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Blog entry
Halloween and Day of the Dead
Posted September 6, 2022
Halloween and Day of the Dead will be here before we know it! To get the word out about all of the spooky goodies in our shops, please share two Halloween inspired items. They don't have to be actuall Halloween items but can be the colors of orange, black and brown usually associated with Halloween, Dia de los Muertos and autumn. The InLinkz is open now and will close this Saturday, September 10, at 12:00 p.m. MDT. I hope to have the blog out by Monday morning.
If you participate, please share each item and the blog on at least two social media sites (I'll be tweeting and sharing on several Pinterest boards both from the linkup and from the actual blog). Please use the hashtag #Halloween2022 for tweeting so the items are easily found.
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Make It A Handmade Mothers Day 2022 - Week 8
Posted April 26, 2022
If you haven't started shopping for Mother's Day gifts, you are quickly running out of time!!! Just a little less than two weeks from now and the big day for Mom will be here. To help you in your searches for the perfect item, check out the Mother's Day Countdown 2022 - Week 8. It is a collection filled with unique artisan items, all handmade from the heart and most one of a kind. Hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Blu Print blog, each of the unique items, 30 beauties from 10 artists, 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, for yourself! These 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 small indie artist!
Animalia - Handmade Animal Inspired Gifts
Posted February 16, 2022
As most of my friends know, I adore animals - always have and always will - in all their glorious shapes and sizes and colors life story. Well, ttruthfully, I’m not too fond of mosquitos and ticks, despite their important role on this earth. Besides dogs and horses, it’s hard for me to pick out a favorite animal. I'm fascinated by all of them. How about you?
But just what is the term “animalia?” ANIMALIA: a taxonomic kingdom comprising all multicellular living and extinct animals - also called “metazoa.”
According to the Animal Diversity Web, it estimated that around 9 to 10 million species of animals inhabit the earth. Metazoa range in size from no more than a few cells - such as the parasitic orthonectids - to organisms weighing many tons - such as blue whales and giant squid. By far, insects make up the most species in animalia, with approximately 5.5 million species.
Having such a life-long love of (most) animals, I decided that a blog based on “Animalia” would be fun to pull together. I invited artist friends to share two handmade items that were based on animals. What a wide variety of beauties were shared, many one of a kind designs. If something catches your eye, please make sure to either click the photo or the link below the picture for more information. I hope you enjoy this showcase of animal art!
Handmade Hot Summer Fun
Posted August 5, 2021
Here it is, already August and a good part of scorching summer heat is behind us. Summer here in the Desert Southwest, so far, has actually been pretty mild - at least for here. Other places haven’t been so lucky, unfortunately. With the days of summer rapidly waning, I asked artist friends to share two items that represent “hot summer fun” in shades of red, oranges and yellows. Some items are more on the hot, hot hot summer side and some are more on the mellow cool summer side. But all are artisan handmade / designed and many are one of a kind. So if something catches your eye on the Handmade Hot Summer Fun blog, please click the photo or the link below the photo for more information. I hope you enjoy all these beauties. And remember: SHOP SMALL and SHOP HANDMADE!
There are Always Flowers - Artisan Handmade - May 27, 2021
Posted May 27, 2021
There are always flowers for those who want to see them -
Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse is absolutely right. There are ALWAYS flowers. Even when it's winter and no flowers are found (except a few succulents that bloom inside during the winter), I have them in my heart, impatiently waiting for spring to see the hollyhocks, roses, geraniums, bottle brush, mimosa, lantana, Russian sage and other fine petaled friends again. And they are beautiful right now, blooming away before the desert heat sets in. To add even more floral beauty to this spring, I decided a colorful flower blog was needed. Artist friends shared two of their handmade items with a flower theme. If something catches your eye, be sure to click on the photo or the link below the photo to be taken to the item in the shop. I hope you love these cheerful beauties.
Make It A Handmade Mothers Day - Week 5
Posted April 6, 2021
Another week of the Countdown to Mother's Day 2021 has come and gone. Week 5 is here already!!! Hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Blu Print blog, Thirty-three unique handmade items were shared from 11 artists. Many are one of a kind and each 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). Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 5, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beautiful gift that was handmade from the heart. For this year's Mother's Day: BUY HANDMADE!
Make It a Handmade Christmas 2020 - Week 6
Posted October 27, 2020
It’s hard to realize that we’re half-way finished with the twelve week Countdown to Christmas 2020! Yikes! That means Christmas is bearing down on us and will soon be here, just a bit less than 2 months! According to the ever ticking Christmas clock, there are only 58 days until ho-ho-ho-ing Santa and his merry band of clattering reindeer arrive once again. 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, SHOP ARTISAN HANDMADE!
The Many Faces of Green - Artisan Handmade
Posted July 12, 2020
GREEN is a favorite color of many people because of it being the predominant terrestrial color of Mother Earth. It is considered by many to be the most restful color (green being a favorite color choice for bedrooms). But the color green wears many faces, both in its numerous beautiful shades and its interesting historical context. I found the history and symbolism of green to be fascinating and decided to share some of what I found:
Colors for Autumn - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday
Posted September 5, 2019
Despite the days still being in the mid- to high-90’s here in the Borderlands (unusual here for this time of the year), the last few mornings have had a tinge of autumn in the air. I’m definitely ready for the cooler breezes and being able to leave the windows open. Purple asters will bloom and the cottonwoods will turn a glorious golden yellow. Fall will soon be here (I hope!).
With autumn in mind, I decided to choose handmade beauties in fall colors for this Three for Thursday titles, appropriately enough, Colors for Autumn. The artists today are: Kathy of KatsAllThat; Pamela of MagdaleneKnits; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. I hope you enjoy my autumn inspired picks and will visit the shops of the artists for more wondrous handmade fall elegance.
A Little of This, A Little of That - Artisan Handmade Three for Thursday
Posted August 8, 2019
This week’s Three for Thursday blog, featuring three items from three handmade artisans, is “A Little of This, A Little of That.” As the title indicates, I picked out a wide variety of unique items, from fractal art counted cross stitch patterns / refrigerator magnets / polymer clay beads to hand sewn jewelry / favor bags to one of a kind jewelry. The artists included are: Julie (and her four legged sidekick, Harry) of Blue Morning Expressions; Ani of readytoshipproducts; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. If something catches your eye and you want to see more, please click the photo or link to be taken to the artist’s shop. I hope you enjoy browsing the items.
