Happy Holidays Giveaway!

It's the holidays! Trees are being decorated. Cookies being made. Parties being planned. It's a HAPPY time - and I want to make someone even HAPPIER by giving them a beautiful piece of Noonday Collection jewelry to gift (or to keep!) for the holidays!

Wear as one long piece...

Each season, there is one piece that speaks to me. Its beauty, its story, its uniqueness - something about it just "gets to me."

This season it is the Braided Bullet necklace. From the minute we started getting sneak peeks, I had to have it. When I pulled it out of its cute little bag the day my samples arrived, I cried. I cried because it was every bit as beautiful as I had imagined and also because seeing each tiny little bead that was hand-crafted and then hand-beaded into those beautiful braided strands just got me. Thousands of those tiny beads to make each strand…it overwhelmed me. When it's discontinued from our line, it will not make it into the sample sale… sorry, friends.

...or double for shorter layers

For those not a familiar with the Ethiopian line from Noonday Collection, each piece is made from upcycled artillery that is collected by farmers in the war-torn country. The shells are melted and made in the various shaped beads of all different sizes that are needed to create the amazing necklaces, earrings and bracelets. The Ethiopian pieces are always my favorite because they are such beautiful reminders of God's presence in our lives; in the midst of the terrible circumstances He is there...there waiting to make beauty from our ashes. You can read more about our Ethiopian artisans here!

Each time I wear the Braided Bullet necklace, I love it a little more, and I find myself praying for the hands that made it throughout the day. Praying for her safety. Praying for her health. Praying for the health of her family. Praying for her to have HOPE in a future because she has dignified employment. And most of all, praying for her to come to know and feel the love of Jesus Christ in a real and meaningful way through her connection to Noonday Collection.

So, here's the deal. I'm giving one away December 15 and will ship it out to the winner December 16 - just in time for Christmas gifting…or wearing yourself for all the holiday fun!

How can you win it, you ask?

1. Share this blog post on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Each time you share, you'll get another entry into the drawing. Be sure to tag me in the post(s): @LauraRWalton on Twitter & Instagram and Laura Richardson Walton on Facebook (just "friend" me if you need to). 

Not sure how to "share"? Just copy and past the URL from your browser into your status box. The link will become active automatically and you can add your comments about the giveaway.

2. Attend a trunk show - or shows! - between November 25 and December 15. If it's not one that I'm hosting, no worries! Just snap a pic with your sweet Ambassador and tag me in it on any social media.

3. {Shop with a Purpose}. For every $25 spent between November 25 and December 14 at one of my trunk shows or online at www.laurawalton.noondaycollection.com, you'll get one entry into the giveaway. **Be sure to select me as your Ambassador at check out so I will receive a notification of your order!**

You can do all your Christmas shopping from the comfort of your couch in your fuzzy slippers this week AND be entered to win the Braided Bullet necklace AND give amazing gifts that are truly changing lives to all the special ladies in your life this Christmas. That's WIN-WIN-WIN in my book! :-D

4. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram (@LauraRWalton) and follow this blog if you're not already (just hit that button to the right)!

It's that simple! I'll do all the work with tracking entries - and YOU could win this beautiful necklace!

Be sure to share - and share often - to increase your chances of winning…

Happy Holidays, dear friends!

5 Fall Favorites...and 1 For Free!

It's finally here! After months of teasers, weeks of waiting and days of anguishing over ordering my samples - the Fall 2013 Noonday Collection launch has arrived! I'll be honest - it's felt a little like giving birth at some points in the process.

To kick the season off right, I'm GIVING AWAY a pair of my new favorite earrings! Not only am I giving away free loot, 34 other Ambassadors are also GIVING AWAY GOODIES on their blogs starting with the launch and throughout the month of September! These ladies know how to get a party started, right? 

Check out these lovely ladies (and their giveaway goodies) who kicked us off Aug. 28 (and just go ahead and follow their blogs while you're there - you won't be disappointed!):

• Aug 28- Krista Box at www.thegirlwhosaidyes.blogspot.com
• Aug 29- Alicia Hale at www.raisingalittlehale.blogspot.com
• Aug 30- Stephanie Nunes at www.nunespartyofthree.blogspot.com
• Aug 31- Natalie Perry at www.perrysplate.com (She has a $50 voucher up for grabs!)
• Sept 1- ME - YOU'RE HERE!

Here's the rest of this week's line up:

• Sept 2- Amy Armstrong at www.lovingandlivinghisway.blogspot.com (A $50 voucher could be yours!)
• Sept 3- Cara Coleman at www.thefrontporchramblings.net
• Sept 4- Lilly Neubauer at www.pancakesandbeetjuice.com
• Sept 5- Cynthia Coppinger at www.cynthiacoppinger.blogspot.com
• Sept 6- Kristine Shafer at www.kristineshafer.com

So, after a week of playing dress up with my new samples, I've settle on these as my Top 5 (This was like picking favorites among my children after the painstaking process of deciding what to order, btw). The item names are links to the website if you want to just go ahead and add them to your shopping cart, too! wink, wink!

My Top 5 Favorites

5. The Tushabe Necklace. Handcrafted from paper beads in Uganda and accented with beautiful polished horn pieces, these lovely layers of mint and blue are simply swoon-worthy. I can't wait to dress this up or throw it on with a fun Piko shirt. Simply perfect. Price: $62

The Tushabe Necklace

4. The la noche Bracelet. Oh, the bling it brings! (Confession: I catch myself singing "I feel pretty...Oh, so pretty" when I'm putting this one on.). This beauty is hand-beaded in Guatemala and is the perfect accessory for a night out...kind of makes me want to schedule a date night soon (also looks great with our Water Drop Prism Earrings). Price: $38.00

la noche Bracelet

3. The Paisley Filagree Earrings. The dainty dazzlers are quickly making it up the ranks as my go-to gold earrings. I love the detail and that they are 14 kt gold plated. Hand crafted in India, these lovelies are helping our artisans rise above the slums through dignified jobs at a fair and ethical wage. Price: $46.00

Paisley Filagree Earrings

2. The Braided Bullet Necklace. This amazing piece is made in Ethiopia and brought me to tears when I opened the box. Thinking about the labor involved in making this beautiful piece of jewelry from what began as weapons of war...well, it takes my breath away. Price: $98

The Braided Bullet Necklace

1. The Metallic Pearls Earrings. These are the perfect everyday earrings! A complement to just about every necklace I own and also a great statement all by themselves, these are hand-crafted in Ethiopia from upcycled artillery. These beauties will be your "it" earrings (and there's a bracelet and necklace to match!)! Price: $34.00

Metallic Pearls Earrings

CONFESSION: What I love about being a Noonday Ambassador isn't really the amazing jewelry and accessories...it's really the stories of the artisans who make the beautiful pieces. The stories of hope, of redemption, of survival - and knowing that my purchases and the purchases of my customers are helping write those stories.

When I became an Ambassador last March, my goal was to book one show a week and if I made money, great! It would help me save for my next trip to Haiti. But now that I have seen the impact the sustainable income crafting our products provides for our artisans and how they are able to afford the basic necessities of life...I want EVERYONE to buy Noonday!

This image pretty much says it all...and the fact that it came from our Haitian artisan group  makes it even more special for me. Your purchases give HOPE...HOPE for a better tomorrow for the artisans and their families and ultimately, their communities. 

So, check out the new line. Find your favorite(s) and then enter the giveaway for one of mine! You can enter once a day and add extra entries by sharing this blog post and commenting on it. A winner will be selected September 9 (check back to see if they're yours!) 

And let me know if you're interested in hosting at trunk show - YOU can become a part of these stories of HOPE by creating opportunities for others to hear their stories. 

And be sure to stop by and see Amy at www.lovingandlivinghisway.blogspot.com tomorrow! She has a $50 voucher up for grabs!

Shop with a Purpose!
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