Some people like to set a table with their fine china, gleaming silver and delicate crystal.
And some of us are clumsy. (Or have young kids.)
But just because my great-grandmother’s china is seldom used at my house these days, doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy bringing out special pieces to our Shabbat table.
I just want those pieces to lean more toward the harder-to-destroy-in-one-fell-swoop side.
If you, too, are looking for pretty, special and durable tableware and serving pieces, let me introduce you to SWIRL.
Linda, the owner and craftswoman behind Swirlgifts, recently contacted me about hosting a giveaway for KOAB readers. I took one look at her website and jumped at the opportunity.
I love her funky style — multi-colored stones or beads, wrapped in a swirled pattern — and her reasonable prices (comprable items on Etsy sell for twice as much).
As if I wasn’t already in love, Linda offered to send me the giveaway prize that she would be sharing with my readers – in order to get my personal review on the pieces.
The package arrive quickly and was wrapped up in a pretty gold bow.
Inside was a gorgeous large basket, an amazing (seriously – amazing!) stainless steel bread knife, and a sweet little set of glass salt and pepper shakers.
The 15-inch basket immediately became our table’s breadbasket on Shabbat, lined with a simple white napkin.
But Linda also suggested a plethora of other uses for the basket, priced at $46:
- contain mail
- hold hand towels by the sink for netilat yedaim
- display utensils for a buffet dinner
- bring a 9×13 pyrex to the table – it fits snugly inside
- makes a great hostess or engagement gift
As for the little salt and pepper shakers ($18), this gift couldn’t have been better timed. We recently broke my favorite set of salt & pepper shakers (from a pottery collective in Jerusalem *see above about “durability”) and I was really missing them.
Which of course made SWIRL’s sweet little set all the more perfect. While these are just the right size for our minimal use of salt and pepper at the table, I’ve also had friends purchase several sets, so that every person – or couple – can have their own set. Lovely!
And finally the knife: I called it amazing, remember? Let me tell you why — by way of comparison.
I’ve given up on finding the perfect bread knife to use for Shabbat. Our challah knife, which we got as wedding gift, is pretty, but it’s a horrible knife. And our good bread knife works like a charm — but it’s far from delicate-looking.
The Swirl challah knife ($36), however, is both pretty and functional, for the win!
The 15-inch stainless steel knife is sturdy, cuts smoothly and feels solid in my hand. And the embellished stones are so sparkly!
I truly love all of the Swirl items I received – and am definitely happy to recommend her store to all of my readers.
Even more so because Linda has offered a to give KOAB readers FREE shipping and 20% off your Swirlgifts order when you use the coupon code KOAB20 at checkout. Place your orders for Passover early – before she starts to sell out!
I’m also beyond thrilled that Linda has offered to give away a $100 Swirl prize package to one lucky Kosher on a Budget reader.
The winner will receive:
- large embellished bread basket
- 15-inch embellished bread knife
- small embellished salt & pepper shakers
Here’s how to enter this giveaway:
#1. Leave a comment on this post telling me about your favorite tableware or serving piece – for example, my etched glass salad bowl.
#2. For an additional entry, “like” Swirl’s Facebook page – then come back and leave a separate comment that you have done so.
#3. For another additional entry, subscribe to Kosher on a Budget’s new Passover Newsletter – then come back and leave a separate comment that you have done so.
Good Luck!
All entry forms will be verified. Duplicate entries will be deleted.
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents over the age of 18 only (sorry to all my Canadian and Israeli readers!). The giveaway will be open until 11:59 p.m. CST, Monday, March 4th, 2013.
The winner will be selected and notified on March 5th and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be chosen. Please add kosheronabudget@gmail.com to your approved email address list – so your winner’s notification doesn’t get sent to spam.
SWIRL provided me with one prize package, and will also provide the winner with his or her prize. For more information, see my disclosure policy.
I love my pyrex bowls. Pretty enough to serve in, can go in the oven, and have lids for the fridge when there are leftovers.
I love my challah board
I love my challah board and also Pyrex bowls with lids.
I love my simple glass bowl. It holds salad for two or five, it dresses up my table, and it is good enough for company or everyday. I made a special place on the shelf just for it.
I enjoy my Dansk salt shaker and pepper mill. It is getting worn but has survived forty years of use.
I Liked Swirl.
I have subscribed to your Passover newsletter.
Our family favorite is the large platter I painted with my girls at Imagine That – one of those paint your own pottery places. We used colors that coordinate with our dishes and it came out fabulous!
liked the FB page
subscribed to newsletter
I love our challah plate which was a hand made engagement gift.
I. Love the challah board that my kids made!
My favorite is a crystal bowl from my great grandmother, a perfect size for fruit salad!
I liked Swirls Facebook page
And signed up for your newsletter 🙂
I liked Swirl on FB
I signed up for the Passover Newsletter
My favorite serving piece was bought on vacation in Rhode Island in a ceramic place- goes from oven to table or from fridge to table!
My favorite piece is my serving utensil spoon/fork set. The utensils are embellished with beautiful stones and I love to use them to dress up a salad!
Just subscribed to your Passover newsletter 🙂
love my large ceramic salad bowl given by friends who came to spend Shabbos with us – filled with chocolate chip cookies – great hostess gift!
I love my beautiful glass challah board from Jerusalem!
I liked Swirls Facebook page
Just signed up for the Pesach newsletter – great way to get in mode! Thanks!
I subscribed to the Passover newsletter
My favorite serving piece is a silver pie server that was a gift from my Aunt. It has a scene of Jerusalem on the handle.
oven to table dishes are the best!
I have s funky trivet with swirls similar to the ones pictured here. I can put a small pyrex in it and I always get so many compliments on it
I liked Swirl’s FB page
A medium glass bowl etched with little fish. Ita flat bottomed so it holds a lot and the fish add a little whimsy.
I have subscribed to Kosher on a Budget’s new Passover Newsletter.
My mother in law bought for me for Chanukah the perfect silver beaded glass large salad bowl and salad servers- match my style and personality perfectly. I love serving all the salads but I also leave it in the center of the dinning room table, I love looking at it, makes me smile whenever I see it.
I liked swirls Facebook page
I signed up for your Pesach news letter
My big stacking bowls from WS
liked swirl girl page
signed up for newsletter (Pesach)
I love my hand made serving utensils from south Africa.
I liked swirls facebook page
I signed up for Passover newsletter
my favorite pieces are my salad servers, they are colorful and make my salads look great.
i liked swirls fb page
My grandmother’s rooster salt shaker, with pewter head and feet and cobalt blue glass body. The salt pours out of the beak. As I child, I loved seeing it in her china cabinet; as an adult, I love seeing it in mine.
I “liked” Swirl’s FB page.
I signed up for KOAB’s Passover newsletter.
Favorite serving dish is the trifle bowl. It means there’s trifle
Liked the facebook page
Subscribed to the newsletter!
My favorite dish on my shabbos table are these funky salt and pepper shakers that I got as a wedding present. They are always the best conversation peice.
I like Swirl on Facebook