Blog entry

St. Patricks Day Gift Ideas - Artisan Handmade

St. Patrick’s Day will be here before we know it, when all those with Irish heritage (or those that wish they had Irish blood) wear green and wax lyrical about the The Emerald Isles.  And, if you have ever visited Éire, you will know the nagging inner yearning to always go back.

It’s with St. Patrick’s Day in mind that I decided to share seven items from seven handmade artists, all featuring the color green in its many shades.  Why seven beauties you might ask? I chose that number from two symbols that always show up for St. Patrick’s Day, symbols which are often confused: the shamrock (which has 3 leaves) and the lucky four leaf clover (which, obviously from its name, has 4 leaves).  Seven leaves, seven items. The shamrock is a three-leaved clover, a plant was used by Saint Patrick to illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity. It is the national symbol of Ireland, the word coming from seamróg, the Irish name for the plant. The four leaf clover is an aberration of white clover which normally only has three leaves.  Occasionally white clover produces an extra leaf, making finding one especially lucky.

Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Week 12

Tick . . . tick . . . tick.  According to the Christmas clock, there are now only 13 (!!!) days until Christmas!  It’s hard to believe that December is already here and, with it, the last week of the Countdown to Christmas 2018.  The Countdown has been graciously hosted by Julie and Blue of Blue Morning Expressions on their The Blu Print blog.  Yes, week 12 has come and gone and 45 artisan handmade and vintage items from 15 artists were left in its wake, any of which will be perfect for a Christmas gift that was individually handmade from the heart.  Help Santa make it a HANDMADE Christmas this year!

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - Three for Thursday

Christmas will soon be here.  As anyone who browses the internet know, there are millions and millions of gifts out there, many of which are mass produced in sweatshop conditions.  But there is always another option: BUY HANDMADE! I love this very timely and true quote by J. Donald Walters:

When you buy something made by a person, there is something special there. And you do feel it. The consciousness with which the thing is made is often more important than the thing itself.

Autumn Artisan Handmade Gift Ideas - Three for Thursday

According to the calendar, we're about ½ way through autumn, the favorite time of year for many people.  I live in the Desert Southwest and most people don’t associate the desert with fall color. But we have it!  Granted not as eye catching as the forests in along the East Coast or the aspens in many places in the Rockies.  Color is here, nonetheless: glowing yellows and reds and purples of the deciduous trees.  And my amazing cosmos are looming up a storm with carmine reds, pale pinks and glowing white.  The hummingbirds left about a month ago (always sad to see them go) but new migrant birds are showing up, especially the cheerful little juncos.  Am waiting for the beautiful blue scrub jays with their raucous calls and jaunty attitudes to show up under the bird feeders.