Harry and the Hurricane Season

Volume 16 Issue 6, June 2019

What's New in June?

We went right into summer this year with hot, hot, hot temperatures and no real spring storms. However, it is also the first of the hurricane season, and that is always something unpredictable.

I did a little late planting this year and didn’t get my petunias up until just right before Memorial Day. I swear I remember doing that a lot earlier in the past. We have done some more clearing of dead trees and weeds and have everything in top shape for the moment.

The squirrels, bunnies, birds, butterflies and Harry all love to run through the front yard.

As part of my summer make over, we are looking at paint chips and trying to decide what color the house needs to be now. We have been green, yellow and blue, so do we stay with those colors or go crazy and do brown? Ah, the dilemma.

In the meantime, here is a little something that might make you smile. Harry and his sticks and our blue house.

What’s New

Key rings: New Bible verse key rings and purse charms.

Earrings: I have been busy creating a plethora of new earrings; almost all of them featuring images from art.

Beads: I am working on stocking more polymer clay beads for jewelry. Over the last couple of months, I have been making some 10 and 15 mm beads for my own designs, and will put those extra beads in the shop.

You will find all of my beads, canes and finished jewelry on my website. 
www.bluemorningexpressions.com

Until next month,
Julie



Things to Look Forward To:

New Products:

Leggings: My supplier has added a great legging line, so I have been experimenting with design and element placement. I have several in my store now and am working on peacock leggings designs.

Posters: I am working on putting descriptions up for my bible verse posters and my hot rod posters. There are more to come.

Bookmarks: I decided that some of my beads and images would translate nicely to bookmarks. Those are on the bench.

Mother’s Day Around the World–UK

Mothering Day takes place on the fourth Sunday of Lent, and therefore, changes every year with the calendar.

Mothering Day tradition may be oldest around the world with an approximate start in the 1600s. It was the Early Modern period in Europe and the Baroque Period.

As was custom at the time, children were sent off to work for the rich as either domestic servants or apprentices. The children usually were not given time off during the year, but during Lent, they were granted time to go and worship the Virgin Mary at their Mother Church and see their own Mum.

Children arrived home with fresh picked flowers for Mum and they would make cakes called Mothering Cakes.

At one point, this Sunday was called Refreshment Sunday as the rules of fasting were set aside for a day in honor of the Bible story about feeding the five thousand.

Lent robes were changed from purple to rose for this day, which is partly why the rose is associated with Mother’s Day to date. Eventually, it came around to its Mothering Day name and lost the Refreshment Sunday name.

There was an interruption of Mother’s Day during the Industrial Revolution, but it was revived after World War II.

Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom has long since lost its original meaning of Lent refreshments, but it does still follow the tradition by using the Liturgical calendar and there are a lot of rich almond cakes (Mothering Cakes) baked for Mum.

Another treat is a tray of Mothering Sunday Buns, which are buns with raisins and icing, and in Northern England, they make a pancake of steeped peas fried in butter called carling.

The rose is the official flower of the United Kingdom, which also fits with the rose being the flower of Mother’s Day.

No matter what day Mother’s Day is celebrated around the world, every mother knows that her family appreciates her and the things she does for them by the way they all focus the day on her. As part of that focus, we would like to help you make mom’s day special by shopping from all of our handmade items that are sure to make her day a bit brighter.

Here are just a few ideas for you to  browse, and if you do not see what you want, ask any of the artists if maybe they can help you make something special for mom.

Pink Filet Crochet Rose Doily

RSS Designs in Fiber 

Spa Gift Set

Crafting Memories 1 

Pink Rose Quartz Chunky Necklace

Shadow Dog Designs 

Rhinestone Rose Pink Earrings

Magdalene Jewels 

Rose Quartz Necklace

Blonde Peach Jewelry 

Handmade Lampwork Glass Beads

Covergirl Beads 

Swarovski Pink Pearl Crystal Charm Bracelet with Clam Shell Charms

Victorian Style Treasures 

Rose Quartz Gemstone Statement Necklace

Pretty Gonzo 

Swarovski 5328 Rose Peach Crystal and Butterfly Dangle Earrings

Kats All That 

Hearts And Swirls Wood Wall Art

Kevs Krafts 

Light Pink Pearl Fuchsia Crystal Earrings

The Singing Beader 

Pink Rose Bangle Bracelet

Blue Morning Expressions 

You can also shop from the following collections:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9

Celebrate Mother’s Day Around the World
India
Ethiopia
Serbia
France
Peru
Germany
Mexico
Japan

Handmade sells out fast, so if you see something you like, you better hurry before someone else sees it. Help us spread the word by sharing these links and this post.

A big, big thank you to all of our artist friends who have been so generous with their time and talents to design, display, do extra blog posts and promote their wares. Without everyone, the countdowns would not be successful, so thank you so much!

Enjoy!
Julie and the hurricane known as Harry

Mother’s Day Countdown 2019 Week 9

As so often happens, the end comes around way too quickly. 

Here we are at the last week of the Countdown, 

so if you are going to buy handmade, 

buy it now before it is gone!

Handmade artists thank you for your support!

An InLinkz Link-up

get the InLinkz code

Mother’s Day Around the World–Japan

Mother’s Day in Japan is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, and like most countries, the children give their mothers handmade items and do all of mom’s chores. The red carnation is the flower for Mother in Japan. Carnations are a symbol of purity, sweetness and endurance, like mom.

The day starts with a Haha-no-hi, which means Happy Mother’s Day and derived from the word hahaoya (mother), and children wake their mothers up with this greeting. The grown children do not send flowers or cards like in other countries, but they show up at the door with flowers in hand.

The celebration of mom could have begun from the celebration of the birthday of Empress Kojun who was born on March, 6, or it could have begun in 1913 with the arrival of Christian missionaries. Regardless, I am almost positive that they were celebrating mom long before the missionaries arrived; although, the missionaries might have given the celebrations an official date.

The Imperial Women’s Union made it official in 1931 and the festivals spread across the country by 1949.

There was a complete halt of Mother’s Day during WWII when Japan banned all Western celebrations or customs.

While the kids do make handmade gifts, they do purchase kimonos for mom in pink or red flowers, or the feng shui happiness cat. They also buy the mom and baby kokeshi doll  and fragrance cards like the red geisha fan.

The most popular Mother’s Day meal consists of sushi, nimono, tamagoyaki, miso soup and tofu.

The unofficial national flower of Japan is the chrysanthemum.

Maybe you can find something red for your mom on Mother’s Day from these handmade gift ideas. If you do not see what you want, ask any of the artists below, and they may be able to custom make something just for your mom. You better hurry, though. These  handmade gift ideas sell out fast, and Mother’s Day is approaching quickly.

Red and Pink Doily Coaster Set of 2

RSS Designs in Fiber 

Red Gold Cat Lovers Beaded Charm Bracelet

Victorian Style Treasures

Pink Or Red Rose Wall Art Portrait

Kevs Krafts 

Valentine Crocheted Red Sweater

Magdalene Knits 

Red Choker Necklace Handmade Jewelry No Clasp

Blonde Peach Jewelry 

Red Beaded Bracelet

Pretty Gonzo 

Handmade Lampwork Glass Beads

Covergirl Beads 

Lotus in Buddha Hand Pink Coral and Heishi Shell BOHO Summer Necklace

KatsAllThat 

Red Glass Vintage Nepal Ethnic Handmade Jewelry Gift

Shadow Dog Designs 

Curved Tube Earrings

The Singing Beader 

Red Flower Beaded Bracelet with Dyed Red Shell Beads

Blue Morning Expressions 

You can also shop from the following collections:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8

Celebrate Mother’s Day Around the World
India
Ethiopia
Serbia
France
Peru
Germany
Mexico

Handmade sells out fast, so if you see something you like, you better hurry before someone else sees it. Help us spread the word by sharing these links and this post.

Enjoy!
Julie and the hurricane known as Harry