*Review* Pendant Necklaces from Handy Maiden (4.5 stars)

HandyMaiden.Etsy.com - hand-painted miniature sculptures and collectibles (San Diego, California)

Little owl pendant necklace

Product: "Little owl pendant necklace"
Order Date: August 15, 2011
My Total: $30.00 + $5.00 s&h
Discount: $28.00 Heartsy voucher
Artist: Danielle Pedersen

I first learned about the Handy Maiden shop through the Heartsy giveaway. I absolutely love the miniature pendants and had a hard time choosing which one I wanted to buy. I've been trying to not load up on things that have no functional use, so decided to go the wearable art route and choose one of the pendant necklaces.

There is a great amount of detail in each of the sculptures and collectibles and I can only marvel at how the artist, Danielle Pedersen, is able to do it without shaking and smudging anything. She has a wide variety of items that she offers in her Shop: miniature animal sculptures, brooches, chalkboard zoo series (adorable and very funny! see below on the left), earrings, necklaces, and more.

Verdict

Woodland wedding cake toppers - foxes, $160 + free s&h

The pendant looks just as it did in the photos - better, actually! - and arrived very quickly: I ordered it on a Monday and received it on the Saturday. It arrived very securely and safely packaged. I had asked for the chain to be shortened and it was.

+ PROS + Even prettier and more delicate-looking than in the photos. Owl pendant always faces the right way and doesn't twist around as you wear it. Very comfortable to wear, not at all heavy.

-- CONS -- Chain does turn as you wear it, so am always having to check where the clasp is and move it back so it's hidden. The price.

= BOTTOM LINE = I love the necklace and am very happy with my purchase. I wish that the pendant had been attached to a link in the chain so it didn't always twist around though; always an annoyance that I try and avoid when I purchase necklaces. It is a little pricey and I wouldn't have been able to afford it without a Heartsy voucher, however the price is fair given the quality and intricacy of the work.

Chalkboard pig figurine, $15.00 + free s&h

Shop Information

Opened: June 30, 2009
Items currently for sale: 64
Total sales: 518
Feedback: 487, 100% positive (487 positive, 0 neutral, 0 negative)

Links:
* HandyMaiden - Etsy Shop
* @HandyMaiden - Twitter
* Danielle Pedersen - Etsy Profile

NOTE: I purchased the item reviewed and am expressing my own uninfluenced opinions.

*Review* Eye Depuffer from Erzulie Cosmetics (5 stars)

ErzulieCosmetics.Etsy.com - All Natural Mineral Cosmetics and Holistic Skincare (New England, United States)

Photo Credit: Erzulie Cosmetics

Product: "Eye Depuffer Balm Soothe (TM) All Natural Helps Puffy Eyes and Dark Circles Proven Highly Effective"
Order Date: January 31, 2011
My Total: $5.00 + $2.00 s&h

I have always had a problem with under-eye puffiness and shadows - my high school roommate used to tell me my "bags had bags." I have been on the lookout for different solutions for years and what I tried either didn't work or I didn't have the patience for - masks, lotions, cucumber slices, etc.

When I was full-on into my Etsy craze, I realized this was the perfect place to look for what might finally be the solution to my puffiness and dark circles! Imagine my surprise when my search yielded almost no results (still true) - search for anything on Etsy and you usually have to slowly wade through the massive number of products you're given, but that was not the case here.

When looking for a specific item, I like to find all the results that appeal to me and then methodically cancel them out until I'm down till one. This time, the choice was pretty much made for me. There were three sellers who had eye depuffers and while the photos for the other two were nicer - and therefore attracted me more - I'll admit that one of the main reasons I decided to try Erzulie first was because hers was significantly cheaper than the competition's.

Applying my depuffer balm!

Verdict

It works! That is, of course, as it should be, but so many times products like these do not work as advertised, so it was a wonderfully nice surprise.

I noticed a definite visible reduction in puffiness within ~6 weeks of regular application and now use it every night before I go to sleep. It also lessens the shadows under my eyes, but I would say that was secondary - does not have any color in it so there is no masking or covering up that goes on; I think the lessening of shadows is more of a side effect from the reduced puffiness.

For those people who wear makeup often (I do only about once every other month), they should stick to applying it before bed at night. I used this once in the morning and followed with an under-eye cover-up - it ended up looking odd and not drying smoothly, looking a little grainy/spotty.

+ PROS + works wonderfully: reduces puffiness, slightly reduces dark circles / shadows; has a lovely scent that is very calming and soothing as you go to sleep; easy to apply; very affordable and lasts a long time; great during the day for a refreshing pick-me up

-- CONS -- don't use with under-eye makeup

= BOTTOM LINE = Would recommend to everyone. When mine runs out I'll be buying another!

Shop Information

Opened: September 15, 2008
Items Currently for Sale: 311
Total Sales: 6,191
Feedback: 4,325 - 100% positive (4,277 positive, 44 neutral, 4 negative)

Links:
* ErzulieCosmetics - Etsy Shop
* Progress in Health and Erzulie - website
* Blog
* Facebook Page
* @naturalcosmetic - Twitter
* progressinhealth Channel - YouTube


NOTE: I purchased the item reviewed myself and am expressing my own uninfluenced opinions.

*Review* redstarINK - paper goods: simple, bold, modern, eco-friendly (4.5)

Etsy Shop redstarINK - Designer Marcie Hicks (San Diego, CA)

I first shopped with redstarINK in September 2010 when I bought Marcie's DIY calendar in brown and blue, pictured below (it's also available in black and red). I am a HUGE lover of all things organizing-related - The Container Store is extremely dangerous for me and I try to stay clear as much as possible - so when I stumbled across her Shop I felt like I'd stumbled into heaven!

All of the items are eco-friendly and I love the simplicity of her designs. Everything is clean and bold and simple - just great! Shop categories: calendars, journals, notebooks, photo album, prints, box of notes, single notes, tiny notes, wine tags, SALE.

Info from her profile and website: Marcie is a graphic designer and artist. She designs, prints, and puts together all of the products herself. Everything is handmade and she uses as much recycled materials as possible. Items listed are usually ready to ship.

Review

What I Bought

As mentioned above, I bought the DIY calendar in brown and blue. Item arrived quickly after purchase. What I love about this is that it is not time specific, so the weeks/dates are not numbered and you fill in that info yourself. The two page spread shows a box for every day of the week with 14 lines, each with a circle at the beginning so that you can check off items as you go. There is also a blank, unlined "Notes" box in the upper right-hand corner of each week. Click on the photos to see more pictures. I emailed Marcie with a suggestion for her next calendars and she replied promptly and positively.

Phone pic of my own REDSTAR ink
DIY calendar (well-used!)

+ PROS + wonderful product, great quality, very good finishing, professional-looking, shipped quickly, great customer service

-- CONS -- only con was the price, which for me (on an AmeriCorps VISTA stipend) was pretty steep: $29.25 including shipping - lasts a long time, so evens out, but is all printed from template and compared to some other calendars it is pricey

= VERDICT = Will definitely buy from again (including this product)! The entire buying experience was a positive one and I continue to use the item daily. Items that I'm in love with and am considering buying in the future: new left brain / right brain notebook, orders notebook, DIY bills calendar or 2011 bills calendar, set of 8 greetings from ____ cards (different cities and states), list notebook, long list notebook, SALE eco notebook (many of these items are pictured below - check them out!).

Items: eco-friendly paper goods - notebooks, calendars, cards, tags
Price Range: $4, $8, $12, $15-$30

Opened: July 27, 2009
Items for Sale: 88
Total Sales: 881
Feedback: 100% positive (479 positive, 1 neutral, no negative)

Links:
* REDSTARink - Etsy Shop
* Marcie - Etsy Profile
* Professional website
* Video - very cool video on her website showing a notebook being put together
* REDSTAR ink blog
* Facebook Page
* @redstarink - Twitter

Images from Etsy Shop redstarINK

NOTE: I purchased the item reviewed and am expressing my own uninfluenced opinions.