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Blog entry
Autumn Beauties - Artisan Handmade
Posted September 3, 2020
"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." — Albert Camus
I don’t know about you, but autumn is my favorite time of the year, although it’s somewhat bittersweet since winter follows. It’s a time where the temperatures (at least here in the Desert Southwest) are moderating and thankfully, the gates of the blast furnace of Hell for this extreme heat summer have closed. It’s a time for rethinking and replacing plants that didn’t make it through this summer. Many people start fall gardens and farmers bring in their harvest. Fall is part of that ongoing cycle of loss, rest, regeneration and, ultimately, regrowth. The Autumn Equinox is a balance between light and dark, a balance between the season that happens again in the spring. And who doesn’t love the trees and some shrubs with their gorgeous leaf displays as they prepare for their winter sleep.
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For the Love of Earrings - A Short History
Posted August 16, 2020
I don't know about you, but I feel strange when I hop in the trusty Dog Mobile and then notice I have forgotten to put on a pair of earrings! At least there, in the driveway, I can hop out of the truck, run inside and grab a pair to put on. But, heaven help me, if I get somewhere and realize I am earrings-less! It's like the world has tilted just a bit on its axis and I’m in the Upside Down. Being an ardent wearer of pierced earrings since the early 1970’s, I have quite the collection of handcrafted Native American earrings - and earrings I’ve made myself and then couldn’t part with. Just LOVE them!
Got the Blues! - Artisan Handmade Jewelry
Posted July 23, 2020
Research shows that the most popular color in the world is blue. A survey conducted in 10 countries across four continents shows that one color – blue – is the most popular across the board, 8-18 points ahead of any other color. This includes gender. Men picked it as their favorite color more often than women, but blue was still picked as a favorite by more women than any other color. Blue is also a favorite across racial groups, age groups and - even in the U.S. - political groups.
Blue is also very popular as a major design color when making necklaces, earrings and bracelets, as you can see in the nine pieces of jewelry chosen to feature in “Got the Blues! - Artisan Handmade” The handmade artists who created the jewelry are: Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions; Kathy of KatsAllThat; and, me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. I hope you enjoy these selections of blue. Please be sure to visit the shops of the artists featured for more handmade jewelry in many glorious colors, not just blue.
New Handmade Jewelry by Shadow Dog Designs
Posted July 19, 2020
You would seem due sheltering in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’d have more time to create new jewelry and blog. Before, my days were very structured. Now they’re not, even though I try to structure them. It seems I find myself saying, “I’ll do it tomorrow” . . . and then when tomorrow rolls around, it becomes “tomorrow” again. So, this morning, I sat myself down to create a new blog showcasing the newest pieces of jewelry in my SHADOW DOG DESIGNS shop. Fourteen handmade beauties: nine pairs of earrings, four necklaces and one bracelet. They are all one of a kind creations from a variety of materials including, gemstones, polymer clay, Czech glass, Swarovski crystals and a host of other things. I hope you take the time to browse and to check out all the other jewelry in my shop. After all, Christmas will be here before we know it - get a head start with your holiday shopping! Enjoy.
Red, White and Blue, Happy 4th of July to You - Artisan Handmade
Posted July 2, 2020
It’s hard to believe that it’s already the first day of July (when I wrote this) with the 4th of July just around the corner. When you mostly are self-isolating, one day looks pretty much like the next. But July 4th will be here this Saturday and I’m looking forward to sitting on the upstairs back porch and watching at least three fireworks shows from the comfort of our own house. Seamus the Moose Dog will sit out there with us - fortunately he is not bothered by the booming noises fireworks can make.
Since the 4th will be here very soon, I wanted to feature three red, white and blue items from three artist friends. The artists are; Charlotte of Covergirlbeads; Pamela of MagdaleneKnits; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. I hope you enjoy this selection of patriotic colored items and will visit the shops (and hopefully purchase) a beauty there.
Flora and Fauna - Artisan Handmade
Posted June 25, 2020
The Earth is such a beautiful place to live on, if we just take the time to look and observe. No matter where we go, unique plants and animals can be found, two very important parts of any ecosystem. I’ve been lucky to have lived in many places and many different ecosystems, from Central Texas to North Carolina, from near Georgian Bay in Canada to a forest in Northern Virginia, from North Texas to an island in South Carolina. Now I live in the gorgeous Desert Southwest. The flora and fauna of each place was awe-inspiring - some the same but, most often, very different. Since I love what Mother Nature has to offer, I find it all VERY, VERY interesting and want to keep on learning about how our wonderful Earth functions . . . and what we need to do to heal it.
Hot Summer Reds, Oranges and Yellows - Artisan Handmade
Posted June 11, 2020
Even though summer hasn’t officially arrived - that will happen on June 20 - it has been summer here in the Borderlands for several weeks now. And it looks quite warm in many areas in the U.S. So I made a call to artist friends to share some “hot” handmade items with me to be included in this blog. You’ll find LOTS of fiery colored items in red, yellows and oranges, beauties that can be worn all summer long. If something catches your eye and you want more information, please click on the item photo or the link below the picture to be taken to the artist’s shop. I hope you enjoy all the sizzling hot items!
Summer Flowers - Artisan Handmade - Three for Thursday
Posted June 4, 2020
Summer will soon be here. Despite the (expected) triple digit heat that has set in here in the Desert Southwest, the water wise flowers I planted last year and in the cool of this spring are blooming up a storm. Everyone who knows me really well knows I love to work in my flower beds . . . and am ecstatic at the resulting blooms. So my beautiful flowers are the inspiration for this week’s Three for Thursday where I feature three items from three artists. This week the artists are: Roxanne of watercolorsNmore; Jacki of Christie Cottage; and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs. Enjoy the wide range of floral art. Hopefully one or more of the items will soon be on the way to you!
Julia's Roses (And A Few Irises)
Posted May 10, 2020
My good friend, Julia, `spent many years creating a most amazing rose garden in her backyard. They are her “babies” and she spends many enjoyable hours working in the garden, talking to the roses and inhaling their heady scents when blooming. She also communes with the wondrous nature that is all around. However, in years past, she’s wasn't at home when the roses were in full bloom. She would fly to Bolivia for three months in the spring (autumn in Bolivia) to visit her brother and other relatives in the town where she grew up. I always felt sad for Julia when she was away, knowing how she was missing her amazing rose show. I’d go to her house, take photos of the roses, blog about them and then email her the link. But that definitely wasn’t anything like being in her garden to enjoy the beauty each bush provided
Make It a Handmade Mothers Day - Week 9
Posted May 5, 2020
Watch out! Mother’s Day will be here very soon, this Sunday, May 10! It’s still not too late to order a handmade gift from the beauties shared this week on the Mother’s Day Countdown 2020, hosted again this year by Julie and Harry of Blue Morning Expressions on their The Blu Print blog. This is Week 9 of the Countdown, the last week, 13 handmade artisans shared a total of 39 wonderfully unique items. Browse the wide range of eye catching shares for this week - many of them one of a kind designs - visit the shops of the artists featured and buy your Mom something that was HANDMADE from the heart!
