An Alberta Photoshoot
With every new line comes a new photoshoot – one of our favourite aspects of designing and displaying Global Wonders for our fans. This week we have another guest blog post by Naomi H, our Nepal Project Coordinator. Naomi directed our Alberta photo shoot, and here’s what she had to say about the experience!
One of the highlights of working for the SA Foundation is the quality people I get to meet and partner with in the name of fighting slavery and caring for the exploited. Planning the Global Wonders spring photo shoot was no exception. As I began to source volunteer photographers, models and hair and make-up stylists, it was those passionate about social justice who were the most keen to help out. For example, two of our brave models, Jill Plett and Ruth Rossi had little previous experience in front of the camera. Jill has been a supporter for many years and introduced us to her friend Ruth at last year’s Spring Bling event! They had a great time modelling our newest collection! Not only did they look beautiful but their inner beauty and personalities really shone through. Our third model, Fela Dales, was very comfortable in front of the camera. Although she is often behind the camera helping other women uncover their inner beauty (www.felaphotography.com) she could certainly hold her own in front of one! Her creative experience encouraged everyone to let loose and have a good time.
Our photographer, Rick Erlendson (www.erlendsonphotography.com) was the documenter of the shoot. Fortunately Rick has decades of experience and we were honoured to have this professor of Journalism from the University of Mt Royal lead our team. Rick was a gentle encourager and went above and beyond – bringing props and refreshments for everyone!
Here is the rest of the team that made the Spring Photo shoot a success:
Chantal Barchard from Studio Intent (www.studiointent.ca) generously provided most of our wardrobe. The clothes were amazing and we are so grateful to have been able to use them to compliment our line. Hanes Marasigan Anotado kindly joined me at Studio Intent to help me with wardrobe styling and finding the right look for each Global Wonders piece!
Stacy Alston did hair and make-up (www.stacyalston.wix.com/alstonartistries) to get our models looking summer-ready. Stacy was assisted by Caleigh Breen & Rebecca Pelley, and they did a fabulous job completing each look! Thank you so much ladies for all your hard work!
Last but not least our team was joined by my dear friend Natalie Winters (www.humblepieproductions.net). Natalie has donated many hours to the SA Foundation using her talent to capture several of our events. You may have seen her videos in previous posts! Natalie has a gift of story-telling through video, and she loves using her passion to make a difference in the fight against sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Global Wonders 2015 Spring Jewelry Collection. from Humble Pie Productions on Vimeo.
We can’t wait to show you all the new products – 6 more days until the official release! Stay tuned for the new Spring/Summer 2015 line, and some potential changes to our website to make it more user-friendly!
And, as always,
Happy Shopping!
-Your Global Wonders Team
Spread the Love – Calgary’s Valentine Themed Fundraiser for SA Foundation
With the close of another successful event, we wanted to hear from a volunteer's perspective on how it went!
Ten days to go and ten tickets sold. It’s the kind of scenario that makes the palms sweat of even the most seasoned volunteer organizing a fundraiser.
We need not have worried. Calgarians, albeit at the last minute, opened their hearts to ‘Spread the Love’ at the recent valentine themed event in support of SA Foundation. On the evening of February 7, 2015, guests who arrived at the Bow Valley Christian Church were treated to an evening of music, mingling and fun. From the ‘Spin to Win’ to the ‘Rose Raffle’ to the gorgeous display of Global Wonders jewelry, patrons had the opportunity to spread the love to participants in SA Foundations programs
New West Symphony and Chorus, who “believes in using their platform to help erase poverty by partnering with organizations that serve the less fortunate,” volunteered their astounding musical talents for our event. The crowd sat mesmerized through the performance. When Lise Daumler, Global Wonders Sales and Marketing Coordinator, asked the audience to contemplate what one of the women who had been exploited might imagine love to be, a pin drop could have been heard. The message was received by our generous guests and their hearts and wallets opened.
As the once sweaty palmed volunteers packed up big grins replaced those once looks of concern ten days prior. The event raised more than $9000! Just keep the faith.
Thanks to Sue Slaght for guest-writing on our blog today! If you've volunteered with us in the past, we'd love to hear your perspective. If you're interested in writing for us, contact us!
All the above photos kindly donated by Mikhaella Ico Thanks again!
All photos of magician Rob Vanden Heuvel kindly donated by Julia Vanden Heuvel.
And, as always,
Happy Shopping!
- Your Global Wonders Team
How to Host a Global Wonders Party
Whether it's makeup, dinnerware, or candles, most of us have been to a party where the host helps facilitate the sale of items while simultaneously refilling the guacamole. These parties are great, because they're an excuse to get together with your friends and catch up, a chance to network, and spend a little of that hard-earned cash on something special. While you can buy Global Wonders right here on our website, a large portion of our sales come from hosting home or office parties! Stay tuned for some helpful information about hosting a party. You can learn more here and book a party anytime by contacting us.
But what if this is your first hosted party, and you're not sure what to expect? Have no fear, we have some tips on how to make your Global Wonders party fabulous!
The Space
First of all, you'll need a space in your home or office where the jewelry can be on display. A regular table works perfectly for this - all you need is a tablecloth and ample room to make sure everybody gets a chance to try on whatever catches their eye. We supply the tablecloths for you, and we'll set up anywhere you want. We even pack extra mirrors so everyone can get a chance to see how the latest pieces look!
Next you have to think about seating. Parties at home are easy in the living room with ample seating on couches and chairs. If your apartment is a little smaller, colorful throw pillows on the floor make an excellent and inviting place to sit and chat around the designs. If you're setting up in an office, often seating isn't necessary as your colleagues pop in and out of the break room to have a look at what's for sale.
How formal the party is depends on you, the host! We are more than happy to give an extended presentation (with accompanying video) to your guests to explain what Global Wonders is all about. We're also cool with more laid-back parties that invite natural discussion and questions among your guests. We'll make sure to bring brochures and information for everyone, no matter their interest or investment level. We're excited about what we do and love to share that with others, so all you have to do is ask! After all, it's not just jewelry, it's a statement, a conversation, a woman's story; a stand against injustice. We also love hearing our supporters talk about why they choose Global Wonders!
We encourage you to test your creative freedom when setting up the jewelry. Are you having a dinner party afterwards? What about a dinner party themed display? Are you really into turquoise this year? What about separating by colour or type of piece? You can even wear your favourite piece around to spark a conversation - I know we've sold the jewelry right off our necks at parties before! If you're not feeling the creativity bug, don't worry. We've got regular jewelry display stands and we can take care of that for you.
The Refreshments
Nobody says party refreshments have to take all day to make and empty your pockets! And who doesn't love finger food? Here's some quick and easy ideas for munching while you shop:
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
If you're into fancy drinks, try a couple easy mocktails: I, for one, am a big believer that tiny umbrellas instantly make everything more festive!
You could even make it a potluck, if you're feeling ambitious! Maybe your coworker makes the best crab dip you've ever had - offer to make your own famous crackers and you've just begun your first snackable Global Wonders potluck.
Your party doesn't have to begin and end with Global Wonders, it can extend long after we've left. Just let us know when to show up and when the next phase of your party is going to happen, and we'll be cleaned up and out of there before you can say "I Am A Global Wonder"!
The People
So, who should you invite? We believe the more the merrier, but it's up to you! Invite your best friends for a quieter party, invite your whole office to get to know each other, invite everyone on your condo floor, you are the captain of your own party ship! Just because you don't know everyone doesn't mean you have to make awkward smalltalk about the weather while we set up - here's some icebreaker ideas:
We've got something for everyone in our latest Spring collection, so invite whoever you think might benefit from a relaxed shopping experience or would be interested in learning more about fair trade initiatives and human trafficking. We're releasing the Spring Line soon, so book in advance to ensure you get ahead of the game!
The Details
When you are ready to host a party, let us know! We'll send you an e-vite template to send to all your guests, and an information packet. If you see a specific piece on our website that you'd like shown, please let us know and we'll do our best to bring it while quantities last!
For parties in Alberta, contact Lise
For parties in British Columbia, contact Naphtali
If you have any questions, email us!
And as always,
Happy Shopping!
- Your Global Wonders Team
Calgary Ice Breaker Polar Dip 2015 For Nepal - By Old Guys In Action
It's cool to be cold!
You've bought the jewelry - your impact has been very significant, but it doesn't have to stop there! Polar dips have been going on around the world for ages. Many raise money for local charities, but some do it just to shake off those winter blues! As a Global Wonder supporter, we extend an invitation to you: SA Foundation is being supported by the 6th Calgary Ice Breaker Polar Dip on January 1st, 2015.
The Plunge is organized by Old Guys In Action faithful supporters of the SA Foundation!
This year all the funds raised go to support our project in Nepal, the home base of Global Wonders. This year we ask you to brave the cold to raise awareness and funds to support our recovery programs and jewelry business in Nepal! Register to plunge into the water at www.calgaryicebreaker.com
If you can’t dip in, chip in by sponsoring one of our brave volunteers here.
If everyone donated $20 today, we could be well on our way to reaching our fundraising goal this year! For more information, read on.
On January 1st, 2014 we had our 5th Annual Polar Bear Plunge to raise funds for our global projects! It was a great day for raising money as 50 wonderful people braved the icy waters in the Discovery Ridge pond & 10 plunged for SA Foundation in the UK - raising more than $72,000!! The Plunge is organized by Old Guys In Action and is one of our favorite yearly events! Plungers wore amazing costumes and were able to not only raise incredible funds but also awareness.
The 6th annual plunge is coming up January 1st 2015 – This year all the funds raised go to support our project in Nepal, the home base of Global Wonders. You don’t have to be in Calgary to participate! We’ve even had distance dippers from the UK! If you can’t dip in, chip in by sponsoring one of our brave dipsters here. Our goal this year is $75,000.00 to support our program in Nepal. Register for the dip here!
The best news is, you don't have to wait until January to get involved! We want to see your frozen face! Can you top the dipsters below? Even better, can you photoshop these guys as opera singers? Probably. Send us a picture of your best "frozen plunge" face, before and during your dip!
Plan on wearing a costume? Looking for ideas?
Maybe you'd like to wear that chiffon bridesmaids dress from 1997 that's been collecting dust in the back of your closet. Maybe you want to wear your rival hockey team's jersey to symbolize them being frozen out of the Stanley Cup! Maybe you want to dress as a fisherman and catch a fish with your bare hands! Take a selfie of your costume and send it to us on Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #calgaryicebreaker
Thank you to all our past volunteers and dipsters who helped us raise awareness and funds for our programs! You are braving the ice water to enable women to brave the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in their every day lives as they fight to remain free from sexual exploitation and slavery!
- Your Global Wonders Team
Fall/Winter 2014 Collection Solos!
Our latest collection is almost completely sold out - this is really exciting news for us here at Global Wonders! It means that our products are making their way around the world to start conversations and inspire change while catching people's eye at your holiday parties.
In case you've been waiting to get your hands on a specific piece, here are just a few solo contenders from the collection! That means there's only one left! Click on the image to see details including price.
If you see something you like, act now because these pieces aren't coming back! Each of our collections are handmade and limited edition, made by women in our Nepali program who have escaped sexual exploitation and trafficking. By teaching them how to create jewelry, Global Wonders ensures that women have a way out and a way to achieve freedom, hope, and dignity.
Here at the office we are busy as bees packaging and sending our your orders to make sure they arrive in time for Christmas! See our post here about shipping deadlines.
We are also awaiting the delivery of our Spring/Summer 2015 line! Before you know it we'll be into 2015 and ready for a whole new round of Global Wonders sales, house parties and the release of our first ever Bridal Collection (which you can pre-order here!)
Let us know what you'd like to see in the coming year, and tell us your New Year's Resolutions! In the coming years we hope that the sale of our jewelry will completely fund our program in Nepal!
How can you help? Become a Global Wonder.
And, as always, Happy Shopping!
- Your Global Wonders Team
Fall Bling Reflections
Wow! Our first ever Fall Bling event was a total success. People came dressed in their best to enjoy a classy and fun-filled evening with friends and family. We ended up raising close to $19,000.00! Our gorgeous centerpieces and décor were donated by Wedding Design Studio. I love the Swarovski crystal strands hanging from those gold branches. Absolutely stunning. Paired with the crystal chandeliers and our sparkling jewelry, it felt like a royal event.
This season’s collection was flying off the tables! Our volunteers could barely keep up with replenishing stock. Many of you missed out on grabbing your favourite pieces, but take heart that there are some still available on our shop! If you can’t find what you’re looking for, contact becky@safoundation.com for a similar suggestion!
Some of our pieces look great layered together, like this:
(That is Golden Opportunities layered with Wrapped in Gold) I’m sure there’s tons of combinations we haven’t even thought of yet! We’d really love to see how you wear your Global Wonders pieces. Take photos of your outfits and tag them #fallbling on Facebook and Instagram!
Our fashion show was the highlight of the evening with our volunteer models donning the latest fashions from Fine Finds Boutique, wedding gowns from Bisou Bridal, and showing off our wares. Hair and makeup was done by Anita Lee. The bridal line was an obvious hit with the crowd; many of you were asking about pieces! You can pre-order them here. We expect to start shipping in the spring of 2015, so if your wedding plans are time sensitive, please contact us before pre-ordering these pieces. We’ve got something for brides, bridesmaids, and mothers of the brides. If you don’t see something you like, keep in mind that we are able to do custom orders for wedding parties as well depending on our materials. Please let us know at least 6 months in advance of your big day if you are interested.
How fun was the photo booth from Pure White Photobooths? We all had a lot of fun posing and using their props; lots of laughter from that corner during the evening! You can view and download all the photos from that evening here by entering the code safoundation. We were so busy selling that we didn’t get a taste of dessert, but judging by the empty buffet tables it was a hit too.
For those wondering about the beautiful song performed that evening, the artist is Lindsey Kipp, and you can find her music here: She’s even got an EP being released in summer 2015.
We think live music adds something special you can’t get otherwise. Thanks to Alvaro Rojas Jazz Band for donating their time and talent to adding the perfect ambience for your shopping needs.
Also thanks to our MC, we bet you won’t be forgetting that heads or tails game anytime soon! Congratulations to the winners of our door prizes. We hope you get some use out of those cute travel bags and journals!
Speaking of travel, our silent auction big item was a pair of WEST JET TICKETS! What an incredible item to headline our auction. We hope the winner tells us where she went (or even better, send us pictures wearing Global Wonders across the globe!) Thanks again to all our donors for the silent auction, who graced us with gourmet cupcakes, stunning pictures of Paris, designer bags and jewelry, spa services and other cool stuff.
Now that Fall Bling has come to an end, we are full-swing into sale mode! Many of our favourite pieces from earlier collections are on sale here up to 50% off! These are the perfect items for stocking stuffers, tucked inside our signature Thaili bags handmade by our Nepali girls and made from upcycled traditional sari fabric. Whether you’re storing your jewelry in your suitcase on your travels, or you’re just tired of untangling your jewelry box, the Thaili bags are perfect for storing your gems.
We’ve been inundated with requests for Global Wonders home and office parties this season too! Tis the season for giving! If you are interested in shopping from the warmth and comfort of your own home, contact us about hosting a party! You can find more information on those opportunities here.
As always, thanks to Sandra Leung from Yaletown Photography for being the documentor (and in many ways, the backbone) of our events!
Thanks again to all our supporters, those who came to Fall Bling and those who were there in spirit. We appreciate all you do to help us make a difference. Look forward to our next newsletter being sent out shortly! If you haven’t signed up to receive it, you can do so at the bottom of the page.
As always, happy shopping!
- Your Global Wonders Team
Sale Time!
For packages shipped within Canada – Order by December 15th
For packages shipped to the USA – Order by December 5th
For packages shipped elsewhere – Order by November 30th
We cannot guarantee that orders submitted after these dates will arrive in time for your Christmas celebrations. If you would like to upgrade to priority shipping, please contact us directly for a shipping quote at globalwonders@safoundation.com
For even more updates, connect with us on all your social media platforms!
And as always, happy shopping!
- Your Global Wonders Team
Holiday Shipping Deadlines & A Sold-Out Show!
Please note that we will be on Christmas holidays beginning December 20th and returning to the office on January 5th. All orders submitted during that time will be shipped promptly upon our return.
It's that time of year again!
If you’re looking to give the gift Global Wonders jewelry this holiday season, please keep in mind the following ordering deadlines to ensure your gift is nestled safely under the Christmas tree:
For packages shipped within Canada – Order by December 15th
For packages shipped to the USA – Order by December 5th
For packages shipped elsewhere – Order by November 30th
We cannot guarantee that orders submitted after these dates will arrive in time for your Christmas celebrations. If you would like to upgrade to priority shipping, please contact us directly for a shipping quote at globalwonders@safoundation.com
Thanks to everyone who purchased tickets and tables, we're very excited to see you for a fun and informative evening on November 19th! We will be accepting cash, debit, Visa and Mastercard at our jewelry table for your convenience.
As always, we'd love to hear from you! Let us know what you're most looking forward to this holiday season, and most of all, happy shopping!
Your Global Wonders Team
Photo Shoot Video and Giveaway Time!
Hello Everyone!
Check out our Fall Winter 2014 photo shoot video! You get to see some amazing behind-the-scenes shot of our wonderful crew, and learn a bit more about what we do as an organization. We’re so thankful to have such amazing volunteers who devote their time and talent to helping us expand our reach. Because of people like them, we are able to help so many young girls and women obtain freedom, hope and dignity.
As you know, proceeds from the sale of our jewelry goes back to Nepal to meet fair trade standards and give our participants a livelihood, job training and a chance at recovery. Each purchase allows us to carry on and meet our goals. With the upcoming holiday season, consider how your gift impacts not just the recipient, but every person involved in its creation!
Some of our favourite pieces from this collection are featured in this video. We were inspired by autumnal colors, the promise of snow, and the joy we get from bright lights in a dark city around that special season. We love the pairings that were done pre-shoot, what do you think? Do you have any unique ideas for wearing your Global Wonders pieces? Tell us all about it.
Another piece of news we’re excited about is that we’ve reached 500 likes on our Facebook page! This means we are hosting our first ever giveaway! All you have to do is like our giveaway post on our Facebook page, here. The contest is running for the next week, and you can win one of these two lovely pieces each worth $42.00 CDN. Don’t worry, if you don’t win this time we’re sure to host more, and you can always buy it in our shop!
Giveaway Rules:
Must be 18 years or older to enter. Contest is open to North American Residents ONLY. Contest Begins: Wednesday, Nov. 5 and will end on Wednesday Nov. 12 at midnight (PT). The winner will be randomly selected and announced on Thursday Nov. 13. The winner must be willing to give out their mailing address for the purposes of the contest. Winner may choose one of the two necklaces shown above – both are worth $42 CDN. To claim their prize the winner will be asked to respond with full contact information within 72 hours of being notified. If prize goes unclaimed after 72 hours it will be forfeited & a new winner will be selected. The prize will be shipped via Canada Post within 3-5 days of receiving the winners contact information.
*No purchase necessary. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You understand that you are providing your personal information to Global Wonders as the owner of this Facebook page, and not to Facebook itself.
Thank you for entering & good luck!
Thanks for checking in, we’d love to hear from you!
Your Global Wonders Team
Calling All Global Wonders
Hello from Global Wonders!
We have just sent out our first monthly Newsletter - each month we will let you know what is happening with Global Wonders and let you in on any upcoming events ahead of everyone else! We will also be giving out special discount codes exclusively in the Newsletter only so if you haven't subscribed yet you can do so on our store's home page at the bottom.
What is Global Wonders all about?
Global Wonders is a related business development of the SA Foundation (SAF) Canada. The foundation offers recovery programs that include housing, life skills development and job training to women who have escaped sexual exploitation and trafficking. Global Wonders products are all one-of-a-kind handmade pieces made by the women in the Nepali program and have become a main vehicle for educating concerned individuals & groups about the realities of sex trafficking.
In 2003, The Servant's Anonymous (SA) Foundation started Global Wonders with a few hand woven bags that were sold to friends and family out of the back of a mini van. Today Global Wonders trains and employs young women in both our Nepal & Vancouver projects and imports up to 4,000 pieces of jewelry per year. Every purchase made through our website supports these endeavours and gives both hope and dignity to women who have escaped sexual exploitation and trafficking.
Announcements:
We are so excited to be offering a bridal line for the very first time, starting in early 2015! Here's a sneak peek of what you can expect. Keep an eye on further announcements including pre-orders on our website, or connect with us via any of our social networks listed below.
Upcoming Giveaway!
We have nearly reached 500 likes on our Facebook page! Once we reach this milestone, we'll be hosting a giveaway of one of these lovely pieces each worth $42.00 CDN! To like our page, click here!
What's New:
Here at Global Wonders we've been busy unveiling our new 2014 Fall/Winter Collection! Pieces are going fast, so get them while quantities last!
This collection includes the new Urban Line which was inspired by local Vancouver artists who donated their time and talent to create beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces that will become classics in your wardrobe.
We've got something for everyone and every occassion whether it's for a day at the office or a girls' night out! Shop now here:
Upcoming Events:
Fall Bling - Vancouver, BC
November 19th is our annual Fall Bling event! Join us for an entertaining and informative evening to support the cause against human trafficking & sexual exploitation of women & children. Guests can look forward to a silent auction, fashion show, photo booth, jazz band, dessert and shopping!
Ladies Night Out With a Purpose - Sundre, AB
Take the night off, call your girlfriends and wear your best heels! Treat yourself to an elegant evening of wine, desserts, door prizes and incredible music. Learn about the SA Foundation and their inspirational work using Global Wonders Jewelry to empower women to leave sexual slavery in Nepal.
Need the info?
Friday November 21st, 2014
7:30pm
Sundre Arts Centre, 100 2 Ave NW
in Sundre
Tickets are $10 at the door
For more info, contact Naomi@safoundation.com or call 403.636.1419..................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Thanks for checking in, we’d love to hear from you!
Your Global Wonders Team
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