How about a little giveaway? Carrie from Scarlet Threads has sweetly donated a set of six of their Christmas Ornaments to be given away to one reader.
About the ornaments: a collection of 6 handmade Christmas ornaments that will add new meaning to your family’s Christmas tree. Delicately wrought hanzi, Chinese characters, bring Grace, Family, Blessing, Faith, Hope and Love to your tree. Each ornament is 2.5″-3″ in height, not including the string. Colors in each collection may vary. Ornaments will be delivered in time for Christmas.
To enter:
— Share this post on FB (just click the FB button below this post), then leave a comment.
— Like Scarlet Threads on FB, then leave a comment.
— Follow Scarlet Threads on Twitter, then leave a comment.
— Subscribe to the Scarlet Threads blog, then leave a comment.
Be sure to leave a comment to let me know what you’ve done, m’kay?
Contest closes on Saturday, October 27th at midnight EST. Winner will be selected at random and announced on Monday, October 29th. Ornaments will not ship until December but will arrive in time for Christmas.
Please take a few minutes to read this story below, from my friend Carrie. After you read it, I hope you’ll consider partnering with Scarlet Threads to bless this very special family through the purchase of one of their beautiful wired he{arts}.
And, undoubtedly, be blessed in the process.
From Carrie:
I remember standing in the square of our apartment complex, the women dancing with each other to Chinese classics… sparkly skirts swishing and old ladies gossiping. The men sat smoking, their conversation punctuated by the clacking of mah jong tiles and the slapping of cards. We had paused on our walk through the courtyard for my friend to chat with another of her friends, a villager I hadn’t met before. Stunningly beautiful, the woman didn’t look much older than me, but her face had the lines of a life filled with lots of hard work and lots of smiles. I looked down at her hands and saw that one was bandaged. Thick, white bandages covered a few of her fingers, dried blood visible on the edges. She cradled the hurt hand carefully while we talked… I didn’t understand much of the conversation, but I understood my friend’s reassuring hug and worried pats… this was serious.
“Huan Mei hurt her hand in an accident at work,” my friend explained as we walked away. She worked at a bakery and her hand had become caught in a mixer, nearly ripping her finger off. It was saved, but not only had she lost her job, but her employer refused to help pay for any of her medical expenses. In order to pay back the loan they needed to pay for her stitches, her husband looked for work in the city, a mere 2 hours away by bus, but with never-ending work schedules and a desperate effort to make ends meet, he’d might as well have moved to the other side of the country. We moved on with our walk, but the picture of her worried smile never left me that evening. I started talking with my friend about how we could help her family… the conversation changed to more general terms, but out of it, Scarlet Threads was born.
When we moved to China in 2007, we went to work with special needs’ orphans. As we grew more involved in that work, we began to understand that in many cases, children become orphans due to poverty. As we learned more and talked to people, we began to understand that so many of the social problems we saw were fundamentally rooted in poverty. We’ve heard stories of families in our village who couldn’t afford the medical care their children needed, and their children died. Families who go without meals so that they can save money for their child to attend the village school. In a heart-breaking succession, the stories go on. Huan Mei’s family was one of those stories.
But at the time, we didn’t work with her. We partnered with our first seamstress, Deng Jia, and launched Scarlet Threads, a compassionate boutique that specializes in beautiful products hand-crafted with dignity and pride, empowering the women who made them through employment. Through the years, we’ve built a loyal following of people who love our aprons, but when Huan Mei and her family came back on our radar, we jumped at the opportunity to partner with them. She and her husband create art with wire. I have one of their little wire bicycles on my kitchen counter, one of the few China-trinkets that made the cut into my luggage. And now we’re partnering with them to offer their wired jewelry, hair accessories, and Christmas ornaments to our Scarlet Threads family.
We are offering these ornaments for pre-sale only… so your set is made-to-order just for you. Which also means that in order for us to be a huge blessing to this family in a time of tough transition, we need to give them lots and lots of business. This is a direct connection between you and a family who doesn’t want charity, just an opportunity. These ornaments mean so much more than Faith, Hope, Love, Family, Blessing, and Grace. They mean everything to this family. You know what I want? So many orders that they have to tell us to stop! That they can’t make any more!
In my heart, this family’s story comes full circle back to the whole reason we moved to China in the first place – orphans. Huan Mei and her husband have two beautiful children, and they are far from being orphans. But it’s easy to see how so many orphans could have come from such similar families… families struggling to provide an education, food, and shelter for their children. Families who finally feel so hopeless and overwhelmed by the lack of options and opportunities that they give up. When we empower a mama to send her little girl to school; When we enable a daddy to provide for his family; When we offer not our charity, but an opportunity to make their own way… When we do these things, not only do we give a family the chance they want more than anything, but we fight back against the tragedy of children becoming orphans purely because of economic reasons.
So you see, really it’s more than Christmas ornaments and aprons we are selling. We are selling Hope.
Carrie McKean
Scarlet Threads
Work. Dignity. Beauty.
What an awesome way to bless this precious family, and be blessed in the process. These beautiful Christmas ornaments would make such a beautiful way to say “Merry Christmas” to your friends and family, and what a story you could share with the recipient. Order a set or two (or more!) to give this year, and be sure to spread the word about this giveaway to be entered to win a set for yourself!
BJ King says
I subscribed to the Scarlet Threads blog. Those ornaments are so beautiful.
Dusty says
Just shared on Facebook.
Dusty says
Already “Liked” on FB.
Dusty says
Subscribed to the blog. 🙂
martha says
Loved reading about this family. Love those beautiful ornaments. I liked scarlet threads on facebook and shared your post, too, I hope everyone orders these beautiful ornaments.
Elizabeth says
This is exactly what I was looking for! I shared on FB, and subscribed to Scarlet Threads blog, and had already like Scarlet Threads previously on FB.
Joanna Dell says
Thanks for writing about Scarlett Thread. I had never heard of them before. I love being able to buy Christmas gifts while helping families support themselves. I can’t help but wonder if this had been available to my daughter’s family would she have been able to stay with them. I just bought the wonderful ornaments and other gifts for family.
Thanks!
Lonni says
I shared this post on FB
and
I liked Scarlet Threads on FB.
These ornaments are adorable!!! I will order just as soon as I figure out how many sets I’ll need…one to keep, one for Mom and Dad, one for this family, one for that family… =D
Amy Kratzer says
I liked Scarlet Threads on FB . These are awesome!
Dusty says
I shared on FB. I already liked on FB. I am also following the blog. (I left comments earlier, but they seem to have not worked. If they did, and I’m not seeing them, you can disregard this one.)
Brenda Stevens says
These are so beautiful just like this beautiful family! I think I need to go order an apron now!
Rachel Estes says
I just liked ST and shared on facebook, twitter, and their blog. How beautiful their items are and what a great cause!
Kristin says
I shared on facebook.
Kristin says
I like Scarlet Threads on Facebook.
Kristin says
I’m following Scarlet Threads on Twitter.
Kristin says
I also suscribed to the Scarlet Threads blog. I love these ornaments. They are beautiful and so meaningful.
Joy Stotts says
I liked Scarlet Threads on FB and posted the giveaway on FB! I have always loved their aprons!
elisabeth says
I ordered a set, and think I will go and order another, bought some of the beautiful jewellery , its all gorgeous, but more than than that I love what’s behind it, and love that the gifts I am giving will not only make the person receiving them happy, but will have helped someone who really needs it at the same time. Thank you for sharing Stephanie!
Ally says
I love these beautiful ornaments . I have subscribed to ST blog!
Thank you
Ally says
I subscribed to recv updates by email but the feed burner to get the blog by email has been disabled !?
Amy says
These are so great! I liked scarlet threads on Facebook. 🙂
charmon allen says
LOVE these! and I like Scarlet Threads! Thanks for sharing!
Sarah VanGrunsven says
I liked on Facebook! Love these!
Sarah VanGrunsven says
Oops! I shared on fb too!
Heather says
These ornaments are lovely! I’m making a list of who needs them for Christmas this year! The rings and earrings are super cute, too!
I just “liked” the Scarlet Threads page on FB.
Heather says
I also subscribed to the blog.
Angela says
Just linked to this post on Facebook. 🙂
Angela says
And “liked” Scarlet Threads on Facebook.
Angela says
And “followed” Scarlet Threads on Twitter.
Angela says
….aaaaannnnd subscribed to the Scarlet Threads blog. Looking forward to getting to know even more about this special organization!
Julie says
Liked on Facebook.
Shawn Shreeves says
Stephanie,
Thanks for featuring this wonderful company and family! I just liked Scarlet Threads onFB, signed up to follow their blog and ordered two sets of ornaments for our tree and to give away as gifts!
lauren says
liked on FB
lauren says
subscribed to blog
lauren says
shared on FB
Donna Dear says
I liked on FB. So pretty!!
Kelley says
Liked on FB. Beautiful!
maureen wagner says
liked on FB. LOVE THEM!!!!
Debby says
These are so pretty & the story behind them makes them uniquely beautiful!!! I just liked Scarlet Threads onFB, signed up to follow their blog and will order some as well. I think I have found my “Teacher Gifts” for this year…..
Joy says
Shared on Facebook
Aus says
Wonderful story – wonderful heritage – wonderful folks – wow!
hugs – aus and co.
anything but LoKEY says
What an amazing story!! I have shared it on FB, liked their FB page and subscribed to their blog. These are going to make great Christmas presents!!
Patty H says
Shared on FB, liked on FB, commented on FB page, followed on Twitter and tweeted! Love love love what they have to offer. Will be ordering a set of ornaments if I am not the lucky winner!
amy says
I liked on FB