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.
We love using our Challah cover every Shabbos that was purchased as a wedding present. Our 17 month old son loves the patterns and gets so excited when we lift the cover to say the blessing.
liked Swirl on FB
I have matching etched glass bowls that I use for Shabbos. My sister-in-law’s mother bought me one and my then fiance was holding it until we were married. The only problem with that was that he left it with his landlord when we got married and we didn’t get it back for a year and a half. Before we got it back I was shopping at Marshalls with my sister in law one day and saw a bowl that I thought looked really similar. I bought it at the time thinking that if I ever had my sister in law over for Shabbos when her mom was in town I wanted to make sure that I had something if she happened to ask about it. When we eventually got the original gift back I found out that I had in fact bought an identical bowl.
I liked the “Swirl” fb page.
I signed up for the Pesach newsletter.
my favorite serving piece is a piece i got in south africa from a designer named carol boyes…..it is a rice spoon….i love the weight and feel of it in my hand when serving any kind of rice-like dish 🙂
I love my hammered silver challa server and matching salt and pepper shakers
My favorite pieces are my Emanuel spoons (from israel). I have a few and use them all the time when company comes over.
liked “swirl” on FB…ironically, a friend of mine just asked me to like them on FB the other day….apparently the owner is a friend of hers! 🙂
and of course, i signed up for the pesach newsletter 🙂
My favorite serving peice is a bowl I received as a wedding gift. It is glass with flowers etched into it and the glass is colored pink for the flowers and green for the leaves.
Subscribed to the Passover newsletter.
I have a large Salad Bowl, not V-Shaped, that I adore because it holds so much salad
My favorite tablewear piece is this three part small bowl series that I have. They are decorated beautifully, and they are the perfect size for what we callt he “salatim” course. The first course of everyone of our Shabbat meals is usually chumus, roasted garlic and some other dip or salad (usually an Israeli salad, corn salad, etc). These bowls are big enough that everyone can take a little bit of the “salatim” but small enough that people don’t take too much and fill up on the course. I just love them!
I really love the bread knife! It’s simple and elegant, but still has a little “pizzazz” to make it interesting and whimsical. Really I love all of your items, but the knife has a special place in my heart!
I liked the Swirl facebook page! 🙂
Love my ceramic serving dishes with handles!
I “liked” the Facebook page!
I have a large Salad Bowl, not V-Shaped, that I adore because it holds so much salad!
I liked swirl on facebook
Liked swirl on Facebook.
My fave? My 2 quart French White Corningware covered casserole dish. We use it for cholent every single Shabbos. Practical, durable, reheats in the microwave and dishwasher safe. Who could ask for more?
I signed up for the newsletter too!
subscribed to your Pesach newsletter
Liked on Facebook.
Subscribed to Pesach newsletter….great idea!
Subscribed to Pesach newsletter. Can’t wait to read it!
My favorite tableware was the kiddush cup that I had painted myself. (I said was because my husband accidentally broke it a few weeks ago 🙁 )
I this really elegant stainless steel dish that is in the shape of a leaf- it looks really beautiful when i cut up and serve my gefilte fish!
I subscribed to the KOB Pesach newsletter!
I love my salad bowls and salad seving spoons!!! I for some gorgeous ones crimson swirls s a gift!!
my favorite serving piece is a funky purple salad bowl with matching salad servers i got as a present from a family who stayed by me for shabbos.
I have a beautiful salad bowl that ironically has a swirly design that we received for our wedding that I still love almost 9 years later. I think of our friends that gave it to us almost on a weekly basis.
Liked Swirl on Facebook.
Subscribed to the newsletter!
Love my salad servers! They’re very unique.
My parents got a relish tray with 2 glass bowls I love to use.
I have a pretty plate that I got in Israel that I use for dessert. I like it a lot.
I ‘liked” the FB page
I love serving with my favorite wine glasses.
I liked swirl on FB.
I am subscribed to the passover newsletter 🙂
Subscribed to passover newsletter.
I have a challah board that I received as a gift tht I use every Friday night.
I love my challah board which I bought in Amazing Savings for $3.99. It is a wooden tray with another wooden pieces with slats that fits inside the tray. All of the crumbs fall inside so there is never a mess on the table. How is that for Kosher On A Budget!
I love my Russel Wright dinner set, especially the serving pieces which have such nice curvy shapes.
Liked swirl
This is a separate comment telling you that I subscribed to your kosher e-letter!
subscribed to the pesach newsletter
my favorite piece was a clay pottery pot oven to table that was made for me as a wedding gift so it has special sentimental value for me