Mad About Mama Review and GIVEAWAY: Jewels For Hope 5/08

Now here's a sponsor I just KNOW you're all going to go gaga over! Gaga in a GOOD way....Not in a "I'm wearing a bra made of raw meat and Oops! I forgot my pants" kind of way...Not THAT Gaga! Although I can picture Lady Gaga rocking some of Sandy's creations, but I digress....


The next sponsor I am going to announce for my Mad About Mama Mother's Day event is Jewels For Hope. They are an etsy shop that carries very beautiful and unique handcrafted jewelry. I don't know about you, but I absolutely adore handmade goods, whether it be clothing, cloth diapers, beauty products, and yes, even jewelry. Something that is made by hand has a lot more character than anything you'll find at your local mall. Each piece is different, and each piece is painstakingly and lovingly created. I actually wore the piece I received from Jewels Of Hope recently  when I ran a few errands, and I got several compliments on it! I also wore it on my anniversary, paired with a nice red dress!

Anyway, let me tell you a little bit about Jewels For Hope. It is run by a very sweet woman named Sandy, and she enlists the help of her daughter who makes the cutest greeting cards. Sandy also has 2 Black Labs who act as supervisors to make sure the ladies stay out of trouble,lol...Just kidding. Jewels Of Hope carries a wide variety of gorgeous handmade jewelry, such as necklaces, pendants, anklets, and bracelets. They also carry her daughter's adorable greeting cards and one of a kind gift tags. In making her jewelry, Sandy uses the highest quality materials, such as pearls and Swarovski crystals. She also loves using vintage pendants in her creations. Her work is not only unique and colorful, it is simply beautiful as well.

Mother's Day is something that Sandy holds very near and dear to her heart. You see, Sandy was a caregiver to her mother, who had Parkinson's Disease. She devoted her days and nights to caring for the woman who gave her the gift of life during her final years. Jewels For Hope was created while her mother was on Hospice care during the last 6 months of her life, and Sandy, in memory of her mother, generously donates a portion of her proceeds to Connecticut Hospice and the Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Foundation as her way of giving back. I love the inspiration behind Sandy's work, and I know her mother must be looking down on her with such pride.



Oh, and did I mention that the necklace at the top of this post is featured in Wire Jewelry Magazine?

CONGRATULATIONS, SANDY!

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And here are some of the unique, handmade creations made by Sandy's daughter, also available at Jewels For Hope:

This is the gorgeous necklace that I received from Jewels For Hope. I absolutely love the color, and these beads are actually iridescent, and change color somewhat as the light hits them, creating a very pretty and eye-catching effect.


The necklace is not cheaply made, either. It actually has some weight to it, and all of the beadwork is very securely linked together. This is NOT a flimsy necklace! I was a bit worried, since as a mom of babies, I can rarely wear jewelry without it getting tugged and pulled on, but this necklace has passed the Sophie test. Granted, I don't LET her just tug at it,lol. But things happen, and she did get it in her grips one time, and I am pleased to say, it did not break!

Here is a better view of this necklace:

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The camera really doesn't do it justice! I LOVE my necklace from the wonderful ladies at Jewels For Hope.

BUY IT:

You can find these wonderful pieces at Jewels For Hope's online shop.


WIN IT:

In honor of Mother's Day, Sandy is offering one of my lucky followers this gorgeous  Aquamarine Swarovski Crystal bracelet!

Isn't that just lovely? To enter, Please LEAVE A COMMENT on this post letting me know what your favorite item from Jewels For Hope is, and then COMPLETE THE ENTRY FORM. You must be a public GFC follower to enter.

I am requiring a comment entry to make the number of entries more visible, so you have an idea of how many others are entering, therefore helping you determine the odds of winning.


This giveaway will be open until 11:59PM EST on May 8, 2011. I will choose a winner using random.org. The winner will be announced on this blog as well as contacted via e-mail. They will then have 48 hours to respond and claim their prize, or I will have to draw a new winner.

***Disclosure: I received a sample product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***