King Richard's Faire: Holiday Gift Guide for Dragon-Lovers, Music-Lovers & Renaissance Collectors

This post has been sponsored by King Richard's Faire.  All opinions expressed are my own.

After souvenir hunting at Carver, Massachusetts' King Richards Faire for the 6th year, I just had to share some of the unique finds I've come across.  If you wait until the holiday shopping season officially starts in November, then you'll miss out on these unique gift ideas because this wildly popular Renaissance faire closes for the season on October 22nd.


Gifts for Dragon-Lovers . . .


Mardigan's Maile, who offers hand crafted chainmaile jewelry, also offers handpainted collectibles next door.  You are sure to find something for your dragon-lover here (young or old), as well as for fans of fairies and unicorns.

Here Be Dragons has a wide variety of ready-to-frame fantasy art prints that feature dragons and more.  A perfect gift idea for a cult movie fan or MTG enthusiast.

According to Uncommon Adornments, dragons are a symbol of wealth, power, and protection. Dragons are just a small sampling of the 40+ designs they sell.  Each piece of jewelry can be customized with one of twenty different stones.  Each symbol and stone have a unique meaning.  Creating a custom combination would make the perfect gift for someone special.

The Imaginarium Galleries is where my youngest son chose his King Richard's Faire souvenir last year.  This shoppe offers cable-controlled dragon puppets in all different colors and sizes.


Gifts for Music-Lovers . . .

Sunnyside Musical Creations is where my daughter chose her King Richard's Faire souvenir this year.  She actually saw these hand carved flutes last year, but had already chosen a portrait painting for her souvenir.  This year, she anxiously returned to try out the different flutes.  They were all unique in both look and sound, but ultimately, I convinced her she should select the flute that had the sound she loved the most.  The selection included regular flutes, recorders, pan flutes, and more.

Mystic Rhythms sells exotic drums and other handmade instruments.  I was enamored by the drums because, not only are they musical instruments that are fun to play, they are also works of art.

Magical Ocarinas . . . the name says it all.  This little clay flute is one of my son's favorite souvenirs from our past visits to King Richard's Faire.  The ocarinas are all unique and fairly easy to play, making them the perfect small gift or stocking stuffer for a child or an adult.


Gifts for Artisan-Made Collectors . . .

Ivy Rose Archery sells handcrafted archery bows and arrows.  Although those would make a great gift for anyone who is adventurous, what really caught my eye were the hand sculpted drinking horns. They would be a wonderful addition to a 3D art or drinkware collection.

Starfire Swords carries stage swords, daggers, and axes.  These pieces are crafted of real metal and are quite heavy.  Although the short swords and daggers I handled were not sharpened, they would most definitely look quite impressive on a wall display.

Mahinda's Mad Dog Pottery offers handspun pottery vases, mugs, bowls, and more.  I thought the Baby Bear Mugs and the Big Papa Bear Mugs would make perfect gifts for father and son.

We visit Staffs By Gust every year during our trip to King Richard's Faire, and every year my husband admires the craftsmanship of these walking staffs. No two are alike, and you can choose the height, color, and design to suit an individual's personality.  I'm so happy my husband finally treated himself to one this year.

Visit King Richard's Faire by October 22nd to start your holiday shopping early with over 80 different Artisans of the Realm!

Which favorite find from King Richard's Faire would you add to this gift guide?

Tell us in a comment here.

3G2S Turned 7! Let's Celebrate with 'Gifts That Give!' from UNICEF Market!

Thank you to UNICEF Market for providing a gift code for us to shop and for providing an additional gift code for our giveaway prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

This March, 3G2S turned 7!  Since I am now a part time blogger and have far less time to write, I have to make each post count.  That's why this blogoversary seems like the perfect opportunity to share the new sister site to Novica.com, UNICEF Market, with 3G2S readers.

As you may have noticed over the years, I have a soft spot for triple garnet silver jewelry.  I love wearing it to represent my three January babies.  That's why I absolutely fell in love with the Garnet and Sterling Silver 'Waterfall' Necklace I found on UNICEF Market.  This necklace was handcrafted by an artisan named Carmen Granados from the Andes in Peru and displays three round garnets in a graceful, yet modern design.

To make UNICEF Market jewelry even more special, each piece comes in a drawstring jewelry pouch and is accompanied by an artisan storycard, which allowed me to learn a little bit about the woman in Peru who created my necklace.  Every UNICEF Market purchase is packed with a postcard with a handwritten thank you.  In addition to all these special touches, you can feel good about giving artisan-made gifts because, not only are you supporting the artisan, but you are also helping UNICEF save and protect children in impoverished areas around the world.  Each product page gives you an example of how your purchase could benefit children.  For example, the purchase of this necklace may have provided 18 doses of measles vaccine to vulnerable children.

I have to admit, I love giving 'gifts that give' as much as I love receiving them.  While shopping for myself on UNICEF Market, I began looking for Mother's Day gift ideas for my mother, grandmother, and sister.  On the top of my list so far are the beautiful scarves and shawls, plus some of the ornate hand carved jewelry boxes.

Thinking of shopping UNICEF Market for your next gift purchase?  Each gift purchase comes with a free greeting card containing your gift message plus there is the option to upgrade to Premium Gift Boxes for jewelry purchases.  For each item, you can click on "Delivery Estimate" to find the cost of shipping (which is surprisingly affordable) and the approximate number of business days it will take the item to travel from its point of origin to your front door.

Learn more about the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and the UNICEF mission here.

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Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S residents only. You must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Novica.com Makes it Possible to Experience the Amazing Talent of Artisans From Around the World

Thank you to Novica for providing a gift code for us to shop online from artisans all around the world and for providing a second gift code for our contest prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I have always appreciated artistic talent, regardless of the subject matter or medium. But I have always had a special appreciation for sculpting. There is something about an artist's ability to create in 3 dimensions that really awes me. It is hard enough to judge scale and proportions in 2 dimensions, let alone 3!

A few years ago we were turned onto Novica.com, an online retailer that specializes in bringing art from all over the world to one place for the world to see and buy. Novica gives artists, from big cities to remote jungles, an audience for their talent, in many cases showcasing talent that would otherwise stay hidden from the rest of the world.

Not only does Novica give a platform for artists worldwide to showcase and sell their goods, they practice in fair trade and even offer microloans to help artists get their works out to the world. It is good to shop at a retailer that is helping artists and small business owners as much as they are themselves. As a consumer, the prices are pretty fantastic as well.

Over the last couple of years we have procured 8 or so pieces from all over the world through Novica, some for ourselves and some for gifts. I love opening the authentically wrapped packages and reading the handwritten cards from the workshops and artists they come from. It truly connects you with the artist and makes the art personal, as if they made it just for you.

Recently I was sent an Eagle Bust, hand carved by Pande Made Anom of Bali. Pande included a handwritten card as well as carving his name and the piece number on the bottom of the bust. The Eagle was larger than I thought it would be (even though the dimensions were provided) and the wood grain was amazing. The scaling and proportions are spot on and the attention to fine detail is stunning.

Even after owning many pieces from Novica I am always amazed at the quality and talent that awaits me in every package. It's funny how something that you carefully picked after seeing pictures and detailed descriptions can also be such a surprise when its time to open it. It is always exciting to see a package from Novica.  I feel as if another part of the world is being sent to me (it quite literally is!).

The only other way to be exposed to these artists would be to travel the world and search them out.  The odds of me meeting Pande in a small Bali town are about zero, but here I am the owner of a fine piece he carved, signed, and sent to me. I will never meet Pande, but I stare at a piece of his passion every day while sitting at my desk in my office.

Visit Novica.com to see some of Pande’s work as well as that of many other artists from all over the world. If you are gift shopping, you could find everything from unique brooches from Peru to West African kente cloths and everything in between.  If you end up choosing something, let me know about your experience opening it when it arrives!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to Worldwide entries. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random number drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Find Unique Gifts for Mom on Novica.com

Thank you to Novica for providing a gift code for our contest prize and for providing a second code to me as a thank you for taking the time to participate in this campaign.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Shopping for unique gifts for mom can be quite time-consuming.  When you think about it, you need to come up with something she'll love for the Holidays, her birthday, and Mother's Day (at minimum).  That is quite a lot of pressure.  That is why I have a few go-to websites that I can always rely on to have just the perfect thing.  Novica.com is one of those websites.

Novica carries handcrafted items from artisans located all around the world, including regions such as the Andes, Bali, Brazil, Thailand, West Africa, and many more.  I have shopped on Novica for years and have been pleased with every purchase.  In fact, every item has exceeded my expectations.  Novica even gift wraps most items for you free of charge, plus every item has been very well-packed and protected.  My only complaint about shopping on Novica.com is how much time I end up spending browsing the website.  There are always new things to see and to say that their selection is vast would be an enormous understatement.

So whether your mom likes jewelry, handbags, unique home decor, or wall art and sculptures, you will likely find something at Novica.com for her.  With the gift code I received, I ordered the Pair of Hurricane Glass Vases (pictured above) made by two artisans named Javier and Efren in Mexico.  They are just the thing I have been looking for to fill a vacant spot on top of a bookcase in our living room.  I can't wait until they arrive!  I've been staring at that empty spot for too long.

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Good luck in the drawing!

Glitter Pyrite Sphere from Novica.com

One of my go-to sites when buying a gift for someone who has everything is Novica.com.  This site, in association with National Geographic, offers clothing, jewelry, accessories, and home furnishings created by artisans from all around the world.  My husband does not have everything, but most of what is on his wishlists are tech and electronic items that cost hundreds of dollars.  Even so, when he browses the Novica website, he always finds something with a high coolness factor that he would like to own (and most of the items do not cost hundreds of dollars to buy).  In the past he has chosen things like a hand carved coconut shell.  This time one of the stone spheres created by stone carver Cesar Gonzales of Peru caught his eye.  The one he liked most was this Glitter Pyrite Sphere.

Like with many items sold on Novica.com, this one came with complimentary gift wrapping.  All Novica products come with a postcard from the artisan's region and a little card telling the story of the product and the person who created it.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

Although the pyrite sphere only measures approximately 2.6" in diameter, it is very heavy.  Sitting on the smooth calcite base, this sphere looks wonderful displayed on top of a desk and is quite a conversation piece.  It would make a great gift for anyone who is fascinated by nature and geology.

In addition to mens accessories, such as cufflinks, walking-sticks, and men's scarves, Novica also offers fun things like hand carved chess sets, musical instruments, and accent furniture.  Along with being handcrafted, the story behind each artist truly makes any of these items a special gift.

Thank you to Novica.com for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing a gift code for our contest prize.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a $50 gift code to shop at Novica.com.

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to WORLDWIDE entries. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:

Browse the selection of gifts for men offered by Novica.com. Then leave a comment telling me the name of one item you saw that you would love to give (or receive) as a gift. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1)  For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.


2)  For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3)  For 10 extra entries, register on Novica.com to receive a $7 Welcome Credit. Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments telling me you did.

4)  For 1 extra entry, "Like" the 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires Facebook page, then leave a separate comment here with the link to your Facebook profile.

5)  For 1 extra entry each, follow Novica on Twitter and/or "Like" Novica on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment for each with the link to your Twitter or Facebook profile.


6)  Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7)  Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8)  Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

9)  Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, August 15th, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

My Photos (W/E 4-23-11)

These are photos of a carved coconut shell with a goldfish theme.  I had nothing but rain with no sunlight this week, so my photos are a little boring.  I think they would have made interesting photos with sunlight filtering through the cutouts.

Thank you for taking the time to view my photos this week! If you'd like to play along or see more great photos, stop by to see Lotus a.k.a. Sarcastic Mom.

Holiday 2010 Review: "Global Girlfriend" Gifts to Benefit Women Worldwide

Global Girlfriend is a company created by Stacey Edgar in 2003 to help women worldwide gain economic security while providing unique products and a simple way to help women in need. Their women-made, fair trade boutique offers a line of trend-setting products including stylish apparel, accessories, and gifts with one purpose: helping women in need help themselves. They believe that economic opportunity for women holds the promise for real change in the world because when women have an income, they reinvest in themselves and in their children, building stronger families and communities over time. Through fair-trade practices, Global Girlfriend brings the work of these disadvantaged women directly to you. Global Girlfriend believes in forming long-term partnerships that provide women a fair living wage with equal employment opportunities and safe healthy working conditions to foster prosperity and reduce poverty.

Additionally, Global Girlfriend directs the charity royalty from each purchase to Camfed (Campaign for Female Education), a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating poverty in Africa through the education of girls and the empowerment of young women. Camfed works directly with girls and women in rural areas of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana and Tanzania, providing educational and economic opportunities. The charity royalty from each purchase at Global Girlfriend is directed to Camfed's seed money micro-grant and micro-credit program. Camfed's seed money micro-grant program is run by young women for young women, creating a bond of female solidarity that is integral to its success. Young women in the seed money program receive an initial micro-grant, which they do not have to repay, in order to launch a small business venture, benefiting themselves, their families, and their entire communities.

Global Girlfriend was kind enough to send me Ugandan Waxcloth Slings and a Café Chic Batik Apron to try out and review. I would say that I was very pleased with the items I was sent. They are all very well made and completely functional. The apron fit me perfectly and I love the pocket on the front, a nice added feature. It is so cute and comfortable and I feel so domestic wearing it. The purses are cute, stylish, roomy, and well made. I have been carrying the blue-print purse since I received it a month ago and it shows no signs of wear at all. It is still in perfect condition. I am very happy with all of these items and am equally as happy to support a company with such a good vision.

You can see these items and many, many more, including handcrafted jewelry at GlobalGirlfriend.com . Please think of this site when you are shopping for gifts this holiday. It is always a good feeling to give gifts that benefit the recipient as well as others. Don't forget to also look for Global Girlfriend on Facebook and owner Stacey Edgar on Twitter.

Thank you to Global Girlfriend for sending complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon.

Ruby Tuesday: Mini Djembe

I recently bought this little drum called a "djembe" for our 3-1/2 year old son. It is just like one his favorite Uncle has, so I knew he would love it. It was hand crafted and carved in West Africa. Our children treat it like a toy, which makes me cringe, since I consider it to be a work of art.

If you'd like to see more Ruby Tuesday photos, go visit Mary at Work of the Poet!

Giveaway & Review: Novica Artisan Home Decor & Gifts ($75 GC) [CLOSED]

If you are a fan of hand crafted gifts and home decor items, but have never visited Novica.com, then you are missing out. I can spend hours browsing on this site and am always in awe at the results from the hands of these talented artisans located all over the world.

When shopping for myself, I gravitate towards the vast selection of sterling silver jewelry, specifically the necklaces and bracelets. Although I love all silver jewelry, I have to avoid silver earrings because I have come to realize that I have developed an allergy to any earring post that contains silver in recent years.

This time around, I was not shopping for myself. I was actually looking for a Father's Day gift for my husband. I ended up choosing this Wooden Chess Set crafted by a man named Rakesh Pathak in Delhi. This item came with free gift wrapping, as well as a post card from that part of the world, and a little card telling the story of the artisan who created the item.

I was extremely impressed by the quality of this chess set. It is perfect for travelling because the magnetic pieces are safely stored inside the folding game board. My husband loved it and he and our 6-1/2 year old son now have something else they like to spend time doing together.

In addition to this chess set, I also purchased some instruments for our children. When I saw this pair of bamboo panpipes, I knew they would be perfect for our 6 year old and one of his younger siblings.

I am always impressed by the wrapping on Novica items. The photo on the left shows how this panpipe set was wrapped and decorated. Each panpipe came with it's own woven carrying case. Our children loved them!

I personally loved the handpainted Do Re Mi notes that were applied to the larger of the two panpipes. I think this little detail will surely help our son learn to play this instrument more easily. These panpipes were created by a man named Benito Tito of Peru.

What started me on the idea of musical instruments was actually seeing this 6" diameter mini-djembe drum. My brother-in-law loves drums and our children love to play with his when they go over to visit their favorite uncle. I thought our children would be thrilled to have a drum just like Uncle Matt's . . . and I was right!

This drum was crafted by a wood carver named Ernestina Oppong Assante and her husband in West Africa.

Thank you to Novica.com for providing us with a gift certificate free of charge to shop for products to share with our readers and for providing a second gift certificate for our contest prize.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive $75 gift certificate to Novica.com .

Limitations:

This giveaway is open to WORLDWIDE entries. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:

Browse the selection of handcrafted gifts offered by Novica. Then leave a comment telling me the name of at least one item you would spend your gift certificate on if you won this contest (aside from the 3 items reviewed in this article). You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.

2)

For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post AND Novica.com . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.

4)

For 1 extra entry each, if you are a Friend of mine on Facebook and/or if you have "liked" the 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires Facebook page, then leave a separate comment here telling me so with the link to your Facebook profile.

5) For 1 extra entry each, follow Novica on Twitter and/or "Like" Novica on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment for each with the link to your Twitter or Facebook profile.

6)

Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7)

Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8)

Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

9)

Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

10)

Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

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(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, July 26th, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!