Thursday Giveaway...

This week, one lucky winner will take home a $75 gift certificate courtesy of The BeadChest! Their tag-line is, "African bead superstore and more." When they say that, they're not kidding! The BeadChest is filled with a wide array of African beads from all over the continent. Whether you're looking for recycled glass beads from Ghana, metal beads from Ethiopia, clay beads from Mali, or bone beads from Kenya – they've got it! Navigating their website is like getting a tour of continent through its beads. Some of the beads are over a hundred years old and have been made in the same way for generations. Looking at the beads, an intrinsic part of everyday society and culture, you get a real feel for the people who make these adornments and the people who worn them for centuries. The beads are touchstones to rich traditions and bring so much to the pieces that they're incorporated in. I love how something with such deep roots can be transformed into fashionable, contemporary jewelry. The BeadChest also carries a variety of trade beads, Czech glass and Afghani jewelry! Lots to chose from, for sure!

While you peruse the selection of beads at The BeadChest, be sure to check out the The Ultimate Guide to African Beads and their blog. Both are filled with useful information about where the beads come from, what they're made of, who made them and what the differences are between each kind. I found the blog entries "Why are trade beads dirty?" and "What tribes are most known for their African Beads?" particularly interesting and I definitely feel more knowledgeable about the subjects after reading them.

Imagine what you could do with $75 worth of FREE beads! You could pick up some brightly patterned glass beads from the Krobo tribe, Maasai seed beads, or mock coral beads from the Yoruba tribe! $75 dollars goes a long way; most of the beads featured on the website are extremely affordable and are great deals!

To win this generous gift certificate for $75 for The Bead Chest, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post. It's just that easy! One lucky winner will be randomly selected from the comment section of this post on Tuesday (November 23rd) at midnight EST. Please leave your name and contact information if it doesn't already appear next to your comment. This giveaway is open to all participants, including international readers!

Bonus Points: If you really want to increase your chances of winning, you can earn additional entries by blogging, updating your Facebook page, and/or Twittering about this Thursday Giveaway. Be sure to mention that the gift certificate is for The BeadChest and include a link back to this week's sponsor (http://www.thebeadchest.com). Don't forget to add your act of social media kindness as a SEPARATE comment to this blog post for your extra shot at this gift certificate!

Extra Bonus Points: So, are you really in it to win it? Earn another entry by stopping by their website and taking a look around. Report back here with a fun fact you learned or an item on their website that you've just got to have. Leave it as a separate comment for an extra chance to win! CLICK HERE to go to their website.