Blog entry

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.

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!

Artisan Handmade Jewelry by Shadow Dog Designs

Since the autumn arts festival season is in full swing, I have been thinking a lot about handmade items, especially since I mostly make one of a kind jewelry.  People always ask me, “How do you come up with the design.” I reply something like this, “To tell the truth, I’m not sure. Most of the time it just happens.” Or, “The Muses were good to me.”  I’m sure a LOT of artists give some semblance of those answer since the “creative idea” is often elusive. But the answers definitely don’t take into account all the years and years of working to perfect your art through taking classes, people giving their opinions, selling (or not) at shows and by trial and error . . . and more trial and error . . . and more trial and error.  Then, suddenly, it just happens.

I found this poster at WalchaHandmade that pretty much sums up the process: