Blog entry
Beautiful Flowers - Artisan Handmade for Spring
Posted February 25, 2021
Photo by James J. Shaw
I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.
William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair . . .
Susan Polis Schutz
» 14 Comments
Make It a Handmade Mothers Day - Week 6
Posted April 14, 2020
Where did Week 6 of the Mother’s Day Countdown 2020 go? It was here . . . and then was gone. The Countdown is hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Blu Print blog. This week, 36 handmade items from 12 artists were shared. Each unique tem will make a memorable gift for Mom on her day. Since Mother's Day will be here before you know it, this is the perfect time to start thinking about and buying a gift(s) for your Mom - and, perhaps, for yourself! These items go quick, and, since many are one of a kind, don't miss out. Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 6, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beautiful gift that was handmade from the heart.
Follow Your Heart - Handmade Valentines Day Gifts
Posted January 23, 2020
Love is something eternal; the aspect may change, but not the essence. - Vincent van Gogh
By now, everyone is aware that Valentine’s Day (or St. Valentine’s Day) is rapidly approaching; it will be here in less than a month, on February 14th. Many stores have been decked out in hearts, cards, red roses, candy and cupids since the day after Christmas so it’s a day that’s hard to miss.
Since the most common Valentine's Day symbol is the heart, the new "Follow Your Heart" Three for Thursday blog is dedicated hearts. Three beautifully unique heart items are shared from three handmade artist friends. Some of the items are more traditional and some are not - but all will make a perfect Valentine’s Gift for your loved one. The artists featured are: Julie from Blue Morning Expressons; Heather from BluKatDesign; and, me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. If something catches your eye, click on the photo or the description and you’ll be taken to the item in the shop. I hope you enjoy each and every heart.
All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt. - Charles M. Schulz
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!
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.
It's an Artisan Handmade Three for Thursday - Polymer Clay
Posted July 19, 2018
I think there is something very special about handmade work. You can appreciate the thought, detail and time that have been invested into creating something amazing, whether it is great or small. In my opinion, handmade goods are accessible works of art.
Tami Gagne
What an amazing quote . . . and one I agree with 100%. There is always something very special about a handmade item since part of the artist’s heart and soul goes into each piece created. You will definitely see what I mean when you look at the work of the artist’s featured today. Not that I planned it this way - it just happened - but the the three artists included in this week’s Three for Thursday blog are all polymer clay artists (who also work in other mediums), creating such amazing and diverse art. The artist’s are: Pati Bannister of patibannister; Julie Cleveland of Blue Morning Expressions; and Susana Paredes of EarthExpressions. I have purchased from all three of these polymer clay artists and can guarantee that their work is superb.
Colors to Love! - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
Posted June 6, 2018
.jpg)
Most artists absolutely love a wide range of colors - that’s part of being an artist, right? Vibrant colors and subdued colors, they all have their places in designs. As Wassily Kandinsky, a Russian painter who is credited with painting the first purely abstract works, once said:
"Color is a power that directly influences the soul."
I totally agree!
COLORS! - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
Posted March 21, 2018
I love this quote by the artist Edvard Munch: “The colors live a remarkable life of their own after they have been applied to the canvas.” I can’t imagine life without colors, from the bold and brilliant to the soft and subdued. The magnificence of a field of wildflowers would be lost, along with a blazing sunset and the colors of a hummingbird and a Renoir painting. I truly feel sorry for people who can only see a small amount of color . . . or none at all.
The theme of this week’s Wonderful andmade Wednesday on Indiemade blog is “COLORS!” The beautiful colors used to create the artisan handmade pieces shown below definitely have a life of their own after they were worked into the design. Enjoy!
She Comes in Colors Everywhere - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
Posted July 19, 2017
Roses are red and violets are blue and rainbows have seven colors. Most people live in a colorful world. As humans, our color vision influences everything from our art and poetry to the colors we paint our homes and the clothing we buy. But why do we see (or not see) color? Being of an inquiring mind (and remembering some of what I learned in science), here is the low down in an encapsulated form:
Beautiful Firsts - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade
Posted July 12, 2017
Looking for a handmade gift for a special someone, an item that was made from the heart? Each of the Beautiful Firsts creations featured below are artisan handcrafted; many are one of a kind designs. The unique items chosen are the first listing in each shop (as of this post) but there are many more beauties to be discovered if you stay awhile and browse. Support handmade . . . support handmade artists!
