Blog entry
We Have the Blues - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday
Posted August 22, 2019
Blues is a tonic for whatever ails you. I could play the blues and then not be blue anymore.
B. B. King
Even though the above quote by B. B. King is about music, it can also be about the color blue. According to psychologists, the popularity of the color may take root in our evolutionary development. In the early hunter-gatherer days, those drawn to positive things - like clear blue skies and clean blue hued water were more likely to survive. Over time, this preference for the color blue may have become hard-wired. To this day, the color blue is still a favorite color worldwide.
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Colours by Donovan - Three for Thursday
Posted July 25, 2019
A couple of days ago, while I was picking up some veggies and fruit from our local Whole Foods, I keyed in on a song that was playing in the background - a song I loved waaaaay back when. When I got home, I looked it up on YouTube, played the video and then let the mix of music from the mid-60’s to early 70’s continue playing. Brought back to many happy, and some sad, memories. One of the songs that played was Donovan Leitch’s “Colours,” a song I adored then and still adore now. I get lost in the peaceful lyrics, the lovely simplicity of the folk guitar accompaniment and Donovan's hauntingly beautiful voice. The song was released in 1965 and, 54 years later, is still a classic. I have played it over and over since “rediscovering” it. The lyrics are shared near the end of the post.
Here’s a link to the YouTube video (version without harmonica):
And here’s an incredible live version of the song with Pete Seeger sitting in on banjo:
Unique Jewelry, Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday
Posted January 3, 2019
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:
Christmas Art
Posted December 22, 2018
More than usual this year, I have been drawn to Christmas / Yule art, especially those pieces with an Old World feeling and those with animals. It's even better when St. Nick or and angle has an animals with him/her! I have pinned quite a few Christmas beauties on a couple of my Pinterest boards. After browsing them, I decided to share a few with you. I’ve included the artist’s name and/or link - only fair. I hope you enjoy these and that they put you in an even more festive frame of mind. MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY YULE!
Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Week 11
Posted December 4, 2018
WOW!!! Here we are already at Week 11 of the Countdown to Christmas. Only one more week to go! The Countdown is a chance for 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 20 days! Need a perfect start / finish to your Christmas shopping? I suggest that the Countdown is the perfect place to do just that! A good motto to follow: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN! And, most of all, BUY HANDMADE!
Handmade Jewelry Gift Ideas by Shadow Dog Designs
Posted October 28, 2018
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!
Happy Halloween and Day of the Dead at Shadow Dog Designs
Posted September 5, 2018
Halloween and Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos will soon be here. The hunt for that perfect piece of handmade jewelry to show off your fun and/or spooky side has begun. To help with that search, I’m sharing the earrings and necklaces in my Shadow Dog Designs shop that are impeccable accessories for you pre-Halloween and Day of the Dead wear and the festivities that happen on those individual days. All one of a kind handmade designs, I hope these (un)lucky 13 pieces of jewelry catch your eye. If so, please click on the photograph or the link below each picture to be taken to the item for more information and photos. I hope you enjoy these unique pieces.
Necklaces and Earrings - New Jewelry from Shadow Dog Designs
Posted July 29, 2018
That's the thing with handmade items. They still have the person's mark on them, and when you hold them, you feel less alone.
Aimee Bender, The Color Master: Stories
I love the idea that when you hold a handmade item, that you feel less alone. I hope that everyone who wears a piece of my handmade jewelry feels that way! The one of a kind jewelry definitely has my “mark” with many good wishes and peaceful intentions added.
Gift Ideas for a Handmade Mothers Day - Week 7
Posted April 24, 2018
Week 7 of the Mother’s Day Countdown 2018 blew right on past! There are only three more weeks of this fabulous promotion opportunity hosted again this year by Julie of Blue Morning Expressions on her The Blu Print blog. This week, sixteen handmade artisans and one vintage seller shared a total of 50 wonderful items items. Since Mother's Day is quickly gaining on us, on Sunday, May 13, this is the perfect time to start buying a gift for your Mom. Why don’t you browse the wide range of unique shares for this week - many of them one of a kind designs - visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom something that was HANDMADE from the heart!
Flora and Fauna - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
Posted September 6, 2017
I have always admired Walter Cronkite on so many levels, but mostly as an intelligent and reliable newsman and as a vital, moral human being. Even though he died in 2009, I still remember his plain spoken grace in delivering the news, from moonwalks to war, assassinations to peace treaties and thusands of other topics. A favorite quote of his, made 2005 (but still oh so relevant today), is this one:
“I am joining the hundreds of thousands who shall be marching in the Virtual March on Washington to Stop Global Warming in order to demonstrate the concern that we all hold for the future of our planet and all the living things — flora, fauna, human and animal — that exist upon it. The governments of the world have tarried long enough, and the United States is scarcely without doubt the greatest culprit among them. We the people have the strength to bring our country from our weak-kneed stumbling gait in the last ranks of reason to the leadership of the great march to environmental victory.”
