GamiWorks Review & Giveaway!

GamiWorks is a wonderful Etsy store that specializes in selling Chiyogami gifts & accessories. GamiWorks has a wide range of items ranging from jewelry (glass pendants, chokers, etc.) to things for your home (nightlights, magnets, etc.).

Erin, the owner of Gamiworks (a.k.a. the gamigirl) told me a bit about herself and her store. She said, “I've been obsessed with these Japanese chiyogami papers for years and finally started to make little gifts for friends and family using them. My now ex-boss said I should try selling some of my little pendants and magnets online and that's when I discovered the amazing ETSY website for artists. Three months after setting up GamiWorks shop on ETSY, I became so busy that I then had to give my notice to that same boss. Since then, I've been living my dream of doing only work that I love and ever so flattered that others love the work that I do. What a wonderful world.

GamiWorks is a contemporary collection of Japanese chiyogami inspired gifts and accessories. I use simple and feminine lines to highlight the endless array of colors and graphic patterns of these brilliant age-old papers.”

Review
Erin from GamiWorks sent me two things to review: a Mini Tile Pendant and a set of three Glass Geisha Gem Magnets.

The Mini Tile Pendant that I received was in the flying rice pattern (shown to the right). When I received it, I was very impressed with the quality of it. Each “glass tile measures 7/8" square x 1/4" thick.” It looks just as I suspected it would from the picture provided on the website! I love the weight of the pendant (it is not heavy but not super light either). By the weight, you can tell that it is good quality and will last a long time. The pendant also came with a nice ball chain that was packaged with tissue paper inside a beautiful matching flying rice chiyogami tin. I think this tin definitely makes her pendants ideal for gift giving.

I had only one concern about this pendant: it’s ability to be water resistance. She states in her listings that, “This piece is sealed to be water, oil and stain resistant, but may not be water-proof.” I can tell on the back of the pendant that it has a light water resistant coating but it doesn’t feel like quite enough to really protect it. I would worry about getting it wet at all. However, even though I had this one concern, it does not stop me from wearing this pendant. It has easily become one of my favorites (I have worn it almost every day this week and last week). The style of this pendant makes it easy to wear either casually or for a more formal occasion.

I also received a set of three customized Glass Geisha Gem Magnets (picture shown to the left – different pattern than the ones I received since I received a custom pattern). First of all, I was so happy to receive them. I honestly have not seen magnets as beautiful as these ones before. The “3 jumbo sized gems [magnets] are made of molded glass and measure 1 1/2" in diameter” and each magnet is ¾” deep. After using these magnets for a while, I realized the wonderful quality of them. I think the size and the thickness of the glass is perfect. One great feature of this magnet is the type of magnet that she uses. The magnet that she uses is an actual stone type magnet (instead of the thin plastic magnets that many places use), which proves to be quite strong. It is strong enough to hold up a wide variety of items on my fridge. I love that the magnets add a little bit of class to a previously boring fridge. These magnets are very reasonably priced and would make an excellent little present or stocking stuffer.

Overall, I was very impressed with the quality of items that I received from GamiWorks. I think her items are very unique and I love the large variety of patterns that she offers for her items. GamiWorks will definitely remain one of my Etsy Favorites!

What can you win? The winner of this giveaway will receive the Wonderland - mini glass tile chiyogami pendant & necklace (shown below) from GamiWorks! The winner will receive their choice of a 16” or an 18” cable choker to go with the pendant!


To enter, go to GamiWorks and tell me the specific name of one item you would love to own. (IMPORTANT: Please do not just say, something like Japanese chiyogami pendant necklace, etc. This is not specific. Erin has almost 100 of these in her store and they make up a majority of the items that she sells. You must choose a specific pattern and state the exact name of an item that you like. If you don't, this really isn't very helpful to the owner of GamiWorks and will not count as an entry. If you'd like, you can even include the http:// link to the product. Thank you.)

Earn up to 4 extra entries by:
-Subscribing to my blog. Do not forget to activate your subscription.
-Adding my button to your blog sidebar.
-Following me on Twitter (ihchicky). Please make sure to leave your Twitter name in your comment.
-Blogging about this giveaway on your blog. Please make sure to leave a link to your blog post in your entry.

For each of the above actions you do, you will receive one extra entry into the giveaway. Please leave an additional comment for EACH thing you have done for an extra entry.

You can have a maximum of 5 entries in this giveaway.

This giveaway will end on Saturday, November 8th at 11:59pm (Central Standard Time). After the giveaway has ended, the winner will be picked randomly using random.org. EMAIL RULES: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. I will be notifying the winner by email only. Please make sure your blog profile includes your email address and make sure that it is visible. If you do not have a blogger account, please make sure you have included your email address in your post. If there is no email address provided, to contact the winner, another person will be chosen. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email notification with their complete mailing address (I will be forwarding all this information to the sponsor), If this information is not received within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to anyone Worldwide!

Good Luck!

This giveaway is a last minute addition to the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival. If you’d like to enter more great giveaways please visit: http://www.donttryit.com/bloggy_giveaways/. The Carnival ends on October 31st, 2008.

SPECIAL OFFER!
Can’t wait to see if you win and want to buy something now? GamiWorks is having a limited time special for Etsy members: Buy any 2 pendants of any style and receive a free mini tile pendant of your choice…a total value of $17! All of GamiWorks' pendants come in beautifully packaged coordinating keepsake tin, perfect for holiday gift giving!

How to redeem for your free mini tile pendant: To select your free mini tile pendant when you purchase two pendants, please don't add your free pendant choice to your cart; only check out the ones you are paying for and then just mention your FREE mini tile pendant choice in the "Message To Seller" section upon checkout or send a message directly to Erin.

If you are planning to purchase more than 2, you are in luck. This offer applies when purchasing higher numbers of items as well. For example: Buy 2, get 1 free! Buy 4, get 2 free! Buy 6, get 3 free! Etc.