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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!

 

 

 

Make It a Handmade Mothers Day 2024 - Artisan Gifts - Week 1

 

 

Julie and the always Handsome Harry the Florida Dog of Blue Morning Expressions are again hosting the wildly popular “Countdown to Mother’s Day.” Last year's Mother's Day Countdown was a resounding success . . . so the 2024 version is up and running:  Countdown to Mother’s Day 2024 Week 1 on their Buy Handmade from Makers blog.. Since Mother's Day will be here before you know it - on May 12 - 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 handmade 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)!  Here is a favorite from each artist who shared their work from this past weekend:  

 

 

Oldies But Goodies - Unique Artisan Handmade Gifts

 

 

Whenever someone says “Oldies But Goodies,” most people think of old songs (especially from a jukebox - remember those?), vintage cars, lots of items on the Antiques Roadshow or, possibly, themselves (after . . . *ahem* . . .  a certain age).  However the term, “Oldies But Goodies,” also refers to items in our artisan handmade shops that have been around for longer than the artist who made it would like.  Whenever something is created and then listed in our shops, we always think it will sell right away.  Some do.  But, for whatever reason, some beauties sit there . . . and sit there . . . and sit there some more. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that particular item - not at all!!!  It just hasn’t found that forever person to give it a forever home.

 

I asked artisan friends to share two items from their handmade shops that they considered “oldies but goodies.”  Many of the items are one of a kind creations and would make a perfect gift for a birthday, an anniversary, for Christmas, or just because . . . I hope something catches your eye and that you visit the shops of the artists below.  And that many of the “oldie” items find a loving home.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Oldies but Glorious Goodies - Artisan Handmade Gifts

 

 

I don’t know about you, but whenever someone mentions “oldies but goodies,” most people flash back to an old song, maybe their favorite vintage car, possibly antique furniture or, (shudder) themselves after . . . ahem . . . reaching a certain age.  “Oldies but goodies” can also refer to items in handmade shops that have been around for much longer than we would like them to be.  I, for one, always hope that whenever a new beauty is created and then listed, it will sell right away.  Sometimes they do.  But sometimes, for whatever reason, the item sits there . . . and sits there . . . and sits there some more. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that particular piece - not at all!  It just hasn’t found that forever person to give it a forever home.

 

I asked artisan friends to share two items from their shops that they considered “Oldies but Glorious Goodies.”  Most of the items shared are one of a kind creations and would make a perfect gift for that certain someone for their birthday, anniversary, Christmas, Mother’s Day, or just because . . . I hope one of these “oldies” catches your eye.  Please be sure to visit the artisan shops for even more exceptional handmade lovelies.

 

 

Make It A Handmade Mothers Day - Week 8

 

 

If you haven't started shopping for Mother's Day gifts, you are quickly running out of time!  Just a little less than two weeks and the big day for Mom will be here.  To help you out, check out the Countdown to Mother's Day 2021 - Week 8, a cllection filled with unique artisan items, most of them handmade from the heart.  Hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their Blu Print blogeach of the unique items, 33 beauties from 11 artists, will make a memorable gift for Mom on her day.  This is the perfect time to start buying a gift(s) for your Mom - and, perhaps, for yourself!  These items on the Countdown go quick, and, since many are one of a kind, don't miss out.  Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 8, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beautiful gift that was HANDMADE.

 

 

 

The Many Faces of Green - Artisan Handmade

 

 

 

 

GREEN is a favorite color of many people because of it being the predominant terrestrial color of Mother Earth.  It is considered by many to be the most restful color (green being a favorite color choice for bedrooms).  But the color green wears many faces, both in its numerous beautiful shades and its interesting historical context.  I found the history and symbolism of green to be fascinating and decided to share some of what I found:

 

 

 

Make it an Artisans Handmade Valentines Day!

 

 

Valentine’s Day, February 14th, will be here before we know it with cupids, hearts, pink and red found everywhere.  Across the United States and in many other countries around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine.  While there was a St. Valentine (the Catholic Church actually recognizes three saints named Valentine or Valentinus), the “day of love” was declared the day before the pagan celebration of Lupercalia, celebrated at the ides of February or February 15.  Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. Valentines Day was officially declared on February 14th by Pope Gelasius at the end of the 5th century in an effort to Christianize the Roman celebration, declaring Lupercalia as “un-Christian.”

Summer Fun - Artisan Handmade Gifts

 

 

The first day of summer will be here before we know it.  This year, the first day of summer starts here in the Borderlands at 9:54 a.m. MDT on Friday, June 21.  Although, by that time, we’ll surely have had several days near triple digits or some 100+ degrees. But it’s a dry heat and doesn’t keep me from doing much outside as long as I have a wide brimmed hat on my head and plenty of water with me.

Make it an Artisan Handmade Mothers Day - Week 4

 

 

Here we are already at week 4 of the Countdown to Mother’s Day.  Hosted by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their The Blu Print blog, this is the perfect time to start buying a unique, handmade gift(s) for Mom!  This week, a total of 42 artisan items were shared on the Countdown - each one a delight for Mom - from 14 handmade artists. Browse all the wonderful handmade shares for Week 3, visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom a beauty that was handmade from the heart.

 

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