Uncommon Goods product review and $75.00 gift certificate giveaway

One of the most interesting things about online relationships with blog sponsors is how they often come about. While call to sponsor posts are one way of forming new relationships, another springs to life from organic mentions of brands who catch word that I've discussed them here on my blog and then contact me to see if there are additional ways they can be a part of my site.

Case in point: in last December's post Vintage Holiday Shopping Guide: Gifts for travel lovers, I included a timelessly lovely wood panel looking iPhone case with a map of America on it. A few weeks later I was contacted by an employee from the site that was (and still is) selling that phone case, Uncommon Goods, and emails flew back and forth regarding a collaboration.

We decided upon both a product review and a giveaway, and today I am delighted to bring you both in one handy, dandy post. Uncommon Goods suggested some of their more vintage/classic style products that I might fancy and indeed, one of them instantly jumped out at me. The immensely pretty Pedestal Jewelry Holder pictured below.




I was drawn to this piece not only for its highly practical applications (and because I was in rather dire need of more space to hang some of my hook based earrings, my studs having ample room of their own thanks to this storage method I devised), but because the patina-esque, earthy turquoise hue is flat out gorgeous and I figured, as it does, that it would work well in my small white and brown hued en suite bathroom, where it now reside on the counter there (given what a small counter it is, believe me when I say that I have to truly love something for it get even a spec of real estate space there).

Like many of the products that Uncommon Goods offers, this wonderful jewelry holder is made by an artisan who has partnered with this the company, in this case, a potter named Tracy Shea who has been created pottery pieces since 1982. Uncommon Goods themselves, a privately-owned retailer that works with a number of highly worthwhile charities such as RAINN and Women for Women International, was founded in 1999 in Brooklyn, New York and has grown into a thriving online marketplace that offers a wide assortment of hip, appealing, creative household, personal, and gift idea products at varying, affordable price points from score of different artisans and brands.

This earthy, elegant stoneware clay jewelry pedestal, for example, is handmade, glazed, and measures 6" long x 6" wide x 4" high (it's also dishwasher safe, which is great to know, as one never knows in life when something, even a jewelry holder, might need a thorough cleaning). It's not a huge or especially tall piece, but for my own use, I actually prefer that due, as touched on above, to the limited space I have available in the room I'm storing it in. With 50 individual holes through which to hang earrings, as well as a dish-like area in the center that's perfect for holding anything from rings to a few bangle bracelets, this sturdy, beautiful piece was put to work the moment it arrived and has been serving me well for several weeks now, just as I'm sure it will for many years to come.

Uncommon Goods offerings expand well beyond jewelry holders, in fact they have a wide variety of gifts for women (some of the coolest of which can be seen here), men, kids, art, home decor (this selection will put at least one new entry on anyone's wishlist!), home and garden, dining and entertaining, jewelry and accessories, and of course plenty of terrific homemade gifts that are equally perfect whether you're buying for yourself or someone else (their latest offerings in this category are available here).

The bulk of Uncommon Goods' offerings are produced in the US and approximately 1/3 of the items they carry incorporate recycled and/or upcycled materials, which is is something that instantly appeals to me as a consumer who tends to buy a lot of secondhand products and is keen to not add to the throw away culture that is so prevalent with many mass marketed products nowadays. I fell for Uncommon Goods when I first discovered their site last year for this reason and many others, which is why I was eager to include one of their offerings in my holiday vintage gift guide, and also why I was delighted to partner with them for today's post.

There's something for everyone on their site, and as such I'm extra thrilled to offer you the chance to win an awesome $75.00 gift certificate to be used towards any of Uncommon Goods offerings that your heart desires. To enter this great giveaway, please do as many of the following seven things as you desire, leaving a separate comment for each giveaway entry method that you participate in.

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1. Leave a comment letting me know what one or more of your favourite Uncommon Goods products is/are.

2. Like Uncommon Goods on Facebook.

3. Post about this giveaway on Facebook.

4. Follow Uncommon Goods on Twitter.

5. Tweet about this giveaway, linking to Uncommon Good's Twitter account in your tweet.

6. Post about this giveaway on your own blog.

7. Sign up for Uncommon Goods' email newsletter.

Giveaway details: This giveaway will run between today's date, May 15th and May 22nd, 2014, with the winner being drawn shortly thereafter. It is open to participants worldwide. The winner will be selected using a random number generator and will be contacted via email, as well as announced on Facebook and Twitter. If you have any questions about this Uncommon Goods giveaway, please email me.

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Thank you very much to Uncommon Goods for the excellent, skillfully made jewelry holder (it is pulling double duty as both a functional item and a splendidly lovely home accent as we speak), as well as for partnering with Chronically Vintage to offer one of my wonderful readers the chance to win a $75.00 gift certificate. I very much appreciate both things and am sending out best luck wishes to all those who take part in this fabulous giveaway!