Showing posts with label christmas shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas shopping. Show all posts

Friday, November 25, 2011

Exploring Handmade ~ Holiday Shopping Event ~ Day 10




Hello and Welcome to Day 10 of the
Exploring Handmade Online Holiday Shopping Event!!


Today is all about Gifts For Pets and the People Who Love Them because today is a very special day... it's Niko's 13th Birthday!! So... he rules the day. Actually, he came home at 6 weeks old and has ruled every day since...LOL. He's the joy of my life and I love him with all my heart. And he has a special treat for you today... he's going to show you HIS favorite gift to get and show you just how to get some for your special pooch. Consider it an insider tip on how to make your dog VERY happy this Christmas :)

But first, let me reintroduce Tricia Hall Baucom of 
Endless Possibilities...
You saw Tricia's jewelry on Day 3, but today I want to call special attention to something she does that would make a wonderful gift for any pet lover! She makes her Footprints in the Sand Pendants with PAW prints, too... dog paw prints and cat paw prints. You can have any combo of footprints and paw prints that you'd like!


They're a really great gift and I think it's awesome that Tricia thought of all the pet moms out there. As a matter of fact, with some help from his grandparents, Niko bought me one for Mother's Day and I love it! I don't wear necklaces though, but I'll show you what I did do with it... and it is very special to me.

 

Here are some of the places you can find Tricia and her work...


I also do a great deal of custom design work for pet lovers
here at Designs by Debi....
You read a bit about me and saw my jewelry on Day 6, but today I want to focus on my pet-related items.

I'm a doggie Mom and when I first started making Personalized Keepsake Bracelets for everyone, I felt left out. Well, I decided that pet Moms count too and made one for myself. Now my Pet Name Keepsake Bracelets are available in 12 styles and 90 possible bead combinations!


I also designed the Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial Bracelets™ back in 2007 and they're extremely popular. The come in 2 basic styles, but just as with anything else, I specialize in custom designs and I've done many custom memorial bracelets as well. My goal is to make them special, make them with love and give the recipient the opportunity to have a reminder of their pet and the happy memories they shared with them all the time, hopefully bringing them a great deal of comfort.


This year I added 2 new pet products, the Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial Bracelet for Horses™ and Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial Key Chains™.


I'm currently in the process of adding even more pet memorial products. I'm working on a custom design for a client that is going to become a new product line and have a few other ideas as well which will be available after the new year, so keep an eye out for those.

Here are some of the places you can find me and my work...


Now I'd like to introduce you to Lisa and Dave of 
OBX Puparazzi...
Dave is a self taught woodworker and a disabled veteran. The woodworking is his hobby, and sales keep him in wood and out of trouble! He enjoys creating art from his scroll saw, and does both fretwork like the dog puzzles, and intarsia. Local galleries seek him out for his intarsia pieces.


Lisa is a retired nurse, and loves to sew (hates to iron, though!). She enjoys creating dog bandanas and dog themed goodies for their people. She does craft shows and other dog related events. Both volunteer with local animal charities.


Here are some of the places you can find Lisa and Dave and their work...


And we have Susan and Liz of Fairy Tail Collars...
A Fairy Tail Tale
Once upon a time in a gigantic village called Phoenix there lived a dog named Bella. She was a blue-nosed pit bull puppy who had somehow found her way into a scary place called an animal shelter. She did not understand why she was there locked in a cold and tiny kennel. The other dogs barked and it frightened little Bella. One day a compassionate woman named Susan adopted Bella and took her home to meet her new brother, Pharaoh and her sister, Toula. Bella also became friends with Susan's daughter, Elizabeth, and her four dogs: Duma, Apollo, Merlin and Zeus. Bella learned that her friends and her brother and sister were also adopted or rescued from scary places just like she was. One day when Bella was playing with her friends, she noticed their collars differed from hers and she asked why. Her friends told her that they were a different breed called Greyhounds and their heads are smaller than their necks so it would be easy to slip their heads through a normal dog collar, therefore, they must wear a special collar called a martingale. Bella was enchanted by these special collars and dreamed of having one of her own. Susan searched far and wide for a collar for Bella, but never found just the right color, pattern or size. Susan, a talented seamstress gathered material to handcraft Bella a collar that was fit for a canine queen. Bella was so happy that she begged Susan to take her for a walk so she could show-off her new collar. Many people noticed Bella and asked where Susan found such an eye-catching collar. After many compliments and requests for their own, Susan decided she would make collars for anyone who desired one. She would call her business 'Fairy Tail Collars.' And so it was that Bella, Pharaoh, Toula, Duma, Apollo, Merlin and Zeus wagged their tails happily ever after.



Here are some of the places you can find Susan and Liz and their work...


And, finally, it's Niko's turn to take you to his favorite place to shop... We're going to visit Denise at Dogs in Harmony... a "barkery" here in Rhode Island...
Dogs in Harmony is owned by Denise Holmes, a Registered Nurse who absolutely adores dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes! Denise and her husband Bob have been very fortunate to share their lives and home with some extraordinary dogs!!

Max and Ginger, the Holmes's beautiful Golden Retrievers who passed away in 2008 and 2009, were and always will be, the heart and soul of the company. They were the inspiration for Dogs in Harmony and for whom it all began. Ginger had severe allergies and to help ease her symptoms Denise started to make her homemade food and fresh baked treats. It worked so well that the idea for this company was born.

Dogs in Harmony products do not contain any preservatives so each bag is labeled with a “use by or freeze date”. All of the treats freeze well so it is very easy to “stock up”. The treats are hand cut and baked to order. They come in 2 sizes... Regular size 2 1/2 inch heart shape and Mini Bites 1 1/4 inch circle shape.

They also have Healthy Howlers. These were developed to be used with diabetic dogs. They are available only in mini bite size in order to assist with portion control.

Niko absolutely LOVES Dogs in Harmony treats... all flavors... banana/date, peanut butter, ginger snap, blueberry, oatmeal, apple cinnamon, raspberry, applesauce and oatmeal and the Healthy Howlers, too! And he KNOWS that bag....

Niko's birthday is today so on Monday we set out for Dogs in Harmony to buy some birthday gifts! As soon as we opened the door the smell was amazing (even to me!) and Niko was hooked...



See Denise back there... she's baking cookies!


OMG...a treat for me? Now? Oh boy, a peanut butter turkey! Thanx Denise... yum :)


Oooops... I'm making a mess on your floor (good thing I'm cute) :o

It's ok... I'll clean it up :)

Oooooooh more cookies! Yipee... I'll take those to go please  ^_^

Is this mine?!?!


Let's peek...

Oh YEAH.... mine, mine, mine!! Yummy!

Make YOUR puppy happy this Christmas... order some cookies from Denise! You can find her awesome cookies at http://www.DogsInHarmonyRI.com.


Well, I hope you enjoyed seeing all these great gifts for pets and Niko hopes you enjoyed seeing his barkery! We're going to celebrate his birthday :) Then I'll see you right back here tomorrow with yet more new artisans and great gifts!!






Did you miss a day? It's easy to get caught up... we wouldn't want you to miss any goodies!!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Exploring Handmade ~ Holiday Shopping Event ~ Day 9



Hello and Welcome to Day 9 of the
Exploring Handmade Online Holiday Shopping Event!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Here in the USA, it's Thanksgiving and I decided that it wasn't fair to feature artisans on a major holiday. But, I do have something special for you. Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and one of the things I'm thankful for is the gift I've been given to design and create jewelry that is meaningful, special and makes a difference in people's lives.

One of the things I'm most proud of is my Jewelry for Charity Program which I started as soon as I got my website up and running. You can read all about it on the Jewelry for Charity Program page. In a nutshell, each month I design a one of a kind piece or set of jewelry and donate 50% of the proceeds from the sale to the designated charity. Sometimes the charity is chosen by me, and sometimes it's a recommendation from a customer.

These pieces are one-of-a-kind collectible-quality pieces made using the finest materials. They are full of all kinds of intricate details, usually incorporating colors and design elements that hold significance to the charity I've selected to receive the donation from its sale.

These would make wonderful gifts with the potential for a great deal of sentimental value, especially if the charity is near and dear to the heart of the recipient. They are all OOAK so there will never be another one made. And money is donated to charity with each purchase which makes them extra special... they make a difference in some way for someone who needs it.

I'm going to show you pieces that are available. I'll tell you the name of the piece and the charity it's raising money for and give you the link to it's page on the website so you can read more about the jewelry and the story behind it if you're interested or even purchase a piece for yourself or a loved one.

♥ Thanks for stopping by today ♥ 


"Roses on the Glistening Snow"
To benefit the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund National Intrepid Center of Excellence
Roses on the Glistening Snow One-of-a-Kind Handmade Bracelet made with artisan handmade lampwork beads, Bali silver, Swarovski crystal, and cat's eye with a toggle style clasp.


"The Perfect Christmas Present"
To benefit The Aplastic Anemia and MDS Foundation
The Perfect Christmas Present One-of-a-Kind Handmade Bracelet made with red, green and white artisan handmade lampwork beads, Bali silver, Swarovski crystals in siam, emerald and white alabaster, and cat's eye with a Bali toggle style clasp.


"I ♥ Snow"
To benefit Feeding America
I Love Snow One-of-a-Kind Handmade Bracelet and Earrings Set made with sugar and pixie white artisan handmade lampwork beads, sterling silver snowflakes, Swarovski crystals snowflakes and simplicity and bicones in crystal AB with a sterling silver snowflake toggle style clasp.
I Love Snow Handmade Sterling Silver Leverback Earrings made with white sugared snowball artisan handmade lampwork beads, sterling silver snowflakes and Swarovski crystal.


"Valentine Hearts for Haiti"
To benefit Yele Haiti for Haiti Earthquake Relief
Valentine Hearts for Haiti One-of-a-Kind Handmade Bracelet made with a gorgeous artisan handmade lampwork bead, a red heart-shaped bead with pink and orange hibiscu, red, yellow and lavender flowers and green leaves; Bali fine silver heart-shaped pillow beads with embossed flowers, fancy bead caps with a swirling filigree pattern and heart toggle; Swarovski bicone and heart crystals in crystal, crystal AB, light siam, padparadscha and rose; orange cat's eye beads; sterling silver heart link chain; TierraCast hibiscus charms; red miracle beads and green glass leaves.


"Spring Butterflies"
To benefit Special Olympics & The Arc
Spring Butterflies One-of-a-Kind Handmade Bracelet and Earrings Set. Bracelet made with artisan handmade polymer clay round beads with green and white flowers and green butterflies, sterling silver butterflies, Swarovski crystal butterflies and Swarovski crystal AB and light emerald bicones with a sterling silver butterfly toggle style clasp.
Spring Butterflies Sterling Silver Ear Threads or Threader Earrings made with Swarovski crystal AB butterflies and light emerald bicones.


"Light It Up Blue for Autism"
To benefit Autism Speaks
Designs by Debi Jewelry for Charity Piece for April 2010 to raise money for Autism Speaks. A one-of-a-kind artisan handmade bracelet with etched handmade glass lentil beads in a swirled pattern of shades of blue and a hint of violet, swarovski crystal sapphire and sapphire ab2x bicones, sapphire blue cat's eye beads, blue glass barrels, sterling silver twisted double curve and saucer beads and an abstract sterling silver toggle clasp OOAK.


"Fourth of July Fireworks in Honor of Those Who Serve"
To benefit Soldiers' Angels
Designs by Debi Jewelry for Charity Piece for June 2010 to raise money for Soldiers' Angels. A one-of-a-kind artisan handmade bracelet with red, white and blue flag motif handmade glass beads, swarovski crystal siam and dark sapphire bicones, Swarovski Crystal and Crystal AB stars, red, white and blue howlite stars, sterling silver star, heart-shaped flag and USA charms and a sterling silver star toggle clasp. OOAK
Designs by Debi Jewelry for Charity Piece for June 2010 to raise money for Soldiers' Angels. A one-of-a-kind artisan handmade bracelet with red, white and blue flag motif handmade glass beads, swarovski crystal siam and dark sapphire bicones, Swarovski Crystal and Crystal AB stars, red, white and blue howlite stars, sterling silver star, heart-shaped flag and USA charms and a sterling silver star toggle clasp. OOAK


"Seashore"
To benefit The Deepwater Horizon Memorial Fund
Designs by Debi Jewelry for Charity Piece for July 2010 to raise money for The Deepwater Horizon Memorial Fund. A one-of-a-kind artisan handmade bracelet with blue and beige lentil-shaped ocean within handmade glass beads, handmade glass sand dollar beads, swarovski crystal aquamarine and light peach bicones, sterling silver round beads, sterling silver sand dollar charms, sterling silver shell charms, sterling silver starfish charms, a swarovski crystal aquamarine starfish and a shiana thai sterling silver sand dollar toggle clasp. OOAK


"Calming Ocean Waves"
To benefit The Donald Paterson Recovery Fund
Designs by Debi Jewelry for Charity Piece for August 2010 to raise money for The Donald Paterson Recovery Fund. A one-of-a-kind artisan handmade bracelet with blue ribbon waves round handmade glass beads, thai silver starfish beads, swarovski crystal aquamarine and capri blue bicones, bali sterling silver spacer beads, sterling silver conch shells, tierracast silver scallop shells, light blue cat's eye chips, seed beads and a bali sterling silver hook and eye clasp with extender chain. OOAK one of a kind


"Hot Tropics"
To benefit Stand Up 2 Cancer
Designs by Debi Handmade Jewelry for Charity Piece for September 2010 to raise money for Stand Up To Cancer. A one-of-a-kind artisan handmade bracelet with an oblong hibiscus focal in reds and oranges, clear-encased black handmade glass beads, bali sterling silver fluted granulated oval beads, swarovski crystal siam red, hyacinth orange, sun light orange and citrine yellow bicones, bali sterling silver spacer beads, sterling silver seamless round beads, two large dangles and a bali sterling silver granulated detail toggle clasp. OOAK one of a kind


"Sweet Angels"
To benefit Missing GRACE Foundation
Designs by Debi Handmade Jewelry Sweet Angels one of a kind ooak handmade light pink and light blue lampwork and crystal bracelet made in honor of national pregnancy and infant loss awareness month to raise money for Missing GRACE Foundation. It was made with pink flowers on blue handmade square lampwork beads, pink and blue cat's eye beads, pink and blue crystals and sterling silver with a flower toggle clasp.


"World Peace"
To benefit Teaching Tolerance
Designs by Debi Handmade Jewelry World Peace one of a kind ooak handmade white and clear lampwork and ab crystal bracelet made in honor of world peace day to raise money for Teaching Tolerance. It was made with clear lampwork beads scrolled with white, swarovski ab crystal bicones, sterling silver dove charms, sterling silver peace message beads and a sterling silver dove toggle clasp.


"Caribbean Hearts"
To benefit The National Cervical Cancer Coalition
Designs by Debi Handmade Jewelry January 2011 Jewelry for Charity Piece Caribbean Hearts. Teal, white and sterling silver one of a kind lampwork bracelet to raise money for the National Cervical Cancer Coalition. The bracelet has a heart theme...handmade lamwork beads swit=rled in white and caribbean blues, swarovski teal indicolite bisone crystals, tiny pearly white seed beads, round Bali beads with a repeating heart design, sterling silver heart link chain and a sterling silver heart toggle. OOAK


"Romantic Victorian Valentine"
To benefit The American Heart Association
Designs by Debi Handmade Jewelry for Charity one-of-a-kind Lampwork Jewelry Set Romantic Victorian Valentine. Bracelet and Earrings set with red lampwork hearts, Bali sterling silver hearts, Swarovski crystal ab bicones, white Swarovski pearls, a Swarovski crystal red heart and a delicate sterling silver filigree heart toggle clasp. ooak


"Can't Wait for Spring!"
To benefit The King Center
Can't Wait for Spring! Designs by Debi Jewelry for Charity Bracelet March 2011 A fun, one of a kind handmade bracelet of orange, pink and white polymer clay beads with flowers and dragonflies, Bali silver beads, Swarovski crystals and sterling silver. OOAK


"Sending Healing Aloha"
To benefit Friends of Keri
Designs by Debi Handmade Jewelry for Charity Necklace Sending Healing Aloha. A one of a kind ooak hibiscus lampwork necklace with freshwater pearls, gold beads, Bali floral pillow beads and a gold hibiscus toggle clasp.


"Hope for a Bright Future"
To benefit The American Red Cross
(helping those affected by the tornado outbreak last month)
Designs by Debi Handmade Jewelry for Charity Bracelet and Earrings Set Hope for a Bright Future. The one of a kind ooak bracelet features handmade artisan lampwork glass beads, sterling silver flower beads, Swarovski citrine and white alabaster bicones, a sterling silver hook clasp and extender chain with charms. The one of a kind earrings are leverback style with matching beads, crystals and chain.


"The Spirit and Strength of Who Dat Nation"
To benefit The Brees Dream Foundation
Designs by Debi Handmade Jewelry for Charity Set June 2011 The Spirit and Strength of Who Dat Nation. A one of a kind bracelet and earrings set featuring gold handmade lampwork hearts and spacers, black and gold fleur de lis charms, jet black and crystal gold aurum 2x biicnes and a gold jubilee heart toggle clasp. It will benefit The Brees Dream Foundation. OOAK one-of-a-kind


"Swirling Ocean Surf"
To benefit The American Red Cross
(to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina and the 2011 tornadoes and floods)
Designs by Debi Jewelry for Charity Set July 2011 Swirling Ocean Surf to benefit the American Red Cross. A beautiful, one of a kind handmade lampwork bracelet and earrings set in swirling blue, white and hints of green, swirled Bali silver beads, twisted rings and elegantly scrolled toggle clasp accented with Swarovski crystal bicones in aquamarine ab2x and montana ab2x. OOAK © Designs by Debi All Rights Reserved


"Dylan's Dragon Warriors"
To benefit The Dylan Cashio Relief Fund
Designs by Debi Handmade OOAK Jewelry for Charity Necklace and Earrings Set for August 2011 called Dylan's Dragon Warriors. Made with multiple pewter dragons, green and red dragon blood jasper in teardrop, round and rondelle shapes and pewter dragon feet bead caps.


"Hawaiian Sunshine"
To benefit St Jude Children's Research Hospital
Designs by Debi September 2011 Jewelry for Charity Necklace Hawaiian Sunshine. A one of a kind necklace with a golden hibiscus handmade lampwork focal bead; golden yellow, dancing freshwater pearls, Bali vermeil squiggle pillows, filigree bicones and bead caps, daisy spacers, diamond-shaped toggle clasp and puffy heart dangle, and Swarovski crystal bicones in topaz and light topaz. One-of-a-kind OOAK


"Life's Box of Chocolates"
To benefit Catholic Charities USA
Designs by Debi Handmade Jewelry for Charity Piece October 2011 Life's Box of Chocolates made with look-good-enough-to-eat chocolates lampwork glass beads handmade by Jayne at Badger Beads Lampwork in Wisconsin; crystal colors to represent the various fillings you'd find in a box of chocolates... chocolate, caramel, strawberry cream, orange cream, lemon cream, mint, coconut and marshmallow; wavy sterling silver tube beads, Bali silver barrel beads and a beautiful Bali silver rectangle toggle with a swirled pattern coordinating nicely with the rest of the bracelet. OOAK one of a kind

And I even have a sneak peek for you!
Due to a delay in receiving the parts I needed, I just now finished the November piece. It's not even up on the website yet. You're seeing it here first!



I'm very excited about this program and these pieces. I hope you enjoyed seeing them. I'll be back here tomorrow with more new artisans and fun stuff for you :)






Did you miss a day? It's easy to get caught up... we wouldn't want you to miss any goodies!!