Monday, October 24, 2011

NOVICA Review & Giveaway!

Giveaway is Closed!


The winner has been contacted:


Emily said...
Wow, what a great company. I love knowing that products I buy are helping others. I'm so glad you informed us of this site! I looked at the website and they have a ton of wonderful items. I love the Talishmen(sp?) ring as well as a ton o the shawls!


This post is much delayed, but one that I am excited to share!

I was approached by a representative from NOVICA to see if I would be interested in doing a review and/or hosting a giveaway for them. NOVICA is one of the leading fair trade artisan websites, working with National Geographic to give talented artisans around the world a place to express their artistic talents and provide access to the world market. Their website has thousands of top fair trade gifts, accessories, jewelry, and home decor items, all uniquely crafted by talented artisans around the world.

Taken from their website:

We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow. At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe. We want you to know about who you're buying from. We want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it. 
In the spirit of the Internet, let us bring you together. 

NOVICA. The World is Your Market.

I thought this was a really interesting company doing something wonderful for many talented artists that are in areas where there is little opportunity for them to have a chance to be successful. I think it's a great company that I'm happy to support.

I was given the opportunity to purchase something from their website. There are so many unique items that I had a tough time narrowing it down. I was able to decide on a beautiful scarf, made by the women from the Waqxaqi Kan Women's Group (read the whole story about this group here):

"Our husbands had died and we had to find a way to feed our children and give them an education. So we decided to form a group to look for opportunities based on our skills as weavers."

Isn't that amazing that by purchasing a scarf, I am helping these courageous women provide a better life for themselves and their children?


I received my scarf and it is absolutely beautiful! I know that every time I wear it I will think of how it was handmade with love and care and not in some factory by a machine. And I will also think of how this purchase helped a woman be able to provide for her family.

While I chose a scarf, there are certainly many more options of items on the website, ranging from men's cufflinks and scarves to women's belts, wraps, and handbags and unique home decor.

Some of my favorites:



NOVICA has been incredibly generous, and would like to offer a $50 gift certificate to one of my readers! I would highly encourage each of you to check out the website, learn a little bit more about what they are doing to help those less fortunate, and I'm sure you'll find something to love!

If you'd like an opportunity to win the $50 gift certificate, please leave a comment on this post letting me know what you'd choose if you are to win. NOVICA has many ideas under $50 (check that out here). I'll select a winner this Friday, October 28. Good luck!

23 comments:

Talia said...

I've heard briefly about NOVICA before and I think what they're doing is absolutely amazing. Seriously, how great is it that people can purchase wonderfully handcrafted pieces and it will help the artist and their families?

If I won the giveaway, I would love to purchase the 'Maya Colors' Shawl (http://www.novica.com/itemdetail/index.cfm?pid=184496). Although, the wood sculptures and earrings are all just as beautiful!

Thanks for sharing this with us. :)

Preppy Girl Meets World said...

I love Novica. They have so many cute products that are good for gifts.

If I won the giveaway, I would get this Soaptsone Ivy Vine jar. http://www.novica.com/itemdetail/index.cfm?pid=146382

Tracy @ Honey and Nutmeg said...

http://www.novica.com/itemdetail/index.cfm?pid=188387

I am loving the Soapstone Owl bookends! What a great giveaway!

honeyandnutmeg.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I love the scarves! They are tres cute!

Jessica Nicole said...

I love all the scarves! Especially the pink fantasy one. This is such a wonderful cause. What a unique and awesome idea for Christmas presents.

Jodie said...

What a wonderful cause! I'm loving the "Pink Sea Breath" Pearl necklace. SO gorgeous!

Mommara said...

I love this website! What an awesome cause. I would choose the highball glasses or rose quarts bracelet. Or get a gift for my mom for the holidays. She loves shaw wraps and they have some gorgeous ones!

Emily said...

Wow, what a great company. I love knowing that products I buy are helping others. I'm so glad you informed us of this site! I looked at the website and they have a ton of wonderful items. I love the Talishmen(sp?) ring as well as a ton o the shawls!

Lauren said...

Those scarves are gorgeous! That is the route I would go I think

Legal Preppy said...

I love how they have so many options to chose from. I was going through the various elephant pieces they have and its impossible for me to chose just one, but it would either be the trumpeting elephant vase or the elephant teak relief (that would be stunning on my wall!)

Arlynn said...

Wow, what an amazing organization!?! And am amazing giveaway :-) I'm in LOVE with those elephant stack earrings, but I'm also loving the elephant Celadon figurines... Apparently I'm in an 'elephant' kind of mood! Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful company with us and hosting the giveaway - I'm crossing my fingers for this one!

BroncoMom said...

Not sure what my final choice would be because there are handbags and jewelry. Hmmmmm
BroncoMom.is.ann@gmail.com

Lindsey said...

This website is so wonderful! Thank you for sharing. If I won the giveaway, I would silk batik shawl in Bird of Paradise.

turtlesandpearls@yahoo.com

Mary A. said...

mystic fest -- no contest!

Mrs. Jansson said...

With the holidays coming up, I'd use this as a chance to purchase a gift for my sister in law. She just got back from a mission trip to mexico and I think she'd love the stained glass cross candle holder.

Megan said...

Yay! If I won I would use it on a beautiful strikingly blue pashmina I saw on the site recently! :D

megansalters@gmail.com

Anna H said...

I would DEFINITELY purchase those elephant earrings! So obsessed with elephants - its a problem.

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

Oh, wow, you could spend a long time on their site!!!
I really liked the apalca wool purple scarf, looks really cute and I love that shade of purple!

Jules said...

Thanks for introducing me to this site and it's something to definitely keep in mind, especially with the holidays coming up. It's nice to give gifts that were made by real people striving towards a better life.

I really like the scarf you picked out and I'd probably get the gray Starburst 100% alpaca wool. It would keep me warm on those chilly days at the rink. I also saw a really pretty confetti pitcher from Mexico.

Thanks for hosting this!

Lynda Del said...

I love their shawls! If I win I'd get the Wool shawl, 'Red Wine Forest' found here:
http://www.novica.com/itemdetail/index.cfm?pid=171861

lyndadawinda1074 at yahoo dot com

Christine A said...

This website is simply wonderful! I am in love with the celedon ceramic noble elephants! They are just fabulous! I also really like their shawls!

With Love by Connie Yan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
With Love by Connie Yan said...

Novica is fantastic. It helps us connect with talented artists around the world and allows them to make a living. We learn about their traditional arts and cultures. It helps us connect with eachother. I would choose the beautiful scarf made by the Waqxaqi Kan Women's Group that you recently recieved. It tells a story and helps empower women!

 
SITE DESIGN BY DESIGNER BLOGS