Blog entry

Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - 2022 - Week 2

Week 2 of the Countdown to Christmas 2022 has already come and gone . . . and unique artisan handmade / designed items have been left in its wake.  According to the ever ticking Christmas clock, there are only 88 days until Christmas is here . . . once again!   With the rapidly approaching gift giving season in mind, Julie and her wonderful sidekick, Harry, of Blue Morning Expressions are hosting a twelve-week Countdown to Christmas 2022 of artisan handmade items on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog in their 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 38 shares by 13 artists with a wide range of gift ideas: jewelry of all sorts, lampwork beads, party stickers and tags, hand crocheted baby gifts, holiday keychains, photographic art and digital art.  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 HANDMADE to support small indie businesses!

Handmade Hot Summer Fun

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

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

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!