Giveaway: $100 Prize Package from Swirlgifts (Gorgeous Handmade Tableware)

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.