Thursday, November 14, 2013

Ten Thousand Villages and a Giveaway

GIVEAWAY
 
You might be surprised to learn that I'm not all about books...sort of. :-) There are other things that I am passionate about. Like fair trade and art and trying to put my money into local and Christian endeavors that count. Hence my love of Ten Thousand Villages so when Graf-Martin Communications (a company that sends me books to review) asked if I'd be willing to blog about the non-profit Mennonite Central Committee program I was more than thrilled to have the opportunity. And of course, I figured out a way to connect a book giveaway with this blog because I'm that obsessed with good Christian fiction. :-)

Founded in 1946, Ten Thousand Villages provides a North American venue for skilled artisans in developing countries to sell their product. It all started when Edna Ruth Byler sold items out of the trunk of her car! They've come a long way in 65 years and now there are more than 120 retail outlets and 150 fesitval sales throughout North America.



Not to mention online stores in both Canada and the United States. You can check them out here:

www.tenthousandvillages.ca

www.tenthousandvillages.com

 
Chances are, if there is a Mennonite church in your area you've been to a Ten Thousand Villages Christmas sale. But exquisitely unique Christmas decorations isn't all they are known for. Stores offer everything from fairly traded coffee and chocolate to jewelry to home decor and art made by artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. They provide an income for thousands of disadvantaged artisans in 35 countries who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed.

I'm blessed to have a Ten Thousand Villages store close by and I do most of my Christmas shopping there. I love the fact that I'm giving something meaningful -- a gift that keeps on giving. And I've been known to buy an item or two just for me as well. There's a huge price range on goods -- easily able to meet any budget.

So -- how does Myra Johnson's excellent novel When the Clouds Roll By fit with Ten Thousand Villages? First, if you're not familiar with book you can read my review of it here:

http://www.bestreads-kav.blogspot.ca/search/label/Johnson%20Myra

 
Heroine Annemarie is an artist. She works at her father's store creating practical household pieces but there is a creative spark within her that can't be stifled. She creates artistic masterpieces on her own time and yearns for a way to make a living as an artist at a time (end of World War I) when women were not encouraged to run their own business outside the home. I got to know Annemarie well by the end of the book and I like to think she would whole heartedly embrace the concept of fair trade and enabling artists to earn a living by their God given talent. So since I happen to have an extra copy of When the Clouds Roll By I thought up this unique giveaway:

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of When the Clouds Roll By as well as a unique gift from the Ten Thousand Villages collection  please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday November 17 2013. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!
 

49 comments:

  1. Wow this sounds like a wonderful place to shop. There is nothing like that here locally. The books looks very interesting. Thank you for the opportunity to win.
    Blessings
    Katrina
    eppersonkatrinaAtyahoodotcom

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  2. It's great that they have online stores now too because more people have the opportunity to buy and support this incredible program. Good luck Katrina!

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  3. what a wonderful store...thanks for sharing, kav

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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    1. It's soooo much fun to shop in!!!! And all the staff are volunteers so it has a really neat vibe. Good luck Karen!

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  4. Thanks for the intro to 10000 Villages--I'd never heard of them before, but discovered we do have a few locations here in Minnesota, and this fall several venues are having craft fairs with their works. I'm definitely going to make it a point to get to one.

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    1. You'll really enjoy their products, Brenda. Good luck on the draw!

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  5. Thanks for sharing this wonderful giveaway. I like that store, but I normally just look and not buy anything.
    rosebudsinjune at gmail dot com
    Thanks so much.

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    1. It's great to browse in, though, isn't it, Deborah? Good luck!

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  6. what a beautiful idea. no need to enter me, I just wanted to say how lovely. Makes me smile.

    Kathy

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  7. What a wonderful post, Kav! No need to enter me, because I'm currently reading and loving this book. Just wanted to let you know I enjoyed this post!

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    1. Thanks Marian. Isn't it a great read??????? I'm itching to get my hands on the next one!

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  8. Kav
    I think it is neat that you honored the Mennonite business by writing about it.
    I love how your light shines for Our Lord
    God bless you

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  9. Thank you so much Chris. Good luck!

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  10. Sounds like a great little store. We don't have any where I live. But now that I have heard about it, I will be on the lookout.

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  11. Love 'Ten Thousand Villages' I'm going to do some Christmas shopping there this year too. : )

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    1. Good for you, Cathy. Enjoy your shopping spree. Good luck!

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  12. Great post! This looks like a great book and neat website!
    bookwormgal2011(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  13. My daughter lives in a city with a Ten Thousand Villages store, and I've loved shopping there. Count me in, Kav! :)

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    1. Consider yourself counted, Cheryl. Good luck!

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  14. I've never heard of this place before but it looks cool! I've been really interested in When the Clouds Roll By so thanks for the chance to win!
    gatorade635(at)gmail(dot)com

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  15. I have this store near me but have never been in, now i will have to check it out

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    1. Ohhh...do check it out, Karen. It's fantastic. Good luck!

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  16. I love going to the Ten Thousand Villages Shop in Harrisonburg, VA. It's a fun place to visit and buy unique gifts--especially for people who are hard to buy for.
    may_dayzee(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. I know -- Kay. It's the perfect store for hard-to-buy people and for people who have everything you can buy them a goat or send a child to school for a year or buy a family a bunch of farm animals...you can definitely get something for everyone on your list! Good luck!

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  17. I would love to go to this store but we don't have any in our neck of the woods. Great stores are hard to beat! Please include me in this giveaway. I would love to be a winner.

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. You can always shop online Melanie. Good luck!

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  18. Thank you for the introduction to Ten Thousand Villages. I will have to visit online, as there are no stores nearby.

    WHEN THE CLOUDS ROLL BY sounds like a great book! Thank you for the opportunity to win!

    texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

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  19. Thank you for the information on Ten Thousand Villages. I have never heard of them before. Also, thank you for another chance to win As the Clouds Roll By. Please enter me.

    sweetdarknectar at gmail dot com

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    1. Glad I could introduce you to Ten Thousand Villages! Good luck!

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  20. We have a 10,000 Villages in our town and I bought little handmade ornaments for my co-workers last year. I now understand that they have opened another location especially for the holidays on the Main Street in our beautiful downtown! I'm sure this location will introduce them to many more people in our area!
    I would love to win a copy of the book and something special from 10,000 Villages.

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Glad to hear you are a fan of Ten Thousand Villages, Patty. Good luck!

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  21. I haven't heard of 10,000 villages before,. I enjoyed the website. It looks like a great place for Christmas presents. I would love this book even without the added bonus. Can'tmiss this one. Thank you so much for this giveaway,

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  22. WooHoo!! I found a Ten Thousand Villages store near me. Guess where I'm going real soon?? It's been years since I've been to that shopping plaza so I guess they have add new stores. And the book sounds really good. Would love to win and read it. Thank you for the chance.

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    1. Opps! Forgot to put my name and email. Got so excited about a Ten Thousand Villages store!

      Karen G.
      kmgervais(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com

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    2. LOL -- glad you're excited Karen. Enjoy your shopping spree. It's a wonderful place to just wander around and browse. Has a really good spirit. Good luck!

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  23. I've been to similar stores but don't think I've shopped at a Ten Thousand Villages store. Myra's book looks very good. Thanks for the giveaways.

    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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  24. Wow, what a great place. The book sounds fantastic. Would love to win. Looking forward to reading it. Thank you for the chance of this giveaway and please enter my name.
    Barbara Thompson
    barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  25. I love Ten Thousand Villages! I just moved to a city that has a store, but I haven't been there since I got here.

    ikkinlalaATyahooDOTca

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    1. Glad you have a store close by. Hope you get there soon. Good luck!

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  26. Kav, this sounds like a neat store. Wish I could visit there. They also do Missionary work too, don't they? I would love to have these gifts and book. Been trying to win that book. Please put my name in, and thanks for this info. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com

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  27. Annemarie sounds like a person I'd love to read about!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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