Blog entry
Handmade Hot Summer Fun
Posted August 5, 2021
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!
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Make It a Handmade Christmas 2020 - Week 11
Posted December 1, 2020
It's hard to believe that Week 11 of the Countdown to Christmas 2020 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 approximately three weeks away. 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. 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: browse 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!
Make It a Handmade Christmas 2020 - Week 8
Posted November 10, 2020
Already, week 8 of the Countdown to Christmas 2020 has come on gone! It’s hard to believe that there are only four more weeks left! The Countdown is a chance for mostly handmade artists to share three of their beautiful gift ideas and for all to browse and, hopefully, purchase. The ever ticking Christmas clock doesn’t let up - according to it, Santa will start his journey in only 44 days! Need a perfect start to your Christmas shopping? The Countdown is the place to do just that! A good motto to follow: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN! And, most of all, SHOP HANDMADE!
Make It a Handmade Christmas 2020 - Week 7
Posted November 3, 2020
Wow! We are already more than half-way through the Countdown to Christmas 2020 - only 5 more weeks to go! It’s hard to imagine that Christmas will soon be here. According to the ever ticking Christmas clock, there are only 51 days (when this bog was posted) until Santa Claus drops down that chimney and either leaves gifts or lumps of coal for deserving or not-so-deserving boys and girls. Since Christmas is looming, now is the perfect time to start your holiday shopping and the Countdown is the perfect place! Remember this motto: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN! And, most of all, please PURCHASE HANDMADE from small business owner!
Make It a Handmade Christmas 2020 - Week 6
Posted October 27, 2020
It’s hard to realize that we’re half-way finished with the twelve week Countdown to Christmas 2020! Yikes! That means Christmas is bearing down on us and will soon be here, just a bit less than 2 months! According to the ever ticking Christmas clock, there are only 58 days until ho-ho-ho-ing Santa and his merry band of clattering reindeer arrive once again. Now is the perfect time to start your holiday shopping and the Countdown is the perfect place! Remember this motto: SHOP EARLY, SHOP OFTEN! And, most of all, SHOP ARTISAN HANDMADE!
Perfect Pink Pretties for Valentines Day - Artisan Handmade
Posted February 6, 2020
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, in just over a week, and the colors of Valentine’s Day - red, pink and white - are seen everywhere. Why these particular colors ??? Through the ages, red represents passionate love, beauty, courage and respect. White symbolizes true love, innocence, purity and charm. Since pink is a combination of red and white, taking the properties of both colors, it reveals a gentler, kinder love, perfect happiness, tenderness and grace.
Since pink is such a beautiful and meaningful combination of red and white, I decided to pull together a blog, “Perfect Pink Pretties for Valentine’s Day,” featuring a wide range of handmade gifts using pink as a major palette in the designs. You'll find most of these items are not your "traditional" Valentine's inspired gifts. And that's OK! It means they can be worn longer, sometimes year round, and not just for Valentine's Day itself. I hope you find something for your loved one . . . something that's a perfect pink pretty!
Christmas in July - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday
Posted July 18, 2019
All this month, merchants celebrate “Christmas in July.” Believe it or not, the real Christmas will be here before we know it - yikes! To celebrate Christmas in July, I decided to share items from three handmade artists that either have holiday items on sale or are offering free shipping. The items range from sweet baby clothing, to unique ornaments, to fun Christmas art, and to sparkling holiday jewelry. The three artists are: Pamela of MagdaleneKnits; Jacki of Christie Cottage; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs.
I hope you enjoy these selections. Don’t wait! Start your Christmas shopping early while there is a wide selection of unique handmade beauties.
Spring Flowers - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday
Posted May 16, 2019
Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower . . . John Harrigan
If you are a flower gardener (like I am) and grow many flowers from seeds, you truly understand the above statement. So much beauty is bound up in a single flower seed which, like magic, can transform into a breathtaking flower. I find happiness in just holding flower seeds and dreaming of the infinite possibility of what they will become. And when that magic happens - a seedling appears, a plant grows, a bud unfurls and a flower faces the sun - I am truly happy, awe struck and humbled. And if I can share those flowers with family and friends, so much the better.
Delicate Easter Colors - Artisan Handmade Three for Thursday
Posted March 7, 2019
Easter is a symbol of hope, renewal, and new life.
Janine di Giovanni
Since yesterday was Ash Wednesday - and Easter is approximately six weeks away - I started thinking about Easters past, always large gatherings of family and friends. But, before everyone showed up at our house, we went to Easter Sunrise mass, the only time my father was ever cajoled into going to church. As a child, I always remember getting a new Easter dress, usually with a matching headband, socks and gloves(!) to wear to church on Easter Sunday. And if my sister and I were lucky, a small purse would be included. Very stylish, indeed, and usually VERY itchy! The clothes were always spring pastel in color: pinks, pale yellows, pale greens, pale blues and such. A preview of all the pastel colored Easter eggs that were waiting to be found!
This week’s Three for Thursday features three items from three handmade artists that definitely are filled with the renewal of Easter springtime colors. The artists are: jewelry artist Mary of PrettyGonzo; crochet artist Pamela of MagdaleneKnits; and, me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs, also a jewelry artist. I hope you enjoy my choices. And be sure to visit the artists’ shops for more splendiferous designs!
Make It an Artisan Handmade Christmas - Week 12
Posted December 11, 2018
Tick . . . tick . . . tick. According to the Christmas clock, there are now only 13 (!!!) days until Christmas! It’s hard to believe that December is already here and, with it, the last week of the Countdown to Christmas 2018. The Countdown has been graciously hosted by Julie and Blue of Blue Morning Expressions on their The Blu Print blog. Yes, week 12 has come and gone and 45 artisan handmade and vintage items from 15 artists were left in its wake, any of which will be perfect for a Christmas gift that was individually handmade from the heart. Help Santa make it a HANDMADE Christmas this year!
