Indie Gift Box review, August 2014

Name: Indie Gift Box
Details: Surprises you with a themed collection of unique gifts from independent artists and small businesses.
Price: $25


I hate to say it, but this was the shipment that made me cancel my subscription to Indie Gift Box.

I was thrilled with the first couple of packages that I received from the company. However, I've been less than happy with a few of my more recent shipments. It's gotten to the point where I'm crossing my mental fingers when I receive a box in the mail each month, hoping that I'll find at least one or two things that I'm not completely "meh" about.

Anyway, let's take a look at what I received in August's Indie Gift Box.

This month's theme was "Indian Summer," which I'm taking to mean that everything inside the box had an element of Native American culture or design attached to it.

1. Fair trade bracelets by A Global Friendship (retail value: $25). I'm actually okay with these bracelets. They were handwoven in Indonesia, and their purchase supports A Global Friendship, which is a non-profit organization that helps woman and attempts to alleviate poverty throughout the world. They're cute, and I'll wear them.

2. Gift card from Bunglo (retail value: $12+). Indie Gift Box considers this gift card to have a retail value starting at $12. However, this isn't really a gift card. It's a coupon code good for 40 percent off any purchase at the website Bunglo. I don't consider a coupon code to be an "item." If I'd received a product from Bunglo, and gotten a coupon code on top of that, cool, I'd be a happy camper. As it stands, I'd need to spend $16 in order to get the $12 value that Indie Gift Box said I'm receiving. The items on Bunglo are very cute, and I might end up ordering something inexpensive from the site, but I still feel a little irritated by the whole thing.

 3. Feather ear cuff by Finch Finery (retail value: $22). Maybe, at 35, I'm just too old for Indie Gift Box. This cuff, which slips over the top of one's ear, is well made, but there's no way I'd ever, ever wear it. Ever. Finch Finery has rave reviews on Etsy, and I don't doubt that, for people who are into bold fashion statements, this cuff would be amazing. However, I feel that, by including such obvious "love it or hate it" items in its shipments, Indie Gift Box is doing a disservice to its customers. Maybe it's just me, I don't know. In any event, to conclude, I won't be wearing this and I have no idea what to do with it.

4. Nail art cuticle tattoos by Rad Nails (retail value: $6). These are alright. Nothing exciting, but nothing horrible, either.

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My heart sank after I finished opening this Indie Gift Box, which made me realize that, like I mentioned before, I need to cancel my subscription. For $25 plus shipping I received, in theory, $65 worth of products, but all I really wanted was my $25 back. Maybe the next few months will get better, but I'm not going to risk my hard-earned money on it again.

If you're interested in checking out Indie Gift Box, head here: Indie Gift Box subscription link

Indie Gift Box review, July 2014

Name: Indie Gift Box
Details: Surprises you with a themed collection of unique gifts from independent artists and small businesses.
Price: $25


The theme of this month's Indie Gift Box was "Surf." Sounds interesting! Let's take a look.

1. Soaps and lip balm from Filthy Farmgirl (retail value: $15). I can always use soap and lip balm, so I was excited to see these products in the box. And that packaging...too cute! The Filthy Farmgirl website has a TON of other soaps and body products, with names like "Super Hippie Princess" and "Patchouli Sutra" (and those are just the "safe for work" names), so if you're looking for a laugh, or a bar of crazy soap, be sure to check it out.

2. Nail decals by Lacquer by Lissa (retail value: $4). These decals are cute, and fit in well with the "surf" theme. They're not really my style, so I'll probably give them away, but I think that they're a good addition to the box.

3. Note cards by Erin McMannes Illustration (retail value: $9). Love these cards! They're bright and flowery, and will be fun to send out.

4. Starfish hair clip by Ms. Formaldehyde (retail value: $9). This looks and feels like a real starfish that's been painted and covered with glitter. I was relieved to discover, by checking out the Ms. Formaldehyde etsy shop, that it's actually fake and was made using a mold. Whew! Regardless, it's cute, and I can see it being a fun accessory for the beach or other summer get-togethers.

I also received coupons and discount codes from FlipSidez and Bird + Beau.

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So, what did I think? I loved this month's Indie Gift Box! The "Surf" theme was unique, and all the products had a sun-and-fun quality that's perfect for summer. Everything was also very high-quality. I was kind of bummed by the last few Indie Gift Boxes that I received, but this one was definitely a step in the right direction. Can't wait for August!

To subscribe to Indie Gift Box, head here: Indie Gift Box subscription link

Indie Gift Box review, June 2014

Name: Indie Gift Box
Details: Surprises you with a themed collection of unique gifts from independent artists and small businesses.
Price: $25


Anyone who has read this blog for any length of time knows that I love me a good artisan subscription box. Here's my review of the June Indie Gift Box.

The theme this month was "Rainbow Bright," which means a variety of colorful products!

1. Hair ties by Boho Bands (retail value: $4). I've received Boho Bands in previous subscription boxes (not in Indie Gift Box), so I'm wondering if the company is making a massive push for total sub box domination. In any event, while I'm not a big fan of the pink skull thing going on up there, I do like the other two bands, and will definitely use them.

2. Leather geo ring by Boo + Boo Factory (retail value: $20). I'm not quite sure what to make of this ring. It's certainly bright. I like the concept of a leather ring, but I think the execution of it (at least the execution of this particular ring) is lacking. I really hate to say this, but it reminds me of a kindergartner's art project...not chic or stylish at all. However, I checked out Boo + Boo Factory's website, and the company has some amazing stuff on there, especially the leather necklaces, which are beautiful. Maybe I just happened to receive a "dud" ring, or maybe I'm just not the target audience for it. In any event, let's move on.

3. Modern friendship bracelet by Hello Zee (retail value: $15). I love this bracelet! The color combination is interesting, but it works. The bracelet also fits perfectly, so I'm very happy with this piece, and will probably buy a few more so that I can layer them on my wrist.

4. Swarovski pearl studs by Nazari Jewelry (retail value: $15). I love the look of Swarovski pearls, and I thought that these earrings were very cute, but the orange is way too bright for my red hair. I ended up giving them to my sister, who loved them. (Side note: I took a peek on the IGB website and noticed that these earrings were also included in the January 2014 box. I didn't start subscribing until a few months ago, so I didn't receive the earrings back then, but I hope that "repeats" like this won't be part of Indie Gift Box's regular game plan.)

5. Baggu bag (retail value: $7). This is a cute little lunch-sized bag that I will definitely use! I checked out the Baggu website, and found a few more bags that I'd like to purchase (specifically, this and this).

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My verdict? This month's Indie Gift Box was a mixed bag (no pun intended)...a few misses, a few hits. Overall, I was happy with it, but to be honest, I hope that IGB focuses a little more on finding new, unique, well-made items to include in its future shipments, and not rehashes of old products. (To be fair, though, I did like the Nazari earrings, I just would have been a little cheesed off if I'd already received them in a previous box.)  Still, the value of the box was good for what I paid, and I'm looking forward to July's offerings.

To try out Indie Gift Box, head here: Indie Gift Box subscription link

Indie Gift Box review, May 2014

I'm a big fan of Indie Gift Box. It's a subscription service that, for $25 a month, sends you an array of products made by independent artisans. The theme of May's box was "Sparkle & Shine."

Sparkles!

And the goodies:

1. "Sprinkled With Passion" nail lacquer from Gothic Gala Lacquers (an Indie Gift Box exclusive, retail value: $8). I love the color of this polish, and can't wait to use it!

2. Alternative diamond stud earrings from Plastique* (retail value: $12). These earrings are a little too "1980s" for my liking, so I'll be gifting or trading them. However, Plastique* has some cool items on its website, so I might be making a purchase there at some point or other.

3. Sterling silver and crystal wine charms from Purely Paige (retail value: $24). I was disappointed with this item. The discs are very thin, and are also scratched. (You can notice the scratches especially well on the charm that reads "sparkle," on the left side of the package.) My dogs have worn tags that had the same look and feel of the discs on these charms, and the tags didn't hold up well at all. I feel terrible saying this, but this item looks and feels like something you'd buy at a dollar store. I have no doubt that these charms probably do cost $24, by the time you figure in the amount of money spent on materials and labor, but I don't think I'll be using them, and I also can't really gift them, given their condition.

 



 

 

4. POPS! champagne-scented lip gloss from Tulips Apothecary (retail value: $10). This gloss smells AMAZING, and I'll definitely be using it!

5. Bonus item from past artist--bracelets from Duchessa (retail value: $12). These bracelets are very cute, but I already received them in a previous Indie Gift Box. I appreciate the fact that IGB includes items from previous boxes for subscribers who might not have received them, but I also feel like this penalizes long-term subscribers, as I don't like having one of the items that I get in a new box be the exact same thing that I got in an earlier box. I'll keep these bracelets because I like them so much, but I hope "bonus items" like this don't become a trend.

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I hate to say it, but this month's Indie Gift Box was a mixed bag (mixed box?) for me. I loved the polish and the lip gloss, but wasn't enthused about the earrings, and thought that the wine charms were just ridiculous. I'm sticking around as a subscriber, though, because I've loved previous boxes, and because the Indie Gift Box team has always been very friendly and responsive when I've contacted them. On to June, and hopefully a bigger and better Indie Gift Box!

If you'd like to subscribe to Indie Gift Box, head here: Indie Gift Box subscription link

Indie Gift Box review, April 2014

I received my April Indie Gift Box in the mail this evening, and eagerly tore into it. The theme was "Sweet Spring," and after the horrible winter we've had in Michigan, I was ready for anything pertaining to bright colors and sunny skies. As usual, Indie Gift Box didn't disappoint. Here's what I found inside:

1. French macaron necklace from Koco & Viking (retail value: $20)--macarons must be "in," as a few months ago, I received a macaron-shaped trinket box in my Coco Rocha Fancy Box. I had never even heard of macarons until a few months ago, when I watched an episode of The American Baking Competition in which the contestants had to make these French confections. (And no, they're not the same thing as macaroons.) Anyway, I digress. This is a very cute necklace, and I love the color purple, so it'll be a fun piece to wear.

2. "Happy Spring" chalk art card from Lily & Val (retail value: $3.50)--I love the style of (and the message on) this card. It'll be a perfect gift for someone who is just as happy as I am that spring is finally here.

3. Vintage filigree flower ring from Mercantile 519 (retail value: $5)--I'm not really one for big rings, but I like the vintage style of this one. My only issue with this item was the fact that it arrived with the flower decoration detached from the base. (I propped it up for the photo so that you can see what the ring looks like when it's whole.) Nothing that a little superglue won't fix, though, so I wasn't too upset by it.

4. Edible candy jewels from Marion's Vintage Bakery (retail value: $9)--these gorgeous trinkets are candy. Yes, that's right, candy. I don't think I'll ever be able to eat them, even though I have a major sweet tooth. They look even more amazing in person, too--the photo doesn't do them justice. This was a very cool addition to the box.

5. Cotton candy body scrub from My Lucky Dragon (retail value: $8)--I LOVE the packaging; this looks just like a push-up popsicle, which is one of my favorite frozen treats (and now I'm really craving one). I'm sure I'll enjoy the body scrub just as much, though!

6. Watercolor artist trading card from Popwheel Art (retail value: $3)--this is a miniature, signed print of artist Jennifer Comstock's watercolor painting "Day Dreaming." I love this style of art, so now I'll be looking for a cute frame and a good place to display it. Inside the package, I also found a set of six stickers with images of Comstock's work, so that was a neat little surprise, too.

7. Luggage tag bookmark from Written for You (retail value: $3-ish?)--I received this same bookmark, only with yellow writing, in an earlier Indie Gift Box. The information card I received this month didn't list the bookmark as one of the pieces included in the shipment, so I'm not sure if it was inadvertently left off the card, or maybe given as a "bonus" gift. In any event, I love to read, I like coffee, and I can always use bookmarks, so this will be put to good use.

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I love getting subscription boxes, and I especially love getting "indie" or "artisan" subscription boxes. Indie Gift Box is one of my favorites, and this month didn't disappoint. I was a little bummed about the broken ring, if only because it put a damper on the box's otherwise-great presentation. All in all, though, this was another "win" for Indie Gift Box. The value was amazing, too--I paid only $24.50 for over $50 worth of products!

If you're interested in ordering one for yourself, head here: Indie Gift Box subscription link

Indie Gift Box review, March 2014

I know it's already April, but I'm still going to post a review of the items I received in my Indie Gift Box shipment last month. The theme was "St. Patrick's Day." As I might have mentioned, I love all things Ireland, so I was excited to see what my box would contain. Every month, Indie Gift Box sends out packages filled with goodies made by independent artists, so I had a feeling that lots of cool little tchotchkes would await me.

1. Wood heart stud earrings from abby j studio (Value: $7 a pair)--I actually received two pairs of these earrings: the set you see above, and a set that's mint green with a gold outline surrounding each earring. (That pair has gone missing, and I have a sneaking suspicion that one of our cats batted it off the coffee table, and that I'll find it in a random spot, like under the coach or tucked into the fold of a blanket. Oh, kittehs.) Anyway, I LOVE these, but the whole not-having-pierced-ears thing prevents me from wearing them. They'll make a great gift, though.

2. Eco-friendly wood bird brooch from HexagonInc (Value: $15)--I'll pull out the caps lock again for this item...I LOVE IT! Green is my favorite color, and the brooch has a vintage vibe that I like. This little guy is probably my favorite item in the box (and it came in such a cute little envelope!).

3. Ivory and wood pom-pom flower décor from Love and Marshmallows (value: $2)--another cute item; the stem is made from a stick, and the "petals" are made from, well, yarn, as you can clearly see. I love the natural look of this; I'll have to find a small vase where I can display it.

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I loved my first Indie Gift Box so much that I signed up for a subscription. (The company just started offering subscriptions about a week ago, so if you want to get in on the fun, you'd better hurry, because only a limited number are available. Subscriptions start at $24.50 a month, plus shipping). Before it offered subscriptions, Indie Gift Box sold its packages as one-off purchases, an option that's still available to those who don't want to subscribe. Check out Indie Gift Box's offerings here: Indie Gift Box subscription link