Novica Giveaway and Review

Recently, an incredible opportunity to support artists all over the world came across my path.  The online company Novica, associated with National Geographic, contacted me and asked me to check them out and spend $75.  I asked if I could spend $45  and give away a $30 gift card towards their site to one of you. 

When asked if I wanted to participate I looked up their site and fell in love with their mission:

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 spent hours looking at all the fun art work, clothing, handbags, accessories, kitchenware, decor and more.  I was tempted by  many different items.  Since becoming pregnant and having to wear maternity clothes I have pushed myself to spice things up with necklaces and scarves....well, I bought one scarf and one necklace and a few bracelets at Kohls.  So this opportunity offered a chance to add a unique accessory to my maternity wardrobe that could add a little fun to the blah maternity tops. 

I picked this necklace titled "The Elephant Stack".  I chose it because I fell in love with the simple design and the idea that the three elephants represented my three little miracles. 





The necklace came faster that I expected.  They said 4-6 weeks and it took a week or less!  It came wrapped in really cute eco friendly wrapping paper.  The necklace was displayed in such a cute manner, wrapped around a little pillow. 

I have already received numerous compliments on it. 

When you are shopping at Novica you can learn about the artist that made your item. 

The artist that made my necklace is named Jantana.  She is from Thailand and here is a little bit about her:


Jantana



"My dream is to one day have a jewelry workshop and produce my own designs. My parents are jewelers and created made to order jewelry in our home. Because I've had to the opportunity to observe the process and even to help out sometimes, I'd like to continue this family tradition. I enjoy it a lot. After college, I worked two years for a jewelry company and gained experience in new techniques.

"My name is Jantana, but people usually shorten it to Na. I'm the youngest of five children. When my brother and sister married, each moved to stay with their new families, but continued to work with jewelry by setting up workshops in their new locations. I visited my sister and her husband in Northern Thailand where they produce silverware in their home. She invited me to help her. Because I really like the region, I resigned at work and moved to Chang Mai to live with my sister's family.

"She and her husband have 12 silversmiths who collaborate with them. It is a small workshop and they all work together happily like brothers and sisters. One of the women cannot speak, however she is learning to assemble simple pieces, clean the silver, etc. She's been much happier since she started working with us and I'm proud to help her achieve a better life.

"While assisting my sister, I've also been able to develop designs of my own. Every time a shopper admires my work, this makes me very happy and gives me greater motivation. My designs are crafted by hand – almost every step of the process. Sometimes I create a piece of jewelry designed by an artist to display in museums, both inside and outside Thailand. I also create jewelry for new generation designers who want to test their market with small quantities. Some of my jewelry has been specially designed and hand crafted for Novica. "I'm so happy to be living in Northern Thailand and to work at something I enjoy. My sister's family is warm and lovely, and I'm pleased to help her take care of her daughter and son. Now that our parents have retired, they have more time to visit us. They are so happy that we are carrying on their silver jewelry tradition!"

I was impressed with the entire Novica online shopping experience.  It was smooth, quick, and hassle free.  The shipping was very affordable for being from such a far away location. 
Novica has such a wide variety of items, whether you are looking for
fair trade corporate gifts


green gifts


unique gifts


As the holidays come upon us...think of trying the Novica online shopping experience for a unique gift that supports artists from all over the world! 


If you would like to win the $30 gift card to use on a Novica gift for yourself or someone in your life...leave a comment telling me one thing that is on your Christmas list this holiday season. 



You can have a second chance to win the giveaway if you visit Novica and tell me what you would buy and who you would buy it for.


This giveaway will end Wednesday, November 17th at 8pm.