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Countdown to Christmas - Artisan Gift Favorites - Week 4, 2026
Posted October 13, 2026
Who would have believed how quickly Week 4 of the Countdown to Christmas 2026 flew right on by . . . but here we are! Left in its wake is a wide variety of wonderful artisan handmade / designed items. According to the ever ticking Your Christmas Countdown Clock, there are only 72 days until jolly St. Nick pays a visit to inform you if you have been naughty or nice. With the rapidly approaching gift giving season, Julie and her faithful four-footed sidekick, Handsome Harry, are hosting a twelve-week Countdown to Christmas 2026 of artisan handmade / designed items on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog, part of their Blue Morning Expressions Shopify shop. This week, there were 30 shares from 10 artists featuring a wide range of gifts: unique jewelry designs, journals, holiday gift tags, resin flowers, prints, lampwork beads, table linens and a slew of other beauties. If you need a perfect start (or ending) to your Christmas holiday 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 12 week Countdown, I pick a favorite gift item from each artist (hard to do!) and feature it on my "Artisan Gift Favorites" blog. Here are my picks for Week 4:
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Make It an Artisans Mothers Day - Week 7 Gifts - 2026
Posted April 21, 2026
Week 7 of the Countdown to Mothers Day 2026 zoomed right on by . . . and in it's wake, 30 handmade / designed items were left on the link-up by nine very talented artists. The Countdown is hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog. Each unique item will make a memorable gift for Mom on her day. Since Mother's Day will be here soon, on May 10, this is the perfect time to purchase a gift(s) for your Mom - and, perhaps, for other loved ones and yourself! These items often go very quickly, and, since many are one of a kind designs, don't miss out! Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 7, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beautiful gift that was handmade from the heart. When you purchase from these shops, you're supporting small indie businesses!
Here are the favorites items from each artist on this week's Countdown to Mother's Day 2026:
Make It an Artisans Mothers Day - Week 3 Gifts - 2026
Posted March 24, 2026
Where did Week 3 of the Countdown to Mother's Day 2026 go??? The weekend was here . . . and then, too quickly, it was gone. The Countdown is hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog. This week, 30 handmade / designed items from 10 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 10 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 in your life. Pssssttt, by the way, don't forget about a gift for yourself! These items go quickly, and, since many are one of a kind, don't miss out! Browse all the wonderful handmade / designed shares for Week 3, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beautiful gift that was handmade from the heart. Since you'll be supporting a small indie artist, the purchase will be GREATLY appreciated! Remember: Shop Small for Mother's Day this year!
Here are my "favorite" picks (hard to pick a favorite from each artist!) from all the wonderful items shared:
Valentines Day Gifts: Artisan Handmade or Designed - Week 1, 2026
Posted January 15, 2026
Valentine's Day will be here before we know it, February 14, almost a month away. With that in mind, a collection of wonderful Valentine's Day gifts were pulled together. Each week for the next four weeks, a blog will be posted on the site of Shadow Dog Designs to share the artisan handmade / designed beauties that were posted to an Inlinkz. There are plenty of Valentine's Day themed items, but also ones that are not so distinctly traditional Valentine's gifts. Many can be worn / used all year long. If something catches your eye, be sure to click either the photo or the description below to be taken to the artistan's shop. To see all of the gift ideas in one place, be sure to click this link: Valentines Day Gifts: Artisan Handmade or Designed - 2026. All of the gifts shared here were created by small business owners. Be sure to SHOP SMALL this Valentine's Day and support an idie business. We will certainly appreciate that!
Hot Summer Fun 2025 - Artisan Handmade - Week 2
Posted July 17, 2025
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Week 2 of the "Hot Summer Fun blog is here! In it, you'll find a large selection of summery items: hot colors, beachy vibes, flowers, sun designs, tropical themes, ocean colors, etc. Some items shared are more on the blazing summer side and some represent a more calming summer. However, ALL are artisan handmade / designed and many are one of a kind pieces. So if something catches your eye on this Hot Summer Fun 2025 - Artisan Handmade - Week 2 blog, please click the photo or the link below the photo for more information and more pictures of the individual item. And to see the entire collection click here's a link: Hot Summer Fun - Artisan Handmade Gifts Hopefully one or more of these beauties will make it into your shopping basket. Treat yourself or a loved one to a unique artisan gift! And remember: SHOP SMALL, SHOP HANDMADE!
Make It an Artisans Mothers Day - Week 5 Gifts - 2025
Posted May 6, 2025
RED ALERT! Mother’s Day will be here very, very soon - in fact, it's next Sunday, May 11. 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 2025 Week 5. 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, 8 handmade artisans shared a total of 24 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 this week's Countdown to Mother's Day:
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:
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:
