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New Handmade Earrings and Necklaces - Jewelry by Shadow Dog Designs

 

 

Since the heat wave that set in about a week ago has not let up, I find it too hot to go outside and photograph new jewelry (which I normally do around noonish).  Photographing is something I really need to do, but I'll wait until it cools down a bit.  So I decided to pull together a blog that features the eleven newest jewelry designs in my SHADOW DOG DESIGNS jewelry shop,  three new necklace and eight pairs of earrings.  Each piece was designed and handmade by me and they are all one of a kind designs.  If something catches your eye and you would like to look at more photos and read more about the piece, please click on the picture or the description underneath to be taken to the item listing.  I hope you enjoy each and every piece as much as I love creating them!

Christian Jewelry - Handmade by Shadow Dog Designs

 

 

Religious jewelry is always a perfect gift for the Christian woman, especially when the necklaces and earrings are one of a kind, artisan designs.  Today, I’m sharing ten pieces of beautiful, Christian inspired jewelry from my SHADOW DOG DESIGNS shop, seven necklaces and three pairs of earrings.  As I mentioned above, all are one of a kind designs so you can rest assured no one else has a piece just like it!  If something catches your eye and you want more information and photos, be sure to either click the item photograph or the live link below the picture to be taken to the listing.  I hope you enjoy these meaningful beauties!

Christian Cross Jewelry - Artisan Handmade by Shadow Dog Designs

 

 

 

To a Christian, crosses are a symbol of atonement and reminds them of God's love in sacrificing his own son for humanity.  Despite being associated primarily with Christianity, many cross symbols were used as religious symbols pre-Christianity, especially in Europe and western Asia.  Crosses can be found carved on rocks and in caves dating back to the Upper Paleolithic period, approximately 50,000 to 12,000 years ago.  During the European Bronze Age (app. 3200 - 600 B.C), cross symbols seemed to carry a religious meaning, possibly a symbol of consecration especially during burials.  For at least two centuries after the crucifixion of Christ, the symbol of Christianity (when it was depicted) was a headless T-shaped Tau cross.  Gradually over time, the Tau cross was replaced by the Greek cross, with arms of equal length, then by the Latin cross (or Roman cross) with a longer descending arm, which is the most common cross used today.  Crosses come in many different variants, all having a religious meaning.  If you are interested in seeing some of the variants and what they mean, I find these two links to be especially helpful:  Christian Cross Variants and Kinds of Crosses--What the Different Designs Mean.

Beautiful Flowers - Artisan Handmade for Spring

                                                         Photo by James J. Shaw

 

 

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,

Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,

Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,

With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.

William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

 

 

Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair . . . 

Susan Polis Schutz

Make It a Handmade Christmas 2020 - Week 8

 

 

Already, week 8 of the Countdown to Christmas 2020 has come on gone!  It’s hard to believe that there are only four more weeks left! The Countdown is a chance for mostly handmade artists to share three of their beautiful gift ideas and for all to browse and, hopefully, purchase.  The ever ticking Christmas clock doesn’t let up - according to it, Santa will start his journey in only 44 days!  Need a perfect start to your Christmas shopping? The Countdown is the place to do just that!  A good motto to follow: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN!  And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE!

 

 

 

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.

Flower Earrings - Artisan Handmade by Shadow Dog Designs

 

 

When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower.  I want them to see it whether they want to or not. Georgia O'Keeffe

 

 

One of my all time favorite artists is Georgia O’Keeffe.  Whenever I’m in Santa Fe, I'm always drawn to the museum named after her.  While there, I almost go into a meditative state while contemplating her paintings.  Her flower paintings are dear to my heart.

 

All through my life, I have had flower gardens, some rather grand and some on a much smaller scale, such as the one here in the Desert Southwest.  I cannot imagine life without the beauty and cheerfulness of flowers (or dogs, for that matter!). Life would be so bland with out them.  Because of that, flowers designs can always be found in my handmade jewelry, especially the earrings.  For this blog post, I chose 10 pairs of earrings, some new and some that have been in my shop a while, to feature. There are many others in my SHADOW DOG DESIGNS shop.  I hope you will stop by and take a look . . . and maybe buy a pair for yourself or a loved one.

Unique Jewelry, Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday

 

 

Buy Handmade - Be One in a Million, Not One of Millions

 

I don’t know about you, but I HATE to buy jewelry that everyone else can buy.  I don’t want to see a stranger three states over wearing a piece of jewelry that I might be wearing.  That doesn’t happen, however, because I have almost always worn artisan handmade jewelry that is one of a kind, whether the earrings, bracelets or necklace are created by another artist or created by me.  There is something so soul satisfying in that, knowing that I’m the only person in the universe wearing a particular design - unless an evil twin in an evil alternate universe is up to her evil copying of designs.  

 

The three handmade artists that are features in this new “Three For Thursday” blog all make one of a kind jewelry designs:  Mary of PrettyGonzo; Julie of Blue Morning Expressions; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. I hope you enjoy this small sampling of the one of a kind jewelry designs that are in their shops.  Please visit each shop for more eye catching and soul satisfying beauty. I hope you enjoy these selections:

Handmade Jewelry Gift Ideas by Shadow Dog Designs

 

 

The Christmas shopping season will soon be here (if you haven’t already begun your list making and your shopping!).  I’ve been working hard to list new pairs of earrings and necklaces in my Shadow Dog Designs handmade jewelry shop and wanted to share the new creations with you.  Each piece is a perfect gift for the discerning woman who enjoys wearing truly unique artisan handmade jewelry. With the exception of two of the Christmas earrings at the end of the post, all of the jewelry designs are one of a kind pieces.  Just think - you or a loved one will be the only person in the universe wearing that particular piece when purchased!

Spring Colors! - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade

 

 

Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!   Sitting Bull

 

 

With spring definitely here in the Borderlands, I have been thinking about colors quite a bit as the brown of the desert bursts into so many glorious shades of green.  The white and pink fruit trees have pretty much quit blooming, so the various shrubs, hardy trees, ocotillo, cactus and poppies will add their beautiful spring colors: yellow, pinks, oranges, reds, purples and others all against the huge dark blue sky.  My soul revives!

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