Win a $40 Gift Card to NOVICA!

One of my favorite online shopping experiences is combing through the pages of NOVICA, a virtual bazaar of fair trade and handmade items from around the world. I've shopped there many times for gifts because the quality is second to none, and because the experience for both me and the gift recipient is such a positive one.

Now, NOVICA has added a special Gift Finder to make shopping for that perfect gift even more enjoyable. Some of my favorite categories are always jewelry and handbags, and I usually stop there first when visiting the site.

But the best part to me is learning about the artisans - actually seeing who they are and where they live, sometimes even being able to view video of them making the products I can buy. It's an amazing experience, one that ends in someone receiving a special gift from me, always exquisitely packaged and accompanied with information on the artisan. Such personal gifts!

Today, you can enter to win a $40 gift card to NOVICA! Just follow the simple rules below.

How to Enter: Just use NOVICA's special Gift Finder and leave a comment here, telling me your favorite find. Be sure to INCLUDE your EMAIL address, or your entry will be disqualified.

For Extra Entries:

1. Blog about, Twitter, and/or Facebook a link to this giveaway; come back here and tell me you did it.

2. Subscribe to An Uncommon Thread by email in the right-hand column. Leave a comment here telling me you did it.

A winner will be randomly selected on December 17, 2012. A gift code will be rushed to the winner so the shopping fun can start.

GlobalGirlfriend.com - Shopping to Benefit Women Worldwide

If you've known me for more than a day, you know why this tee is taking center stage - the Wise Owl Tee by Global Girlfriend is a brainy choice. Made of 100% organic cotton fabric, it sports a feminine cut. What's more, it's made in India where it's been fairly traded - no sweatshops here.

Global Girlfriend is a place one can shop with a clear conscience. Owner Stacey Edgar started the business with a $2,000 tax refund and a vision for the greater good. What started out as a big idea on a shoestring budget has turned into a multi-million dollar powerhouse that helps women in five different continents to give their families a better life.

Did you know 1.3 billion people in the world live on less than a dollar a day? Stacey knew that; and she also knew that 70% of that unfathomable number are women. With the help of Global Girlfriend, women from around the world are able to sell their handmade, fair trade, eco-friendly items while working from home or in safe working conditions.

While you prepare for your gift shopping this year, think about adding companies like Global Girlfriend to your online stops. Your holiday spending will be doing double duty, stretching the holiday cheer from that beautifully wrapped package to the other side of the world.

Latin Threads Trading Co. Rococo Tee Giveaway

It's time to celebrate an explosion of spring freshness, and Latin Threads Trading Co. is giving us the perfect opportunity with this Rococo Tee giveaway. Offered in a light and refreshing design, this darling top is handmade in a remote village of Chiapas, Mexico, where the artisans are paid a fair wage for their exacting handiworks.
I'm enjoying my own Rococo tee, both due to its extreme comfort and breathable fabric. And, as I've come to expect from Latin Threads clothing, the quality of this piece is unsurpassed. Boasting from their new AbrazoStyle line, this top is a must-have to add a fresh breeze to yur spring and summer wardrobe.

Available in sizes Small, Medium, and Large, the creamy white-on-white design is just waiting for you to enjoy it! Enter today to win your own Rococo Tee, worth $39 retail.

How to Enter:

- Visit Latin Threads Trading Co. Come back here and tell me what else you liked or learned about them. (You may do this once daily, but please comment on a new item each time.)

For extra entries:

1. Blog about, Twitter, and/or Facebook a link to this giveaway; come back here and tell me you did it.

2. Subscribe to An Uncommon Thread by email in the right-hand column. Leave a comment here telling me you did it.

3.  Follow Latin Threads Trading Co. on Facebook, then come back here and tell me you did it!

A winner will be randomly selected after April 12, 2012, and contacted via email. The winner will receive a Rococo Tee, in their choice of size, from Latin Threads Trading Co.