Blog entry

Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Week 2 Favorites - 2025

Week 2 of the Countdown to Christmas 2025 has already come . . . and gone!  No worries, however, because many unique artisan handmade / designed items were left in its wake.  According to the ever ticking Your Christmas Countdown Clock, there are only 92 days until Christmas is here.  With the rapidly approaching gift giving season in mind, Julie and her wonderful four-footed sidekick, Harry, are hosting a twelve-week Countdown to Christmas of artisan handmade items on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog, part of their of Blue Morning Expressions 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 27 shares by 9 artists featuring a wide range of gift ideas: unique jewelry, lampwork beads, Christmas stickers, note cards, photographic art for the home, pennants and a host of other beauties.  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 SMALL and SHOP HANDMADE to support an appreciative indie businesses!

Each week during the Countdown, I pick my a favorite item from each artist (hard to do!) and feature them here on my blog.  These are my favorites for Week 2:   

New Jewelry at Shadow Dog Designs, Handmade, One of a Kind

It has been a good while since I shared any new jewelry here on my blog.  Spring is always busy with planting flowers.  I choose mostly native plants that are proven to attract pollinators:  hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and/or wasps.  A hearty dose of cosmos, zinnias and sunflower seeds are planted also planted, all also very attractive to pollinators.  Another dust is brewing outside, so I decided to pull togther a blog of the eight newest pairs of earrings along with two of the newest necklaces.  If something catches your eye, please either click on the photo or the link and you'll be taken to the item in my SHADOW DOG DESIGNS shop for more information.  All of the jewelry is handmade and are one of a kind designs.  Thanks for stopping by!

Make It an Artisans Mothers Day - Week 4 Gifts - 2025

It's hard to believe that Week 4 of the Mother's Day Countdown 2025 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 9 artists shared a total of 27 lovely items - each one a perfect gift for Mother’s Day.  Since Mom's day will be here before you know it, on May11 (!), tthis is the perfect time to start purchasing 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!!!

Make It an Artisans Mothers Day - Week 1 Gifts - 2025

Julie and the Handsome Harry Florida Dog of Blue Morning Expressions are again hosting the wildly popular “Mother's Day Countdown.” Last year's Countdown was a resounding success . . . so the 2025 version is up and running.  Check out the Mother’s Day Countdown 2025 Week 1 on Julie and Harry's Buy Handmade from Makers blog. Since Mother's Day will be here before you know it - on May 11 - 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 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)!  #ShopSmall for Mother's Day this year!  Here is a favorite from each artist who shared their work on the Countdown this past weekend: