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.

Damselfly Studio - Review & Giveaway

When I first started looking at bridal attire, I knew I was going to go with a veil.  There is something about a bridal veil that makes you feel like a bride - when I found my bridal gown and they put the veil on my head, it was the icing on the cake - I realized "I" was a bride-to-be!  Having that feeling is so exciting and that is the exact way I felt when I received my review package from Damselfly Studio. 

Elizabeth, owner of Damselfly Studio has been working in the bridal industry for roughly 25 years. Elizabeth has many years of experience working with brides in a bridal salon that she managed called Classic Weddings Bridal Salon. When she had to move away and leave the business behind, Elizabeth continued to work with brides while creating beautiful custom wedding gowns and veils. Today, Elizabeth takes pride in offering each of her brides a completely customized and handcrafted product that meets all their expectations.  When working with brides, Elizabeth likes to take all the details (even the smallest ones) into account to make sure the bride is happy and she'll look as perfect as can be on her big day!

Besides offering bridal veils at Damselfly Studio, Elizabeth also offers bridal headpieces, a variety of jewelry, hairpins, handbags, and more! I love that Damselfly Studio carries a variety of styles to meet the needs of all brides! The prices of her products are also attractive; after being in many bridal shops over the past few months, I truly appreciate the price of the items that Elizabeth sells (they are much more reasonable and within virtually every bride's reach - I can completely relate with the fact that getting married takes a major toll on the cheque book).

After speaking with Elizabeth several times, it is evident how passionate she is about everything bridal; she loves working with brides and helping make their special day what they've envisioned! Throughout the process of working with Elizabeth, she has been professional, accommodating, and more than happy to answer any questions I had. When picking a veil for review (one that I planned to wear on my wedding day as well), Elizabeth made sure to consider how I would wear my hair, the style of my dress, etc.

You can feel confident ordering from Damselfly Studio since it is a charter member of the BridalDreamTeam, and the CAGEY Jewelry teams on Etsy.  Check out Elizabeth's shop here: http://www.etsy.com/profile.php?user_id=6292126!

To find out more about Elizabeth's passion for bridal fashion, please check out the Damselfly Studio Blog.  It features a lot of great products and tales of Elizabeth's daily life and creations.  My personal favorite post is one featuring new vintage tiaras - you can see them here; Aren't they fabulous?!  Now...what I wouldn't do to own this tiara.  It definitely gives the elegant princess feeling that I'm going for with my wedding!  Is it normal for a tiara to make you feel emotional? :S

Review 1
Elizabeth sent me a couple of things to review. First of all, she sent me a candlelight fingertip veil with satin cord edging. This veil sells for $39.00 (this is an absolutely amazing price compared to what bridal salons charge).  This veil measures approximately 38" in length and 108" in width. The veil is made from tulle and has a elegant satin cording on the edge. Elizabeth works hard to sew the tulle and cording together so it will not separate. The veil is gathered at the top and securely fastened to a 31 tooth comb. According to the listing, this veil "is cut in a wide oval shape, straighter sides, wide curve hem at the bottom."

When you read through Elizabeth's listings, you will notice that she loves doing custom orders and is more than happy to accommodate to your vision! Elizabeth can make veils with plain clean edges and pencil rolled edges, veils with a variety of finishing touches, and veils of all different lengths and with multiple tiers.

One nice thing about the listings in the Damselfly Studio Etsy Shop is that it tells you how to care for your bridal item. This is one thing I haven't really seen in other shops but that I definitely appreciate. Elizabeth explains how to make you veil look it's best on your wedding day and even sends sample tulle with your order to make sure you iron it at the right temperature. What could be worse that running your veil on the wedding day? With the Damselfly Studio tulle samples, there's no need to worry!

Overall, I really love the veil that Elizabeth sent me to review. After I tried it on for the first time, I knew this was the veil I would wear on my wedding day. I appreciate the time that she took into creating such a beautiful piece that suited my style and the color choices I made for my wedding. The veil I received is simple yet elegant, and definitely mirrors the veils that I could buy in a bridal shop that would be much more expensive and of lesser quality (most are imported from Asian countries). I am impressed with how Elizabeth was able to attach the tulle to the comb without it looking too bulky. I also like the comb that she chose to use; the comb seems strong and I think the greater number of pins help it to stay put. I'm happy to say that I will be proudly wearing my Damselfly Studio veil on my wedding day and I will treasure it for years to come.

Review 2

The second item I received for review is a tiara that was actually made especially for this feature, or as I would call it, the 'Everything Up Close Tiara'. Elizabeth has been making bridal headpieces for years (when she first starting managing her bridal salon). In the 90s, she noticed that there was very few choices for brides (in terms of headpieces) and she decided to change that! The tiara Elizabeth sent is unique, beautifully decorated with freshwater pearls and Swarovski Crystals and is attached to a high quality silver colored wire comb. The comb is strong yet pliable which makes it easier to maneuver. Many tiaras are made with plastic combs and this creates a huge problem (one size and one shape does NOT fit all brides)! Since not all bridal hairstyles are the same; this comb makes it easy to work with on any bride.

One thing I really like about this tiara is that it is different from what I'd find in a bridal chain store. I like that it incorporates classic pearls and more modern Swarovski Crystals. I also think the shape of the tiara is very pretty; the peaks remind me of a princess or a queen! It is quite elegant and fashionable. I am also impressed with how well the aspects of the tiara fit together. All the pearls and crystals are held together with a thin silver wire. At first I didn't know how that would look but it is actually very subtle; you can hardly notice that it (the silver wire) is there until you are looking at it closely and even then, you can only see it next to the pearls; the silver wire blends right in with the crystals.

Overall, I think this tiara is lovely. The truth is, the more I look at it, the more I like it! I appreciate that the design is made from scratch, that is it really one-of-a-kind, and that it is different than what I can find in a standard bridal salon. After seeing the quality of tiara sold in the Damselfly Studio Etsy Shop, I'm confident that any bride would be happy with the quality.

Final Review
Besides the Veil and the Tiara, Elizabeth also sent me a lovely pair of earrings to thank me for my time. When I received them, I was a bit unsure of what I would do with them because I thought my pierced ears had closed in. Happily to my surprise, these earrings helped me to learn that because I have had my ears pierced a number of times (in the same spot), they never did close-in like I thought they did. So, a huge thanks goes to Elizabeth to opening my ears to a whole new world of fashion. The most exciting part is that I will now be able to wear normal earrings, instead of clip-on earrings on my wedding day.

Like both of the products I reviewed, I am very happy with the earrings Elizabeth sent me. I have already worn them a number of times, including for our Engagement Photo Session; I just love the simple elegance of them. I think the mix of the sterling silver beads, the pearl, and the crystal is absolutely stunning. They are professionally put together and I am proud to show them off every time I put them on.

I am including a picture on this post (shown aove) of one of the earrings I received. Please note that I did NOT take this picture; this picture was taken by Amber Bond of Amber Bond Photography during our Engagement Photo Session. If anyone from Winnipeg, Manitoba is looking for a photographer (Weddings, Babies, Family, Glam Sessions, or other - I would highly suggest her - she is amazing)!

 *GIVEAWAY*

How many winners are there? Two.

What can you win? 
One winner will receive a headpiece (identical to the one I received, shown above). 
A second winner will receive  their choice of a single tiered veil in white or ivory up to 40" in length.

To enter, visit Damselfly Studio's Etsy Shop and heart your favorite item.  Then, come back here and tell me which item you hearted and your Etsy username. 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 what your first choice prize is.
- Visit the Damselfly Studio blog and leave a comment on one of her posts (a meaningful post please - not just a one liner).
- Become a public Google Friend Connect follower of the Damselfly Studio blog.  Please indicate your blogger 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 Monday, August 16th 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!


Damselfly Studio Special Offers

1) Make sure to check out Elizabeth's new SALE section where everything is 20-50% of the regular price! 


2) Elizabeth is kindly offering 10% off all non-sale items when you tell her that you found her shop through Everything Up Close. 


3) Mention that you found out about Damselfly Studios through Everything Up Close and receive free shipping on all sale items (Canada and US only) or 1/2 price shipping for all countries outside of US/Canada.

4) All non-sale orders over $125 qualify for free shipping! 

Damselfly Studio now offers a Layaway plan - pay some now and some later.  Please email Elizabeth for more details!

**Disclaimer** To complete this review and post this giveaway, I was sent a veil to use in my wedding, a tiara, and a complimentary pair of earrings.  Receiving these items 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.

The Perfect Match - Review & Giveaway

Since I started blogging, I've had a chance to review a number of great jewelry pieces and jewelry shops.  Needless to say, I've gained a better appreciation for these precious accessories and the work that goes into creating them - through this, my little 'jewelry fascination' has grown.  When it came time to start looking for bridal jewelry, I found myself being extremely picky.  Why?  Picking one set of jewelry for that special day is extremely difficult; you have to remember...the jewelry you pick will complete the look you are hoping to achieve on your wedding day and the image that will be etched in your memories (and photographs) for years to come.

Since I've done a lot of work with Etsy Sellers in the past, this was the first place I started to look.  As I started to look, I realized that I was not only having to look for jewelry for myself but for my bridesmaids as well!  Luckily I found a shop that caters to both brides and their bridal party: The Perfect Match.  The Perfect Match specializes in matching jewelry sets that are perfect for weddings, other special occasions, or just regular every day use.  The Perfect Match sells a variety of styles (formal to more casual pieces) at a range of price points.  The Perfect Match is also proud to offer custom design services to make your special day (or just your every day) more personal and individualized!

Besides bridal jewelry, The Perfect Match also sells jewelry for everyday use and just recently started selling interchangeable watch bands.

More about the Designer...Professionally and Personally

"I have always loved wedding jewelry; I think it makes the Wedding Party’s outfits complete. When I was in college I made all of the bridesmaids’ necklaces for my sister’s wedding. Since each person had a different color dress she wanted a design that would bring some consistency to the outfits so I made the same necklace and earring set in 4 different colors. A year later I made matching illusion style necklaces for my wedding with drop like earrings. Since then I have been making a variety of styles that would be perfect for a Bride or Bridesmaid."

"I attended Valparaiso University in Indiana where I majored in Elementary Education. While a student at Valpo, I was proud to serve as the Vice President of Academics for the sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma. I graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in education and a minor in mathematics. I currently teach Kindergarten and live in Chicago with my husband who is 3rd year Medical Student. During my free time I love to design and create necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and watch bands. For the past few years I have made jewelry to go with all my outfits, for family, friends and to give as gifts. After learning about etsy from a friend, I decided to open up a shop and began to post last summer."

Review
Kelli, owner of The Perfect Match, offer to send me an Illusion Necklace and Earring Set for review.  This set is fabulous for bridesmaids or just everyday (or night-out) use!  The set I received is similar to this one; the only difference is mine is shades of purple (not browns). 

The necklace in this set is made up of 3-strands with three different colours and sizes of Swarovski pearls (4mm, 6mm, & 8mm). For ease, I will be referring to the Swarovski pearls just as 'pearls' throughout the remainder of this post. The necklace has an extender and can range from 16 to 18 inches in length.  The earrings in this set have fishhook ear wires and they measure approximately 1.25 inches in length.  The silver parts used in this necklace are all sterling silver.

All-in-all, I really like this set!  The time put into making this set is evident (each pearl is individual strung, which I personally think is impressive...and time consuming)!  The style of this necklace is absolutely stunning.  Because Kelli used invisible thread to string the pearls, it looks as if they are floating.  Additionally, I think the attention to detail is fantastic!  I love how the end of the extender even has a little pearl on it to match the look of the necklace.  For me, this necklace is the perfect length and light enough to wear all day long.

As for the earrings...they are absolutely adorable and beautiful.  First of all, I think they are adorable just because of the style of them; The bunch of pearls reminds me of a bundle of grapes.  Kelli did a fabulous job of attaching the pearls so that they were uniform and hid the internal sterling silver strand.  Each earring has a total of 12 pearls in various sizes and colours.  Personally, I think these earrings match the necklace perfectly. 

Because I am a bride and not a bridesmaid, I am planning to use this set for everyday use.  I'm looking forward to adding this set to my work wardrobe and using it for date nights with my fiancé.  Because of the amount of work that went into making this set, I can see why it is priced as it is.  When taking this into consideration (along with the costs of material), I think the price charged is fair.  The Illusion Necklace and Earring Sets sell for $65 in The Perfect Match Etsy shop.

My only suggestion for The Perfect Match is that they add more sets to their inventory that include a bracelet.  I personally like to have a necklace, earrings, and a bracelet to match.  I think this would add to the appeal of their shop. 

What can you win?  One winner will receive a beautiful bridal set including the White Beauty Necklace and White Cluster Earrings that are shown directly above.

To enter, visit The Perfect Match and look around.  Then, come back here and leave a comment stating the name of your favorite item and what you would use it for. 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.

- 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).

- Adding my main button to your blog sidebar.
- Adding my 'Wonderful Wedding Wishes' event button to your blog sidebar.

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

- Following me on Blogger / Google Friends Connect (publicly).
- Friending Everything Up Close on Facebook. Please leave your name 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 Friday, July 9th 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 residents of the US only.

Good Luck!



*Special Promotion*
The first 10 buyers who spend $50 or more at The Perfect Match and mention “Everything Up Close Blog” in the message to seller will get a free pair of earrings (shown below).

**Disclaimer** To complete this review and post this giveaway, I was sent a free Illusion Necklace & Earring Set.  Receiving these items 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.

Simple Beauty Veils Review & Giveaway

Simple Beauty is a lovely Etsy shop that sells beautiful wedding veils of all different styles.  Simple Beauty sells one layer veils, two layer veils, bubble and blusher veils, lace trim veils, as well as angel and cascade veils.  You are also more than welcome to submit requests for custom veils.  Simple Beauty's goal is "To create beautiful, custom made veils at a reasonable price."  Lora (owner of Simple Beauty) has been a seamstress for 25 years and she designs and creates each veil sold in her shop!

According to Lora: "Custom orders are my specialty. If you have something in mind or if you have been to the bridal shop, just send me a picture and I can more than likely reproduce the veil of your dreams for less than half of bridal shop cost.  All of my veils are available in several lengths and colors and I will be glad to custom make or change any veil to match exactly what you are looking for, just choose the custom tab on the right side of the home page or convo me. All veils are custom made upon ordering, it normally takes about two weeks to make and ship your veil, it might take a little longer during the busy wedding season. If you are in a rush please let me know when you place your order. I can easily accommodate this."

In terms of pricing, Simple Beauty is very reasonable.  I have been in and out of various bridal stores in the past couple of months and I am astounded at the cost.  The cost of standard length bridal veils in specialty stores often start at $90 and go up from there.  However, Lora offers veils starting at only $20 (blusher veils starting at $16), with the highest priced veil being only $79.  If you are on a budget, or if you just can't imagine spending hundreds of dollars on a veil that you'll only wear once, Simple Beauty is a great option!

Simple Beauty is tailored to all Etsy shoppers and gladly welcomes first time shoppers.  Her announcement is great since it provides new shoppers with a link that explains how to make your first purchase.  So, if you haven't made a purchase on Etsy before, let this be your first! Simple Beauty is there to help you along the way to becoming a beautiful blushing bride!
Review

Lora offered to send me one of her beautiful veils for me to review.  She sent me her Iris - 25 x30 veil with satin ribbon trim.  This is a lovely two-tiered veil with a 3/8" ivory satin ribbon and coordinating ivory tulle.  The veil is made with 54" tulle and is secured to a 3" plastic comb.  This design can be customized to your choice of white, diamond white, and ivory. 

(Note: To the right you will see a picture of me wearing the veil I received from Simple Beauty- please ignore my lack of makeup and my poor choice of clothing)

When I saw this veil online, I thought it was absolutely beautiful!  And, when I received it in the mail, I thought the exact same thing.  This veil seems to be well made; I like that the veil is securely and neatly fastened to the hair comb and that the tulle and the ribbon are attached in a way that they won't fray away from each other easily.  Another aspect of this veil that I enjoyed was the length of it.  Since I'm not crazy about my arms, I appreciate a veil that will cover them slightly.  I found that this veil was fairly light and comfortable to wear.

Overall, I loved the veil, however, there are a couple of things I'd like to see altered.  First of all, I found that there was a bit too much fabric that gathered on the sides of my head when I had the 2nd tier flipped in front of my face.  I would prefer to see a bit less fabric to avoid the bunching; this may be achieved by using tulle with a slightly shorter width than the bottom layer.  Also, I would like to see the 2nd layer a tad bit longer.  Because of my hair style for my wedding, I will be wearing the veil towards the back of my head.  I find that with me wearing the veil where I will be wearing it on my wedding day, the veil is a bit too short.  Although this isn't a flaw of the veil, it is something to consider when ordering a bridal veil.  If I was to order another veil from Simply Beauty, I'd likely choose the longer length instead.  So, with that said, just remember, when ordering a veil for your wedding, consider how you will be wearing your hair and where your veil will be placed.

In terms of ordering from Simple Beauty Veils, I'm definitely recommend it!  Lora's prices are fantastic when considering the quality and beauty of the veil received!

How many winners will there be? Two (2).

What can you win? Each winner will receive their choice of veil up to a $50 value.

To enter, Visit Simple Beauty's Etsy shop.  Then, come back here and tell me the name of your top three (3) favorite veils (or include links to your 3 favorites).  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:

- Entering one other giveaway on Everything Up Close, then leaving me a comment hear indicating the name of the other giveaway you entered.
- Subscribing to my blog via email or RSS feed (Maximum of 1 entry - please tell me how you subscribe in your comment).

- Adding my main button to your blog sidebar.
- Adding my 'Wonderful Wedding Wishes' event button to your blog sidebar.

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

- Following me on Blogger / Google Friends Connect (publicly).
- Friending Everything Up Close on Facebook. Please leave your name 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, May 20th 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 everyone WORLDWIDE!

Good Luck!

**Disclaimer** To complete this review and post this giveaway, I was sent a free bridal veil from Simply Beauty (Etsy Shop).  Receiving this product 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.

Herman's Creations Review & Giveaway

Herman's Creations is a lovely online shop hosted on Etsy that offers original and custom products!  Herman's Creations offers beautiful hand-painted tiles and platters that are suitable for pretty much any occassion, including Mother's Day, Birthdays, Babies, Christmas, Weddings, as well as gifts for teachers, family members, and friends.  Each order from Herman's Creations can be personalized upon request with names, dates, etc.  The images and text you see each product is added using special porcelain paints and paint markers.  These images are meant for display purposes only.

The owner of Herman's Creations is a creative working mother of two little boys.  One of her boys has been diagnosed with Autism and she hopes to spread awareness of this disorder and help other individuals with the condition by committing to donate 10% of the money from sales in her shop to the Autism Speaks organization. 

The owner of Herman's Creations describes herself as creative, a lover of colors, and she seems to truly enjoy making the personalized keepsakes that will remain in families for years to come.  Here is a few tidbits about the owner from her Etsy profile: "I have always been interested in the arts and anything artistic just fascinates me and it is my passion and first true love. (besides my kids and husband, of course).  I also just adore children and [I] love to help them expand their creative sides...That is why my plaques are so colorful and whimsical - anything I can do to contribute to children's creative expansion (and adult's as well) makes me very happy.

Herman's Creations is very happy to work with you on custom orders: "Please feel free to reach out to me if you have an idea for a plaque (or ornament) that I do not have listed on my site. Would love to work with you to create something that you will cherish for years to come."

ReviewAfter oohhing and aahhing over all of the beautiful items in Herman's Creations, I was extremely happy when she agreed to send me a few customized items to review for the Wonderful Wedding Wishes event.  I received one (1) Newlywed Keepsake Plaque and one (1) Personalized Wedding Memory Platter.

The Newlywed Keepsake Plaque is a great option for a wedding gift or to purchase for your own wedding to commemorate your special day.  This 6x6 inch porcelain tile plaque is customized with the bride and groom's name and their wedding date (month, day, and year).  This tile can be easily hung by the tulle bow attached to the top portion of the tile. 

When I received the plaque, I was very happy with both the design and the overall quality.  I love the customization option and the basic whimsical image on the plaque.  I like that the plaque is made from a sturdy porcelain tile and that enough tulle is used for the bow to make it easy to hang.  Plus, the size of the plaque is perfect for my use.  I only have one little suggestion for improvement on my plaque - one of the hearts (bottom left) was quite a bit lighter than all the others.  Although this isn't huge and it doesn't effect my love for the plaque, if there was one thing I could change, it would be that.  I currently have the Newlywed Keepsake Plaque hanging up in my bedroom.  It allows me to wake up and go to sleep each day looking forward to our special day - August 28, 2010. :)

In terms of future newlywed plaques, I'd love to suggest the following:
-customizable wedding colors (e.g. flowers, bow-tie, boutonniere, shoes, etc.)
-different hair, dress, and tuxedo/suit styles
-alternate plaque (tile) colors
-although I love the tulle used for my bow, it might be nice to order the bow in different colors and made from different materials (e.g. satin ribbon)

Now, for my review of the platter... When coming up with the design, I had sent the owner of Herman's Creations a number of pictures of my wedding flowers that will be used in my bouquet.  I left that with her and allowed her to work her magic.  When I received the personalized platter, I was extremely happy.  I received for an 11 x 17 rectangular porcelain platter personalized with a beautiful poem and mock-up of my wedding bouquet.  My platter reads, "May your love grow greater with every year, as you laugh and work and show your fears.  When life gets hard may you pull as one, building upon the legacy you've just begun. Ilissa & Jay"  Although I didn't choose the poem, I thought it couldn't of been a better choice.  Everytime I look at the platter, I'm filled with joy and become a 'tad bit' sentimental (lovey dovey, gushy, or whatever you'd like to call it).  :)  The only thing I would suggest is the option to order a complimentary display stand for the platters.  I had assumed it came with one but when it was shipped, I found out it was not.  I would suggest that future listings mention that a stand is or isn't included in the listing to avoid confusion.

Note: The platter I was sent is for decorative purposes only.  The platters sold in Herman's Creations should not be used to serve food.

Overall, I absolutely love both items I received.  They were both customized to my exact preferences and I am looking forward to enjoying them in my home for years to come!  The custom work I received for my review shows the level of commitment and passion that the owner of Herman's Creations has for painting and working with customers to design custom keepsakes (Masterpieces)!  I am very impressed with the quality of workmanship demonstrated in both the platter and plaque.  Whether you are looking for a special keepsake for yourself, or a gift for a family member or a friend, I would highly suggest Herman's Creations.

Another item that caught my eye (and I absolutely love) from Herman's Creations that I didn't have a chance to review is the Favorite Little Farmer Plaque (shown below).  Isn't it super cute?

How many winners will there be? Two (2).

What can you win? Each winner will receive their choice of ANY one item from Herman's Creations' Etsy Shop.

To enter, Visit Herman's Creations' shop.  Then, come back here and tell me the name of, or leave a link to 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:

- Entering one other giveaway on Everything Up Close, then leaving me a comment hear indicating the name of the other giveaway you entered.
- Subscribing to my blog via email or RSS feed (Maximum of 1 entry - please tell me how you subscribe in your comment).

- Adding my main button to your blog sidebar.
- Adding my 'Wonderful Wedding Wishes' event button to your blog sidebar.

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

- Following me on Blogger / Google Friends Connect (publicly).
- Friending Everything Up Close on Facebook. Please leave your name 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 Monday, May 31st 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 residents
of Canada and the US!

Good Luck!

**Disclaimer** To complete this review and post this giveaway, I was sent a free review package from Herman's Creations containing a customized platter and a newlywed keepsake plaque.  Receiving these products 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.

EUC Designs (Customized Digital Announcements - Your Choice) Giveaway!

I've previously talked about my love of graphic design on my blog (many of you probably know that I designed Everything Up Close from top to bottom).  Although, one thing many of you probably don't realize (unless you've entered my recent giveaways) is that I have a Etsy shop that gives me an outlet for my love of digital graphics!

When I first started my Etsy shop (EUC Designs - yes, I named it after Everything Up Close), I decided that I would start small by offering Etsy design packages.  I figured that I'd start small, see the response, then work my way up.  Next, I started designing business cards.  Recently, I decided to add another type of graphic service that I know many people look for to celebrate special occasions, such as births, birthdays, engagements, etc..  My new addition to EUC is digital announcement cards.  Right now I'm specifically focusing on baby announcements (flat photo) but I would like to start spreading my wings to offer flat photo birthday party announcements, Save the Date cards, wedding invitations, and more!

All the digital announcements that I offer are currently priced at $6.  With the purchase of a digital announcement, you will receive a high resolution (300 dpi) customized graphic (4x6 or 5x7 in a .jpg file) with your choice of text information and photographs.  This digital image can easily be printed at any photography print shop.  This means, for $6 + the cost of printing at your local print shop, you get unlimited announcements!  This is a great deal when you look at some of the alternatives that are currently available.  Additionally, this type of announcement is a good option for those of you who are eco-friendly and like to save the environment!  These eco-friendly announcements can easily be sent as an email. 

I currently have 4 different designs to choose from and I plan to offering new designs in the coming weeks.  So far, I have unisex designs and designs for boys and girls.  One of my personal favorites is a birth announcement called 'An Elegant Child'.  This is a wonderful classic and elegant design that features black, red, white, and grey with a satin ribbon and bow.  I also love this design because it is so versatile. I will soon be using this design to create a series.  One of the first additions to the Elegant Line will be callled 'An Elegant Engagement'. 

What can you win?  The winner of this giveaway will receive their choice of one customized digital announcement from EUC Designs. 

You can use the digital announcement to create anything you'd like - a save the date card, a birth announcement, a marriage announcement, etc.  You will receive a high resolution digital file in both 4x6 and 5x7 with your choice of wording and one photograph. You are free to print your announcements at home or send them to a in-store photo printer. 


To enter, Tell me the full name of your favorite item at EUC Designs or including a link to it in your comment. 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:
- Telling me which announcement design you'd choose and what you'd use it for.
- Telling me one kind of digital announcement you'd like to see EUC Designs offer in the future.  This can either be related to a specific theme or a certain type of announcement.
- Telling me one aspect you like and one thing you think could be improved in the EUC Designs etsy shop (not item specific).- Entering one other giveaway on Everything Up Close, then leaving me a comment hear indicating the name of the other giveaway you entered.
- Subscribing to my blog via email or RSS feed (Maximum of 1 entry - please tell me how you subscribe in your comment).

- Adding my main button to your blog sidebar.
- Adding my 'Wonderful Wedding Wishes' event button to your blog sidebar.

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

- Following me on Blogger / Google Friends Connect (publicly).
- Friending Everything Up Close on Facebook. Please leave your name 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 Saturday, May 1st 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 everyone WORLDWIDE!

Good Luck!

COUPON CODE: In addition to the giveaway, I would like to offer all my readers a chance to save 20% off any purchase from EUC Designs (not including custom designs).  Just let me know that you heard about the promotion on Everything Up Close in the 'Notes to Seller' section during checkout.  Please wait for a bill that reflects the discount.  This coupon expires on June 16th, 2010.