My little sister who is infinitely more hip, stylish, and cool than I am has started a blog. Her blog is all about great jewelry that she has found on the web, mostly on etsy.
Even though I am NOT currently on her list (*pout* I knew my stuff wasn't cutting edge cool, but heck, I'm family), it is a really cool and well written blog, and she has found some really awesome sellers so far.
So, Check it out:
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
This Week's List 11/1-11/7
This week's list is going to be short, as I am low on time, and it is getting late. i promise to flesh out and add later.
Soap: I still had a few days of DirtySanchez's Spawn left, so I finished that up, and finished the week with my go-to soap, which is Pink Sugar type from Maylee's Garden. I have bought a bunch of soap from Maylee's Garden over the years, and it is always awesome. I highly recommend their soap. A+
Shampoo and conditioner: I am still using shampoo and conditioner from Heaven and Earth Essentials. I jumped over to their Honor Scent, which I have totally fallen in love with. As a bonus, this scent of shampoo and conditioner came with a free sample of Honor scented lotion which I have also been using, and will review below. As before with their other scent, Heaven and Earth Essentials makes an awesome product, and I love this scent. Highly recommended. A+
Lotion: Heaven and Earth Essentials HONOR Emollient lotion: This lotion is light and not too heavy or greasy. It works in well and leaves a lovely air of scent to it. I have not been using a lot of lotion, because the soaps I have been using have not made lotion necessary, but it works well on my hands and feet. Iw ill probably continue this lotion into next week, and if I use it on areas of my body prone to greasiness or breaking out, I will let you know.
Tea:
TeaMan Cranberry Black: A+ - wonderful aroma, smooth taste.
TeaMan Blueberry/Blackberry Herbal: B - nfortunately for me, this tea ended up smelling WONDERFUL and tasting OK. I may have steeped it wrong (1 minute in off-boiling water), but it ended up a little bit bitter.
TeaMan Christmas Blend: A+++ This tea is my latest obsession.
Candles:
I am still burning the candles I was working on last week.
Incense:
I got hooked on a commercial scent a friend had sent me, and have been burnign that all week.
On a side note:
Does anyone have a good resource for a hand-blown glass tea set? I would like to try some of these blooming teas, and I als have had some really pretty looking teas recently that I think would be stunning in a glass pot and mug, but the commercial glass teapots I have been finding all seem kind of flimsy.
I'd also like a hand-made porcelain soy tart warmer (or whatever they're officially called). the commercial ones I have been using are nice, but a little shallow, and I am getting tired of cleaning up wax run off. If I am going to go for a bigger one, I really would like something pretty and hand-made. I like the ones that use tea lights for heat best.
Soap: I still had a few days of DirtySanchez's Spawn left, so I finished that up, and finished the week with my go-to soap, which is Pink Sugar type from Maylee's Garden. I have bought a bunch of soap from Maylee's Garden over the years, and it is always awesome. I highly recommend their soap. A+
Shampoo and conditioner: I am still using shampoo and conditioner from Heaven and Earth Essentials. I jumped over to their Honor Scent, which I have totally fallen in love with. As a bonus, this scent of shampoo and conditioner came with a free sample of Honor scented lotion which I have also been using, and will review below. As before with their other scent, Heaven and Earth Essentials makes an awesome product, and I love this scent. Highly recommended. A+
Lotion: Heaven and Earth Essentials HONOR Emollient lotion: This lotion is light and not too heavy or greasy. It works in well and leaves a lovely air of scent to it. I have not been using a lot of lotion, because the soaps I have been using have not made lotion necessary, but it works well on my hands and feet. Iw ill probably continue this lotion into next week, and if I use it on areas of my body prone to greasiness or breaking out, I will let you know.
Tea:
TeaMan Cranberry Black: A+ - wonderful aroma, smooth taste.
TeaMan Blueberry/Blackberry Herbal: B - nfortunately for me, this tea ended up smelling WONDERFUL and tasting OK. I may have steeped it wrong (1 minute in off-boiling water), but it ended up a little bit bitter.
TeaMan Christmas Blend: A+++ This tea is my latest obsession.
Candles:
I am still burning the candles I was working on last week.
Incense:
I got hooked on a commercial scent a friend had sent me, and have been burnign that all week.
On a side note:
Does anyone have a good resource for a hand-blown glass tea set? I would like to try some of these blooming teas, and I als have had some really pretty looking teas recently that I think would be stunning in a glass pot and mug, but the commercial glass teapots I have been finding all seem kind of flimsy.
I'd also like a hand-made porcelain soy tart warmer (or whatever they're officially called). the commercial ones I have been using are nice, but a little shallow, and I am getting tired of cleaning up wax run off. If I am going to go for a bigger one, I really would like something pretty and hand-made. I like the ones that use tea lights for heat best.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Handmade is Important
Right now is a bad time for just about everyone. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful that my husband has a job and we are living a decently comfortable life, but I know it is playing (more) havoc with the lives of so many others.
Shops I love to buy from are going under or no longer carrying items I love. Handmade artisans are having to stop creating, because they aren't making any money. More and more are giving up the dream.
It sucks.
I love the handmade movement. Yes, it's true there are some people who should NOT absolutely NOT be selling what they make. Yes, there are people putting out low quality items that can cause new handmade buyers to turn back to store bought. Yes, handmade can be significantly more costly causing people to not be able to buy, especially in this economy. Store bought is usually of a pretty consistent quality and you know it has been tested if it is something tht is regulated. And yes, if something you buy is handmade and not up to snuff, you are probably out more money than if you had bought it from a store.
BUT
I love that none of my mugs look like anyone else's. I love having casserole dishes that people ask me where I got them. I love burning candles that I can't just buy from Glade. I love knowing it is HIGHLY UNLIKELY that my sister already has one of whatever I got her for Christmas this year. I LOVE seeing the awesome things people come up with. I love that more often than not, the extra money I sepend on something is totally worth it.
I love handmade, and I love unique.
I am not one of those people all handmade sellers seem to worry about who is going to get all righteous and come down on you over misnamed or labeled stones (Unless you are selling your jewelry as "fine" and charging a LOT for it), failed experiments hitting the listings (especially if they are heavily marked down), selling your first whatever even if it isn't perfect(as long as you admit it), selling anything, for that matter before you are an "expert" at making it, or anything else hypocritical like that. All I ask is that you sell me a quality item (Or mention honestly if it has problems), listen to me if I have a problem with what you sent, and if I am unhappy, try your best to rectify the situation.
I also don't necessarily believe that handmade is "better". I think it can be better, but just because something is handmade does not automatically mean that you are getting better quality or something that will last longer than store bought, no matter what people say and no matter how much "love" went into something. Sometimes the extra cost is NOT worth it. SOmetimes people charge too much. SOmetimes people charge too little. Sometimes covers a lot of ground with handmade, and more people need to be aware of it. Everything depends on what you buy, who you buy it from, how they do their pricing and production, where they get their materials, and how skilled the person is at making whatever it is you are buying.
I bookmark Regretsy and UglySh*tOnEtsy (which doesn't have the *, By the way). I use them to find new shops and see new things all the time without having to hunt them down myself. Since everyone's taste is different, I have loved checking these sites out. Yes, sometimes I get a laugh, sometimes I shake my head at people's naivete, sometimes I wonder about people's sanity...and sometimes I put something from the shop in my favorites. It is great that these things are out there, and that people are creating.
I am not going to put in a plug like "go buy something, support the handmade movement, keep these shops alive!", because I really believe these plugs are hard selling and making people buy out of guilt. If you don't have the money, DON'T BUY SOMETHING. Go support your family and take care of them. Charity starts at home, and I truly believe that. However, if you DO have the money, think about whether or not you can get whatever it is that you want or need handmade instead of from a store.
You may be thankful you did.
Shops I love to buy from are going under or no longer carrying items I love. Handmade artisans are having to stop creating, because they aren't making any money. More and more are giving up the dream.
It sucks.
I love the handmade movement. Yes, it's true there are some people who should NOT absolutely NOT be selling what they make. Yes, there are people putting out low quality items that can cause new handmade buyers to turn back to store bought. Yes, handmade can be significantly more costly causing people to not be able to buy, especially in this economy. Store bought is usually of a pretty consistent quality and you know it has been tested if it is something tht is regulated. And yes, if something you buy is handmade and not up to snuff, you are probably out more money than if you had bought it from a store.
BUT
I love that none of my mugs look like anyone else's. I love having casserole dishes that people ask me where I got them. I love burning candles that I can't just buy from Glade. I love knowing it is HIGHLY UNLIKELY that my sister already has one of whatever I got her for Christmas this year. I LOVE seeing the awesome things people come up with. I love that more often than not, the extra money I sepend on something is totally worth it.
I love handmade, and I love unique.
I am not one of those people all handmade sellers seem to worry about who is going to get all righteous and come down on you over misnamed or labeled stones (Unless you are selling your jewelry as "fine" and charging a LOT for it), failed experiments hitting the listings (especially if they are heavily marked down), selling your first whatever even if it isn't perfect(as long as you admit it), selling anything, for that matter before you are an "expert" at making it, or anything else hypocritical like that. All I ask is that you sell me a quality item (Or mention honestly if it has problems), listen to me if I have a problem with what you sent, and if I am unhappy, try your best to rectify the situation.
I also don't necessarily believe that handmade is "better". I think it can be better, but just because something is handmade does not automatically mean that you are getting better quality or something that will last longer than store bought, no matter what people say and no matter how much "love" went into something. Sometimes the extra cost is NOT worth it. SOmetimes people charge too much. SOmetimes people charge too little. Sometimes covers a lot of ground with handmade, and more people need to be aware of it. Everything depends on what you buy, who you buy it from, how they do their pricing and production, where they get their materials, and how skilled the person is at making whatever it is you are buying.
I bookmark Regretsy and UglySh*tOnEtsy (which doesn't have the *, By the way). I use them to find new shops and see new things all the time without having to hunt them down myself. Since everyone's taste is different, I have loved checking these sites out. Yes, sometimes I get a laugh, sometimes I shake my head at people's naivete, sometimes I wonder about people's sanity...and sometimes I put something from the shop in my favorites. It is great that these things are out there, and that people are creating.
I am not going to put in a plug like "go buy something, support the handmade movement, keep these shops alive!", because I really believe these plugs are hard selling and making people buy out of guilt. If you don't have the money, DON'T BUY SOMETHING. Go support your family and take care of them. Charity starts at home, and I truly believe that. However, if you DO have the money, think about whether or not you can get whatever it is that you want or need handmade instead of from a store.
You may be thankful you did.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
This Week's List 10/25-10/31
I figured I would make a quick list of the handmade items I use every week with a quick hit review of where I got them, what I like and dislike about them, and whether or not recommend the seller. this is also only goingot be a list of consumables, you don't really need to know which artist made my mug every week. I will probably do a different listing of glass and pottery...
OK, THIS WEEK (10/25-10/31):
Soap: Dirty Sanchez SPAWN.
Source: Little Black Box Sample
Pros: Washes well and cleanly. The scent is light and refreshing, and he soap itsel f is creamy. SO creamy, I did not have to use a body moisturizer this week.. The sample lasted the whole week and still has a few pieces left in my little crocheted soap baggie.
Cons: No ingredients on the sample, since this was a wide, thin sample, about half way through the week, the soap split down the middle. Because the soap is so creamy, I had a hard time squishing it back into one piece, so I ended up putting it into a crocheted soap bag from Unicorn's pride.
Would I buy it? Yes. It is on my favorites list.
Grade: A
Shampoo and conditioner: Heaven and Earth Essentials HYACINTH AND HEATHER
Source: Bought it from their website after using a sample in a LBB
Pros: The shampoo thoroughly washes my very limp, fine, oily, color-treated hair without stripping the color or weighing it down. The conditioner gives my hair a nice sheen and helps with the tangles from teh thorough cleaning I get from the shampoo. I also love that the shampoo is a solid. GREAT for travel. They also customized an order for me, which I LOVE!
Cons: This scent is a little bit overwhelming for me, and I can smell it ALL DAY. Because of this, I didn't wear any perfume all week. Also, the conditioner is pretty light, which I love, but I found myself, even with my oily hair going over to a commercial deep conditioner in the middle of the week for the ends of my hair. This, is actually my own fault, as they sell a deep conditioner, I just foolishly didn't buy any.
Would I buy it (again)?: Not this scent, but I WOULD buy a different scent. I have a bunch more from them to try out.
Grade: A- (shampoo and conditioner were GREAT, scent bought don the grade,m btu not enought o have me even consider not wanting more)
Incense: Ecclecstacy Arts SPRING LEAVES
Source: Free sample with eBay purchase
Pros: burns clean. Smells nice.
Cons: spelling "Ecclecstacy", the sample is a small cut. Not sure how the full size is.
Would I buy it? Probably.
Grade: B+
Candles: Woodcrafts and Candles - HARVEST SPICE 2 votives and a palm wax pillar
Source: purchased from Etsy store
Pros: wonderful scent. burns a long time. votives fit in votive holder. Layers on pillar are very pretty.
Cons: palm wax split down the middle and the pillar melted all over everything before I could blow it out. I'm still burning the candle in a glass bowl, so we will see how it burns when it gets into the puddle.
Would I buy again? Yes.
Grade: Votives A, Pillar B
Ok, for tea, I drink a mug or two every day, some comercial, some my own herbal blends, some artisanal. I will only list the artisanals I get here.
I am just going to list maker, flavor, where I got it, and grade.
Tea:
TeaMan Christmas Blend tea bag (free sample with purchase): A+
BlueRavenTea Autumn Harvest loose tea (repeat purchase): A+
SBS Tea More than Fabulous loose tea (purchased as part of sampler after LBB sample...I also got my tea balls from them): A
I hope this helps!!
OK, THIS WEEK (10/25-10/31):
Source: Little Black Box Sample
Pros: Washes well and cleanly. The scent is light and refreshing, and he soap itsel f is creamy. SO creamy, I did not have to use a body moisturizer this week.. The sample lasted the whole week and still has a few pieces left in my little crocheted soap baggie.
Cons: No ingredients on the sample, since this was a wide, thin sample, about half way through the week, the soap split down the middle. Because the soap is so creamy, I had a hard time squishing it back into one piece, so I ended up putting it into a crocheted soap bag from Unicorn's pride.
Would I buy it? Yes. It is on my favorites list.
Grade: A
Source: Bought it from their website after using a sample in a LBB
Pros: The shampoo thoroughly washes my very limp, fine, oily, color-treated hair without stripping the color or weighing it down. The conditioner gives my hair a nice sheen and helps with the tangles from teh thorough cleaning I get from the shampoo. I also love that the shampoo is a solid. GREAT for travel. They also customized an order for me, which I LOVE!
Cons: This scent is a little bit overwhelming for me, and I can smell it ALL DAY. Because of this, I didn't wear any perfume all week. Also, the conditioner is pretty light, which I love, but I found myself, even with my oily hair going over to a commercial deep conditioner in the middle of the week for the ends of my hair. This, is actually my own fault, as they sell a deep conditioner, I just foolishly didn't buy any.
Would I buy it (again)?: Not this scent, but I WOULD buy a different scent. I have a bunch more from them to try out.
Grade: A- (shampoo and conditioner were GREAT, scent bought don the grade,m btu not enought o have me even consider not wanting more)
Source: eBay Store
Pros: burns cleanly and lasts a nice amount of time. I used this out in the backyard while my husband was grilling too get the WORLD OF MOSQUITOES away, and it definitely worked pretty well, considering that we were being eaten alive before I pulled these out. (Remember, I live in Houston. It's still pretty warm here)
Cons: None with this scent.
Would I buy it again? Yes, eventually. I still have a lot of it left.
Grade: A
Source: Free sample with eBay purchase
Pros: burns clean. Smells nice.
Cons: spelling "Ecclecstacy", the sample is a small cut. Not sure how the full size is.
Would I buy it? Probably.
Grade: B+
Source: purchased from Etsy store
Pros: wonderful scent. burns a long time. votives fit in votive holder. Layers on pillar are very pretty.
Cons: palm wax split down the middle and the pillar melted all over everything before I could blow it out. I'm still burning the candle in a glass bowl, so we will see how it burns when it gets into the puddle.
Would I buy again? Yes.
Grade: Votives A, Pillar B
Ok, for tea, I drink a mug or two every day, some comercial, some my own herbal blends, some artisanal. I will only list the artisanals I get here.
I am just going to list maker, flavor, where I got it, and grade.
Tea:
TeaMan Christmas Blend tea bag (free sample with purchase): A+
BlueRavenTea Autumn Harvest loose tea (repeat purchase): A+
SBS Tea More than Fabulous loose tea (purchased as part of sampler after LBB sample...I also got my tea balls from them): A
I hope this helps!!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Kittens
Not many of you may know this, but when we moved to Texas, one of our 8 year old cats ran away and was never heard from again. My husband and I were very sad, but since he is such a lovable cat, we are consoling ourselves with the hope that he went off and found himself a new family.
We had had our two cats since the September 13, 2001. We had originally planned for our 1 year anniversary on going out to dinner to the restaurant where we had our first "real date": Windows on the World. Needless to say, we never made it. Instead, we went to the mall by our house to hit a restaurant there. while we were walkign around, we saw some kittens in the window of the pet store with a sign saying they had been abandoned there, and wouldpeople please adopt them. Well, this was too much for my husband and myself, espeially since he had been talking about getting a cat, so we went in and got a couple of kittens. They wre my first pets ever. I was so scared to even hold them. We named them Merlin and Morgan. They were both boys.
The husband had had cats before...and is allergic to them. We quickly had to get him to an allergist and get him the desensitizing shots and allergy medication. For a while we even had to think about giving the kittens away, but ended up changing our minds at the last minute when the husband found some meds that worked.
Well, not a week after we moved to Texas, Merlin got out of the house and never came home. In New York, they had been indoor/outdoor cats, so we had had a hck of a time keeping them indoors while they got used to the new house, but we were hopeful he would ocme home soon.
After 2 weeks, we were prety nervous. We started putting up signs and calling local shelters and vet offices. Finally, it looked like he had turned up at a shelter way up north in town. I hopeed int he car and went to check.
It wasn't him.
As the tech and I checked to see if the tuxedo they had brought in was mine, a little orange kitten kept trying to get my attention. he mewled, he batted at my arm, he rubbed himself up against the cage. I caved.
The cat at the shelter was not Merlin, but in 3 days, Kevin was going home with us.
I checked the other shelters. Glinda came home from one, but a trip to the vet showed that she was very ill. She went back. :(
We had had our two cats since the September 13, 2001. We had originally planned for our 1 year anniversary on going out to dinner to the restaurant where we had our first "real date": Windows on the World. Needless to say, we never made it. Instead, we went to the mall by our house to hit a restaurant there. while we were walkign around, we saw some kittens in the window of the pet store with a sign saying they had been abandoned there, and wouldpeople please adopt them. Well, this was too much for my husband and myself, espeially since he had been talking about getting a cat, so we went in and got a couple of kittens. They wre my first pets ever. I was so scared to even hold them. We named them Merlin and Morgan. They were both boys.
The husband had had cats before...and is allergic to them. We quickly had to get him to an allergist and get him the desensitizing shots and allergy medication. For a while we even had to think about giving the kittens away, but ended up changing our minds at the last minute when the husband found some meds that worked.
Well, not a week after we moved to Texas, Merlin got out of the house and never came home. In New York, they had been indoor/outdoor cats, so we had had a hck of a time keeping them indoors while they got used to the new house, but we were hopeful he would ocme home soon.
After 2 weeks, we were prety nervous. We started putting up signs and calling local shelters and vet offices. Finally, it looked like he had turned up at a shelter way up north in town. I hopeed int he car and went to check.
It wasn't him.
As the tech and I checked to see if the tuxedo they had brought in was mine, a little orange kitten kept trying to get my attention. he mewled, he batted at my arm, he rubbed himself up against the cage. I caved.
The cat at the shelter was not Merlin, but in 3 days, Kevin was going home with us.
I checked the other shelters. Glinda came home from one, but a trip to the vet showed that she was very ill. She went back. :(
At the SPCA, we found Jake. He is either a Siamese or Tonkinese breed. He's a beautiful little kitten. my daughter saw him and had to have him.
Now we had two new kittens and a grumpy 8-year old cat. they are starting to get along, though Kevin is a little trouble maker. I have been wearing a long, flowy top all day, and he keeps trying to either hunt my shirt or go farther, and get up under it and hunt my butt. His little claws HURT!
Kevin is into everything. I forgot how much work having a kitten who gets into everythign can be. I am constantly getting him off of counters, pulling him out of the trash can, dragging him out of the washing machine, re-folding the laundry, finding little wrappers and papers that he hunted and batted around the house, etc. We got him kitten toys, but apparently, they aren't enough fun.
All Jake wants to do is be held. he lives to be in laps. He will even climb into my 6 year old's lap. He cries if there are people int he house and they are not petting him. I swear, he thinks he is a dog. He especially loves to perch on my husband's shoulder while he types.
Morgan (the old guy) just wants to be left alone. He putrs up with Jake better than Kevin, because Kevin always wants to play. And woe be to Morgan if he wants to eat in peace.
The kittens are adorabl;e, and Morgan is my big old fluffball. Now if I could just get Kevin to stop hunting ME and start hunting something else......
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Pottery Habit
I have a serious handmade pottery habit. I love it. I have bought a bunch of awesome pottery through the years off of etsy. Some of my favorite sellers include Jeff Guerrero, Lean Dog Pottery, Clear Mountain Craft, red hot pottery, and so many others. I think I listed onyl the potters I have actually bought from, thought here are so many more in my favorites list.
I think I am going to start hilighting a pottery seller once a month. That'll give me an excuse for some lovely online window shopping.
All you potters reading this: I buy pottery EVERY YEAR for Christmas. Help me find you. My husband loves it, too. *Hint hint*
I think I am going to start hilighting a pottery seller once a month. That'll give me an excuse for some lovely online window shopping.
All you potters reading this: I buy pottery EVERY YEAR for Christmas. Help me find you. My husband loves it, too. *Hint hint*
Sugar Scrubs
Am I the only one who's kind of confused and (to be honest) icked out by sugar scrubs? I assume I don't know really what they are about or how to use them properly, but wouldn't they leave you sticky from the dissolved sugar, and then turn you into a bug feast? How do they cleanse you if you are rubbing sugar onto your body?
Please someone, enlighten me. I hear people singing the praises of sugar scrubs, but am too scared to use them.
Please someone, enlighten me. I hear people singing the praises of sugar scrubs, but am too scared to use them.
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