Blog entry
An Artisan Handmade Christmas - Gift Ideas - Week 7
Posted November 5, 2019
Wow! We are already more than half-way through the Countdown to Christmas 2019 - only 5 more weeks to go! It’s hard to imagine that Christmas will soon be here! According to the ever ticking Christmas clock, there are only 49 days (when this bog was posted) until Santa Claus drops down that chimney and either leaves gifts or lumps of coal for deserving (or not-so-deserving) boys and girls. Since Christmas is looming, now is the perfect time to start your holiday shopping and the Countdown is the perfect place! Remember this motto: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN! And, most of all, PURCHASE HANDMADE!
Crocheted Amigurumi Unicorn Stuffed Animal Toy Handmade by Nancy of Wyvern Designs
» 8 Comments
New Necklaces and Earrings - Handmade Jewelry by Shadow Dog Designs
Posted October 16, 2019
I've been working hard to list new handmade jewelry in my Shadow Dog Designs shop. But with being a vendor at numerous art shows and with perfect weather for working in the flower beads, it's often hard to spend long hours in front of the computer. But new earrings and necklaces have been listed and I decided to share them here: nine new designs and one pair of Christmas earrings. I hope you enjoy the new jewelry.
An Artisan Handmade Christmas - Week 3 - Gift Ideas
Posted October 8, 2019
Week 3 of the Countdown to Christmas sped right on by . . . and a wide variety of lovely artisan handmade items have been left in its wake. According to the ever ticking Christmas clock, there is only 77 days until Christmas is here . . . once again. This is the perfect place to start your holiday shopping. A good motto to follow: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN! And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE!
Ceramic Healing Hand, Cross and Spiral Pendant Necklace Handmade by Mary of Pretty Gonzo
Colors for Autumn - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday
Posted September 5, 2019
Despite the days still being in the mid- to high-90’s here in the Borderlands (unusual here for this time of the year), the last few mornings have had a tinge of autumn in the air. I’m definitely ready for the cooler breezes and being able to leave the windows open. Purple asters will bloom and the cottonwoods will turn a glorious golden yellow. Fall will soon be here (I hope!).
With autumn in mind, I decided to choose handmade beauties in fall colors for this Three for Thursday titles, appropriately enough, Colors for Autumn. The artists today are: Kathy of KatsAllThat; Pamela of MagdaleneKnits; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. I hope you enjoy my autumn inspired picks and will visit the shops of the artists for more wondrous handmade fall elegance.
Oldies But Definitely Goodies - Unique Artisan Handmade
Posted July 31, 2019
Whenever someone mentions “Oldies But Goodies,” most people think of old songs, vintage cars, antique furniture or, possibly, themselves (after - ahem - a certain age). “Oldies But Goodies” can also refer to items in handmade shops that have been around for longer than we would like. Whenever something is created and then listed in our shops, we always think it will sell right away. But, for whatever reason, the beauty sits there . . . and sits there . . . and sits there some more. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that particular item - not at all! It just hasn’t found that forever person to give it a forever home.
I asked artisan friends to share two items from their shops that they considered “oldies but goodies.” Many of the items are one of a kind creations and would make a perfect gift for a birthday, anniversary, Christmas, or just because . . . I hope something catches your eye and that you visit the shops of the artists below.
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:
New Jewelry From Shadow Dog Designs - Handmade Earrings and Necklaces
Posted July 21, 2019
I like for jewelry to tell a story and to be able to tell a story about what I’m wearing. That’s more important to me than a name, brand or label - Nikki Reed
I just love this quote because I love jewelry that tells a story, too. And if you look at the jewelry in my Shadow Dog Designs handmade shop, many, many of the pieces have such interesting stories to tell. Why buy mass produced necklaces and earrings when artisan handmade jewelry, often one of a kind pieces,has GREAT stories to tell!
A Melange of Handmade - Three for Thursday - June 20, 2019
Posted June 20, 2019
This weeks's Three for Thursday is a melange of items. Since I have an addiction to words, I wanted to give a brief etymology of the word melange. The word, which rolls off the tongue to so beautifully, first is first found in French documents around the comes from the 15th century French word meler, meaning 'to mix, mingle." Meler, in turn, came from the Old French meslance or meslinges (a set of diverse elements). So, according to The Free Dictionary, the modern word means “a collection of various things.” Which is the perfect definition of the variety of handmade items I found from artists and am sharing in this post: The items featured are from three handmade artists: beautiful original watercolor paintings from Roxanne of watercolorsNmore; fun and handy to have cards of various types from Jacki of Christie Cottage; and a selection of one of a kind handmade jewelry from me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs.
I hope you enjoy these picks. And that you will visit the shops of the artists for more handmade beauties.
Summer Fun - Artisan Handmade Gifts
Posted June 13, 2019
The first day of summer will be here before we know it. This year, the first day of summer starts here in the Borderlands at 9:54 a.m. MDT on Friday, June 21. Although, by that time, we’ll surely have had several days near triple digits or some 100+ degrees. But it’s a dry heat and doesn’t keep me from doing much outside as long as I have a wide brimmed hat on my head and plenty of water with me.
Friday Twitter Tree - Artisan Handmade - May 31, 2019
Posted May 30, 2019
The Twitter Tree© will be hosted by a different shop M-W-F.
Monday: http://christiecottage.blogspot.com
Wednesday: http://elunajewelry-nc.blogspot.com
Friday: https://www.shadowdogdesigns.com/blog
Instructions:
Only 2 Items per person
Each tweet must contain the hashtag #SDFTT
2 other Hashtags may be used.
Please include a brief description of your item in the tweet.
Keep your Tweet under 140 Characters (including spaces).
No Mature Items
Tweet Everyone’s Listings. (It is not fair to others if you do not fully participate.)
Limit of three (3) hashtags including #SDFTT.
Happy sales!
Here are my two for today:
