Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Mother's Day and Flying Machines

Volume 16 Issue 5, May 2019

What's New in May?

As is our tradition here at Blue Morning Expressions, we are once again hosting our annual Mother’s Day Countdown featuring our friends who create some fantastic handmade gifts. From jewelry to stained glass to handknits to gifts for mom’s dogs, we have it all. We are winding down to our final two weeks and then, it’s Mother’s Day. Our blog is filled with great gift ideas for any woman on your gift list, even if it is not Mother’s Day!

As the days go into summer, the weather is turning much warmer, which means that we must keep our eye out for storms and hurricanes. Warmer weather also means that I will be spending less time outside running and playing with little Harry. He is finishing up his first round of agility training, and that wears ME out!

Some big projects on the back burner are now coming forward like the photo jewelry and new canes. It took me awhile to get back to caning, but I have been bitten by the bug again, so there may be some new flowers in the mix this summer.

In the meantime, enjoy a photo from the local air show that featured an amazing new aircraft: the F35A



What’s New

Key rings: I am taking the key rings one step further and creating purse charms and rings. With lots of beads and things. Have them started, but nothing to show yet. Soon ...

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

Thimbles: 2019 Mother’s Day and a number of puppy and cat thimbles are now up for sale.
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.
























Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Mother’s Day Around the World–Mexico

Mother's Day In Mexico

Unlike the United States and other countries, Mexico has a fixed date for Mother’s Day: May, 10.

It is a day for them to rejoice in the aspects of motherhood like the pain of childbirth, the troubles of raising children and the sacrifice that moms make for their families. All of her needs and desires are set aside as she works to make life easy for her child. This is the day that her children honor her for her sacrifices.

While the concept of a mother’s day was brought to Mexico from the United States in 1922, the conservative government of Mexico nixed the idea because they held women in contempt and only as a source of children.

It took work from the Catholic Church, media and a socialist government to help change the thinking around the honoring of mothers. Soledad Orozco Garcia, wife of the president at the time, made the holiday officially May, 10. It is now regarded as a significant Mexican holiday and is state-sponsored.



As part of the celebration, the members of the party of the Mexican Revolution invited poor women in the country to come and pick a free gift from their shops. In 1942, the government gave women back their sewing machines if they had pawned them and were unable to pay the pawn broker. It cost the pawn brokers roughly $160,000.

The official Mexican flower is the beautiful Dahlia.


Today, children sing their mothers songs and celebrate mass at the shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe as an orchestra plays. The Virgin is symbolic of motherhood in Mexico. After mass, the feast begins. It is filled with lots of tamales.

If Mother’s Day falls on a school  day, the mothers all go to school where all of the children sing, dance and do stand up routines. Lunch is then served at a restaurant.

Handmade gifts and fresh flowers are still the conventional gifts, and there is nothing more personal than a handmade gift.

Here are some handmade gifts that are perfect for Mother’s Day gift giving.

Red Hearts and Flowers Table Topper

RSS Designs in Fiber 

Red Rose Wall Art Decor Handmade 8 x 10 Oak Wood Flower

Kevs Krafts 

Thai Suns and Pink Lampwork Earrings, Garnet Handmade Jewelry Women

Shadow Dog Designs 

Long Pink Earrings Feminine Earrings Handmade Flower Jewelry

Blonde Peach Jewelry 

Czech Light Amethyst Crystal Heart Earrings

Treasures of Jewels 

Lampwork Beaded Artisan Necklace Murano Venetian Glass Amethyst Semi-Precious Gemstones

Magdalene Jewels 


Purple Flower Earrings, Yellow Earrings

Blue Morning Expressions 

Long Dangle Earrings for Women,

Pretty Gonzo 

Pink, Green, Purple, Flower Lampwork Silver Bracelet and Earring Set

Kats All That 

Stitch Marker Set of 7 Burgundy Glass Bead

Crafting Memories 1 

Lilac Purple Pearl Earrings

The Singing Beader 

Handmade Lampwork Glass Beads, Light Amethyst Purple, Silver, Etched 040efs

Covergirl Beads 

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


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


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

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Mother’s Day Around the World - Germany

Mother’s Day, or Muttertag, is the tradition of honoring mothers in Germany and is held on the second day of May unless  Pentecost is the same day, and then it is rescheduled to the first day in May. The Germans celebrate mom in the most traditional sense with cards, handmade gifts and lots of food.

It was first celebrated in the 1920s and became an official German holiday in the 1930s.
Not to put a damper on things, but Mother’s Day took a terribly dark turn during Hitler’s reign. The holiday no longer was significantly and innocently designed to honor mom, but a way for Hitler to replenish his army. Medals were awarded to mothers based upon how many children she had produced for the Fatherland.

After the war, Mother’s Day was no longer an official holiday, but the tradition carried on for families as they tried to find ways to honor mom that did not have a dark side.
Now on Mother’s Day, the Germans hold festivals and feasts for mom; they surprise her with trinkets of their love and affection; and they give her carnations just like the rest of the world does.

The beautiful blue cornflower is the official flower of Germany.

Here are some wonderful blue gift ideas from those who love to make and buy handmade.

Druzy Footprint Necklace

LinorStore 

Blue and White Stars Doily

RSS Designs in Fiber 

Hand Knit Bulky Scarf Blue and White Stripe

Crafting Memories 1 

Long Clip on Earrings

Blonde Peach Jewelry 

Seashell Charm Bracelet

Pretty Gonzo 

Blue Lucite Tulip Romantic Earrings w Blue Topaz Swarovski Crystals

Magdalene Jewels 


Handmade Lampwork Glass Beads, Periwinkle Blue,

Covergirl Beads 

Dragonfly Earrings, Pewter Swirling Blue Handmade Jewelry Gift Women

Shadow Dog Designs 

Light Blue Crystal Rosary Necklace

The Singing Beader 

Shhh, Baby's Dreamin Blue Wall Hanging Plaque Handcrafted from Birch Plywood

Kevs Krafts 


Blue and Teal Drop Earrings with Handmade Beads and Swarovski Crystals

Blue Morning Expressions 

You can also shop from the following collections:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Celebrate Mother’s Day Around the World
India
Ethiopia
Serbia
France
Peru
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





Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Mother’s Day Around the World–Peru

While commercialization is a problem associated with Mother’s Day, there are many celebrations worldwide that try to minimize the affect that this has on honoring mom.

Peru is one of those places where everyone does their best to honor mom without resorting to cards and flowers from the store. Mom is honored in Peru by the giving of handmade gifts and cards, as well as chocolate and large family meals. This celebration is held on the second Sunday in May.

Moms return the love by offering their children special gifts and other tokens of affection.

A unique tradition on Mother’s Day in Peru is the visiting of mothers past with a trip to the local cemetery where flowers are bestowed upon graves and monuments. This tradition is so festive that those who work in the cemetery spend days preparing for the event by cleaning the cemetery and ensuring that all headstones and burial places are easy to access. Families gather to visit, have a meal and other festivities.

In Peru, the Andean population celebrates Mother Earth, so named Pachamama. This celebration happens in early August. This beloved ancient mythological goddess is said to be in control over earthquakes, as well as the one who brings fertility. Her day is called Martes de Challa.

Keeping with the tradition of Peru, give your mother or grandmother or aunt something handmade from any one of our talented artists.

Peru’s national flower is the “Inca Magic Flower”.

If you do not see what you want in this list, maybe one of these talented artists would be happy to help you get the right gift. The photos take you to their store where you can contact them.

Rose Irish Crochet Lace Doily

RSS Designs in Fiber 

Hearts And Swirls Wood Wall Art Handmade From Oak Wood By KevsKrafts

Kevs Krafts 

Peach Pearl Bracelet

CraftingMemories1


Dangle Earrings for Women

Blonde Peach Jewelry 

Orange Awareness Earrings

Pretty Gonzo 

Handmade Lampwork Glass Beads, Halloween Cool Orange, Shiny, Glossy 655g

Covergirl Beads 

Lemon Yellow Tangerine Orange Bracelet

Shadow Dog Designs 

Tea Rose Orange Jade, White Pearl Necklace with Blister Pearl Pendant

Kats All That 

Bronze Pearl Beaded Necklace

The Singing Beader 


Orange and Pink Flower Chandelier Earrings with 2-Inch Long Dangles

Blue Morning Expressions 


You can also shop from the following collections:

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5

Celebrate Mother’s Day Around the World

India
Ethiopia
Serbia
France


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

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Mother’s Day Around the World–France


Only Napoleon had it in his heart to declare Mother’s Day (Fete des Meres)  a national holiday, but no one followed suit until 1950 when it officially became a French holiday.

The French celebrate Mother’s Day in late May or early June, depending upon when Pentecost falls on the calendar.

Unlike the Serbs, Mom is required to rest, relax and not cook any meals. She is doted upon by her children, and they do all of her chores for her.

In addition to traditional gifts, the children also honor mom with a poem or two before treating her to a big meal with dessert. The dessert is a cake in the shape of a large flower or bouquet of flowers.

The Iris is France’s official flower.

Let’s see if we can find some handmade gifts in lilac to honor mom from these talented artists.

Lavender Heart Beaded with Plum Purple 3D Roses

RSS Designs in Fiber 

St. Dymphna Rosary Bracelet

Pretty Gonzo 

Hand Painted Coral Butterfly Cameo Necklace

Treasures of Jewels 

Survivor Heart Shape Ribbon

Kevs Krafts 

Royal Purple Iris Best Wishes from Searsmont Maine Glitter Embossed Postcard

Postcards in the Attic 

Swarovski Lt. Amethyst Rivoli Chandelier .925 Sterling Silver Earrings

Kats All That 

Hand Knit Orchid Scarf Hat and Mitts Set

CraftingMemories1 

Flower Necklace, Cobalt Blue Pink Rose Quartz Mothers Day Jewelry Gift

Shadow Dog Designs 

Violet Lily Earrings Violet Opal Swarovski Crystals Romantic

Magdalene Jewels 

Handmade Lampwork Glass Beads

Covergirl Beads 

Dangle Earrings for Women

Blonde Peach Jewelry

Lilac Purple Pearl Earrings

The Singing Beader 


Lavender Flower Earrings with Polymer Clay Beads and Swarovski Crystals

Blue Morning Expressions 

If you do not see what you want in this list, maybe one of these talented artists would be happy to help you get the right gift. The photos take you to their store where you can contact them.
You can also shop from the following collections:

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3

Week 4


Celebrate Mother’s Day Around the World

India
Ethiopia

Serbia


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