Meadowbelle Market - Review & Giveaway

In the past few years, my love of jewelry has grown and grown and grown some more. So much, that my large jewelry box that I never though I would fill, has been filled to the brim. This love definitely has continued on with my wedding and finding the perfect jewelry for our big day...which has not been an easy task. First, I had no idea what I wanted, then, I figured out what I wanted but the trouble was finding it! Hopefully, this review will make your search a bit easier than mine has been.

I'd like to introduce you to an amazing eco-conscious Etsy shop called Meadowbelle Market by Aundrea and Erin. Aundrea and Erin are twin sisters living in Kansas City who have a passion for jewelry and other fashion accessories! Meadowbelle Market sells accessories for everyday and special days!

I absolutely adore their mission statement: "Our goal is to provide you with well-made, unique, creative, and stylish handmade items you will cherish for years. Whether for your special event, or to feel special everyday--we take great care in each piece we create. We endeavor to be conscientious, understanding, honest and fair. We delight in creating each item and are devoted to constructing every piece with each customer in mind. Just as there is a story beind us, there is a true miracle behind you."

As you look through their shop, you will notice that weddings are one of their specialties, however, they sell a variety of items that make wonderful gifts for yourself or someone else. Products sold in the Meadowbelle Market Etsy Shop include necklaces, pendants, earrings, bracelets, rings, as well as full jewelry sets. In addition, Meadowbelle Markets sells beautiful bridal bouquets, veils, hair and veil fascinator pieces (flowers, feathers, and more), boutonnieres, and garters. Meadowbelle enjoys making products from solid sterling silver, beads, various types of fabrics, as well as vintage pieces.

I'm often not overally impressed with Etsy profiles, but theirs is actually quite impressive. While writing this review and trying to figure out which parts to include and not include, I had a difficult time. So, with that said, I suggest you go take a look at the Meadowbelle Market Etsy Profile to find out a few interesting facts about these sisters and the products they sell!

Are you interested in buying something from Meadowbelle Market?  Now is a great time!  Meadowbelle Market is holding a sample sale to celebrate their 2nd anniversary!  Aundrea and Erin will continue listing products until they are all gone.  Products that are part of the sample sale are marked 'Ready to Ship' or 'Sample Sale'.

Plus, Meadowbelle Market is offering a special promotion to all my readers!  Get 10% off ANY listing in their store (including already discounted items, such as sets) if you mention 'Everything Up Close' in the ‘notes to seller’ section during checkout OR by contacting Meadowbelle Market through an Etsy conversation.

*REVIEW*

Aundrea and Erin were kind enough to send me a beautiful, customized 'Love is a Word' necklace to review.  Before even receiving this necklace in the mail, I loved it; from the pictures in the listing, I could tell that it would be absolutely stunning and it would make a great keepsake.  As stated in the product listing, this necklace reminds Erin of "a hand-scrolled love letter, maybe sent to one much thought of but far away. Innocent and pure." Any after holding it in my own hand, I get that feeling too! The word love is hand formed with 20 gauge sterling silver wire (solid) and soldered to ensure it is strong, solid, and sturdy so that it lasts forever! Once soldered, the necklace is placed in a pickling solution. 

In addition to the word love, tiny hearts are hand formed and added along the necklace chain and a date stamp is added to a round disk (which hangs from the clasp at the back of the necklace). This necklace measures 20" in length (including 'love' and the hearts). Aundrea and Erin mention in their listing that the necklace can easily be shortened by request.  Just send them an email through Etsy prior to ordering!

One of the great things about this necklace is that it is customizable - both the date stamp and the word ('love' in this case). First of all, the date stamp is hand stamped and can be used to commemorate a special occasion or you can decide to have a word, a name, or initials stamped on it. The disk can fit up to 8 letters and can be customized during checkout. If you'd prefer something without the disk and date stamp, make sure to check out the original 'Love is a Word' Necklace. Additionally, the word formed from sterling silver wire can be customized as well. Meadowbelle Market offers this service for free if you'd like 4 letters or less. If you'd like more than 4 letters, there is an additional $5 charge per letter. This customization option is great if you'd like to spell out another word (e.g. 'amor') or someone's name (possibly for your bridesmaids).

When I saw this necklace online, I immediately thought that it would make a perfect gift from the Groom to the Bride. This necklace would also be a fabulous gift for anniversaries (and as mentioned above, for your bridesmaids). If any men are reading this review, make note that this item would likely earn you some brownie points with your significant other! This is a stunning necklace that is romantic and truly thoughtful when given as a gift!

So, now on to my person experience with the necklace... As you can likely tell, I'm a huge fan of this necklace (and Meadowbelle Market). This necklace is beautiful, extremely well made, and it is evident that Aundrea and Erin take especial care in the details. One aspect that I really like about this necklace (besides it being customizeable, which all my readers know I love), is how light and feminine it is! Wearing this necklace brings a smile to my face and makes me feel extra girly! 

Another thing I was happy with was Meadowbelle Market's shipping practices. Meadowbelle Market uses recycled materials whenever possible and charges the actual amount that it costs them to ship (unlike some other shops). In addition, Meadowbelle Market sends special care instructions with each of their sterling silver pieces. As some of you may already know, sterling silver will tarnish after prolonged exposure to the air. To prevent this during shipment, Aundrea and Erin carefully package the product (necklace in this case) in a small zip-lock bag to reduce exposure. A small note is included with the item that explains to reduce tarnishing, the item (necklace) should be kept in a bag when not in use). Since I'm sure some people don't realize that sterling silver will tarnish, this little note is useful (and a great reminder for those who do already know). One thing I would like included on the instructions is how to clean it if it does get tarnished.

Everyone who has seen this necklace has absolutely loved it and inquired about where I got it.  I loved it so much that I decided to wear it for Jay and I's engagement session; now this necklace will be part of our memories forever.  My photographer, Amber from Amber Bond Photography (in Winnipeg, Manitoba) took a keen interest in the necklace and took some beautiful pictures of it (shown below) during our photo shoot.

Overall, I have been thoroughly impressed with Marketbelle's products, professionalism, and service. Their Etsy Shop is absolutely beautiful and I would love to order from them in the future. I already have my eye on a few different items!  Whether you are looking for something nice for yourself or for someone else, this is a great place to shop!

 *GIVEAWAY*

How many winners are there? One.

What can you win?  One winner will receive a set of glass pearl cluster earrings for you or your Bridesmaids {choose up to 3 colors}.  Total ARV = $48.

To enter, Go look through Meadowbelle Market's Etsy Shop and find a favorite item. Then, come back here and leave a comment stating the name of your favorite item. This question must be answered to gain an entry in the giveaway.

Each of the following will give you one extra entry in the giveaway (unless stated otherwise). Please make sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

- *NEW* For each $1 you donate to my Wedding Fund (through ChipIn at the top right hand corner of this page), you will receive two (2) bonus entries for this giveaway.  Please make such to leave two extra comments along with your PayPal email so that I can verify your entry.

- Telling me which color/s you'd choose for your earrings if you won.  Color choices (including a picture) is available here.
- Visiting Meadowbelle Market's blog and leaving a comment. Once you've done this, please come back here and leave a comment stating your visible name and a link to the post that you left a comment on.
- Following Meadowbelle Market's blog with Google Friends Connect (publicly).
- Following Meadowbelle Market on Twitter @ MeadowbelleSays.  Please leave your Twitter name in your comment.
- Entering one other giveaway on Everything Up Close, then leaving me a comment hear indicating the name of the other giveaway you entered (Maximum of 1 entry).
- Subscribing to my blog via email or RSS feed (Maximum of 1 entry - please tell me how you subscribe in your comment).  SUBSCRIPTION METHODS HAVE CHANGED!  In order for your subscription entry to count, you must resubscribe.  For more details, please visit my post: 'Are you an Everything Up Close email or RSS subscriber?' 

- Adding my main button to your blog sidebar.
- Adding my 'Everything Up Close Bridal Shower' event button to your blog sidebar.

- Following me on Twitter (@ihchicky). Please leave your Twitter name in your comment.

- Following me on Blogger / Google Friends Connect (publicly).
- 'Liking' Everything Up Close on Facebook. Please leave your name (First name and last initial) that is shown on Facebook for verification.

- Tweeting about this giveaway with a link to this page. Please leave a link to your tweet or your twitter name. You can do this once a day.

- Blogging about this giveaway on your blog. Please leave a link to your blog post in your comment. 2 ENTRIES! Please leave 2 separate comments if you blog about this giveaway.

- Talking about and linking to this giveaway in any public forum or on Facebook. If you do this, please leave your user-name and a link to the post. 2 ENTRIES! Please leave 3 separate comments if you blog about this giveaway.

Important Entry Details: The above entries (main and bonus) can only be submitted once per person (except for the tweet entry, which can be done daily). Please do not use more than one blogger account or add additional anonymous comments to gain extra entries. This is not fair to everyone else and this practice is strictly prohibited. If a person is found to be using more than one account to enter the same giveaway, they will be disqualified from that particular giveaway, as well as all future giveaways.

This giveaway will end on Thursday, August 26th 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 blogger 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 everyone WORLDWIDE!

Good Luck!

**Disclaimer** To complete this review and post this giveaway, Meadowbelle Market sent me a custom 'Love is a Word' necklace free of charge.  Receiving this item did not in anyway alter the information which I discussed in this article; this review is 100% my own opinion.  I did not receive any other type of compensation for this review/giveaway.