Blog entry

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: 

Artisan Valentines Gifts for Loved Ones - Week 3 - 2025

Yikes!  Valentine's Day is only 2 weeks away (February 14)!!!  For ease of shopping for the big day, Week 3 of the Valentine’s gift blog on Shadow Dog Designs features artisan handmade / designed beauties.  Each piece in the collection is perfect for a loved one.  There are plenty of Valentine's Day themed items, but gifts that are not so distinctly traditional are also included.  Many of the artisan items can be worn / used all year long!  If something catches your eye, be sure to click either the photo or the description below the picture to be taken to the artistan's shop.  To see all of the gift ideas in one place, here’s a link: Artisan Valentine's Gifts for Loved Ones - Week 1 - 2025.  ALL of the gifts shared here were created by small business owners.  Please be sure to SHOP SMALL for this Valentine's Day.  We will certainly appreciate that!!!

Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Week 10 Favorites - 2024

Wow!  Christmas will be here in only 28 days, less than a month away!  And there are only two more weeks left in the Countdown to Christmas 2024!  The ever ticking Your Christmas Countdown Clock doesn’t let up and keeps ticking down those seconds until Santa and his herd of flying reindeer make a nighttime visit to leave welcome gifts or lumps of coal. Since the holiday gift giving season is lurking just around the corner, Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions are once again hosting a twelve-week Countdown of artisan handmade / designed items on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog.  The Countdown is the place for handmade artists to share three of their beautiful (often one of a kind) creations. This week ten artists shared 30 items, a wide range of wonderful gift ideas:  many styles of jewelry, decorative thimbles, art t-shirts, art prints, keychains, gift card holders, crocheted baby gifts and many other unique items.  Need a perfect start or end to your holiday shopping?  Shop the Countdown to Christmas; browse and purchase that special piece for that special person!  An excellent rule of thumb to follow this holiday season: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN!  And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE to support small, independent artisan shops!

In addition to promoting each handmade item from the Countdown collection to my "Countdown to a Handmade Christmas 2024" 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 - hard to chose!  I hope you enjoy these unique items!