Blog entry
Flowers for Your Ears - Handmade Floral Earrings by Shadow Dog Designs
“I must have flowers, always, and always.”
Claude Monet
I totally agree with Monet. There are a lot of things I can give up in life, but flowers are not one of them. To plant a seed or seedlings into the ground . . . and then a miracle happens. Sometimes slowly and sometimes quickly, the plant grows and flowers emerge. I have been redesigning flower beds here at our house using a wide range of water wise plants: knipofia (called “mango popsicle’ - truly well named), several salvias in several colors, a fabulous penstemon; Russian sage, Texas red yucca, gauras and many colors of the workhorse of the desert garden, the glorious lantana. Every plant I chose has to benefit bees, butterflies and/or hummingbirds. I have seen bees and butterflies on the flowers, but the hummingbirds seems to prefer the feeder and the mimosa tree, which is blooming right now. Several times a day, I go out and just look, and am always filled with a sense of wonder and awe at the sheer beauty at what is happening.
Handmade Jewelry - New Necklaces and Earrings by Shadow Dog Designs
Spring is pretty much behind us here in the Desert Southwest. Although it has been a very mild spring (YAY!) with below average heat with morning still cool enough that a light jacket is sometimes needed. But all of us who live here know that summer is just around the corner bringing some triple digit temperatures in June. The the summer monsoons arrive (hopefully) in July, August and September bringing cooler temperatures again (but also the dreaded humidity) and a sense of rejuvenation.
So many of my new jewelry designs deal with summer-y type things, whether the designs feature flowers, summer colors, the sun or other beauties. And don’t forget your dogs or cats! I hope you enjoy the newest earrings (and one necklace) designs that can be found in my Shadow Dog Designs jewelry shop:
Spring Flowers - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday
Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower . . . John Harrigan
If you are a flower gardener (like I am) and grow many flowers from seeds, you truly understand the above statement. So much beauty is bound up in a single flower seed which, like magic, can transform into a breathtaking flower. I find happiness in just holding flower seeds and dreaming of the infinite possibility of what they will become. And when that magic happens - a seedling appears, a plant grows, a bud unfurls and a flower faces the sun - I am truly happy, awe struck and humbled. And if I can share those flowers with family and friends, so much the better.
Valentines Day at Shadow Dog Designs - Handmade Jewelry
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Since Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, I decided to share some handmade Valentine’s inspired jewelry from my Shadow Dog Designs studio. Most are red and/or pink in color - but not all - and some have hearts. But most are not your “traditional” Valentine’s earrings or necklaces; they are more geared for the woman who loves unique designs with a boho falir. The one of a kind pieces can be comfortably worn long after this year’s Valentine’s Day is past. But what a perfect gift any of the handmade jewelry featured below will make . . . long after the day itself is a fond memory!
New, One of a Kind Handmade Jewelry by Shadow Dog Designs
It has just been over a month since I shared the newest handmade jewelry in my Indiemade shop. I usually try to share once every two weeks. But between traveling and getting ready for my first big show of the season (Labor Day weekend), I finally found time today to share my newest earrings and necklaces, all handmade, many with a boho flair and all one of a kind creations. If something catches your eye, please click the photo or the link below for more information and pictures. I hope you enjoy each and every one as much as I enjoyed creating them.
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.
Shadow Dog Designs - New Handmade Necklace and Earrings Gift Ideas
Fortunately the Muses have finally come back from an extended vacation (just in time) and I have been busy creating quite a few new necklaces and pairs of earrings. Many designs have a definite boho flair and some are supremely elegant. With the spring arts festival season quickly approaching, my handmade jewelry stock definitely needs to be replenished. There will be many more new jewelry listings in the coming weeks.
Handmade Jewelry - New Earrings and Necklaces by Shadow Dog Designs
Time seems to rush by so quickly these days. Wasn’t it just Christmas and now we are already in February? What happened to January? Despite a month blasting by, I have been very busy making and listing new earrings and necklaces, many with a boho flair and some a bit more traditional. All the handmade jewelry featured here are one of a kind designs - you will be the only person in the universe wearing that particular design (unless you have an evil twin in an alternate universe!). Many of the earrings and necklaces use creations by artist friends from around the world. Any of these will make a perfect Valentine’s Day gift, a birthday gift, a Mother’s Day gift or a “just because” gift to a loved one . . . or to yourself.
Handmade Valentine's Day Jewelry by Shadow Dog Designs
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, I thought I’d share a range of handmade earrings and two necklaces from my Indiemade shop; any will be perfect for gift giving to a loved one. Some of the jewelry is obviously Valentine’s related. But most can be worn all year long. The last five designs featured are from my line of meaningful dog rescue jewelry. All have hearts and pawprints, perfect for the woman who loves her dog(s), especially if her four footed friend is a rescue. As always, whenever any of the dog rescue jewelry sells, one half (½) of the purchase price is donated to the Humane Society.
If one or more of the pieces catches your eye, be sure to click the live link below the photo for more information and pictures. I hope you enjoy these one of a kind earrings and necklaces:
First We Dream - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
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One of my favorite sayings is from Carl Sandburg: “Nothing happens unless first we dream.” I don’t know about the other artists that are included in this post, but I often dream about a design, especially one I am trying to figure out, whether it be a color combination or a new wire wrap technique. Maybe “dream” is not exactly the right word, but a design can come to me in that state between wakefulness and sleep where my mind comes up with all sorts of weird stuff.
Anyway, the handmade items in this post are the first ones listed (at least at the time this was posted) in the shops of the Indiemade artists featured here. Most are one of a kind items . . . and all are a “dream” to have. Enjoy.
