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Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Week 5 Favorites - 2024

 

 

Where does hte time go?  It seems to go by more and more quickly each week:  week 5 of the Countdown to Christmas has already come and gone!  According to the ever ticking Your Christmas Countdown Clock, there are only 63 days (a bit more than 2 months!!!) before the the reindeer driving man clothed in red and white arrives once again. With the rapidly approaching holiday season, Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions comtimue to host a twelve-week Countdown to Christmas 2024 of artisan handmade items on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog. Now is the perfect time to start your holiday shopping and the Countdown is the perfect place to begin that!  This week, 33 handmade / designed items from 11 artists were shared in the wide-ranging gift collection: jewelry of all different styles, photo albums, art prinrs, note cards, throw pillows, keychains, decal sets, lampwork beads, baby gifts and more.  Remember this motto: SHOP EARLY and SHOP OFTEN!  And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE to support a small indie business.

 

Each week during the 12 week Countdown, I will pick a favorite item from each artist (hard to do!) and feature them here on my blog.  Here are my favorites for Week 5:  

 

 

 

 

Christmas in July 2024 - Artisan Handmade Gifts - Week 5

 

 

 

Here we are at the last full week og July!  How does the time go by so quickly???  This is the last full week, Week 5 of the Christmas in July 2024.  Since Santa and his merry bunch of reindeer will visit before we know it, it’s never too early to start shopping for unique holiday gifts for a loved one.  There are now only 152 days to Christmas (from when this blog was posted) according to the ever ticking CHRISTMAS CLOCK.  

 

Artist friends were asked to participate in a “Christmas in July” promotion, sharing three of their favorite items - one that was “Christmasy” (in design or colors, etc.) and two others that didn’t have to be.  The first week was only Christmas items - the weeks since have been a mixture.  Since I miscalculated the number of weeks, a Week 5 was added where friends shared one more item of their choice.  Many of these beauties are one of a kind, so be sure to shop early (and often) so you don’t miss out.  And please visit the shops of the artists for even more wonderful items that are handmade / designed from the heart.  Hopefully items featured here or in the shops will make it into your shopping basket.  Buy for a loved one . . . and be sure to treat yourself!   Remember:  SHOP SMALL and SHOP HANDMADE!

 

 

Christmas in July 2024 - Artisan Handmade Gifts - Week 3

 

 

It’s a bit over halfway through the year and Christmas will be here before we know (just like in years past!).  Because of this, it’s never too early to start shopping for unique holiday gifts for a loved one!  Santa will be clattering around with his herd of reindeer in about 5 ½ months - actually 166 days (from when this blog was posted) according to the ever ticking CHRISTMAS CLOCK.  

 

Artist friends were asked to participate in a “Christmas in July” promotion, sharing three items - one that was “Christmasy” (in design or colors, etc.) and two others that didn’t have to be.  Last week, Christmas items were showcased in a new blog.  This week the items are a mixture of Christmas and non-Christmas creations.  Since many of these beauties are one of a kind, be sure to shop early (and often) so you don’t miss out.  And please visit the shops of the artists for even more wonderful items that are handmade or designed from the heart.  Hopefully items featured here or in the shops will make it into your shopping basket.  Buy for a loved one . . . and be sure to treat yourself!   Remember:  SHOP SMALL and SHOP HANDMADE!

 

 

 

A Fantasia of Flowers - Artisan Handmade Floral Gifts

 

 

Here in the Desert Southwest, you can feel that spring is not far off.  The days are getting longer and warmer, the winds are getting . . . . well . . . . windier, and, despite not having much rain in the last several months, flowers are beginning to stir and put on buds, a prelude to their much anticipated appearance before the heat sets in.  I saw the first swallows of the season yesterday, soaring and dipping through the arroyo that butts up against our back yard.  Other bird migrants will soon be here - some will pass on through and some will stay to nest.  Hummingbirds are greatly anticipated as are the butterflies, bees and wasps, all of which I hope will make good use of the new pollinator flower bed that has been a long, slow process in the making.  Life is good.

 

Thinking about flowers reminds me of a favorite floral quote by the Impressionist painter, Claude Monet, who painted many amazing floral landscapes and cultivated large flower gardens at Giverny:  

 

 

“I MUST HAVE FLOWERS, ALWAYS, AND ALWAYS”  

 

 

I TOTALLY agree with him!

 

The flowers shared below blossomed in the creative minds, hearts and souls of each artist featured.  I hope you enjoy browsing all these cheerful artisan handmade / designed spring beauties.  And be sure to visit the shops of the artisans featured for even more to choose from.  After all, Easter and Mother’s Day will quickly be here!

 

 

 

New Handmade Earrings and Necklaces by Shadow Dog Designs

 

 

It has been a very long while since I last showcased some of the newest jewelry in my SHADOW DOG DESIGNS shop.  Where does the time go???  The eleven selections being showcased today - eight pairs of earrings and three necklaces - are one of a kind designs.  With Valentine's Day rapidly approaching, any of these will make a unique gift for a loved one.  Why wear mass produced jewelry when you can wear a one of a kind design that was handmade from the heart!  Please support small independent businesses - you'll be glad you did!

Gorgeous Gifts - Artisan Handmade for Valentines Day!

 

 

Valentine’s Day, February 14, will be here before we know it.  When you walk into most stores shortly after Christmas (or even sometimes before!), 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 (or Valentinus) is shrouded in mystery (there are actually three St. Valentines recognized by the Catholic Church to consider!), February has long been celebrated as a month of romance.  Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both ancient Roman (Lupercalia) and Christian traditions, with a few other influences thrown in for good measure. 

 

This year for Valentine's Day, don't think abour buying mass produced from large companies.  Think, instead of supporting a small, indie business, people who actually make or design the items themselves.  Scroll down and you'll see 26 items, many are one of a kind and handmade from the heart!  Any of items highlighted will make a wonderful gift for a loved one.  Remember:  SHOP SMALL and support a small indie artist!

 

 

Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Favorites - Week 5, 2023

 

 

Time seems to go by more and more quickly each week - week 5 of the Countdown to Christmas has already come and gone!  According to the ever ticking Your Christmas Countdown Clock, there are only 60 days (2 months!!!) before the ho-ho-ho'ing, reindeer driving man clothes in red and white arrives once again. With the rapidly approaching holiday season in mind, Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions comtimue to host a twelve-week Countdown to Christmas 2023 of artisan handmade items on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog. Now is the perfect time to start your holiday shopping and the Countdown is the perfect place to begin that!  This week, 36 handmade/designed items from 12 artists were shared in the wide-ranging gift collection: jewelry of different styles, Christmas ornaments, throw pillows,nurse hoodie, a wire kippah. lampwork beadsand more.  Remember this motto: SHOP EARLY and SHOP OFTEN!  And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE to support small indie businesses.

 

Each week during the 12 week Countdown, I pick a favorite item from each artist (hard to do!) and feature them here on my blog.  These are my favorites for Week 5:  

 

 

Buy Artisan Handmade for Mothers Day 2023 - Week 2

 

 

It's hard to believe that week 2 of the Mother's Day Countdown 2023, hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog came and went so quickly!  A total of 39 unique items were shared from 13 talented artists - each beauty a perfect Mother’s Day gift. Since Mother's Day will be here before you know it - on May 14th, less than 2 months from now - this is the perfect time to start thinking about and buying a gift(s) for your mom, grandmother, aunties and other loves ones.  Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 2, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beauty that was handmade from the heart, many of which are one of a kind designs.  This year, please support small artisan handmade shops!

 

 

 

Pick a Bouquet of Spring Flowers - Artisan Handmade Floral Gifts

 

 

Spring unlocks the flowers to paint the laughing soil.

 

Bishop Reginald Heber ~

 

 

I have always loved the quote shared above.  Bishop Reginald Heber (1783-1826), well known for his poetry, describes in just a few words the joyousness of spring on the return of flowers.  I, myself, can’t wait to finish the new flower bed I started digging last fall and filling it with native plants chosen specifically for pollinators of all types.  Let the flowers paint the laughing soil!  And let the colorful flowers be an important food source for bees of all types, flower flies, butterflies, moths, wasps and hummingbirds.  

 

With all-things-flower in mind, I invited artist friends to share two of their floral designs.  As you will see in the beautiful items below, there is a wide range of flowers to be had, from note cards to jewelry, from lampwork beads to photography, from photography to digital art and many, many more!  Be sure to pick a bouquet of floral beauties and support small handmade businesses!

 

For Twitter, please use the hashtag #SpringFlowers.

 

 

 

New Handmade Earrings and Necklaces - Shadow Dog Designs

 

 

The heat of summer has set in here in the Desert Southwest.  Which means planting more flowers in the flower beds is pretty much a done deal until the monsoon season sets in shortly (hopefully - we really need some rain!).  More time is being spent inside during the day until the temps cool down when the sun starts to set, so I'm making good use of the extra time inside creating and listing new jewelry.  And I'm looking further down the road to the Labor Day weekend when the Franciscan Festival of Fine Arts is being held - my first big show of the season and my favorite.  Five new pairs of earrings and two new necklaces have been recently added to my SHADOW DOG DESIGNS handmade jewelry shop.  I also added three older pieces to make an even ten.  If something catches your eye and you want to look at more photos or need more information, please either click the picture or the description under the pic to be taken to the item listing.  I hope you enjoy these new necklace sand earrings, all of which are one of a kind designs.

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