Product Review :: Crochet Gallery

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Although I spent years of my life loving scarves, I must say that my love for cowls is growing very quickly. I love how cowls will stay around your neck, and it doesn't really matter if they move, they won't fall off. I think I like cowls better!

What I love about this cowl I received from Sabina of Crochet Gallery is that although it is made with acrylic yarn, in all the dozen or so times I have worn it last winter (and from wearing it every day so far this winter), I have not received static hair from it once! And that is amazing, because I seem to attract static from all sorts of fabrics, but I don't with this acrylic.

I was also concerned at first about how soft the cowl would be. I've worked with acrylic yarn before, and it always made my scalp and skin itchy. But this acrylic is so beautiful and soft! I honestly had no idea acrylic could be so soft and un-itchy! I was very surprised. I wear it every day to work now.

This cowl also keeps me quite warm; there are no drafts of wind coming through the cracks of my coat anymore to make me chilly. I am nice and toasty warm - the best temperature to be in the middle of winter.

I will definitely be buying another cowl from Crochet Gallery, and I definitely suggest that you do the same! You will NOT regret it! Sabina's cowls are a really reasonable price, and the customer service is wonderful! I'm planning on getting this one, this one, or this one.

Rating:

DISCLAIMER: My opinions are my own, and I was not compensated in any way for this review.

Product Review :: New Glasses from Firmoo

I had been wanting to get a new pair of glasses for a while now, so when I saw this phenomenal deal, I snatched it right up! Let me tell you a bit about it. (I know this post is longer than most, but read right to the bottom - there is a special offer for you from Firmoo!)

When I thought about getting a new pair of glasses, I wanted to get a pair that is completely different from what I have worn in the past. And this pair really did that for me. My previous pair, which I purchased five years ago when we lived in PEI, were wire glasses, and so they didn't really pop, if you know what I mean.

Here is a screenshot of the glasses I chose, and on the left is a virtual "try these on". That face is similar shape to mine, so I didn't think I needed to upload my own picture. Obviously, I didn't choose the option of having the red arms - I'm not that funky. So these are all black. And I LOVE THEM!!! The lenses are larger than my previous pair, so I can actually see more out of these, which is pretty awesome.

Here's a breakdown of how my experience went:

Check-out: It went pretty quickly. You do need to have your prescription in front of you while you're doing the check-out - if you have a prescription. I filled in my prescription in the form supplied (which you will find as you go through the check-out portion of your order), and inputted all the necessary shipping information, and I was done! See? Easy. The navigation on the site is nice and clearly spelled out for you, so there really isn't any complications there. I received an email when my new glasses were shipped out, on September 6.

Receiving: The wait was the only thing I didn't like about this transaction. lol  But the wait was totally worth it. I received the parcel on September 11 - only 5 days! That's a really good wait time, if you think about it. I'm just impatient. Anyhoo. My glasses were wrapped in bubble wrap and placed in a gorgeous, red, hardcover glasses case, and also included a large cloth with which I can clean my glasses and a little screw driver key chain - BONUS!

Wearing: Since these were a completely different pair of glasses than what I had been wearing for the past five years, it took me a while to get used to how they looked on my face. But I love it now! My husband called it "sexy nerd", and I'm totally okay with that! It didn't take long for my eyes to get accustomed to the new lenses, which is a bonus - I usually have a headache for a while after putting on new glasses, new prescription or not. But since these are plastic frames, they have no nose-things. So when my face gets sweaty (only during a workout!), my glasses do tend to slip down my nose. But you kind of have to expect that with plastic frames.

Customer Service: Since I had never ordered glasses online before, I had a lot of questions. And each of my questions were answered quickly (all in the same day) and precisely - all very direct answers, which I like with customer service.

Conclusion: I would recommend Firmoo to anyone who is looking for a new pair of glasses. The quality of the glasses is what you would expect, the shipping time was very quick, and I found the customer service to be very good.

My Rating of Firmoo's glasses:

SPECIAL OFFER: If you are a first-time buyer at Firmoo, you can get your pair of glasses for free! Just take a look at their Free for First-Time Buyers program. You get your glasses for free; you only have to pay the shipping.

Product Review :: Ug Chug by Nelson Studio

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I just LOOOOVE Ug-Chugs! There are so many that I enjoy so much, that I have chosen a few extra images to look at than I usually do. I'm sure you will agree with me.

These stacking mugs are so adorable! Just look at their faces, and those dorky smiles.

This goblet looks a little tipsy to me.

Men. Do they ever stop talking? lol

If you want to separate your eggs, this guy is who you want.

If you want a more sophisticated tea mug, this chap is for you!

Just about to tip over, eh?

As you can see, there is so much fun to be found here at Nelson Studio,

where you can find the entire Ug-Chug family.

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~~~~~

Product Review :: "Kristo the Trickster" Ug-Chug

My son, Alexander, picked Kristo out from a whole slew of mugs to give to Jeff for Father's Day.

Alexander loved Kristo's expression, and his little tooth reminds him of Larry the Cucumber (which is why I think Alexander picked him out in the first place).

And Jeff really enjoys drinking from Kristo. The size of the mug is perfect for a "Jeff-sized" tea, while giving everyone who sees him something to smile about. Jeff has brought him to church, and he has received many compliments on how awesome his mug is.

The handle is super convenient too, since Jeff's hands aren't exactly small. The extra wide handle gives him plenty of finger space, as opposed to our other mugs, where he can only fit one finger through the handles.

The shipping was super quick, and since this was the first time ordering something breakable on Etsy, I was a tad bit worried about if it would come to me all in one piece. But Kristo was packaged very snugly inside his own little room in the shipping box, surrounded by paper and bubble wrap. I was very pleased with the care that Chad & Meghan took to ship him to us.

Chad & Meghan are also a super cute couple who are totally friendly, easy to work with, and complete professionals at what they do: being awesome and creating awesome stuff!

Overall opinion: 

Product Review :: REDSTARink

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Earlier this year I stumbled across this bills calendar, and I was instantly intrigued.

It is simple, with clean lines, and obviously very practical. I like how each month has a pay and paid pocket for the bills, and plenty of space to write down everything you need. Made from recycled materials is a plus!

Before I ordered this calendar, I contacted Marcie, asking a few questions about the product and shipping. Marcie's response was timely and courteous, a definite plus.

When I received the bills calendar, I did not expect the size - it was much larger than I had anticipated, but I should have been able to imagine the size with it against the pen in the second picture. The scale in the photo is accurate, my head wasn't (lol).

Each month in the calendar looks as it should, and the printing quality is superb - very clean and clear.

I am looking forward to the extra filing cabinet space that this will save. I really like how all the month's bills will be in their proper spot in the bills calendar.

The only negative thing I can say is that I wish I had known about this bills calendar sooner - I would have definitely used it in prior years! But at least I know that I can use one for future years.

I definitely recommend this bills calendar from REDSTARink. If you would like to purchase one, you can go here for details.

Rating:

DISCLAIMER:  My opinions are my own, and I was not compensated in any way for this review.

Product Review - LuboArt

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I couldn't believe it when I found LuboArt on Etsy! Anyone who has been to our house has seen the fabulous metal art we have hanging in our dining room. Jeff found it on eBay years ago, and when we got it, I was so amazed by the workmanship and quality of the art!

If you have seen any of the cable 14 features of For Any Occasion, you will see the metal art hanging behind us. But here is a picture of what we have in our dining room:

I love the blues, greens and grays. I love how the light makes the piece "move" when you move. It's just awesome. And I know that this picture really does not do it justice. But I'm not a photographer... :)

Here are just a few great examples from Lubo's Etsy shop:

Aren't they beautiful?! I am so happy to be able to say that we have supported a [somewhat] local artist. But with such beautiful work, it was very easy to do!

Each panel (ours has seven) comes with metal mounting hangers that you only have to fold to achieve that "hanging in mid air" look. They are unbelievably light weight, considering it's metal, and the colours have definitely lasted over the years. We only need track lighting to show off this gorgeous piece better.

I would definitely recommend Lubo Art to anyone looking for a fantastic focal point piece for their space.

Product Review - TZ Burps!

I had entered to win a custom owlet from TZ Burps on the A Little Etsy Love blog a while ago. AND I WON!!! This was my first online win, and I hope to have many more! Tara emailed me right away to ask me for what I wanted and for my mailing address. I knew exactly what I wanted. She was going on a quick vacation, but after that she said she would start working on it right away.

And a week and a half later, I GOT IT!!! He was safely zipped in a Ziploc bag to keep him safe from any water damage (not that we needed to worry about that!), and he came with some business cards and a hand-written note from Tara. I knew both of my kids would like it so much, which is why I entered this giveaway in the first place. And boy, was I right! Alexander pleaded for the owl as soon as I took it out of the envelope. When Isabel woke up from her nap - as soon as she was on the floor crawling, she made a bee-line right to the owl and promptly starting chewing on it's ears. It was adorable! Alexander didn't want to share at first, but I told him that he could have the owl when Izzy didn't want it. So whenever Isabel isn't playing with the owl, Alexander is!

I couldn't get Alexander to hold still long enough for me to take a picture of him with the owl. So this one picture with Izzy will have to do.

The owl (we don't have a name for him yet) is so soft and plush, it's a great toy for a child of any age! It's easy for Isabel to hold him, and she really does love gnawing on his ears. Alexander sleeps with him every night. I'm really pleased that I won him. I probably will have to purchase another owl once Isabel and Alexander are both sleeping with plush toys. I'm not sure of what colours I will pick for the next one; we'll figure that out with the time comes.

If you want to purchase your own custom-coloured plush owl, you can go here. I think it's a great price for a handmade toy, and shipping is really not expensive either! Tara also makes other plush creatures (birds, fish, bunnies, and monsters), really beautiful baby items, and child hair clips.

Tara was great at communicating with me about what I wanted, and she was really friendly. You can definitely expect an order from me in the future!

-Shirley

Product Review - tbcollection

Tiina, the genius behind TBcollection, was a fellow vendor at the "Keep & Collect Market" on June 25. I have one necklace. And I really do want to have more. Tiina's work looks so beautiful and simple, I knew that I wanted to have one of her necklaces.

I didn't see anything that I HAD to have, but I liked her style, so I talked to her about creating a custom piece. I knew I wanted purple (what's with me and purple lately? I don't know), so we went with that. Tiina asked me for the desire length (around 20") and closure clasp (I chose the lobster closure - I already knew how to do one of those!). I knew I would have to wait a while to get it in the mail, since Canada Post was experiencing the lockout at the time. I wasn't in a rush, either, so I had no problem with waiting.

I got an email after the lockout ended, confirming all the specifications again. I was glad to see that Tiina was communicating - especially since it is a custom piece; it's something that I would do.

When it came in the mail, I didn't even get to open it! Jeff saw it and opened it (isn't it illegal to open someone else's mail?). I saw this:

So Tiina had also made me a matching bracelet! Awesome! She guessed at the length to fit, and it does, perfectly! It has a different closure, but it's still easy enough to put on and off.

bracelet

These items are beautiful, Tiina! My daughter (7 months old) LOVES that they sparkle in the light. Simple, lightweight, beautiful, a perfect combination! I would have liked to have pictures of me wearing them, but I can't really take a picture of myself and have it look halfway decent. lol

necklace

You can see more of TBcollection on Tiina's etsy shop.

Product Review: Soulful Soap

Today's post is not a feature, it's a review! I love getting to do reviews because it means I have a tangible product. I have had experience with the customer service and product quality that pictures cannot produce.

I met Vanessa, owner of Soulful Soap, at The Keep and Collect Market on June 25, 2011 - a fellow vendor. I was lured to her table by the irresistible smell the soaps exuded into the air. I smelled "Sensual Suds" first, intrigued by the name. It was (and still is!) the best smelling soap I had ever smelled. So wonderful.

I used "Sensual Suds" in a bath. After using the soap, the water turned a lilac purple colour - it looked as pretty as it smells! It lathered very nicely, and it didn't make my skin feel greasy, like some soaps do. This soap fills the entire bathroom with its scent, and I can smell it as soon as I walk into the room - heavenly! I can even smell the soap while I'm walking up the stairs if the bathroom door is open! Every time I take a whiff of "Sensual Suds", I sigh and smile - I can't help it!

I used "Zen Garden" in a bath about a week later. It lathered just as nicely as "Sensual Suds" did, and the aroma in the air (and on my skin) was a great combination of the lavender, lemongrass and orange Vanessa put into this bar. I felt like I could have fallen asleep in the bathtub, something I've only done once in my life.

Of course I didn't because I had to shave my legs. ugh. Shaving is not something I enjoy doing. It takes so long and my legs get all itchy after I'm done, even when I put moisturizer on afterwards. But this time was different. I wondered why my legs were not itchy this time. It was because of the soap! That was the only difference from my usual shaves to this one! That fabulous "Zen Garden" soap also kept my legs from insufferably itching for about 2 hours after my shave! I LOVE THIS SOAP!!!

I use "Clear Complexion" every morning and every night. I honestly couldn't tell you if it has helped my complexion - it hasn't been long enough - but this soap is great in that it keeps my face from being all oily in the morning. The first time I applied this soap was at night. And, being summer with no a/c in our bedroom, my face gets all sweaty and oily through the night. My face did get sweaty, but there was the absence of the usual amount of oil on my face! So I used it again in the morning.

Another great thing about the "Clear Complexion" soap is that your face also smells really clean too. The first night I used it, when Jeffery came to kiss me, he asked if I had had a shower. It was because of the fresh, clean smell of the soap that he was smelling on my face!

Not only are the soaps beautiful to look at, smell so so nice, and are fabulous, Vanessa is also a really friendly woman. When I popped over at her table, she was still setting up (the event hadn't started yet), but she was okay with me picking up each kind of bar that was on the table and smelling them.

We talked about the items we made and the different shows we had "vended" and are planning to "vend" at. I also discovered that Vanessa lives only a few blocks from me! Vanessa is a lovely girl to know.

You can find more of Soulful Soap on etsy, her website, facebook page and at the brick and mortar store humblepie. Vanessa also sells her soaps at the James Street Art Crawls every 2nd Friday of every month, and at the St Jacob's Market.

I would totally recommend Soulful Soaps to anyone who is looking for locally handmade soap.

Product Review - quiltery

Jeffery's slippers have been falling apart for months. And when it's cold outside, warm feet are essential to a happy Jeff. So when I came across these, I thought they'd be perfect for him:

Diane, from Maryland, makes these felted woolen shoes. They are made to feel like a second skin on your feet, and the natural fibers of the wool will make your feet feel warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Diane had no issues with making these shoes in a huge size 13 for Jeffery - yes, my husband has abnormally large feet. (lol)

The shoes took longer than normal to arrive, and when I messaged Diane about it, she said that the first pair of shoes had a defect in them, so she had to start over with a second pair. The annoying part about the long felting process is that you don't usually see any defects until the shoes are almost done. So we waited longer than we expected. Diane offered to put on a latex sole, so the shoes won't slip on the hardwood that is all over our house. That is customer service, people!

And boy, are they worth it! Jeffery has had these wool shoes for about two months, and he loves them! Despite being thinner than the normal slipper (the last pair Jeff owned was made from sheep's wool, and it was VERY soft and fluffy), they kept his feet warm during the last part of the cold season - the warmest they had been all winter long! The latex sole also definitely keeps him from slipping, which is a super bonus!

Since Jeff is so happy with his shoes, I want to get a pair for me next winter - I've been trying to hint to him to get them for me for my birthday this year. Perhaps if he read this blog post, it won't be so much of a hint, eh?

These are the shoes that I want. I love the oatmeal colour!

Diane also crochets baby slippers, which are really cute.

AND she makes quilts! Take a look at her shop to see them!

So if you're looking for slippers that will keep your feet warm this winter, I would highly recommend quiltery.

-Shirley

Featured Artisan - DancingGreyStudio

This aritsan I found on etsy when I was looking for a Christmas gift for my husband.  I wanted something handcrafted, unique, something that looked like "Jeffery", if that makes any sense.  And when I saw these beautiful journals, I knew immediately that Jeff would appreciate this gift.


The artist's name is Eiko, and she lives in Montana.  I asked him to share a little bit about herself:


I was born in Japan and educated in the U.S.A. I've always loved picture books and book forms. Ever since I was a little kid, I always wanted to be a book illustrator or a manga artist. As far as I can remember, that was the only thing I ever wanted to be. So I chose a college that had a strong illustration department. But things happen :D I was introduced to 3-dimensional art. By the time I finished graduate school in Colorado, I was a sculptor! I worked with sculpture installations for some years. I created a scene or environment with organic abstract forms. Sculpture became my first love but I always kept my love for book forms. I decided to take a break from sculptures and started working on book forms. I took a homestudy course a few years ago from CBBAG (Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild), and learned some traditional book binding techniques. I also played with different types of book structures. 

I started making journals because I wanted to make an object that is used & loved by people. A journal seemed like a perfect object.  I find beauty in simple forms. The wear & tear, scratches are the best & the most beautiful embelishments a journal can have, which come from love & use :) I think simplicity in design also promotes funtion & use. One time, I bought a beautiful leather journal on eBay. It was extremely well-made & very decorative. The problem with that journal was that it became a "precious" object. It was so nice & decorative, I just couldn't use it. And that defeated the purpose of having a journal. I want the embelishment to come from use. Once someone writes a word or draws a picture, a journal becomes a one of a kind unique object. Every time I make a journal, I imagine about things that might go into the journal. Sometimes, people would wirte and tell me what they are doing with the journals, like writing a horror story, a novel, recording their kids' activities. It's so much fun hearing about all those things :)

My typical day starts after I drive my 13-year-old to school and spend some time with my old greyhound and a young 3-legged pup. My mornings are usually spent on the computer, communicating & editing photos (oh yeah, shoveling snow, too. so much snow here in Montana!). My afternoons & evenings are usually spent making things & shipping. This year, I am trying to work on a new project. I love paper marbling (both western & Japanese suminagashi). I hope to get some marbling work done this year. 


Here are a few pictures of the journal that I purchased:

Isn't it absolutely beautiful?!  Jeffery uses it as a prayer journal, since his old one is full.  I love the detailed binding at the spine, the thick paper for the inside pages, and the cord is a convenient way to wrap up the book.  I'm planning on getting one for myself as well!


For a look at more of DancingGreyStudio's wonderful creations, go here.  There are a variety of sizes, from mini journals to large journals, and Eiko also creates photo albums with a similar look and design.


As a seller, Eiko is extremely easy to work with; her communication is very clear and friendly.  The quality and beauty of her work makes these journals a perfect gift - for a friend or for yourself!