Blog entry
'Twas the Thursday Before Christmas - Three for Thursday - Handmade
Posted December 19, 2019
Here it is, the Thursday before Christmas with one more weekend to do holiday shopping. Shopping online is still doable if you order now and have the package sent out by USPS Priority Mail. The deadline for Priority Mail shipping is December 21, this Saturday. To help you with those last minute purchases, I wanted to share three unique items from three handmade artists: Mary of PrettyGonzo; Jacki of Christie Cottage; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. I hope you enjoy the items chosen today.
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An Artisan Handmade Christmas - Gift Ideas - Week 10
Posted November 26, 2019
Wow! Christmas will be here in a little less than a month! And there are only two more weeks left in the Countdown to Christmas 2019! Where does the time go? The ever ticking Christmas clock doesn’t let up and keeps ticking down those seconds until Santa and his herd of reindeer make a nighttime visit to leave gifts or lumps of coal. The Countdown is the place for handmade artists to share three of their beautiful (often one of a kind) creations. Need a perfect start to your Christmas shopping? Shop the Countdown to Christmas: browse and purchase that special piece for that special person! An excellent motto to follow this holiday season: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN! And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE!
Red Cardinal Crochet Tapestry Holiday Decor Handmade by Ruth of RSS Designs In Fiber
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
New Jewelry - Handmade Earrings and Necklaces by Shadow Dog Designs
Posted September 12, 2019
It has been quite a while since I shared new, one of a kind necklace and earrings designs. The autumn show season has started and it seems I’m making new items, setting up at shows, selling at shows and packing up from shows. So my Shadow Dog Designs online shop hasn’t seen a whole lot of new handmade items posted lately - and many that were posted have sold. But I wanted to share the five newest pieces, plus three that are fairly new and one Halloween and one Christmas design. To see more information about individual items, either click on the photograph or the link under the photo - both will take you to the item in the shop. I hope you enjoy looking . . . and maybe buying!
Affirmation and Inspiration - Artisan Handmade Three for Thursday
Posted August 15, 2019
“More smiling, less worrying. More compassion, less judgment. More blessed, less stressed. More love, less hate.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
In these days which seem filled with words of hate and division, it’s sometimes hard to remember that there is MUCH more good in this world than there is bad. We just have to be aware of it. The smile of a friend or stranger. An unexpected helping hand. A kind word. Being strong in the face of adversity. That’s why I love the quote above . . . and sometimes use it as my mantra while doing some deep breathing to slow down my sometimes very active monkey mind.
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:
A Moment of Zen - Three for Thursday
Posted May 8, 2019
Anyone who knows me well knows that I love to garden, mainly growing flowers. There is 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.
Make it an Artisan Handmade Mothers Day - Week 7
Posted April 23, 2019
Week 7 of the Mother’s Day Countdown - 2019 has come and gone like a flash. Since Mother’s Day will be here before you know it (here in a flash), now is the time to start shopping for that perfect handmade gift for Mom. Hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their The Blu Print blog, the Countdown to Mother’s Day is a perfect place to start your shopping! Each week, handmade artists share up to three of their unique items, each one a perfect gift for even the hardest to please Mom. This week, a total of 36 artisan items were shared on the Countdown from 12 handmade artists. Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 7, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a unique beauty that was handmade from the heart.
Handmade Valentines Day Jewelry Gift Ideas - Three for Thursday
Posted January 24, 2019
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.
