Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category

ThisNext goodies!
Originally uploaded by calobee

Oh, I am stoked. Why am I stoked? Just look at what showed up on my doorstep yesterday and you’ll know why I abuse the word “stoked.”

As you may or may not remember, back in May I won a neat wine gift set for participating in a contest on ThisNext.com, my favorite social shopping site.

Last week I realized that I hadn’t seen the wine set come through yet, and it’s been over a month, so I sent an e-mail to one awesome ThisNexter to ask about it. She looked into the issue and sure enough, the wine set shipped much later than expected. This was actually a relief, as we’ve had disappearing-package issues at our place recently (very frustrating), and I imagined that somewhere in my neighborhood roamed a very full, very drunk guy with a pink wine backpack slung over his shoulder.

Thankfully this was not the case (although the mental picture kept me amused for a good five minutes), and the awesome ThisNexter said that they’d also send along a second prize to make up for the delay. I thought it might be a gift certificate, or maybe some stickers or promo materials, which is why I was really surprised to find a sizable box on my step yesterday evening. I was even more surprised to open it and find all sorts of wonderful kitchen goodies from Tovolo! Eee!

I’d never heard of Tovolo until now (read: I’ve only shopped for kitchen stuff at Wal-Mart) and the design is really something else. Our current setup is basic - we have the essentials, but none of it is very pretty to look at, and most of it is well-loved (read: old, and from Wal-Mart). But the Tovolo stuff - I want to frame it and hang it on my wall. It’s solid and sturdy, too - I can tell these pieces will be with us for a long time. So thanks, ThisNext, for giving me the opportunity to ditch the old Wal-Mart spatulas and mixing spoons for something more chic.

Oh, and the S.O. thinks I should win things for him more often, so maybe ya’ll could hook me up with an iPhone in the near future. Just sayin’.

It is entirely unlike to me to win contests of any sort, which is why I was so pleased when I got an e-mail from one of the staff at thisnext.com, saying I’d won a Wine Excursion Backpack Gift Basket for participating in their entertaining contest last week.

Squee! Double squee!

Never mind that the S.O. and I know nothing about wine, nor do we drink it - who cares? I won something! YAY!

And while I’m on the subject of free stuff, Moo is giving away 1000 packs of 10 minicards each to Voxers who are quick on the draw. I’ve already snagged my 10-pack - it contains my most recent flower photos. I may have to pick up one of these handmade Moo carrying cases from Etsy seller splatgirl to go along with ‘em!

Other items on my “I will buy this next month because we won’t have to pay the gas company or the bank because of my leet bookkeeping skillz” wish list:

• Sticker-maker! Stickersstickersstickers! I was sticker-obsessed in my youth, and the thought of making my own stickers fills me with unimaginable joy.
• A through-the-lens camera, like an Argoflex or a Duaflex, so I can play around with some through-the-viewfinder techniques. I have a Brownie Hawkeye that I picked up from the local Salvation Army, but it’s in sorry shape.

Also: The underside of my caramel rice cake looks like brains. That is all!

It’s about that time again. Here are two Etsians I’ve had really great shopping experiences with recently!

WoodcraftsAndCandles - wood crafts and (you guessed it) candles
I freely admit that I have little in the way of decorating sense. How do I compensate? Candles. Lots and lots of candles. If my house doesn’t look polished and put together, at least it smells good enough to eat. So when I found WoodcraftsAndCandles’ shop, I knew I was in trouble. Thankfully, Mother’s Day gave me an excuse to spend money, and I purchased these margarita candles for my mum. Of course, before they made their way to her hands, I snuck a whiff for myself… and I almost didn’t give them to her! Hah! But I did, and she loves them, and it’s only a matter of time before I go back and fill my home with more luscious scents.

donnapool - buttons, magnets, and puzzles
Donna Pool’s shop is proof that keeping a blog can help your sales. I first found these vintage camera buttons via Donna’s blog at Vox and they’re the perfect accessory for a photo geek like yours truly. My set even has my favorite film SLR - a Pentax K1000. I opted to have them made into super strong magnets to decorate my fridge. Donna also makes these unique plush puzzle balls, which are great for kids, or for those of us who are kids at heart!

Hurrah, they’re here! This is a selection of the minicards I ordered from moo. I have to give them kudos for the sleek look, the unique design, and the swift service!

Now, the big question is - what do I do with them? I’m not so adept at finding appropriate opportunities to pass out promotional materials without sounding too salesy. I hate being salesy. I need to brainstorm on this one.

Where/how do you hand out your business cards?

On an unrelated topic, the S.O. finally joined the 21st century and bought a new digital camera. It’s tiny and cute and makes my digital SLR look sad and outdated. I see it as extra motivation for me to take more photos and sell more prints so I can upgrade my current equipment!

So instead of talking about myself for once, I’d like to talk about someone else! Specifically, three someone-elses - three sellers from Etsy, all of whom I’ve had great experiences with.

sarahridgley - letterpress cards and coasters
I found Sarah Ridgley’s shop just as she was waiting for her 100th heart. It’s entirely unlike me to stumble into such good fortune (and if the “supreme being” has a sense of humor, I’ll probably be hit by a bus soon) but there you have it. As a “thank you” for being her 100th, she sent me a beautiful card (complete with a stamp, which is good, because I never remember to buy them) and a monogrammed letterpress coaster. Now I have my eye on the Notes from an Outlaw set. That way, if I am run over, the S.O. will have a hip and stylish way to let everyone know!

youstinksoap - vegan soaps, fragrance bars, and lip balms
Have I mentioned that I’m a lip balm junkie? I am. Especially if said lip balm tastes like calories. Mmmmmm, calories. Thankfully the lip balm sampler set I bought has no calories, only a light, sweet flavor, while my lips are left feeling soft and smooth. Now my only problem is deciding on a favorite. If I had to choose just one, I think I’d pick Key Lime Cheesecake… no, wait, Coconut Lemongrass… or, wait, maybe Raspberries and Creme? Eurgh… nevermind. Just buy one of each, and you’ll have a desert buffet for your lips.

theblackapple - illustration and other things
I don’t think there’s a single person on Etsy who doesn’t already know of theblackapple, but that’s no surprise, because her work is worth a look - or six! It’s cute, but with an edge of creepy. I like cute, but I really like cute-creepy. I chose the “Branch Bed” print because the colors are eerily similar, if not identical, to those in our bedroom. Yes, there is a lot of pink in our bedroom, and no, the S.O. doesn’t have much say in the matter, but even he could not deny that Emily’s work is top notch.