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Pick a Bouquet of Spring Flowers - Artisan Handmade Floral Gifts
Posted February 19, 2023
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.
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Gorgeous Gifts for Valentines Day - Artisan Handmade
Posted January 5, 2023
Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it. Walk into most stores shortly after Christmas (or sometimes before!) and 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 is shrouded in mystery, February has long been celebrated as a month of romance. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both ancient Roman and Christian traditions, with some other thrown in for good measure.
Valentines Day Gifts - Artisan Handmade
Posted January 2, 2023
Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it so it’s time to do a blog featuring wonderful gifts for a loved one. If you would like to participate, please share two items that will make a perfect gift. The items don’t necessarily have to be hearts and roses and pink and red such . . . just something that you think someone will love. The link up closes this Thursday at 12:00 noon MST. I plan to have the blog ready to be promoted on Friday’s Twitter Tree. If you do participate, you know the drill . . . please promote each item and the blog on at least 2 social media sites. I prefer you wait and promote when the blog is ready. But even better . . . promote from both the link up AND the blog (that’s what I’ll be doing). I look forward to seeing what you share!
P.S. If you tweet, please use the hashtag #Valentines2023 so the items can be easily found and RT'd. Thanks
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.
I'll Stop Wearing Black When - A Short History of the Non-Color Black
Posted May 12, 2022
I’ll stop wearing black when they invent a darker color - Wednesday Addams
Writing about the history of black is probably a bit strange here in the middle of spring with flowers blooming up a storm in all sorts of beautifully varied and cheerful colors. But just like Wednesday Addams of the Addams Family fame, black has always been a color (or non-color as it turns out) that I enjoy wearing. Black has a very long and rich history, something I found most fascinating. I kept reading and reading and reading some more: interesting information and tidbits about black, both the elegant side and the more “evil” connotations. So, I decided to share some of the information. And also highlight unique handmade items from artist friends that feature black prominently in the design. Other photos of interest about black are also scattered in. All photos are linked.
Make It A Handmade Mothers Day 2022 - Week 5
Posted April 5, 2022
Another week of the Mother's Day Countdown 2022 has come and gone. Week 5 is here already!!! Hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Blu Print blog, Twenty-seven unique handmade items were shared from 9 artists. Many are one of a kind and each will make a memorable gift for Mom on her big 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 and support small, indie businesses!
Make It A Handmade Mothers Day 2022 - Week 4
Posted March 29, 2022
It's hard to believe that week 4 of the Mother’s Day Countdown 2022 has come and gone and it's almost April and Easter will be here in three weeks. The Mother's Day Countdown 2022, hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their the Blu Print blog, is a place artistsans come together and share three of their unique items. This week 9 handmade artists shared a total of 27 lovely items - each one a wonderful gift for Mother’s Day. Since the big day will be here before you know it - about 6 weeks from now - this is the perfect time to start thinking about and buying a gift(s) for your Mom. Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 4, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a unique beauty that was artisan handmade from the heart. This year, Make it a Handmade Mother's Day!
Make It A Handmade Mothers Day 2022 - Week 3
Posted March 22, 2022
Week 3 of the Mother’s Day Countdown 2022 seemed to blow right on by (where do the days go???). Hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their the Blu Print blog, 27 unique handmade items from 9 artists were shared on the Countdown - each one a wonderful gift for Mother’s Day. Since the big day will be here before you know it - about 7 weeks from now - this is the perfect time to start thinking about and buying a gift(s) for your Mom. Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 3, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a unique beauty that was artisan handmade from the heart. Be sure to buy handmade this Mother's Day and support a small indie business!
Happy Valentines Day - Artisan Handmade Gifts!
Posted January 13, 2022
Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it. Walk into a store shortly after Christmas and 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 is shrouded in mystery, February has long been celebrated as a month of romance. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman traditions.
Make It a Handmade Christmas 2021 - Week 11
Posted November 30, 2021
It's hard to believe that Week 11 of the Countdown to Christmas 2021 has come and gone . . . . and there is only one more week left! When the Countdown starts, the end of the twelve weeks seems a looooong way off. The - BAM! - here it is! And Christmas is just a bit over three weeks away - 24 days! Where does the time go? The ever ticking Christmas clock doesn’t let up - those seconds just keep ticking down until the jolly man in red and white leaves wonderful gifts or lumps of coal under the tree. Just what is the Countdown? It’s a place for handmade artists to share three of their beautiful (often one of a kind) creations. Need a perfect start (or finish) to your Christmas shopping? Shop the Countdown to Christmas and purchase that special piece for that special person! An excellent motto to follow this holiday season: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN! And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE to support small indie businesses!
