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Hot Summer Fun - Artisan Handmade Gifts
Posted June 9, 2022
It’s hard to believe that we are already through a good part of the first week of June with most of the scorching summer still ahead of us - even though it’s not yet “officially” summer (June 21 at 3:14 a.m. MDT this year). Up until the last few days, summer here in the Desert Southwest has been relatively mild. BUT the triple digits have finally set in and the AC seems to run continuously. As everyone says: at least it’s a dry heat! June is usually our hottest month. And then the monsoon season sets in where we get most of the 9” of rain that is normal for this part of the desert. Everyone is praying that the rains do start soon on schedule, normally at the end of June. For the past several years, a big storm has shown up on the 4th of July where we can enjoy Mother Nature’s fireworks - and then the scheduled fireworks once the storm blows through, all from the comfort of our upstairs porch. Hope that happens again this year since it’s quite spectacular.
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Make It A Handmade Mothers Day 2022 - Week 6
Posted April 12, 2022
Where did Week 6 of the Countdown to Mother's Day 2022 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, 27 handmade items from 9 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. And you'll be supporting an independent 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!
Every Flower - Artisan Jewelry by Shadow Dog Designs
Posted July 6, 2021
EVERY FLOWER IS A SOUL BLOSSOMING IN NATURE
Gerard de Nerval
Anyone who knows me well, knows that I love growing flowers. Since moving to the Desert Southwest, it has been a long experiment to see what survives and what doesn’t. Not only does the summer heat make some plants struggle, but we had an unexpected deep freeze this past winter. But since the monsoon season has arrived early this year with much needed rain (yay!) and cooler temperatures (yay!), my flower beds are thriving. The zinnias that were grown from seed have just started to bloom - they are an experiment so we’ll see how they do. Grandpa Otts morning glories and sunflowers are aso blooming, along with the yellow and native lantana (which started back in March) and cheerful moss-rose purslane. And, of course, the bright fuchsia pink Knockout roses keep chugging right along. An all-time favorite flower, hollyhocks, are just about bloomed out. I've been taking photos and hope to share some in a blog later on. I revel in the beauty of flowers!
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!
Awesome Animals - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday
Posted July 30, 2020
Anyone who knows me knows I love animals, always have and always will. No-footed, two-footed, four-footed, six footed or more (except, to tell the truth, female mosquitoes and ticks - uck!). I love animals of all sizes, from huge ones to wee, tiny ones - from blue whales, the largest mammal on earth, to Kitti's hog-nosed bat (or bumblebee bat) the world's smallest mammal at just over 1” long. And I’m always amazed at how animals have evolved to survive. Just think of the Griffon’s vulture which is recorded as the highest flying bird at 37,000 feet to deep sea creatures which live in harsh conditions thousands of feet in the ocean where light doesn’t reach. Amazing!
When I was mulling around what the theme of this week's Three for Thursday blog, I decided on animals. Three animal related items from three handmade artists are featured. The artists are: Linda of VictorianStyleTreasures; Roxanne of watercolorsNmore; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. I hope you enjoy this collection of animal themed items. Be sure to visit the shops to find even more beauties.
Flora and Fauna - Artisan Handmade
Posted June 25, 2020
The Earth is such a beautiful place to live on, if we just take the time to look and observe. No matter where we go, unique plants and animals can be found, two very important parts of any ecosystem. I’ve been lucky to have lived in many places and many different ecosystems, from Central Texas to North Carolina, from near Georgian Bay in Canada to a forest in Northern Virginia, from North Texas to an island in South Carolina. Now I live in the gorgeous Desert Southwest. The flora and fauna of each place was awe-inspiring - some the same but, most often, very different. Since I love what Mother Nature has to offer, I find it all VERY, VERY interesting and want to keep on learning about how our wonderful Earth functions . . . and what we need to do to heal it.
Make It a Handmade Mothers Day - Week 8
Posted April 28, 2020
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 and the big day for Mom will be here. To help you out, check out the Mother's Day Countdown 2020 Week 8, a cllection filled with unique artisan items, most of them handmade from the heart. Hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Blu Print blog, each of the unique 39 items from 13 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, and, since many are one of a kind, 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.
'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.
A Melange of Handmade - Three for Thursday - June 20, 2019
Posted June 20, 2019
This weeks's Three for Thursday is a melange of items. Since I have an addiction to words, I wanted to give a brief etymology of the word melange. The word, which rolls off the tongue to so beautifully, first is first found in French documents around the comes from the 15th century French word meler, meaning 'to mix, mingle." Meler, in turn, came from the Old French meslance or meslinges (a set of diverse elements). So, according to The Free Dictionary, the modern word means “a collection of various things.” Which is the perfect definition of the variety of handmade items I found from artists and am sharing in this post: The items featured are from three handmade artists: beautiful original watercolor paintings from Roxanne of watercolorsNmore; fun and handy to have cards of various types from Jacki of Christie Cottage; and a selection of one of a kind handmade jewelry from me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs.
I hope you enjoy these picks. And that you will visit the shops of the artists for more handmade beauties.
