MoS Giveaway: Smathers & Branson

We are thrilled to reveal that this week's MoS giveaway is from Smathers & Branson, a company that practically needs no introduction considering we've featured their needlepoint accessories in countless posts on our blog. Smathers & Branson is generously giving away a $165 gift card to one lucky MoS reader, and it could be you! The company's belts retail for $165, so you'll be able to choose any belt pattern that floats your boat, or of course you're free to order an assortment of their other fabulous accessories, from wallets to key fobs to headbands and beyond.

As with any niche company, there is a fun back story regarding how things began. Peter Smathers Carter and Austin Branson started the company after graduating from Bowdoin College in 2004. In college, their girlfriends had made them custom needlepoint belts, and they soon realized that there was a void in the marketplace for needlepoint belts that were both high quality and affordable. Which is so true- I remember the only needlepoint belts you could find in stores around that time retailed for upwards of $300.

The two spent a year locating a group of stichers in Vietnam that could provide the quality product they were looking for, and today provide work for over 2,000 people in 16 villages in Vietnam. Given the success of the company the pair were able to move from their original business headquarters- Austin's parents' attic- but they're still based a stone's throw from Washington, DC in Bethesda, Maryland.

Need we remind you that Christmas is just around the corner and that needlepoint belts make a fantastic gift? They come packaged in these fantastic wooden boxes.

A few of our favorites for gents are the lobster and claw...

...and for hunting enthusiasts, the shotgun and shell.

And for the fisherman, the mahi mahi.

The women's collection features a more feminine buckle, which is a nice touch.

We can't resist anything bamboo, be it a bamboo lamp, bamboo print fabric, or this pink bamboo belt.

Likewise with anything coral, such as this coral belt.

And finally, the happy starfish belt puts us in the mood for the beach.

We find that men are enamoured with their collegiate collection- my husband wears his school belt I gave him all the time- and for an extra $35 you can get initials put on any belt, which gives a nice custom touch.

We're sure that all our North Carolina readers out there would love the Chapel Hill belt!

And of course, I must give a wahoowa to this one:

Another great gift for a man would be a needlepoint wallet, which you can get in a variety of designs:

Or, our favorite, with a custom monogram.

We love how their selection of needlepoint headband includes designs you can wear year-round. How perfect would the houndstooth be for the holidays? And of course we love the dramatic colors of the green bamboo.

For the adventurous man in your life, how about one of their fantastic cummerbunds? I know, I know, not every man would wear a brightly colored cummerbund...but the ones who will tend to be the most fun!

  

Don't forget fido- these collars are fabulous. I would love to see MoS Charlotte's precious pooch sporting one of these!

Perfect for your hunting dog!

As we have said before the MoS girls are both big fans of our S&B key fobs. These would make a great stocking stuffer and come in a zillion patterns to suit any interest.

 

We also love their coin purses- perfect for throwing in your purse and holding not only change but jewelry, receipts, and other little misc. items that tend to accumulate in our bags. Get a bright color and you'll never lose it.

Now back to the giveaway! To enter, click on over to the Smathers & Branson website and take a minute to peruse their offerings, and then leave us a comment on this post telling us your two favorite Smathers & Branson patterns. Then next Monday, November 16th, we'll draw the lucky winner using random.org and make the big announcement that morning. Good luck and thank you again to the folks at Smathers & Branson!