[ Earthy brown button up scarf/cowl. $42 ]

[ Willa Necklace - Emerald and Sterling Silver. $39 ]

[ Collier - Nie Nie. $32. Inspired by Nie Nie ]

[ Delicious Fuschia Hobo Bag. $92 ]

[ Sweet Fabric Wreath - Rust Red. $17.50 ] 

[ Shakespeare Sister Coat. $395 - not in my budget at all ]

What are some of your favorite Etsy items?

It’s been over a month since I last posted about my etsy shop, a pinch of sugar. Since then, I haven’t been able to get much done with it aside from trial & error with different scrubs. I may sell a few sample items here and there in the near future, but soon, I hope to order another large shipment of supplies so that I can really start selling.

In the meantime, I’ve been thinking of package ideas. When it comes to that, I’d like to keep things simple for the most part. I bought some hemp to tie around the jars in a beautiful bow for now. I’m not sure if I want to get labels for the jars that show the ingredients or not. Since the labels will most likely have to be taken off, anyway (due to the ink smearing in the shower), I may just print out little cards that contain all of the ingredients and recommended usage of each product. Any suggestions?

I’ve also taken a few practice shots of a vanilla sugar scrub that I made for my mom. I think they turned out well, but I may need to do some cropping and editing. I’m still unsure if I want to keep the photos simple or dress them up a bit.

What do you think? Any suggestions about packaging, labels, and/or photos? Should I keep things simple and lovely, or make things a bit more ellaborate?

In other news, maybe I should talk Husband into starting an etsy shop? He has a bit of a talent when it comes to carving/whittling.

First off, I must give a HUGE thank you to my co-worker, Tiffany, for coming up with the name. I was in a creative funk, and she shot me an email with a few name ideas, and I fell in love with this particular one. (She’ll definitely be getting a few gift scrubs!)

Without further ado, I give you THE SHOP NAME:

(Obviously, I love pinks, blues, and browns.) Those are the proofs for the sticker labels that will be on the tops of the jars of the scrubs. The design is by Jessica Mundt of Starr Design, and she’ll be shipping them out soon.

I began receiving supplies yesterday, and I’m so excited. I’m starting off with a handful of fragrances (vanilla, avocado mint, oatmeal milk & honey, and tea rose), but I plan to purchase more fragrance oils soon, so I’ll need suggestions from you! (There will, of course, be an option for unscented items as well for those with more sensitive skin.) The majority of my products will be almost all organic, too! (I’m buying from a place that has certified organic oils.) That’s a huge plus to me … I’m tired of using products with ingredients that I can’t even pronounce! I want to know what I’m putting on my skin, and I’m sure you do, too.

“a pinch of sugar” won’t be official for a few weeks, but I wanted to give my blog readers a sneak peek. What do you think of the name? (Also, you can follow a pinch of sugar on Twitter – @pinchofsugar)

How do I keep myself from looking my age or older than I am? I don’t do anything too special, honestly. I mean, I don’t smoke (never have), and I don’t go out partying all the time (though there’s nothing wrong with it), so I guess that helps. I have never dyed my hair (though I do straighten it, so that’s killing it just as bad); I also never wear make up. (Sure, I used to … but I realized I was okay without it. Husband doesn’t like it, anyway.) Though I don’t wear make up, I do try to wear something on my lips to keep them soft. Obviously, when I came across the giveaway on the Alice blog to win shea butter lip balm from Perfect Organics, I had to enter. To enter, I had to answer the question What are your spring-time beauty rituals? I figured I’d share them with you as well.

I always wash my hair when I first get in the shower (I use Aussie shampoo & conditioner right now, but I like to change it up every time I buy shampoo), then I wash my face. Browsing around Etsy, I found a soft, whipped facial creme with ground walnut shells and tea tree oil for $7.50. It’s amazing. The tea tree oil smells wonderful, and the walnut shells make my face unbelievably soft. It also gets rid of any pimples sneaking their way onto my face.

Next, I use a honey whipped cream soap that has sweet almond oil and vitamin E oil (also from Etsy for $5.99 for 4 oz.) to make my body super soft. It, too, smells delicious! (There are several other scents as well.)

Finally, after getting out of the shower, I cover my body in Burt’s Bees Radiance body lotion. It smells lovely (see the trend here?), and it gives my body a natural glow while moisturizing. No kidding, this lotion contains mica, which is a light reflecting mineral, and it will make your skin sparkle. Literally.

What are YOUR beauty rituals? (Be sure to enter the giveaway, too!)

Over the weekend, I entered a blog giveaway at Nomsa Knits, and I won.

As soon as I saw the headband, I thought of my sister. She can totally pull off the bright turquiose, and she loves headbands/accessories. For only $11, who could pass up such a beautifully handmade piece? However, Ashley wanted us to pick two items from her shop, so I began browsing for something for myself.

Once I saw the necklace, I knew it had to be mine. (If I didn’t win it, it would go on my list of “things to purchase”.) I think it’s just gorgeous!

Nomsa Knits features so many delicate items for your hair and beautiful jewelry in vibrant colors. Go take a look, and maybe you’ll find something you’re just dying to have for yourself!

P.S. Some good things are happening in my life that you should catch up on. Also, I’m getting the car today!

Every time I go to a book store, I look at the journals. I love anything leather, and I prefer paper with small lines or no lines at all–I can’t stand wide-ruled lines. I study them, and I just want to buy them all, even if I don’t plan on writing in them. So, when I found Kreativlink’s Etsy shop, I was full of awe.

Since most of you are also bloggers, I have a small hunch that you like to write. Sometimes, blogs aren’t the best place to write extremely personal things, so most of us keep private journals for the too-personal moments in our lives. That’s why I’m going to be your new best friend by giving you a beautiful journal from Kreativlink. What will the lucky winner be receiving? Tree blossoms, leather journal, suede.

Yes, I know. It’s beautiful. Description from seller:

Original drawing on soft, ochre colored suede that’s sewn on brown felt. As with all my books, it comes with a handsigned “certificate of authenticity” card so it makes a great present too.

Size: 11 x 16 cm (4.5 x 6 inch)
Paper: blank, 120 g/m², 240 pages (counted both sides)

Filled is this softcover journal with tea-stained paper, hand torn and carefully bound with strong linen thread. The paper is smooth and takes all writing instruments and will also work great as a sketchbook for dry media..

Here’s what you can do (you get FOUR entries!):

1. Visit Kreativlink’s Etsy shop. Comment on this post with your favorite item from the shop.
2. Tweet about this contest. IN A SEPARATE COMMENT, link to your tweet. (If your Twitter is private, you can add me: SomewhatVoluble)
3. Blog about this contest. IN TWO SEPARATE COMMENTS, leave a link to your blog post.

The contest will end on April 17, 2009 at 12:00pm EST; comments will be closed at that time. I will then pick a winner using random.org. The winner will receive the email that afternoon, and will need to reply within 48 hours. If the winner does not reply in the time frame, a new winner will be chosen.

Go ahead, comment! Good luck.

Update:

I noticed that I forgot to mention whether ANYONE from anywhere can enter. The journal ships from Austria to anywhere around the map! So, you don’t have to live in the continental U.S. to enter!

Update:

If you submit a comment, and it doesn’t show up right away, don’t worry. Sometimes comments get sent to my Spam comments, and I just have to approve them (usually if they have more than one link), so it will eventually show up. If you’re still worried it won’t go through, send me an email (megan@somewhatvoluble.com) and I’ll be sure to double-check and let you know.

What will you win? A Lucky Clover Charm Necklace from sTuck in the Coop valued at $26!

“This sterling silver necklace is sure to be your new favorite lucky charm. A 4 leaf clover charm hangs next to a rectangle which reads “lucky”, but can be personalized to say what you would like up to 5 letters in the font shown, or 10 in my tiny block font.
Direction of letters can be changed also.”

There will be a chance for THREE entries!

1. Head on over to the shop and take a look around. Once you’re done admiring the beautiful jewelry, come back here and comment with what your favorite item in the shop is.
2. Twitter about the contest. In a separate comment, leave the link to your tweet. If your profile is private, I’ll have to follow you first. (My twitter name: SomewhatVoluble)
3. Blog about this contest. In a separate comment, leave the link to your blog post.

The contest will end Friday, March 20, 2009 at 12:00pm EST. At that point, I will randomly select a winner (using random.org). Please remember to leave your email in each of your comments so that I am able to contact you if you are the winner. Also, if you do not celebrate St. Patty’s Day (for any reason), you can still enter to win something from the shop that is of equal or lesser value! Just leave the comments below, and you can send an email to me with specifications.

Friday afternoon, I will be contacting the winner, and you will have until Saturday to reply. If you do not reply by then, another winner will be selected.

If you have any questions about the contest, feel free to email me at SomewhatVoluble [at] gmail [dot] com. Good luck!

I left work about thirty minutes early yesterday because Josh and I had a date last night, and I wanted to be able to beat the five o’ clock traffic. (That didn’t happen, but I tried.) We ended up driving an hour away to Chattanooga because I wanted to go to Red Lobster. After dinner, we went to Michael’s because, with my newfound love for Etsy, I want to be crafty. Crafty with paper, of course. After $80 spent on supplies (several packs of cardstock, scissors, glue sticks, tape with designs on it, stamps, & ink [is that really all I bought?!]), we drove to Starbucks (two tall London fog teas) and then drove the hour home. By the time we got home, it was nearly ten, but I was too excited to sleep just yet. I wanted to try out my new crafting abilities!

Well, I suck. However, with a little more patience and practice–this is hard for someone who throws the knitting needles across the room after five minutes of trying to learn to knit (which I have yet to accomplish)–I should be a paper expert. I have so many ideas floating around in my head, which is probably why I didn’t fall asleep until well after midnight–and yes, I had to wake up at five. I was thinking of all of these cute designs and I wanted to try them out. (I considered staying home from work today just to work on the cards, but we won’t tell anyone that.)

My problem isn’t in design or creative abilities. I have that. Put me to work on photoshop, and I can design something pretty nifty; but when it comes to doing it by hand, I sometimes have a little trouble. I usually overcome said troubles, but with some things (*cough*knitting*cough*), I give up before giving it a chance. I’m excited about making the cards, though, and I’m trying to start out small so that I don’t overwhelm myself. Eventually, I’ll be a paper genius.

Probably. Maybe.

What are YOUR tips for making paper crafts? How do you deal with your frustrations?

(And if anyone would like to teach me how to knit, I’ll bake you cookies.)

I have a blog crush. Actually, I have many. So begins “Blog Crush Sunday;” every Sunday, I’ll try to post about a blog that I enjoy/love reading. Then you’ll follow the links to said blog, and you will fall in love, too. I promise. Probably.

This week, my crush is Your Wishcake. Not only do I adore her writing, but I adore the fact that she’s married (she just had her three-year anniversary, in fact), and she is clearly just as in love with her husband as she was the day they married. I admire that. She’s also creative, and she has a shop over at Etsy–where I purchased a cute cozy for my iPod touch, that I can’t wait to get:

Her blog posts are uplifting, and you won’t be disappointed. Go ahead, take a look; be sure to comment while you’re there to give her some blog love!

Description (from the shop): The 2 item gift set includes one 3 Oz shave cube that’s chunky and easy to hold. The olive oil and glycerin formulation gives a clean shave and leaves even the most sensitive skin soft and smooth. It comes with a rust proof chrome stand so the cube dries quickly and lasts longer.

Our after shave lotion was made especially for easily irritated skin and absorbs quickly without a greasy feel. His face will thank you, and you’ll love that the scent is not overpowering, but just right!

There will be a gift note inside that says, “Just because. Love, Megan” and I’m hoping he likes it!