Win This – $250 Gift Certificate from Alabama Chanin

In the spirit of the holiday season, the Krrb community is giving 12 lucky Krrbsters a secondhand, handmade or locally made gift. From December 6-21, one winner will be selected per day from our 12 Days of Gifting Give Away! (Have you entered yet? No? Well, get on it!)

On the eighth day of gifting we’re teaming up with our good friend and textile artist, Natalie Chanin to give away an incredibly generous gift certificate valued at $250! You might recognize Natalie from Makeshift 2012 or you might know her awesome design and clothing company, Alabama Chanin. Yes, that Alabama Chanin. The 100% handmade/100% organic clothing and accessories line with a whole lot of goodies. Like artfully crafted home decor pieces, women’s wear, hand-cast jewelry, plus events and workshops to round out the community, Alabama Chanin knows how to engage. Choosing what to spend all that moolah on ‘aint going to be easy…

Feel like beautifying your life with some handmade goods? Duh. Read on to hear from Natalie and enter to win today.

Hi Natalie! Tell us in four sentences or less on who you are and what Alabama Chanin is all about is all about.
I am a designer, author, mother, photographer, and filmmaker living in the South. Alabama Chanin is a multifaceted company with areas devoted to fashion, DIY, interactive events, and seminars. Our products are organic, ethical, and made entirely by hand. Our team is constantly traveling, working, talking and spreading the gospel. You should come for a visit soon.

We most definitely will! What do you do to stay in the spirit of the holidays?
I have an amazing and beautiful family; that’s what my holidays are all about — that and great food. We usually spend Christmas with family, friends, cooking, and, of course, eating. The door is always open to family and friends and you can expect anything from a ”low country boil” to Viennese “Kaiserschmaren.”

What is the worst gift you’ve ever given?
My daughter and I made gifts for all of the kids in the family one year. Being that she was only four or five we kept it simple with home-made sock puppets; button eyes, magic marker-mouths, the whole nine…completely adorable but not the holiday favorite. It’s hard to compete with the must-have toys of the season, but I think the sock puppet has real staying power. Sometimes the worst is also the best.

We couldn’t agree more. Tell us your favorite holiday music you can hear on repeat.
My 6 year-old daughter starts listening to Holiday music just after the Fourth of July and stops just in time for all of the Easter favorites. I have to say that after several months of this (year-after-year), I try to gently guide her to something a bit more modern like “The Hotel Café Presents Winter Songs.” It doesn’t often work. At least she leans towards Etta James. I mean, Etta can belt out “Frosty the Snowman”… just saying.

Thanks Natalie!

To win a gift certificate from Alabama Chanin, tell us what your favorite thing about the holidays is here!