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Countdown to Christmas - Artisan Gift Favorites - Week 5, 2026

Posted October 20, 2026

 

 

Where does the time go?  It seems to go by more and more quickly each week!  Case in point is that week 5 of the Countdown to Christmas has already come and gone!  According to the ever ticking Your Christmas Countdown Clock, there are only 65 days before the the jolly, reindeer driving man clothed in red and white arrives once again. With the quickly approaching holiday season, Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions are hosting once again a twelve-week Countdown to Christmas 2026 of artisan handmade items on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog. Now is the perfect time to start your holiday shopping and the Countdown is the perfect place to begin / end that!  This week, 10 artists left a total of 28 handmade / designed items.  The collection is wide-ranging gift collection: different styles of jewelry, journals, photography, Christmas ornaments, Christmas stickers, watercolor prints, lampwork beads and much more.  Remember this motto: SHOP EARLY and SHOP OFTEN!  And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE to support a small indie business.  We thank you when you do that!

 

Each week of the 12 week Countdown, I pick a favorite item from each artist (hard to do!) and feature them here on my blog.  My favorites for Week 5 are:  

 

 

 

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» Tagged: autumn berries, book marks, bracelet beads, chocolates, Christmas, Christmas dog earrings, Christmas gifts, Christmas gifts for women, Christmas labradoodle earrings, Christmas ornament, Christmas stickers, Countdown to Christmas, dog earrings, floral earrings, flower earrings, giclee prints, handmade, handmade Christmas gifts, handmade earrings, handmade gifts, handmade necklace, hardcover notebook, holiday gifts, holidays, interfaith, lampwork beads, lampwork bracelet beads, Love Lights the Season, natiure photography, original photography, peace sign earrings, peace signs, puppy dog, red, Shadow Dog Designs, ShadowDogDesigns, silver, sky blue lampwork, tripical journal, turquoise, Unveristy of Tampa, wall decor, whire, white flowers

Countdown to Christmas - Artisan Gift Favorites - Week 4, 2026

Posted October 13, 2026

 

 

Who would have believed how quickly Week 4 of the Countdown to Christmas 2026 flew right on by . . . but here we are!  Left in its wake is a wide variety of wonderful artisan handmade / designed items.  According to the ever ticking Your Christmas Countdown Clock, there are only 72 days until jolly St. Nick pays a visit to inform you if you have been naughty or nice.  With the rapidly approaching gift giving season, Julie and her faithful four-footed sidekick, Handsome Harry, are hosting a twelve-week Countdown to Christmas 2026 of artisan handmade / designed items on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog, part of their Blue Morning Expressions Shopify shop.  This week, there were 30 shares from 10 artists featuring a wide range of gifts:  unique jewelry designs, journals, holiday gift tags, resin flowers, prints, lampwork beads, table linens and a slew of other beauties.  If you need a perfect start (or ending) to your Christmas holiday shopping, the Countdown is the place to do just that!  An excellent motto to follow is: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN.  And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE to support small indie businesses!


Each week during the 12 week Countdown, I pick a favorite gift item from each artist (hard to do!) and feature it on my "Artisan Gift Favorites" blog.  Here are my picks for Week 4:  

 

 

 

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» Tagged: 8th note necklace, acorn charms, art journal. altered tin, bird gift tags, birds, cat earrings, cat lover earrings, cat lover jewelry, cat moons earrings, cats eye beads, Christmas, Christmas gifts, Christmas gifts for women, Countdown to Christmas, dragonflies, dragonfly journal, gift tags, handmade, handmade Christmas gifts, handmade earrings, handmade gifts, handmade necklace, holiday gifts, holidays, home decor, lampwork beads, lampwork bracelet beads, leaf earrings, leather earrings, lined notebook, lithograph print, music inspired necklace, olive linens, red lampwork beads, Shadow Dog Designs, ShadowDogDesigns, University of Tampa, vintage

Countdown to Christmas - Artisan Gift Favorites - Week 2, 2026

Posted September 29, 2026

 

 

Week 2 of the Countdown to Christmas 2026 has already come . . . and gone!  No worries, however, because many unique artisan handmade / designed items were left in its wake.  According to the ever ticking Your Christmas Countdown Clock, there are only 86 days (as of the day this blog posted) until Christmas is here.  With the rapidly approaching gift giving season in mind, Julie and her wonderful four-footed sidekick, Harry, are hosting a twelve-week Countdown to Christmas of artisan handmade items on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog, part of their Blue Morning Expressions Shopify shop.  The twelve week time period was chosen to correspond with the ubiquitous Christmas carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas''. This week, there were 24 shares by 8 artists featuring a wide range of gift ideas: unique jewelry, lampwork beads, art prints, garden banners, journals, table linens and a host of other beauties.  If you need a perfect start to your Christmas shopping, the Countdown is the place to do just that!  An excellent motto to follow is: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN.  And, most of all, SHOP SMALL and SHOP HANDMADE to support indie businesses!  We will absolutely thank you!

 

Each week during the Countdown, I pick a favorite item from each artist (hard to do!) and feature them here on my blog. Here are my favorites for Week 2:   

 

 

 

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Make It a Handmade Mothers Day 2024 - Artisan Gifts - Week 9

Posted April 30, 2024

 

 

Watch out!  Mother’s Day will be here very, very soon - in fact, in less than 2 weeks, on Sunday, May 12.  It’s still not too late to order a handmade gift (do it now!) from the beauties shared this week on the Countdown to Mother's Day 2024 Week 9.  The Countdown was hosted again this year by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog.  Hard to believe this is the last week of the Countdown - time sure flies by!  Despite that, 11 handmade artisans shared a total of 33 wonderfully unique items, some of them one of a kind designs. Browse the wide range of eye catching shares for this week, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom, Grandmother, aunties (or yourself!) something that was HANDMADE from the heart!  By shopping small, you'll also support a small indie business (and for that, we are eternally grateful!).  Featured below are my favorites from the Countdown:

 

 

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Make It a Handmade Mothers Day 2024 - Artisan Gifts - Week 8

Posted April 23, 2024

 

 

Just a warning:  if you haven't started shopping for Mother's Day gifts, you're quickly running out of time!!!  Just a little less than three weeks from now, the big day for Mom will be here.  To help you in your search for the perfect gift item, check out the Countdown to Mother's Day 2024 - Week 8.  It's a collection filled with unique artisan items, 33 beauties from 11 artists, all handmade / designed from the heart.  As an added bonus, many of them are one of a kind designs.  Hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog, each of the unique items will make a memorable gift for Mom on her day.  This is the perfect time to start buying a gift(s) for your Mom - and, perhaps, add something for yourself!  Items on the Countdown go quick so don't miss out.  Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 8, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beautiful gift that was HANDMADE.  Also you'll be supporting a grateful indie artist.  

 

 

 

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