A few weeks ago I got the opportunity to partner up with one of my favorite e-tailers, Uncommon Goods and I jumped on it. I am a major lover of marketplaces that feature handcrafted goods and unique jewelry and all things “quirky”! While on the Uncommon Goods site, I came across so much jewelry that I wanted to purchase because of their uniqueness but it was not until I saw this that I knew I HAD to have it.
For those who know me well, I love anything monogrammed and I love nameplate necklaces. I got my first nameplate necklace when I was in 8th grade courtesy of my middle school “boyfriend”. In fact I loved it so much that I STILL have it and wear it every now and then. And for the record, I had mine prior to the infamous “carrie” gold necklace from Sex and the City infamy. But I digress….
From seeing my social media posts or reading on this here blog of mine, its very clear that my grandmother was everything to me. Her death still is incredibly difficult for me to handle and some days I am in shock that it is reality. When I saw the option to purchase a name plate necklace created out of the person’s handwriting, I could not click it fast enough. I knew this was the perfect gift for myself as well as my mom. About 7 years ago I got a tattoo in my grandmother’s handwriting with the words “Que Dieu te Protege” which translates to “May God Protect You”. This is the way that my Vivie often signed her cards and letters so it was fitting that I ink it on my body. It is not somewhere visible unless Im wearing barely anything so having this necklace to show off makes me feel like I am keeping her spirit alive in a physical sense. I say physical sense because she is ALWAYS with me no matter what I do!
A little background on uncommon goods from their website:
We know that there’s a story behind every product. It’s that of an emerging designer just introducing her work to the world; artisans working collaboratively in a low income country; or a seasoned artist crafting each of his pieces by hand. With your help, we’re building a community of passionate people who love our products and connect with the stories behind them. We’re growing not only our artist family, but also a strong following of customers who celebrate artists and delight in surrounding themselves with creative design. In 1999, our founder Dave Bolotsky visited a Smithsonian Museum craft show in Washington D.C. and was captivated by the variety of unique handmade goods and the talented people behind them. He saw there was a significant public demand for beautiful design. At the same time, he realized that the artists working to make those pieces were often traveling great distances in order to sell their wares at the show. Inspired by his experience, Dave had a vision to create something that had never existed before—an online marketplace to connect makers and their creations with individuals looking for truly special goods, regardless of the physical distance between the maker and the shopper.
And boom- one of my absolute FAVORITE e-tailers was born!
