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Spring Flowers - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower . . . John Harrigan

 

 

If you are a flower gardener (like I am) and grow many flowers from seeds, you truly understand the above statement.  So much beauty is bound up in a single flower seed which, like magic, can transform into a breathtaking flower.  I find happiness in just holding flower seeds and dreaming of the infinite possibility of what they will become. And when that magic happens - a seedling appears, a plant grows, a bud unfurls and a flower faces the sun - I am truly happy, awe struck and humbled.  And if I can share those flowers with family and friends, so much the better.

A Moment of Zen - Three for Thursday

 

 

Anyone who knows me well knows that I love to garden, mainly growing flowers.  There is something so gloriously fundamental about putting my hands in the living soil and planting something that will benefit bees, butterflies and/or hummingbirds (my way to decide what to plant - plus drought tolerance once established is a must since we live in the Chihuahuan Desert).  Planting and tending to the plants is my meditation and I experience many moments of Zen when I feel deeply connected to myself, to others and to Mother Earth.

 

Just what is “Zen?”  It’s to explain, especially when it is often tossed around so carelessly in popular culture (maybe like I just did above).  Zen is an authentic spiritual tradition, a path to an awakening: awakening to / realizing who we really are, and awakening the aspiration to serve others and take responsibility for all of life.  Zen is believed to be our true nature expressing itself moment by moment.

Delicate Easter Colors - Artisan Handmade Three for Thursday

 

 

Easter is a symbol of hope, renewal, and new life. 

Janine di Giovanni

 

 

Since yesterday was Ash Wednesday - and Easter is approximately six weeks away - I started thinking about Easters past, always large gatherings of family and friends.  But, before everyone showed up at our house, we went to Easter Sunrise mass, the only time my father was ever cajoled into going to church. As a child, I always remember getting a new Easter dress, usually with a matching headband, socks and gloves(!) to wear to church on Easter Sunday.  And if my sister and I were lucky, a small purse would be included. Very stylish, indeed, and usually VERY itchy! The clothes were always spring pastel in color: pinks, pale yellows, pale greens, pale blues and such. A preview of all the pastel colored Easter eggs that were waiting to be found!

 

This week’s Three for Thursday features three items from three handmade artists that definitely are filled with the renewal of Easter springtime colors.  The artists are: jewelry artist Mary of PrettyGonzo; crochet artist Pamela of MagdaleneKnits; and, me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs, also a jewelry artist.  I hope you enjoy my choices. And be sure to visit the artists’ shops for more splendiferous designs!

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.

Valentines Day Jewelry, Earrings and Necklaces Handmade by Shadow Dog Designs

 

 

If I had a flower for every time I thought of you . . .

I could walk through my garden forever.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

 

 

Valentines is just a bit over two weeks away, on February 14.  It is a day a day filled with pink and red hearts, flowers, cards, candy, and other tokens of love and devotion.  With that in mind, I wanted to share a collection of handmade Valentine’s Day jewelry, mostly earrings but two necklaces are also included.  Some of the jewelry from my Shadow Dog Designs handmade shop are traditional Valentine’s Day designs; others are not and can definitely be worn all year long.  There are even a couple for a dog lover.  I hope you enjoy this beautful collection . . . and maybe one or more of the one of a kind designs will end up with your sweetheart!  

Handmade Valentines Day Jewelry Gift Ideas - Three for Thursday

 

 

Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.  

-- Maya Angelou



 

Valentine’s Day will be here before we know - a day filled with pink and red, hearts, candy, cards and other tokens of love.  Speaking of tokens of love, I thought I’d pull together some charming artisan handmade jewelry from three different artists in this new post of Three for Thursday.  The first two jewelry selections are heart themed, but with a difference. Just in case, however, hearts aren’t your thing or your loved ones “thing,” then I also included a third item that would make a superb gift but that isn’t overtly Valentines-y.

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:

New Handmade Earrings - Jewelry Gift Ideas for Women

 

 

It’s hard to believe that 2018 is drawing to a close and that a new year will dawn in just a matter of days.  2018 was a very creative year for me as I found items from new artists (to me) to incorporate into my work - and continued working with pieces from old artist friends.  Playing with unique color combinations was also fun. My creative spirits have been active lately as you will see with the newest handmade earrings below, great gift ideas for a favorite woman on her birthday, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day . . . or just because.  I hope you enjoy these new handmade creations found in my Shadow Dog Designs jewelry shop.  Click on either the photo or the link below the photo to be taken to the item for more information and pictures.  

 

New Christmas Gift Ideas - Give Handmade Earrings This Year!

 

 

Earrings are always a great gift for the woman who loves to wear them.  They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and colors and price ranges - always something perfect for the intended wearer that won’t break the bank.  I’ve featured twelve pairs of earrings that can be found in my Shadow Dog Designs handmade jewelry shop: eight of the newest pairs listed and four sparkling pairs of Christmas earrings.   I hope you enjoy browsing the beauties . . . and maybe at least one pair finds its way into your shopping cart and then under the Christmas tree.

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.

 

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