Buy Handmade – A Charming Giveaway

by Leigh Anne on November 10, 2008

The holiday season is in full force in the stores so I guess it is time to start thinking about holiday gift giving.

This year I have taken the Buy Handmade Pledge.  It is a movement that is going on in the blogging world where people are pledging to buy handmade gifts this holiday season and choosing to support independent artists.

If you click on the “I took the handmade pledge” button on the right hand side of my blog you too can take the pledge.  You will also find a list of websites where you can buy handmade gifts including Etsy, a great site with thousands of handmade items.

With the current economic situation many of us find our gift giving budgets a little more limited than usual.  Because of that I want to make sure that the gifts I give this year are meaningful.

While I was in Utah several weeks ago I visited a boutique where many women were selling their handmade items.  At the boutique I met Jenine of Savanna Hill.  I fell in love with her jewelry – all handmade by Jenine. 

She makes beautiful custom photo pendants featuring your custom photo.  Each piece is its own one-of-a-kind creation.

Charm picture

I had Jenine create some custom photo pendants for some of the people on my gift list this year.  I used some of our old heritage photos.  I just emailed her a jpg of the photo that I had scanned in, let her know what I wanted on the back (a letter, a word etc.)

They arrived last week and they are beautiful!  (I’m not going to show them to you because some of the people they are for might see them and I want part of it to be a surprise!) 

Jenine is very prompt and does beautiful work!

charm picture 3 

charm picture 2  

She has graciously donated a custom made photo pendant, chain and one bobble for a giveaway.  This gift has a value of $49.00

By leaving a comment and letting me know who you’d like to give this custom made photo pendant to you will be entered in the drawing for this giveaway.  The giveaway will be open until Friday, November 14th at midnight PST.  Don’t forget that you need to click through to the actual blog to leave your comment.

If you would like to order some custom made photo pendants for the people on your gift list this year please visit Jenine at her website – Savanna Hill  She is a doll and would love to help you!

Jenine Abegg, founder of Savanna Hill jewelry has been designing jewelry since she was a little girl. Her hobby became a business when many of her friends and their friends and their friends wanted jewelry for gifts. The rest is history. She resides in Pleasant Grove, UT with her husband Taylor and three children; Joshua, Grace and William. Besides jewelry, Jenine enjoys anything outdoors, cooking and her favorite- playing with her children!

For the next several weeks I will be featuring  gift ideas that are handmade by homebased moms.  If you or someone you know has a handmade at home business that would like to sponsor a giveaway on my blog please email me through my contact page.

A big thank you to Jenine for sponsoring our Charming Giveaway this week!

Charming  Giveaway Guidelines

  • Anyone in the U.S. with an email and a name is eligible.
  • You can use a code name if you want to.
  • One entry per person, please.
  • Emails are never published nor is your identity revealed if you choose to use a code name.

Tell your mother, tell your sister, tell your girlfriends so they can enter too!  Share the fun!

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{ 85 comments }

1 tanyetta November 10, 2008 at 1:10 am

I have a family photo to put inside of it. I will present it to my mother in law because she is a source of strength and inspiration to our family. She will LOVE to receive this ;)

Count me in for a chance to win. Thank you.

2 Cherilyn November 10, 2008 at 1:53 am

What beautiful jewelry! I would love to give one to my daughter. Home-made pledge is a great idea!

3 Mary Loomis November 10, 2008 at 3:39 am

I would like to give this necklace to my daughter. She is juggling a busy life – husband, home, 2-year-old daughter, and is a few months away from earning her degree as a registered nurse. With all that is on her shoulders, she maintains a cheerful and determined attitude. Thanks for this opportunity!

4 Kristi November 10, 2008 at 5:51 am

Those are really neat! I would give one to one of my sisters who is also my best girlfriend. She is always so generous to me and this would be a perfect thank you!

5 Rebecca November 10, 2008 at 6:07 am

Beautiful! I would give this to my daughter who is named after my mom who died before my daughter was born. Back in the day when my parents married, small crowns were “in” and so my mom looked like a princess on her wedding day. I’d love to put a b/w photo of my mom in her crown in the frame. Thank you for sending this link. I’ll visit SH today!

6 Ashley November 10, 2008 at 7:09 am

Such beautiful jewelry!!! I would also get a custom photo pendant. I would love to put both my boys in on pendant! Thanks so much for the chance to win!

7 Cess November 10, 2008 at 7:27 am

Yay! look beautiful! It would be a great birthday gift!! My birthday is friday the 14th :o ). I would give this to my grandmother as she reamins the glue of our family!

8 Mollie November 10, 2008 at 7:45 am

Thank you for sharing these wonderful vendors with us! I’ll be looking at her website today.

9 JoEllen November 10, 2008 at 7:50 am

I love them! This would be the perfect gift for my sister for Christmas. We draw names as a family and spend a certain amount. But, with a tight budget this year I could give her something above and beyond the price limit with this giveaway. She would love it!

10 Roxie in CA November 10, 2008 at 7:59 am

Thanks for sharing these creative gift giving sites! I would definately give this to my best friend Heather.

11 Laurie November 10, 2008 at 8:24 am

mmm….. There are several people on my gift list who would love one of these beautiful pendants. I might just have to order a few. :)

12 Linda November 10, 2008 at 8:28 am

Leigh Anne, what a great idea–pledging to buy handmade is wonderful.

If I won your giveaway of such a beautiful necklace I would put a photo of my Dad in it, and give it to my Mom. He passed away in January of this year and I know she misses him each and every day after 55 years of marriage.

13 kelly Walker November 10, 2008 at 8:29 am

How beautiful! I love the hand made pledge idea too.

14 Dawn November 10, 2008 at 9:01 am

I’d love to give it to my daughter when she graduates from highschool this year.

15 janel November 10, 2008 at 9:53 am

Those are beautiful! How nice.

16 Linda November 10, 2008 at 10:48 am

What an awesome giveaway. I would love to win one for my sister.

17 Suzie November 10, 2008 at 11:07 am

There are so many people who would love to get one of these you could just finish your shopping!! Homemade pledge is the neatest idea yet!! Thanks!

18 Becky November 10, 2008 at 12:28 pm

What a wonderful idea! I really enjoy your blog!

19 Stevie November 10, 2008 at 12:41 pm

These are beautiful! It would be a perfect Christmas present for my mom.

20 carrie November 10, 2008 at 1:12 pm

Gorgeous! I love to win one for my mom.

21 Sara November 10, 2008 at 1:36 pm

Oh those are so beautiful. I’m glad you posted about this because right when I saw it I thought it would be the perfect thing for my Mom. She’s been in the ICU for 2 weeks now after a very serious brain trauma. Her recovery is going to take months and just last night I was telling my husband how trivial and stupid the gift I had planned to give her is now and I was trying to think of something else that would possibly mean anything to her. If there’s one thing I’ve come to know in the past few weeks of trials, it’s how important family is and I’d love to give my Mom a reminder of how much she is loved by hers and let her know what an inspiration she is to everyone around her.

I just read all of that and I’m not trying to be all sobby here, lol. I’ve just been an emotional wreck lately and I’m happy this gave me an idea of something I could do for her. I know she would love it.

Thanks Leigh Ann

22 Pam November 10, 2008 at 1:50 pm

OOOhh so cute, I myself have been going with the homemade gifts as well, so much more personal

23 Amanda November 10, 2008 at 1:57 pm

I would love to give one to my mom—what a nice gift.
Handmade is always the best way to go.

24 Donna De Graw November 10, 2008 at 2:06 pm

I love these beautiful necklace what a beautiful gift to give one of my girls. Put my name in the pot for chance to win. Thanks again.

25 Faye November 10, 2008 at 2:22 pm

I would love to win one of these beautiful pieces and give it to my beautiful daughter.

26 Emily Wilkes November 10, 2008 at 2:23 pm

I can’t give you a name because she reads your blog often, but there is someone in my life who has always been there for me and is an amazing “sister” to me since I was not blessed with a biological one. She would love it and I have a fun picture of her daughters to put inside. Thank you once again for another good idea and inspiration! I love the homemade pledge.

27 Katy November 10, 2008 at 2:48 pm

I would give this to my mother-in-law. She is a wonderful help with my children and a fantastic grandma!

28 Mindy November 10, 2008 at 3:02 pm

Gorgeous!! I would choose it give to my best friend, my Mother! Her support and love has never wavered! She is my biggest fan.

29 Jill Springer November 10, 2008 at 3:14 pm

I LOVE this jewelry…it’s so unique! I would probably give to my mom because she has been my source of inspiration and a great supporter in my “homebased” business!

30 Lisle November 10, 2008 at 3:22 pm

I’d give that to my very bestest friend. I left her back in Utah when we moved to Massachusetts, and it’s hard to find the perfect gift. She was so good to me!

31 Cyndi November 10, 2008 at 4:11 pm

These are just beautiful! I am always looking for something unique to give to my dear friend, Debi, because she always finds things that are so perfect when it comes to shopping. I’m hoping she hasn’t seen these yet :-)

32 Sarah November 10, 2008 at 4:40 pm

My sister would cherish this photo pendant. I have the perfect picture to put inside. I hope I win, handmade is awesome!!!

33 tori November 10, 2008 at 4:41 pm

I love anything with real photograghs. This jewlery is
beautiful. Our family did a “Made especially for you by me” christmas one year. It was fun and creative to see the gifts that we all came up with.

34 Gayle November 10, 2008 at 5:49 pm

Jenine’s work is lovely. I am married to an artist and I know the love and care that go into custom, hand-made pieces. There are a ton of people I would want to give one to. My first choice would be my sister, Kari, but she is no longer with us, due to breast cancer. So I have other awesome sisters who would love it too, but I have a precious friend who is really struggling right now. I think she could use the lift the most. Anyway, whoever gets it will be delighted I’m sure! Thank Jenine for her generosity!

35 Heather November 10, 2008 at 6:03 pm

These are beautiful! I would love to give one to both my mother and mother-in-law with a picture of their grandchildren. I will definitely be checking out your hand made websites. Thanks!

36 Joanne November 10, 2008 at 6:07 pm

I think this is beautiful! I would give it to my mom with a picture of her mom.

37 Kristi November 10, 2008 at 6:17 pm

I guess it sounds sort of selfish but I would probably keep the necklace. I would personalize it and keep it as a type of personal memorial for my two babies that I lost.

38 Roxanne November 10, 2008 at 6:38 pm

These are gorgeous. What a wonderful giveaway. If I win, it will probably go to my mother, but like a couple of others have mentioned, there are so many people that would like it I may end up ordering a few!

39 Linda November 10, 2008 at 7:05 pm

I love, love, love it! Will be visiting Jenine’s site often for gifts. If I won this I’d have a hard time deciding which special friend/sister would recieve this. They are all so deserving of such a beautiful gift!

40 Teri November 10, 2008 at 7:10 pm

Leigh Anne, great minds think alike! After being introduced to Etsy by you and Sherra on iLash girls, I had decided to buy handmade as much as possible throughout the holiday season. Yes, the economy is shaky, yes, people’s cash flow is tight…but even laying those things aside..why doesn’t it ALWAYS make sense to support people that put love and care and a piece of themselves into the things that they make. It is, in many ways in our culture, a dying art. This artist is amazing and the pieces here on your site are beautiful. I’m “going right over” to check it out! Who would I give it to? Hmmm…tough question. I DO know that the recipient will be filled with joy! ;0)

41 Holly November 10, 2008 at 7:50 pm

Hi Leigh Anne,

I would love to give a pendant like that to my best friend. She is the strongest woman I know who has been through so much and has always supported me. We’ve actually been best friends since high school, but have known each other since first grade (then went to different schools for a while). She is amazing and knows me so well. It is such a joy to have her in my life and to know that I have someone who loves me unconditionally and just ‘gets’ me.

Thanks for holding the giveaway. Incidentally, since I live in Utah, I would love to know what boutique you went to (and where) if you happen to know.

Thanks again!

42 Ann Bowman November 10, 2008 at 8:15 pm

What a beautiful gift this would make for the best sister- in- law ever!

43 Kelly November 10, 2008 at 8:19 pm

I would definately give it to my aunt who has been a true inspiration to me and my children since my mother passed away in 2005.

44 Kim November 10, 2008 at 8:36 pm

Such a beautiful piece of jewelry..I would love to win it. Thanks for the chance!

45 Melissa November 10, 2008 at 9:03 pm

I would love the pendant! Thanks for informing us about these great causes and ideas!

46 Karen November 10, 2008 at 9:41 pm

The pieces are beautiful! You definitely do know how to find great things! :-)

47 Cindy November 10, 2008 at 9:49 pm

Beautiful–I will be spending my dollars with local craftsman this year. Great idea.

48 Tamara November 10, 2008 at 10:48 pm

These are absolutely amazing. I would love to give one to several dear friends and my inspirational mother. THANKS for sharing all these fun ideas!

49 Michelle November 10, 2008 at 11:16 pm

These are so beautiful. I love homemade gifts, especially with pictures. I would love to give it to my mom, who has the cutest grandkids ever!

50 Michelle November 11, 2008 at 12:35 am

I love your blog and tell so many of my friends her in the Northwest all about it. I would love to give this gift to my sister who is one of my best friends. Her 5yr old was just diagnosed with cancer and we have decided on a homemade christmas this year. this would be perfect for her.

51 Michelle Wilkes November 11, 2008 at 8:06 am

My odds aren’t looking very good after scrolling through all these comments! Love your blog. I can easily take the pledge, except that I will be doing the hand making myself this year!

52 Leah November 11, 2008 at 8:48 am

My sister-in-law and my mother-in-love, they love this kind of stuff.

53 Shelley November 11, 2008 at 9:03 am

I have too many choices of deserving wonderful women who would appreciate this gift! Many of whom already appreciate “handmade” gifts! I can think of sisters, sister in laws, my mother, and daughter that would be at the top of my giving list! Thanks!

54 Linda K November 11, 2008 at 9:10 am

I love your blog and feel I know you through this medium. I would love to win this beautiful jewelry. I would love to give this to my daughters. If I am chosen I will have a hard time deciding who to really give this to. Buying homemade is definitely the way to go!

55 Jill November 11, 2008 at 10:18 am

I would love to give this to my 12-year-old niece.

56 Pam K in NE November 11, 2008 at 1:12 pm

I would love to be able to give this to my sister. She has no children of her own but is the best aunt to my two boys. They (and I) are so lucky to have her in our lives. It would be a great celebration of the love we share.

57 Kirsty November 11, 2008 at 2:29 pm

Lovely and charming indeed! What a generous giveaway. Count me in!

58 Michelle McCullough November 11, 2008 at 3:47 pm

Leigh Anne, what a fun blog! So great to see you again at the Startup Princess event. And what a fun giveaway. I’m doing lots of hand made gifts this year for Christmas, and this would be perfect for my sister-in-law!

59 susie November 11, 2008 at 3:50 pm

I would love to give this away, what a great gift!

60 Karen November 11, 2008 at 3:51 pm

Hello,

What beautiful, inspirational pieces! Little pieces of artwork…

I am going to be selfish here and ask to have one for myself. Last month, we lost our oldest child, Kevin (14). He died without explanation….fell asleep and never woke up. Kevin had autism and a congenital heart defect, but those were not the cause of his passing (at this point we are still waiting final autopsy reports). He struggled all his life to just be ‘normal’. I tried my best to teach him how to handle life the only way that I could….prayer, hope and kindness. He was more than just a special needs child, he WAS special! He touch hundreds of lives, both young and old. As parents, we sometimes don’t see how our children can impact others’ lives, especially when one has a child with emotional, physical and psychological issues. I would love to have his picture around my neck…close to my heart so that I can ’see’ him daily wherever I go, whatever I do. My heart has a missing piece that can never be replaced, but is a reminder of how precious life truly is. It is a gift…one not to be taken for granted.

Thanks for this opportunity.

Karen

61 Cariann November 11, 2008 at 5:46 pm

These are beautiful. I would give one to my Sister in Law, she has been on a mission this past year to lose weight… She is almost to her goal and looks great… She is an inspiration!

62 Tara B. November 11, 2008 at 7:03 pm

I’m going to be 100% selfish and give it to myself. They’re just beautiful!!!

63 Stephanie November 11, 2008 at 8:26 pm

I had one of those made for a friend of mine who lost her husband this past year, she loves it!
Awesome idea :)

64 Raquel November 11, 2008 at 11:33 pm

I think I would keep it for myself! becasue I have been wanting something just like this to put a picture of my son who passed away. my mom wuld probably love it too though =)

65 Joan Callaway November 12, 2008 at 12:26 am

I make all of my gifts, but what a lovely idea this is. I’ve too many daughters and granddaughter – could never choose just one, but I would love to give one of these to my best friend, who is a constant person in my life.

I’d like to make a special note to Karen. I lost a 12 year old son thirty-seven years ago. I thought the pain would never end, but fortunately, while you never forget nor would you want to, the pain lessens over time, allowing you to remember all the good times and the joy he brought you. My thoughts are with you – especially during this holiday season.

66 Marti November 12, 2008 at 12:56 am

What a lovely idea. I have a daughter who would be deserving of this.

67 Judy November 12, 2008 at 6:40 am

Homemade…I love the sound of it and the look and wish I had just a simgin of that kind of talent. What a great gift to give at this holiday season. Thanks for the giveaway!

68 knmkendall November 12, 2008 at 9:22 am

This is SO pretty! I’m not sure if I’d keep it or give it to my sweet sister. Please enter me in your contest! Thank you!

69 Jenny November 12, 2008 at 11:07 am

What beautiful jewelry. I would love to give one to my mom. Thanks for entering me in the contest!

70 Jenn November 12, 2008 at 3:58 pm

They look like a treasure anyone would love to have. Thanks for entering me!

71 Jackie November 12, 2008 at 4:03 pm

I love the jewelry, also love it being so personal, I must order.
Thanks for sharing.

72 Cindy November 12, 2008 at 5:11 pm

I would love to have one made for my mom with a picture of her as a child. They are very pretty!

73 Cathy November 12, 2008 at 5:36 pm

Hi Leigh Anne,

I would LOVE to give this photo pendant to my sister, Mary, who lost her ONLY daughter, her first born child in an auto accident two years ago when her daughter was only eighteen. My sister teaches full day kindergarten and I think her students would love to see her wearing this pendant. I know her three sons, ages 4, 7 and 16 would love to see her wearing it. It seems like it was made with her in mind.
Thanks for giving me the chance to win it and make her day when I give it to her.

Cathy

74 tammy November 12, 2008 at 5:41 pm

oh I would give it to my sister. She’s very stylish.

75 Jan November 12, 2008 at 8:36 pm

I love the idea of getting back to the idea of giving a gift that was made with love! Count me in.

I love even more the idea of you offering all of the crafters out their to have a place to share their wares!
Reading your website is a gift I give myself everyday!
Thanks for your great work & thoughtfulness!
Oh……..every lady on my list would love the necklace!
Who wouldn’t!
Jan

76 Kelly November 12, 2008 at 10:59 pm

I would give this to my daughter who is in her first year of college. Miss her!

77 Kelly November 13, 2008 at 6:30 am

What a beautiful gift! I’d give this to my best friend of 23 years — she’s always so hard to buy for, but I think she’d really enjoy this!

78 Kami Shaw November 13, 2008 at 8:06 am

I would love to give on to my Mom with a picture of our new baby. They are just beautiful!

79 Debbie November 13, 2008 at 7:41 pm

What a great idea to give hand-made. Unique gifts are always so hard to find. Thanks for the inspiration.

80 nancy November 14, 2008 at 9:35 am

These necklaces are so simple and yet have so much to say!
I think my daughter would be my giftee!

81 Janette November 14, 2008 at 12:26 pm

I would give one of these charm necklaces to my daughter, Ashley. She is getting married in February and I think this would be a great gift for her from me. I have seen these charm necklaces before and I have always wanted to have one. Does anyone know how to make them? I, too, am planning on having a homemade Christmas. I think it will be more in the spirit of the season.

82 Laurie November 15, 2008 at 10:38 am

The “buy handmade” pledge is a fabulous idea! Like many others who commented, I will be doing a fair amount of the “handmaking” myself. I woud love to have this necklace for myself, however, I would give it to my friend who is a single mom with two teenagers. She works so hard to support her kids, financially and emotionally, and she doesn’t have time for herself very often. I think she would LOVE this beautiful necklace!

83 stacey November 18, 2008 at 12:15 pm

The pendants are really, really beautiful. For the last couple of years I have been trying to make at least half of my Christmas gifts and buy more and more handmade items. Etsy is a constant source of inspiration and longing! I would give the photo pendant to my Grandma Johnson with a photo of her three children (including my dad) when they were young. I frankly think it would bring her to tears!

84 Rosie November 18, 2008 at 12:18 pm

I’d love to give this to my mom. She has always been there for me and I’d love to do something special for her!

85 Natalie November 18, 2008 at 12:59 pm

I’d give it to my sister-in-law who is battling breast cancer. It would definitely boost her spirits!!

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