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Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Week 2 Favorites - 2024
Posted October 1, 2024
Week 2 of the Countdown to Christmas 2024 has already come . . . and gone! No worries, however, because unique artisan handmade / designed items were left in its wake. According to the ever ticking Your Christmas Countdown Clock, there are only 84 days until Christmas is here. With the rapidly approaching gift giving season in mind, Julie and her wonderful four-footed sidekick, Harry, are hosting a twelve-week Countdown to Christmas 2024 of artisan handmade items on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog, part of their of Blue Morning Expressions 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 39 shares by 13 artists featuring a wide range of gift ideas: unique jewelry, Christmas tags, watercolor art prints, an original book, photographic and digital art for the home, ornaments, key chains and a host of other beauties. 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!
Each week during the Countdown, I pick my a favorite item from each artist (hard to do!) and feature them here on my blog. These are my favorites for Week 2:
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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!
New Handmade Jewelry at Shadow Dog Designs - One of a Kind Beauties
Posted April 11, 2024
It has been quite a while since I pulled together a blog featuring my newest handmade jewelry, a colelction of both earrings and necklaces, all one of a kind designs. It's hard to make myself sit down in front of the computer when Spring is calling me to be outside. The hummingbirds have been back for sevral weeks now, flowers are blooming and the birds are singing and nesting. Of course, I haunt several local nirseries to add to my new pollinator flower bed. Have to admit, it's looking pretty darn good!
So, without further ado, here are 10 of the latest earrings and necklace creatons that can be found in my SHADOW DOG DESIGNS jewelry shop:
Make It a Handmade Mothers Day 2024 - Artisan Gifts - Week 6
Posted April 9, 2024
Where did Week 6 of the Countdown to Mother's Day 2024 go? It was here . . . and then, quitre quickly, was gone. The Countdown is hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog. This week, 33 handmade / designed items from 11 artists were shared. Each unique item will make a memorable gift for Mom on her day. Since Mother's Day is quickly approaching, on May 12 this year, this is the perfect time to start thinking about and buying a gift(s) for your Mom - and, perhaps, for other much loved women . . . and for yourself! These items go quickly, 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. You'll be supporting an indie artist and the purchase will be GREATLY appreciated! Here are my favorites for this week:
A Fantasia of Flowers - Artisan Handmade Floral Gifts
Posted February 27, 2024
Here in the Desert Southwest, you can feel that spring is not far off. The days are getting longer and warmer, the winds are getting . . . . well . . . . windier, and, despite not having much rain in the last several months, flowers are beginning to stir and put on buds, a prelude to their much anticipated appearance before the heat sets in. I saw the first swallows of the season yesterday, soaring and dipping through the arroyo that butts up against our back yard. Other bird migrants will soon be here - some will pass on through and some will stay to nest. Hummingbirds are greatly anticipated as are the butterflies, bees and wasps, all of which I hope will make good use of the new pollinator flower bed that has been a long, slow process in the making. Life is good.
Thinking about flowers reminds me of a favorite floral quote by the Impressionist painter, Claude Monet, who painted many amazing floral landscapes and cultivated large flower gardens at Giverny:
“I MUST HAVE FLOWERS, ALWAYS, AND ALWAYS”
I TOTALLY agree with him!
The flowers shared below blossomed in the creative minds, hearts and souls of each artist featured. I hope you enjoy browsing all these cheerful artisan handmade / designed spring beauties. And be sure to visit the shops of the artisans featured for even more to choose from. After all, Easter and Mother’s Day will quickly be here!
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!
New Handmade Earrings and Necklaces - Jewelry by Shadow Dog Designs
Posted June 27, 2023
Since the heat wave that set in about a week ago has not let up, I find it too hot to go outside and photograph new jewelry (which I normally do around noonish). Photographing is something I really need to do, but I'll wait until it cools down a bit. So I decided to pull together a blog that features the eleven newest jewelry designs in my SHADOW DOG DESIGNS jewelry shop, three new necklace and eight pairs of earrings. Each piece was designed and handmade by me and they are all one of a kind designs. If something catches your eye and you would like to look at more photos and read more about the piece, please click on the picture or the description underneath to be taken to the item listing. I hope you enjoy each and every piece as much as I love creating them!
Buy Artisan Handmade for Mothers Day 2023 - Week 8
Posted May 2, 2023
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 from now and the big day for Mom will be here. To help you in your search for the perfect item, check out the Mother's Day Countdown 2023 - Week 8. It is a collection filled with unique artisan items, all handmade from the heart and most one of a kind. Hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog, each of the unique items, 29 beauties from 10 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! Items on the Countdown go quick so 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. Also you'll be supporting a small indie artist!
Gorgeous Gifts for Valentines Day - Artisan Handmade
Posted January 5, 2023
Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it. When you walk into most stores shortly after Christmas (or 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 is shrouded in mystery, February has long been celebrated as a month of romance. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both ancient Roman and Christian traditions, with other traditions thrown in for good measure.
Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - 2022 - Week 12
Posted December 6, 2022
Tick . . . tick . . . tick . . . tick . . . tick. According to the Christmas clock, there is now less than 3 weeks (18 days!!!) until Christmas is here! It’s hard to believe that almost a week has already gone by here in December, and, with it, the last week of the Countdown to Christmas 2022. The Countdown has been graciously hosted all these 12 weeks (and many years) by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog. Yes, Week 12 has come and gone and 30 artisan handmade items from ten artists were left in its wake. Any of the beauties will be perfect for a Christmas gift, one that was carefully created from the heart. Support handmade independent artists by helping Santa make it a HANDMADE CHRISTMAS this year!
