Neide Ambrosio "I am very happy to be able to help other people getting a better life. I am also very glad that I can help the environment by using recycled items." "I still cannot believe how life can be so unpredictable and have everything change from one day to another. I am from São Paolo, and when I retired I moved to Rio de Janeiro because my husband is a singer, and Rio offers better career opportunities. At the time, my husband was very busy because he wanted to further his career in this new city and it wasn't easy, so I spent all my time alone. I was getting bored and feeling useless. I was unhappy and I didn't have any friends so I was alone all the time. "One of my friends in São Paolo was sick and I was going over to visit her, so I wanted to bring her a present. I went walking all over Rio looking for an original and I came upon an arts and crafts fair where I saw a woman making belts using recycled objects. I fell in love with that belt and I started talking with the woman. I confided how difficult it was for me to adapt to Rio, and she felt compassion for me. She said that she would teach me how to crochet and use recycled objects, so that this could became a hobby for me. "The day after she came to my house and I started my first crochet class. And this is how it all began! I decided to use soda pops because Brazilian people consume a lot of canned drinks, and in the beaches all over Brazil you can find many soda pops. I started going to the beach and down the streets collecting soda pops. I love doing this, and now I spend all my day crocheting. "My creativity started to boom and I had some many ideas that I wanted to make all of them at that right moment! At that time, I went to show and sell my products at the beach and one day I sat next to an artist, and I was staring at him painting. Suddenly, some people approached him and told him that he was a very talented artist and that he should contact Novica, which is a company that promotes artists and artisans, and this is how I started my relationship with Novica. I loved Novica from the very beginning, I was welcomed so well, and they motivated my craft, and my life has improved a lot. "I realized myself as a person and all my problems of loneliness disappeared. Novica encouraged my creativity, and I started dedicating all of my time to making my products. Novica helped me a lot, the quality of my life improved and I got the opportunity to do things that at the beginning I would have never even thought of. I am able to take better care of mine and my husband's health, have a better life, and the chance to go back to São Paolo and see my family, because back then it was almost impossible for me to do so. "As the demand for my products increased, I was in a better position to help my husband with his career. I am in a position to offer employment now to many young girls from the favelas who are unemployed and spent her time with bad companies. I decided to teach them how to crochet and how to create pieces with soda pops. You might not believe me, but now I work with 10 girls! I am very happy to be able to help other people getting a better life. I am also very glad that I can help the environment by using recycled items. "It is a good way for me to contribute to keeping Brazil clean and unpolluted. "I could not believe my eyes when I saw my pieces on Novica's webpage and catalogues! The idea that people from all over the world can see and buy my creations is a great thing for me! I feel even greater when I receive customers' reviews of my work. I feel so glad every time I read what my clients tell me, it so motivating! "I am so enthusiastic about Novica and my creations, that my husband began to get involved too. He was so glad for the opportunity I got, that little by little he started to learn and help me by offering great ideas, and sometimes we work together. During the 2006 Soccer World Cup, he made a Brazilian flag entirely out of soda pops – he made it at the beach and it took him 10 days to finish it, it is 2m by 1.80m. While working on this, many tourists approached him and congratulated him for his work. "I really have to thank the powerful God who brought me to Novica. Without Novica, I would be just an artisan who sells in the beach and in the streets, but with Novica I am an artist known all over the world." 2008 update from Neide: "I could never have expected that my life would change in this way! Everything started because of Novica. In addition to the economic improvement, Novica has made several other dreams come true. Before Novica, I could only sell at local fairs. Through Novica, even Hollywood stars have become interested in my recycled handbags - and several have been pictured in magazines carrying them. I could never have expected this! But the best thing that happened to me was when some little angels at a primary school in California became interested in my recycling work. Those students made a book of personal messages for me, and sent it to me through Novica. I was so emotionally touched that I cried with happiness. Shortly after that, I was invited to appear on television, here in Brazil, to tell my story. Now many people recognize me here, and stop me in the streets. My husband came with me to the show, where he was invited to perform one of his songs. Now, many people stop him on the street as well. It is wonderful to earn a living by recycling, helping the environment while at the same time gaining recognition as an artist. Thank you Novica."

	Customer Reviews
		I am so impressed with everything I received. Even the packaging was wonderful! The quality and craftmanship is superb. Now I know where to go to buy unique gifts! - Joani Y, San Jose, Ca, USA I LOVE my handbag! I'm all about unique and unusual and this bag is both. On a recent evening out I received so many compliments on it that my husband wanted me to hide it! It's extraordinary and makes me happy that it's mine. Thank you! - Sara G., Arizona What a beautifully made, unique, fun purse! I just love it and can't wait to show it to my friends! The best internet purchase I've made ever! - Christine C, USA I have the eco charm silver lining bag. I carry it with me everywhere and people stop me to ask me where I bought it. It is an incredible piece and I feel good knowing that it was made with recycled material. It takes a special gift to be able to transform a material into art. - Kim W, Phoenix Arizona USA Wonderful purse -- love wearing it. Love the recycling aspect of it. - Hugh L, Encinitas, CA, USA I received the soda pop top purse a day ago and even though I bought it for a friend I am quite envious now because this is such a beautiful piece of work. I honestly can not stop staring at it! I LOVE the fact that it is recycled products and thank you very much for creating such marvelous and environmentally friendly accessories. I will definitely purchase from you again! - Jessica W, Swansea/IL/USA I received my order of one of Ms. Ambrosio's beautiful "Mandala" style bags. The craftsmanship is superb, and the bag is very lightweight, easy to carry, and not too large or too small. Also, full or empty, the bag maintains its shape. What really compelled me to buy one of Ms. Ambrosio's bags was her personal story, which is so sincere and inspiring. We all have the desire to be creative and do something worthwhile, but often circumstances seem not to provide the things that we think we need in order to be creative and productive; however, if we change our perspective we suddenly see opportunities in overlooked things – even discarded things, like pop tops! This is why I wanted to own one of Ms. Ambrosio’s bags – to remind myself that possibility and beauty lies everywhere and in everything – we just have to look and imagine. We can even recycle elements of our own lives and make them greater than what they may have seemed originally! Thank you also, Neide, for the beautiful Brazilian postcard, personally written, which I cherish as much as your bag! - Mary Jo M, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA The pop top bag is great!! Every time I wear it, I always get attention. People want to know were I got the bag. It is soo unique and different. - Kristie Perling, Douglasville, GA US Wow! I received Neide's belt much faster than expected, and I love it! Wonderful colors and so unique....I will soon have to purchase a purse, too! - C.C. R., Pennsylvania, USA I received my change purse and I love it. Its inspired me to learn to do something like that . And I loved the personal touch it has with special gift wrapping (that I didn't ask for but was nice) I liked the card it came with. It made getting the delivery very nice. Thank you. - Tonya Weiss, The bag is just amazing! I have people stopping me in the street to ask about it. I love the fact it is so unusual & that it's handmade from recycled stuff, it doesn't get any better for me! In fact I've just bought another, because as all you girlies all over the world know, 'you can never have too many handbags!' The delivery was also very speedy & packing was great too. Cheers! - Paula Dixon, England I bought the Mandala shoulder bag in grey. I was in shocked to see how beautiful this bag was. I am so happy with my Mandala shoulder bag that I want the same one "bigger". I have to congratulate Mrs. Ambrosio for the wonderful and gorgeous work she is doing and for sharing it with the rest of the world. Thanks so much... - Ivelisse I recently purchased one of Neide's backpacks. Not only was it as wonderful as the picture showed, but in only one day of carrying it, I have received numerous compliments! It arrived very quickly, and well packaged within a few days of my order. Neide even enclosed a personal note, which I thought was the icing on the cake!! I can't wait to see what else she and the Novica artists have to offer! - Shoni, Phoenix, AZ, USA I just recieved my third bag from Neide and I absolutely love all of them. I think I am fairly responsible for most of the reports of how cute these bags are. I fly so much around the world and I can never travel without people everywhere stopping me and commenting on my backpack style bag. Customer in remote Wyoming - Dawn My grandchildren and nieces have been on a “Go Green” mission since Easter. We have been collecting soda pop tops since April. It was at that time I was introduced to the pocketbooks created with the soda pop tops. I decided then that I would purchase all the girls a pocketbook for Christmas. Their reaction to this gift was wonderful. They all loved their original gift and were so impressed with not only the beautiful appearance but the quality as well. It made this a special gift. I do have one question, where do I mail the soda pop tops we have collected? Thanks for your amazing talent. Always Geri - Geraldine