Blog entry

Western Hills UMC Autumn Bazaar - Saturday, October 21, 2023

The Western Hills UMC Autumn Bazaar is back this coming Saturday, October 21, 2023!  Hosted by the ladies of the church (for many, many years now!), 40+ booths of local El Paso artists and other vendors will be there, including Nina Eaton of Nina Eaton Photography and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs.  Admission is free.  AND, as you can see from the information below, there are many more things going on besides shopping at the vendors booths (my personal favorites are the book sale and Grandma's Attic).  Plus there's a silent auction, door prizes and many other fun things.  All proceeds go towards UMW charities / mission projects.  Please stop by my booth and say "Hi!"  Look forward to seeing you there!

Christmas Open House: Nina Eaton Photography and Shadow Dog Designs

Once again this December, Nina Eaton of Nina Eaton Photography, is hosting a Christmas Open House on December 3 and 4, 2022.  And she invited me to participate in it again.  THANK YOU so much, Nina!  If you are finishing up your holiday shopping (or haven't even started yet!), stop by for a wide assortment of unique gifts.  Many of the items will make perfect stocking stuffers.  Nina will have a wonderful selection of her El Paso photography:  matted and gallery wrap prints, note cards, stone coasters, trivets, calendars, mouse pads, and other photographic beauties.  I'll have a whole host of my one of a kind handmade jewelry:  necklaces, earrings and a few bracelets.  You'll find many more designs at the Open House than are listed in my Shadow Dog Designs shop.  Additionally, the wide selection of Christmas earrings will be 10% off and there will be some deep discounts on other pieces of jewelry. 

Information about the Christmas Open House is found below:

Western Hills UMC Autumn Bazaar - Saturday, October 8, 2022

After a two year hiatus due to Covid, the Western Hills UMC Autumn Bazaar is back this coming Saturday, October 8!  Hosted by the ladies of the church (for 30+ years now!), over 50 booths of local El Paso artists and other vendors will be there, including Nina Eaton of Nina Eaton Photography, Candy Mayer of Art By Candy Mayer and me, Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs.  Admission is free.  AND, as you can see from the information below, there are many more things going on besides shopping at the vendors booths (my personal favorites are the book sale and Grandma's Attic).  Plus there's a silent auction, door prizes and many other fun things.  All proceeds go towards UMW charities / mission projects.  Please stop by my booth and say "Hi!"  Look forward to seeing you there!

Heavenly Hollyhocks in the Desert Southwest

Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) have always been a flower dear to my heart.  Can't explain why besides they have such a beautifully majestic look to them (at least to me) as they sway in the wind.  According to information I've read, they are biennials, taking two years to bloom (although you can't always believe what's written since these seeded last summer and are blooming now).  Hollyhocks are originally from Asia, grown in ancient China by wealthy people.  They spread to the Middle East through trade routes and then were carried to western Europe by returning Crusaders from the Holy Land.  The Latin name of the hollyhock plant, Alcea, is derived from altho the Greek word for healer.  In Greek Mythology, Althea is a beautiful goddess of healing and compassion, family, marriage and protection.  The flowers were used as a diuretic, a laxative, an emollient and in anti-inflammatory treatments. Rosea is Latin for for rose, rosy or pink.  The common name, hollyhock, is a combination of two words — holy and hock. Holy refers to the healing powers of the plant and that it was brought to Europe from the Holy Land.  Hock is an Old English word which means mallow.  Hollyhocks made their way to the United States in colonial times in seed packets carried by immigrants.  They symbolize the circle of life and abundance and were traditionally planted near the front door to welcome prosperity.