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Gorgeous Gifts - Artisan Handmade for Valentines Day!

 

 

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!

 

 

Christmas in July - Artisan Handmade Gifts - 2023

 

 

Since it seems Christmas arrives earlier and earlier each and every year, it’s never too early to start shopping for those perfect holiday gifts for a loved one!   Believe it or not Christmas with the jolly man in red and his reindeer show up in about 6 months - actually 164 days (from when this blog is posted) according to the ever ticking CHRISTMAS CLOCK.  I’ve noticed quite a few “Christmas in July” promos and such at stores and on social media, so I decided to host one here on my Shadow Dog Designs blog.  I asked artist friends to share two items - one that is “Christmasy” (in design or colors, etc.) and one that doesn’t have to be. Since many of these beauties are one of a kind, be sure to shop early (and often) so you don’t miss out.  And please visit the shops of the artisans featured for even more wonderful creations that are handmade from the heart.  Hopefully one or more items featured in the Christmas in July - Artisan Handmade Gifts - 2023 (or in the artists' shops) will make it into your shopping basket - treat yourself or someone else!  And remember this year:  SHOP SMALL and SHOP HANDMADE!

 

 

 

Heavenly Hollyhocks in the Desert Southwest

 

 

Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) have always been a flower dear to my heart.  Can't explain why besides they have such a beautifully majestic look to them (at least to me) as they sway in the wind.  According to information I've read, they are biennials, taking two years to bloom (although you can't always believe what's written since these seeded last summer and are blooming now).  Hollyhocks are originally from Asia, grown in ancient China by wealthy people.  They spread to the Middle East through trade routes and then were carried to western Europe by returning Crusaders from the Holy Land.  The Latin name of the hollyhock plant, Alcea, is derived from altho the Greek word for healerIn Greek Mythology, Althea is a beautiful goddess of healing and compassion, family, marriage and protection.  The flowers were used as a diuretic, a laxative, an emollient and in anti-inflammatory treatments. Rosea is Latin for for rose, rosy or pink.  The common name, hollyhock, is a combination of two words — holy and hock. Holy refers to the healing powers of the plant and that it was brought to Europe from the Holy Land.  Hock is an Old English word which means mallow.  Hollyhocks made their way to the United States in colonial times in seed packets carried by immigrants.  They symbolize the circle of life and abundance and were traditionally planted near the front door to welcome prosperity.

 

 

 

Happy Valentines Day - Artisan Handmade Gifts!

 

 

Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it.  Walk into a store shortly after Christmas and 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 Christian and ancient Roman traditions. 

 

 

 

Roses in the Desert - Julia's Beauties!

 

 

 

My good friend, Julia, has spent many years creating the most amazing rose garden in her backyard.  Before she bought her house, someone had planted a rose garden along the back rock wall.  But when she bought the house, only a few sad bushes had survived.  Over the course of the next several years, Julia replanted the roses . . . . and what beauties they are when they bloom!  The roses are her “babies” and she spends many enjoyable hours working in the garden, talking to the roses and inhaling their heady scents when they are blooming.  She also communes with the wondrous animals that come to visit, especially with the Gambel's Quail and the Greater Roadrunner, her favorites

Make It A Handmade Mothers Day - Week 1

 

 

Julie and Hurricane Harry of Blue Morning Expressions are once again hosting the wildly popular Countdown to Mother's Day 2021 - Week 1 on their The Blu Print blog.  Last year's Mother's Day Countdown 2020 was a resounding success . . . so the 2021 version is up and running. Since Mother's Day will be here before you know it - on May 9 - this is the perfect time to start thinking about and buying a gift(s) for your Mom, Grandmom, Aunts and other beloved women.  Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for this week, visit the shops of the artists featured in this week's Countdown and buy your Mom a beauty that was handmade from the heart.

 

 

 

Pretty Pinks for Valentines Day - Three for Thursday - January 14, 2021

 

 

Valentine’s Day will soon be here, just a month from now, with the color pink, along with red, seen everywhere in stores.  Pink is considered the color of universal love of oneself and of others and represents friendship, affection, harmony, inner peace, and femininity.  There’s no wonder that it’s a color that is closely associated with the romance of Valentine’s Day!  In this week’s “Three for Thursday,” titled "Pretty Pinks for Valentine's Day," three mainly pink items from three handmade artists are featured.  The artists are:  Linda of VictorianStyleTreasuresCharlotte of Covergirlbeads; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs.   I hope you enjoy these pink beauties, each a perfect gif for your Valentine's sweetie.

Julia's Roses (And A Few Irises)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My good friend, Julia, `spent many years creating a most amazing rose garden in her backyard.  They are her “babies” and she spends many enjoyable hours working in the garden, talking to the roses and inhaling their heady scents when blooming.  She also communes with the wondrous nature that is all around.  However, in years past, she’s wasn't at home when the roses were in full bloom.  She would fly to Bolivia for three months in the spring (autumn in Bolivia) to visit her brother and other relatives in the town where she grew up.  I always felt sad for Julia when she was away, knowing how she was missing her amazing rose show. I’d go to her house, take photos of the roses, blog about them and then email her the link.  But that definitely wasn’t anything like being in her garden to enjoy the beauty each bush provided

 

Unique Earrings for You - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday

 

 

Earrings are my “go to” jewelry.  They are the piece of jewelry I almost always put on right away when I get up in the morning.  BUT if I happen to leave the house without a pair dangling from my ears, and suddenly realize it, it feels like the earth somewhat shifts on its axis, like I’ve accidently wandered into the Upside Down.  Weird, I know.  I can’t wait to get back home to put on a pair to set things Rightside Up.

 

Since earrings are an integral part of my life, both to wear and create, this week’s Three for Thursday is called “Unique Earrings for You.”  Three pairs of earrings from three handmade jewelry artists are featured. The artists are: Mary of PrettyGonzo; Linda of VictorianStyleTreasures; and, me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs.  If something catches your eye, be sure to visit the artisan’s shop for more beauties. I hope you thoroughly enjoy this earrings collection featuring a wide range of styles.

Shades of Purple - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday

 

Up until the 1850’s, the color purple was most often associated with nobility.  Cyrus, a Persian king, wore a purple tunic, adopting it as his royal uniform. Some Roman emperors even forbade their citizens from wearing purple clothing - under penalty of death. During the Byzantine Empire, rulers wore long purple robes, used purple ink to sign their orders, and their children were described as being “born in the purple.”  Why? The reason was that a pound of purple wool cost more than most people earned in a year! The color purple was produced from a species of rare sea snail, centered in the ancient Phoenician city of Tyre. It took as many as 250,000 of the snails, which produced a purple staining mucus, to yield just one ounce of usable dye. After the fall of the Byzantine empire in the 15th century, the upper class monopoly of purple fabric waned - but it was still expensive.  It wasn’t until the 1850’s with the creation of the first synthetic dyes that the color purple became more widely available.  

 

I, for one, am glad that the color purple is now easily attainable.  With that in mind, this week’s edition of the Three for Thursday blog is titled “Shades of Purple.”  Three items from three handmade artists are featured. The artists are: Cathy of Crafting Memories; Roxanne of watercolorsNmore; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs.  I hope you enjoy all the different shades of purple found in the beauties shared.

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