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Flora and Fauna - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
I have always admired Walter Cronkite on so many levels, but mostly as an intelligent and reliable newsman and as a vital, moral human being. Even though he died in 2009, I still remember his plain spoken grace in delivering the news, from moonwalks to war, assassinations to peace treaties and thusands of other topics. A favorite quote of his, made 2005 (but still oh so relevant today), is this one:
“I am joining the hundreds of thousands who shall be marching in the Virtual March on Washington to Stop Global Warming in order to demonstrate the concern that we all hold for the future of our planet and all the living things — flora, fauna, human and animal — that exist upon it. The governments of the world have tarried long enough, and the United States is scarcely without doubt the greatest culprit among them. We the people have the strength to bring our country from our weak-kneed stumbling gait in the last ranks of reason to the leadership of the great march to environmental victory.”
Autumn Art Fest, Saturday, September 23, El Paso, Texas
On Saturday, September 23, people who love great, home grown art festivals will make their way to the house of Rachel and Michael Davis to browse and (hopefully buy) a wide variety of artisan handmade items, amny of which are one of a kind pieces. The Autumn Art Fest will be held on a large, tree shaded lawn during the prettiest time of the year in the Texas / New Mexico borderlands area. To be able to take part in the festival was by invitation only and eighteen artists accepted. So you know the quality of the handmade pieces for sale is extraordinary.
Date: September 23
Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Admission: Free
Address: 5737 Montoya (in the Upper Valley)
Second Category, Third Item - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
The Franciscan Festival of Fine Arts at the Holy Cross Retreat Center is this Labor Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday. The Retreat Center has been operational for 60 years. However, some of the buildings in the compound are over 100 years old. It's so peaceful there and feels like you step back in time, especially when you see Father Tom walking around in his full cassock with a large, wooden rosary tied around his waist, chatting with as many people as he can. The juried festival itself has been held yearly for almost 20 years and is a “go to” festival for local people and the many who might drive from Tucson, Albuquerque or beyond to buy beautiful artisan handcrafted items. If you are in the Las Cruces, NM or El Paso, TX area, please stop by - I will be selling my jewelry there. For more information, here is a link: Franciscan Festival of Fine Arts.
Beautiful Firsts - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
Looking for a handmade gift for a special someone, an item that was made from the heart? Each of the Beautiful Firsts creations featured below are artisan handcrafted; many are one of a kind designs. The unique items chosen are the first listing in each shop (as of this post) but there are many more beauties to be discovered if you stay awhile and browse. Support handmade . . . support handmade artists!
Happy Independence Day! - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
Independence Day will soon be here, in less than a week. It was quite an interesting time, a time populated by giants of U. S. history: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Richard Henry Lee and many others. The 4th of July has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870 (and a paid holiday to all federal employees since 1941). But the tradition of celebrating Independance Day dates back to the late 1700’s at the time of the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from Great Britain. Two days later, delegates from the thirteen colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document largely drafted by Thomas Jefferson of Virginia but with help from John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York.
Shadow Dog Designs - New Handmade Jewelry
The past two weeks have been very busy . . . not so much with making new jewelry and listing new pieces . . . but with life itself. It seems I find myself coming and going at the same time. Thank heavens for yoga classes and the bits and pieces of meditation I can do. They definitely help center my life, to look at what life throws my way with empathy, caring and a sense of humor (or at least I hope!).
The Ocean Stirs the Heart - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul - Robert Wyland (marine life artist)
This past week, I was able to reconnect with the ocean when visiting the Coos Bay / Bandon, Oregon area. While my husband golfed, I explored the amazing land that is southwest Oregon. From huge trees to craggy cliffs by the sea; from the multitudes of birds to the fog interlaced with sunshine, I was taken with the landscape . . . and the very friendly people. And I was actually able to meet a long-time artist friend face-to-face for the first time. What a lovely person Sue is!
Mother's Day Handmade Jewelry Gift Ideas by Shadow Dog Designs
Mother’s Day will soon be here, just a few short weeks from now. With all the mass produced jewelry gifts out there, wouldn’t Mom REALLY love a handmade jewelry gift better? Especially if the earrings or necklace are a one of a kind piece that no one else in the universe has! Handmade items are made from the heart by the artisan who designed and created the piece. I know I have always loved an artisan piece - they mean so much more to me than something tens of thousands of other people might have.
Powerful Pink - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
To most people, the color pink is a “sweet” color: charming, playful, cute, feminine, romantic and so on. But in the past few years, it also represents struggles and the need to warrior on. Think of all the pink worn, especially ribbons, signifying breast cancer awareness. And the pink hats, shirts, and other articles of clothing worn by millions during the recent women’s marches. Thinking on this, pink is not just feminine and sweet, a bubblegum / cotton candy color. It has come to signify power, rising up and demanding equal rights.
Happy Easter! - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
Modern-day Easter is derived from two ancient traditions: one pagan and the other Judeo-Christian. Both pagans and Christians have celebrated death and resurrection themes following the spring equinox for millennia. A majority of religious historians believe that many elements of the Christian observance of Easter were derived from earlier pagan celebrations. The name “Easter” itself originated with the names of an ancient goddess. The Venerable Bede, (672-735 CE), a Christian scholar, first mentioned in his book De Ratione Temporum that Easter was named after Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre). She was the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. The "Teutonic dawn goddess of fertility was also known as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostre, Eastra and others.
