July, also known as Independence Day or July 4th, has a tradition of celebrations goes back to the American Revolution.  When the initial battles of the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, very few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain.  But, by the middle of the following year, the idea of independence grew due to the growing hostility against draconian British laws and the spread of revolutionary sentiments, such as the pamphlet published in early 1776 by Thomas Paine, called “Common Sense.”

Artisan Handmade Beauties - Three for Thursday

SOMETHING HANDMADE IS SO MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL . . . Beth Wert

I totally agree with the above quote . . something artisan handmade is ALWAYS much more meaningful.  And you’ll see why when you look at the beautiful handmade items by the artists chosen for today’s Three for Thursday blog post.  The artists featured today are: Linda of TreasuresofJewels who makes jewelry with a mostly romantic Victorian flair; Pamela of MagdaleneKnits who creates a wide variety of hand crocheted and knitted keepsakes; and, Suzanne of RivendellRockJewelry who crafts lovely jewelry mainly using gemstones. If something catches your eye, please be sure to click on the picture or the link below the picture to be taken to the item for more photos and information. I hope you enjoy the unique artisan handmade items featured below:

Beautifully Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday

Two weeks have already flown . . . and it’s time for another Three for Thursday blog post.  Three wonderful handmade items from three different artists are featured. The artists highlighted this week are:  Colleen of Colleen Cornelius with a wide range of eye catching photographs; boho style jewelry by Kathy of KatsAllThat; and, unique art work by Sam of Shinrin Studio.  If something catches your eye, please be sure to click on the photo or the link below the picture to be taken to the item for more photos and information. I hope you enjoy the unique artisan handmade items featured below:

All Creatures Great and Small - Artisan Handmade

I’ll be the first to admit that I am an avid reader - always have been and, I imagine, always will be.  It seems I have at least 3-4 books going at the same time and have a stack of books by the bed. One of my all time favorite books, one I have read time and time again, is James Herriot’s (real name, James Alfred Wight) All Creatures Great and Small.  I loved that book the most, but also loved the other three in the series: All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful and The Lord God Made Them All (and the other numerous books he wrote). The books made me laugh and also made me cry as Herriot related his life as a country vet in the fictional town of Darrowby, Yorkshire.   The people he encountered were funny and sometimes maddening, but it was the description of the animals that touched my heart. You could tell Herriot really, truly cared for the animals. By the way, I also thoroughly enjoyed the BBC series on TV . . . but the books were so much better.