I am in love with a new site I found called Novica.com. Â It’s run by National Geographic. Â When I think of National Geographic, I think of travel, exotic places, interesting cultures and all of those describe the things you can find at Novica.com.
As many of you know, my beautiful daughter was born in Guatemala, so when I saw that Novica.com supported artisans in Central America I was instantly intrigued. Â But then when I saw more of what was on the site, I became hooked! Â In this age of franchises and standardization, it’s hard to find truly unique and interesting gifts. Â Sometimes you want to find a special something that won’t be mass produced and sold in box stores around the country. Â Novica.com is the place to turn.
Here are some of my favorite things and their stories…
"The most fascinating moment in the crafting of glass pieces is when you open the kiln's door. There's nothing like predicting the patterns and hues the paint will take - the end result is magnificent! " Artist and Creator, Sergio Suzana
Colorful geometric motifs ring this ashiko drum by Samuel Coleman. Crafted by hand from tweneboa wood, the drum actually belongs to the djembe family and is tuned in the same way.
"Collecting jewelry and gemstones has been my passion ever since childhood. Hi! My name is Neeru Goel and I was born on September 19, 1960. I spent most of my childhood in Kolkata, a metropolis in West Bengal."
Flowers blossom among a pink fantasy of traditional Javanese batik patterns, in a silk scarf by Yuni Kristina. The dagger-like motif is known as parang.
There is a huge selection of items for your home, apparel, jewelry, men, women and children. Â Novica.com has a gift finder that makes it easy to shop.
Novica's Gift Finder makes it easy and fun to shop!
You can search by price, for men or women, or home decor. Â Novica.com will make suggestions for you by occasion as well!
I clicked on "Gifts for Him" and found this stunning hammock - Sean would love this for Father's Day!
I did some shopping for myself on Novica about a month ago and found this beautiful, beautiful piece of jewelry.
The artist that created this piece is Zandra Lorena Sajbin from Guatemala. She grew up in an orphanage in San Lucas Toliman. "I strongly believe that everything is possible if one has dreams, and that nothing is impossible if you work hard to achieve your goals. I think Novica and the people who support traditional handcrafts can tell that ours is a jewelry that satisfies the highest demands."
On so many levels, this was a “feel good” purchase for me. Â Everyone can feel that same satisfaction when you shop at Novica.
“We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow.
At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe.” Â from Novica’s mission.
The necklace arrived with a beautiful presentation.
The necklace came in a beautiful, woven bag with a traditional Guatemalan "worry doll" and an artisan story card.
This is the other side of the necklace - I love that it can be worn either way. I've worn it many days since receiving it and absolutely adore it. I get many compliments and it's fun to tell people the "backstory".
Novica also has a direct sales business. Â You can sign up to be a consultant (the starter kit is only $199 for over $400 of merchandise, I’ve been eyeing that…) or have a party hosted in your home! Â It’s called Novica Live! Â To learn more, go to http://novicalive.com. Â If you do sign up, please tell them that you heard about it hear, and I’ll receive a “thank you” gift card!
Happy Shopping! Â Check out these sections….
Jade Necklaces
Unique Gifts
Amethyst Dangle Earrings
Garnet Dangle Earrings
Amber Earrings
Silver Pendant Necklaces
Connect with Novica at their website, facebook, and twitter!
TIME SENSITIVE:  Hurry, if you order jewelry today, there is free shipping. Free shipping is valid for all orders of jewelry with a delivery address within the contiguous U.S. states. The promotion ends at midnight pacific time on May 23, 2012.
Notice of Material Connection: All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated. Â I was provided with a gift certificate to review the website and product.