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Make It an Artisans Mothers Day - Week 4 Gifts - 2026
Posted March 31, 2026
It's hard to believe that Week 4 of the Mother's Day Countdown 2026 Week 4 has come . . . and gone so quickly! We're at the tail end of April, but the Mother's Day Countdown doesn't take a break! The fun Countdown, hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog, is the place where artisans come together and share three of their unique items. This week 10 artists shared a total of 30 lovely items - each one a perfect gift for Mother’s Day. Since Mom's big day will be here before you know it, on May 10, this is the perfect time to purchase a gift(s) for your Mom, grandmother, aunties and other much loved women in your life. Be sure to browse all the wonderful handmade / designed shares on Week 4, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy a unique beauty that was artisan made from the heart. This year, definitely Make it a Handmade Mother's Day and Shop Small!!!
Here are my "favorite" picks from all the wonderful items shared:
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Make It a Handmade Mothers Day 2024 - Artisan Gifts - Week 5
Posted April 2, 2024
Another week of the Countdown to Mother's Day 2024 has come and gone. Hard to believe we're over 1/2 way through the promotion! Week 5 of the Countdown, as all the weeks have been and will be, was hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog. Thirty-three unique handmade / designed items were shared from eleven artists. Many are one of a kind and each will make a memorable gift for Mom on her big day. Since Mother's Day will be here before you know it, on May 12, this is the perfect time to think about and start buying a gift(s) for your Mom, grandmom, aunts . . . and, perhaps, for yourself. Browse all the wonderful handmade shares on the Countdown - Week 5, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beautiful gift that came from the heart. For this year's Mother's Day: PLEASE BUY HANDMADE and help support small, indie businesses!
Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Favorites - Week 8, 2023
Posted November 15, 2023
It’s all going so, so fast! Week 8 of the Countdown to Christmas 2023 has already come and gone, with only four more weeks remaining! The ever ticking Your Christmas Countdown Clock doesn’t let up - according to it, Santa and his flying reindeer will start their journey in only 39 days! Yikes!!!! Need a perfect place to start / finish your Christmas shopping? The Countdown - a chance for artists to come together and share three of their unique gift ideas - is the just the place to do that holiday shopping! Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions are hosting the twelve-week Countdown to Christmas 2023 of artisan handmade items on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog (where you can also see the first seven Countdowns). This week, 39 items, many which are one of a kind designs, from 13 artists are featured. The artists shared a wide range of handmade gift ideas: jewelry of all sorts, Christmas gift tags, sweatshirts, limited edition prints, photographic prints, lampwork beads, coffee mugs and much, much more. A wonderful motto to follow: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN! And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE to support hard working indie artists!
In addition to promoting each handmade item from the Countdown collection to my "Countdown to a Handmade Christmas 2023" Pinterest board and on my Twitter feed, I decided to share one item from each of the artists who participated this week. Here are my "favorites" picks of the items, in an order determined by drawing numbers from my trusty numbers bowl. I hope you enjoy these unique items!
New Handmade Earrings and Necklaces - Jewelry by Shadow Dog Designs
Posted June 27, 2023
Since the heat wave that set in about a week ago has not let up, I find it too hot to go outside and photograph new jewelry (which I normally do around noonish). Photographing is something I really need to do, but I'll wait until it cools down a bit. So I decided to pull together a blog that features the eleven newest jewelry designs in my SHADOW DOG DESIGNS jewelry shop, three new necklace and eight pairs of earrings. Each piece was designed and handmade by me and they are all one of a kind designs. If something catches your eye and you would like to look at more photos and read more about the piece, please click on the picture or the description underneath to be taken to the item listing. I hope you enjoy each and every piece as much as I love creating them!
Buy Artisan Handmade for Mothers Day 2023 - Week 7
Posted April 25, 2023
Week 7 of the Countdown to Mothers Day 2023 zoomed right on by . . . and in it's wake, 30 handmade items were left on the link-up by ten talented artists. The Countdown is hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog. Each unique item will make a memorable gift for Mom on her day. Since Mother's Day will be here in about three weeks, on May 14, this is the perfect time to purchase a gift(s) for your Mom - and, perhaps, for other loved ones and 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 7, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beautiful gift that was handmade from the heart. And, when you purcahse from these shops, you are supporting small indie businesses!
Buy Artisan Handmade for Mothers Day 2023 - Week 1
Posted March 14, 2023
Julie and the ever Handsome Harry Florida Dog of Blue Morning Expressions are once again hosting the wildly popular Countdown to Mother’s Day 2023 Week 1 on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog. Last year's Mother's Day Countdown 2022 was a resounding success . . . so the 2023 version is up and running. Since Mother's Day will be here before you know it - on May 14 - this is the perfect time to start thinking about buying a gift(s) for your mom, grandmom, aunts and/ or other beloved women. Browse all the wonderful handmade shares, visit the shops of the artists featured in this week's Countdown and buy your mother a beauty that was handmade / designed from the heart. When you do so, you support a small, independent business (which makes us do a happy dance)!
Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - 2022 - Week 4
Posted October 11, 2022
Where did Week 4 of the Countdown to Christmas go? Or for that matter, weeks 1-3??? All four weeks have quickly sped right on by - we’re now ⅓ of the way through the Countdown! . According to the ever ticking Christmas clock there is only 74 days until Christmas is here again! Since the holiday gift giving season is quickly approaching, Julie of Blue Morning Expressions along with her handsome sidekick, Harry, are hosting a twelve-week Countdown to Christmas 2022 of artisan handmade items on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog in their 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 36 shares by 12 artists with a wide range of gift ideas: jewelry of all sorts, thimbles, Christmas ornaments, lampwork beads, party stickers and tags, hand crocheted baby gifts and photographic / digital art. 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 HANDMADE to support small indie businesses!
Make It A Handmade Mothers Day 2022 - Week 7
Posted April 19, 2022
Week 7 of the Countdown to Mothers Day 2022 flew right on by . . . and in it's wake, 27 handmade items were left from nine talented artists. The Countdown is hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their the Blu Print blog. 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 7, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beautiful gift that was handmade from the heart. And, please support a small indie business!
Happy Valentines Day - Artisan Handmade Gifts!
Posted January 13, 2022
Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it. Walk into a store shortly after Christmas and hearts, cupids and other items in pink and red will assail you from every direction. Flowers, candy and gifts are exchanged between loved ones throughout the United States and in many other countries around the world . . . all in the name of St. Valentine. Although the exact history of St. Valentine is shrouded in mystery, February has long been celebrated as a month of romance. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman traditions.
New Jewelry Handmade by Shadow Dog Designs
Posted October 10, 2021
This month, I want to share eleven new pieces of jewelry with you, seven pairs of earrings and four necklaces. All are one of a kind pieces and all are designed and handmade by me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. I've somewhat grouped them according to theme, starting off with Halloween and Day of the Dead earrings, since those celebrations will soon be very here. Then a pair of Christmas tree earrings (the holidays will be here sooner than we think!). The last seven range anywhere between sweet and petite and fun and funky. If something catches your eye, be sure to click the photo or the link below the photo to be taken to the item in the shop. There you can read the specifics and browse more pictures. I hope you enjoy these newest beauties!
Perfect for Halloween and Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos celebrations:
