Blog entry

New Handmade Jewelry by Shadow Dog Designs

The summer heat has settled on the land here in the Desert Southwest with lots of sun and a big blue sky with rarely any clouds.   That means there is more creative time in my jewelry studio as opposed to creative time outside in the flower beds.  So I wanted to share with you eleven of my newest creations, four necklaces and seven pairs of earrings, found in my SHADOW DOG DESIGNS jewelry shop  The handmade necklaces and earrings are one of a kind designs and will make unique gifts for a loved one . . . or, of course, yourself!  If something catches your eye and you want to see more photos and details, please click either on the photo or on the short description under the photo.  Thanks for looking.  And remember to SHOP SMALL  and to SHOP HANDMADE!

Make It a Handmade Mothers Day 2024 - Artisan Gifts - Week 5

Another week of the Countdown to Mother's Day 2024 has come and gone.  Hard to believe we're over 1/2 way through the promotion!  Week 5 of the Countdown, as all the weeks have been and will be, was hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog.  Thirty-three unique handmade / designed items were shared from eleven artists.  Many are one of a kind and each will make a memorable gift for Mom on her big day.  Since Mother's Day will be here before you know it, on May 12, this is the perfect time to think about and start buying a gift(s) for your Mom, grandmom, aunts . . . and, perhaps, for yourself.  Browse all the wonderful handmade shares on the Countdown - Week 5, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beautiful gift that came from the heart.  For this year's Mother's Day:  PLEASE BUY HANDMADE and help support small, indie businesses!

Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Favorites - Week 7, 2023

It is so very hard to believe (at least to me - how about you?) that we are already a week into November . . .  and that there are only 5 more weeks of the Countdown to Christmas 2023!  It’s also hard to believe that Christmas will be here before we know it.  According to the ever ticking Your Christmas Countdown Clock, there are only 46 days (as of today) until Santa drops down the chimney once again with his bag of goodies . . . or coal.  With Christmas rapidly approaching, Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions continue hosting the twelve-week Countdown to Christmas of artisan handmade items on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog.  Start or finish your holiday shopping now on the Countdown - Week 7 - a perfect place to buy unique handmade / designed gifts!  This week, 33 items from 11 artisans were shared in the wide-ranging gift collection: jewelry of many different styles, Christmas ornaments, gearhead sweatshirts, keychains, lampwork glass beads, baby gifts and more.  A wonderful motto to follow: SHOP EARLY and SHOP OFTEN!  And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE to support small indie businesses.

In addition to saving each handmade item from the Countdown to Christmas 2023 Week 7 collection to my handmade Christmas Pinterest board and Twitter feed,  I pick a favorite item from each artist (hard to do!) and feature them here on my blog.  Here  are my favorites for Week 7: 

Fun in the Hot Hot Sun - Make it an Artisan Handmade Summer

The official start of summer will soon be here.  I takes place at 8:57 a.m. on June 21 here in El Paso, where the day will be 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 beach or tropical theme or 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 Fun in the Hot Hot Sun - Make It an Artisan Handmade Summer 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!