Blog entry

Handmade Gift Ideas - Three for Thursday

When I was browsing the internet the other day, looking for nothing in particular, I stumbled across this quote:

Something Handmade is So Much More Meaningful

It caught my eye, because, being a handmade jewelry artist myself, I promote buying handmade whenever I can, through my own work or the work of others artist friends.  Handmade items ARE more meaningful . . . and are often one of a kind . . . and always have a small piece of the artist’s soul buried in them.

It's a Countdown to a Handmade Christmas - Week 1

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Christmas Earrings - Gift Ideas - at Shadow Dog Designs

Christmas will be here before we know - only one more month when this blog is posted!  To help women get in the holiday spirit, my Shadow Dog Designs jewelry shop offers a wide range of Christmas earrings.  All of the earrings are carefully handmade by me and some, but not all, are one of a kind designs.  The earrings range from Santa inspired, snowmen, ornaments and various others made with artisan lampwork beads.  Many include Swarovski crystals for that holiday sparkle!  Each and every design is perfect for gift giving . . . or to keep for yourself.  And, even better, shipping is FREE through January 2, 2018 (U.S. only).

Think Green for Artisan Christmas Gifts - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade

Red and green are colors that are closely associated with Christmas.  Last week I shared how red became a Christmas color.  You can read that post here:  Think Red for Artisan Christmas Gifts.  This week, green, the other Christmas color, is explored mainly through the symbolism of holly, mistletoe and evergreen trees.

The color green and its association with the time around Christmas has a pre-Christian origin, more specifically tied to the Winter Solstice.  Evergreen plants, like holly, mistletoe and pine, spruce or fir trees have been used for thousands of years to decorate and brighten up buildings during the long, dark, cold winter when life could be very tenuous.  Ancient peoples were scared of the short days and freezing nights and mistakenly believed that the Sun might disappear altogether. Evergreens reminded people that spring would come and that winter wouldn't last forever.  Historical records show that the Romans wove wreaths of holly to hang on their walls and doors to celebrate the winter solstice / Saturnalia. They also exchanged evergreen branches as a sign of good luck. The ancient Egyptians would bring green date palm branches into their homes during their mid- winter festivals as a symbol of "life triumphant over death." To the ancient people, the color green represented life, nature, peace, eternity and the hope of the future.