In May, Tim and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. You probably know that each year of an anniversary has a “traditional” gift associated with it (paper, wood, silver, gold, etc.). Well, the eighth anniversary traditional gift is bronze. That’s a tricky one, folks! When I was thinking of gift ideas for Tim, I immediately gave up on getting him the traditional gift. Tim, on the other hand, did not.

The morning of our anniversary he brought me to the computer and showed me this multi-stranded bib necklace at A Common Thread (he had already purchased it, but it was not here yet). When I saw it, I thought it looked bold, and not really like something I would typically wear. I was curious about why he picked it out for me. It turns out, he’d put a great deal of thought into this purchase. This necklace has some bronze in it, and he said he wanted to get me bronze for a few reasons. First, bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Combining two metals together reminded him of how we have grown together as a couple over the last few years. Also, he pointed out that bronze, itself, is not a very strong metal. However, as it interacts with the elements in the air, a patina forms over it, which turns it into a very strong metal. This is also similar to what can happen in a marriage. On your own you may struggle, but with your partner, and over time, you develop an unbreakable strength.

Isn’t he amazing?

I wear my necklace with a great deal of pride, because it is an outward symbol of the strength and beauty of my marriage. This piece of jewelry is a treasure to me, and a work of art. What an amazing eighth anniversary gift!

Now I have the opportunity to not only introduce you to this wonderful company, but also to the woman behind it! Meet Stefanie, the crafter who creates all the pieces featured on A Common Thread. She is a one woman business, and makes everything by hand herself in her Brooklyn studio. She makes beautiful, bold jewelry and weaves together new pieces with vintage materials to make something unique, classic, and fashion-forward.

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED

Win It!: I told Stefanie about my blog and my wonderful readers, and she offered to do a giveaway just for you! One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will receive her choice of either the Vintage Gold Ball Locket or the Vintage Gold Heart Necklace, both of which are absolutely perfect for new moms! The contest will run until July 5th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory Entry: 1. Tell me if you prefer the locket or the heart necklace (winner will get what s/he chooses for this entry) and 2. Tell me one other piece you love in Stefanie’s shop.

Additional Entries:
1. Join Stefanie’s mailing list to learn about upcoming sales in her shop
2. “Like” A Common Thread on Facebook
3. Add A Common Thread to your Etsy Favorites
4. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
5. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
6. Subscribe/follow Stuff Parents Need via email, RSS, or Google Friend Connect (only one entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)

Be sure to check out my other giveaways (listed on the sidebar of my homepage)!