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!