The Countdown to Mother’s Day has begun!
Shop now for handmade and unique gifts for mom.
Friday, March 30, 2018
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
The Flowers of the Gods
The story starts with the simple song of a flute that distracted the goddess of the hunt, Diana. Since it ruined her hunt, she severely punished the fluting shepherd to the point where he lost his eyes. Wonderful tale, right? It doesn’t really get any better other than she felt terrible about the whole thing. The shedding of innocent blood on the ground gave rise to the Dianthus caryophyllus that we know as the carnation.
Another version of the story has the carnation being named after Zeus because dios means Zeus and anthos means flower. Dianthus. Either way, the carnation is the flower of the gods.
Christian legend has the flower being birthed from the Virgin Mary’s tears on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion making it the symbol of a mother’s love.
White carnations in the Netherlands are used to remember veterans; in France, the purple carnation is a traditional funeral flower, and in some places, May Day is celebrated with bright red carnations that symbolize socialism and the labor movement.
The lovely carnation is the premier flower of Mother’s Day. It can be found in large bouquets and is usually given to the mothers during a church service.
The carnation is naturally found in pink, red, yellow, scarlet and white, which makes it ideal for dying whatever color you choose.
- White carnations are for purity and luck.
- Light red carnations mean admiration.
- Dark red carnations offer love and affection.
- Pink is gratitude.
- Yellows is rejection or disappointment.
- Purple is capriciousness.
The first carnations came to the United States from France in 1852, and they are the second most popular cut flower after the lovely rose.
You can eat them and brew them as a tea to restore energy and reduce stress.
Let’s take a look at some of the lovely pinks that we can find from our handmade artists that capture the color of the carnation.
Ravishing Red Hand Knitted Cotton Skull Dish Cloth or Wash Cloth
Pink Lace Flower Scarf
Little Ice Drops Dichroic Fused Glass Post Stud Earrings
Dangle Earrings for Women
Dahlia and Aster Blossoms Womens Trifold Wallet
Opalite Pink Drop Antique Brass Women's Necklace
Light Pink Swarovski Crystal Earrings
SHHH, BABY'S DREAMIN PINK WALL HANGINGING PLAQUE HANDCRAFTED FROM BIRCH WOOD
Pink Crystal Earrings Bridal Earrings
Etched Light Pastel Pink Lampwork Glass Beads Fine Silver Matte
Czech Rose Gold Square w Maple Leaf Preciosa Celsian Crystal Earrings
Lilies, ACEO or 5 x 7 Note Card
St. Agatha Rosary Bracelet
Mixed Gemstone Necklace, Agate Jasper Elegant Handmade Jewelry Gift
Artisan Floral Lampwork Beaded Bracelet w Golden Swarovski Crystals
Dark Indian Pink and Sterling Silver Swarovski Crystal Necklace
Pink Rhodocrosite Natural Gemstone Sterling Pendant Black Leather Cord Artisan Jewelry
Hope that you enjoyed these gorgeous creations. If you do not see what you are looking for, contact any of the above artists, and I am sure that they will be more than happy to create something just for you.
If you want to see more, here are some more links:
And even more!
Enjoy, and share this blog post and all of these handmade items with your friends and family! We handmade artists always appreciate a good share.
Julie
Friday, March 23, 2018
Mother’s Day Countdown 2018 Week 3
![98D13_zpolitics_MothersDay_Banner_thumb[3]_thumb](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UGMwHn_P13w/WpRIxAoFkXI/AAAAAAAACpA/5w6OgDZU-VE0i_l1ZOCLJ1N_92-kVxUUwCHMYCw/98D13_zpolitics_MothersDay_Banner_thumb%255B3%255D_thumb_thumb?imgmax=800 "98D13_zpolitics_MothersDay_Banner_thumb[3]_thumb")
The Countdown to Mother’s Day has begun!
Shop now for handmade and unique gifts for mom.
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
What is in a Name?
That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet – William Shakespeare
These perennial flowering plants come in over one hundred species and thousands of hybrids and variations.
As breeders have perfected the rose, they have bestowed these colorful garden and cut flower beauties with names that honor some very famous folks. The “Diana” is named after the Princess of Wales, and she has had a number of roses named for her.
There are also variations like the Claude Monet and the Amadeus. The Caesar and the Elizabeth Taylor live together side by side in the garden, too.
The first rose to be named was the Dorothy Perkins after the grower’s granddaughter in the 1800s in the United States. The Perkins family is still a huge grower of roses.
Rose is a French word that was borrowed from the Latin word rosa that was borrowed from a Greek word that was borrowed from an Old Persian word that was borrowed from … well, you get the idea. It is thought to have come from the Parthian word wâr.
The rose has a small berry known as the rose hip that has almost been eliminated from the cultivated flowers because it takes up room on the bud, and today’s growers want to pack the petals in as tightly as possible. The hip is rich in Vitamin C and the richest of all plant sources. Thrushes and waxwings love the hips, and their droppings help cultivate the wild roses. Rose hips are used in jams and jellies.
The thorns are not true thorns so much as they are considered prickles and are there to aid the rose in its ability to climb over other plants by giving it a way to hold onto them as it vines. The prickles also help keep them from being eaten by animals except for deer who apparently have no problem munching on petals and thorns.
Roses have been cultivated in all civilizations and have been seen in art as far back as the ancient Babylonians. Egyptian tombs have had rose paintings buried within them, and there are records dating back to 500 B.C. of Greek and Chinese gardens being populated with roses.
The breeding of roses begun in the 17th century in Europe with the introduction of the Chinese rose. Empress Josephine of France was a big breeder of roses in the 19th century.
The rose is one of the most popular garden shrubs worldwide, and the rose is available in a variety of colors with the exception of blue. There is no blue pigment in the rose family that would allow breeders to capture a true blue or purple flower. Breeders have introduced dyes into the flowers that offer a blue tint, and with genetic modification, breeders are working on a GMO blue rose.
The rose is a perfect cut flower and the fragrance is found in perfumes and soaps. One long stem red rose is the universal symbol for “I love you”.
You will find the rose used symbolically throughout history.
This blooming beauty was found in the garden of Sarah Winchester of the Winchester rifle fame. (Now a new movie featuring Helen Mirren.) I went through the house; it wasn’t that creepy. It was rather sad. Sarah’s brain did all of her haunting. photo ©jcleveland
While a rose may not come in blue or purple, many of these handmade gift ideas for Mother’s Day do. Shop now or forever lose the chance to buy some unique, one of a kind pieces.
Lovely Lavender Bunny Hand Knitted Dish Cloth or Wash Cloth
Crocheted Toddler Sweater Lilac Cotton Yarn, Headband, Easter, Spring 4T
Lavender Heart Beaded with Plum Purple 3D Roses
Purple Swarovski Pink Beaded Dangle Women's Earrings
Purple Violets in Green Vase
Purple Swarovski Crystal Earrings
Purple Easter Bunny Spring Dog Scrunchie Neck Ruffle
Lampwork Beads EDP Premium Purple Handmade Glass Etched Opaque 254e
Czech Serpentine Cobalt Blue, Turquoise and Gray Black Agate Necklace
Midnight Rainbow Dichroic Fused Glass Dangle Earrings
Pearl Gemstone Necklace
Tudor Cross Necklace
Purple Mosaic Necklace
Necklaces for Women
Amethyst Spike Necklace and Earrings Set
MILITARY TRUMPETS SOUNDING FOR FALLEN SOLDIER CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT
Amethyst Gemstone Nugget White Freshwater Pearl Long Necklace 41 Inch
Vintage Violet Amethyst Brass Drop Earrings
Hope that you enjoyed these gorgeous creations. If you do not see what you are looking for, contact any of the above artists, and I am sure that they will be more than happy to create something just for you.
If you want to see more, here are some more links:
And even more!
Enjoy, and share this blog post and all of these handmade items with your friends and family! We handmade artists always appreciate a good share.
Julie
www.bluemorningexpressions.com
Technorati Tags: bluemorningexpressions,handmade gifts for mom,mother's day gifts,bracelets,earrings,dog collars,jewelry,necklaces,gemstone jewelry
Friday, March 16, 2018
Mother’s Day Countdown 2018 Week 2
![98D13_zpolitics_MothersDay_Banner_thumb[3]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CI5xG1rjyZY/WpRIWmVI8ZI/AAAAAAAACo4/zIZGBbEKZt0oY_PLSG7Grw0p2547OxbawCHMYCw/98D13_zpolitics_MothersDay_Banner_thumb%255B3%255D_thumb?imgmax=800 "98D13_zpolitics_MothersDay_Banner_thumb[3]")
The Countdown to Mother’s Day has begun!
Shop now for handmade and unique gifts for mom.
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Tulips
When spring rolls around, and Mother’s Day, the tulip is starting its journey into the world. I had the great fortune to enjoy Tulip Fest in Washington State in 2014, and from there, I gathered all sorts of gorgeous photos that show off the startling color of these and other spring flowers.
Often the tulip is included in Mother’s Day bouquets since they are bright and bold in size and color. They are wonderful showcase flowers.
Rows and rows of red and yellow tulips dash over the hill in this Tulip Fest photo in Washington State 2014. © jcleveland
These darlings of the Netherlands have been cultivated in a huge variety of variations. The variegated patterns that we sometimes see in these flowers started as a result of a virus within the flower in the 17th century, thus creating “broken” flowers.
Tulips wandered into the Netherlands from Asia where they had been in existence for years. It wasn’t until the Ottoman Empire that someone other than the Asians noticed these showy flowers. Henceforth: TULIP MANIA struck the world!
They are bulb plants that cannot be grown in all locations much to my dismay. Even with the bulbs hibernating in the freezer over the “winter”, they still are not cooperative in Florida. It’s potted tulips for us.
The word tulip is derived from Turkish word(s) that translate to “turban” that the shape of the flower closely represents. It is believed that the cultivation of these flowers first began in the 10th century in Persia. The first tulips to be cultivated upon the shores of the United States is thought to have happened in Salem, MA in the 1840s near Spring Pond.
Today, over 3 BILLION bulbs are annually produced for export from the Netherlands.
Since we have been speaking of great, colorful eye candy, here is some more for you. Buy any one of these beauties for Mom. She would really like it if you bought her ALL of them!
Pink with White Flower Medallions Dog Bandana
Hand Knit Fabulous Four Corner Flower Cotton Picture Dish Cloth
Red And Black Crystal Earrings
The Scarlet Bugler Canvas Print
Siam Tulip Flower Earrings w Jonquil Swarovski Crystals
Heart Bead Lampwork Coral Orange Glass Ivory Band Silver Focal 20mm
Red Heart Stud Earrings
Red and White Flowers Lace Doily
Red Flower Earrings
Red Earrings for Women Earrings With Diamonds
Red Charm Bracelet
Red Flower Earrings
Czech Ruby Travertine and Swarovski Crystal Sterling Silver Earrings
Hope that you enjoyed these gorgeous creations. If you do not see what you are looking for, contact any of the above artists, and I am sure that they will be more than happy to create something just for you.
If you want to see more, here are some more links:
Enjoy, and share this blog post and all of these handmade items with your friends and family! We handmade artists always appreciate a good share. 
Julie