Umba Box: My Review

I have been trying various subscription services. First I tried Birch Box, which I love. I have enjoyed their lovely little boxes, full of make up, hair and skin care, and wellness samples.

When I saw a post somewhere on the interwebs about Umba Box, I thought, well I will give it a try. The idea is for $26 a month (inclusive of shipping) you will get something: "home goods, women’s accessories, jewelry, stationery, and bath products" mailed to you monthly. What I like is the items are homemade or artisan made. This appeals to me on so many levels. I think we have moved away from homemade items and it is at our own peril. Call me old fashion, but I do think homemade goods, can be superior to mass production. I have committed myself to trying to shop local and if not local, then stay focused on small businesses, specifically artisan and homemade businesses.



Subscriptions are sold as 1 month, 3-months, 6-months and 12-months. You can also give a subscription as a gift, which is a nice option. Signing up is easy, you don't get mountains of SPAM, just a confirm email and an email letting you know your item has shipped. I like this. If you choose, you can also follow Umba Box on twitter and facebook.


When my first box arrived, I couldn't wait to see what was inside.

It comes in a plain box and the shipping time isn't unreasonable.

Inside I found a plain fabric drawstring bag and some beautiful packaging material. The children love shipping peanuts, I do not.

Inside  the fabric pouch, I found a very pretty make up/what not pouch. In cream canvas and buttery brown leather. (and yes I consider this a twofer... the little drawstring bag is so nicely made, I plan to use it as well as the actual make up/what not pouch.)

I was busy thinking about how I might use the pouch, when I stopped and read the card. At first, when I read about the artisan enclosure card, I thought, well I guess that is nice, but will it actually add to the buying experience? I think it does. On the Umba Box website the artisan enclosure card is explained:

What makes Umba Box so special is the personal relationship each subscriber has to the artisans who make them; stories of the artist and product are included in every delivery. Stories that artisans can share with consumers are what the Big Box sellers just can’t match. It’s so much more enjoyable to buy something when you feel connected to the person who made it. Umba Box brings together the best from the handmade community.

After receiving my first box, I have to agree. I liked hearing about Angeline's experience and learning about her business, Velle Purse. She went to school in the US, studied for a field that she did not enjoy, went back to school and then returned to the country of her heritage, but not her language and stumbled upon something, in her case a scrap leather shop, and that was the spark.

As a creative person and a woman, who has had similar career dissatisfaction, this speaks to me. I also have to say, I have a beautiful hand made pouch, from an artisan in Indonesia. The craftsmanship is exceptional and I know I am going to enjoy using this little pouch.

When I signed up for Umba Box, I decided I would try it for a few months. It is a nice way to perhaps find some great gifts for friends, meet new to me artisans and test out this new way of shopping. I do think the subscription service is a nice way to shop, you answer some questions about your skin type, your color preferences or find a service like Umba Box, where they narrow the field to a list of types of items and you are good to go.

I am already wondering what Umba Box might have in store for me next month.

Phone Photo Sets Week 2: Red

When I first took on this challenge, I was certain white was going to be hard to capture. Not so, white proved a walk in the park compared to red. Red is a bold intense color. The color of passion.

 In the literature black and white are often portrayed as opposites, but red and white are just as often portrayed as opposites. So true for photos as well. While I am overall pleased with my set of photos, I have to say, I was not at all pleased with a number of my photos. Finding 4 good ones was a mighty challenge. I seemed to have the most trouble with over exposure. Which could have to do with me, the iPhone camera, or me, or the lighting, or the color red, or did I mention, me.

In any event, here are my photos for this week. If you did not swing over to Show&Tell last, shame on you. You really must. The white photos were breath taking, simply breath taking, I could not pick a favorite photo or set for that matter. All so good.

Music Monday: Whitney Houston I Will Always Love You

Whitney Houston - - I Will Always Love You

My mom loved this movie. She was partial to Kevin Cosner. I think this movie was well done. I also think this particular song was very powerful, sung by a very powerful singer.

While I am not a huge fan of pop songs or pop music or love songs, exactly - I have to admit that this one gives me goosebumps. I immediately thought of this song when I read the news that Whitney Houston died Saturday night. There is something powerful about the idea of always loving someone. While the tabloids and gossip magazines rehash all that was wrong in Whitney's life, I instead choose to think about all that was right. She touched so many people with her gift of song. That gift, will live on forever.

Phone Photo Sets Week 1: White

This is my photo set for week one of the #phonephoto challenge. 

I had hoped to have a poem for you this week, but I am not coming up with much. I had a great time shooting this week. At first I thought white would be challenging but I actually found a variety of white things to snap pictures of and frankly there are so many shades of white. I actually had a hard time deciding which photos to include.

Now I am on the hunt for red things... should be fun.

It is that time again... Another photo challenge

So Allison Lehman is doing another photo challenge for February. An iPhone (or phone camera) photo challenge. It is similar to NOPHO, in that it is a weekly challenge, with a set theme, and a judge and a neat prize at the end for the winner.

I am in! I love these little challenges. As an extra challenge to myself, I plan to write a poem a week, to go with my photos or somehow is related to the theme, or ideally both.

The challenge is open to anyone, you must submit all 4 weeks to be eligible for the prize and these have to be phone pics! It really is that easy and Allie has a button on her blog side bar, for easy uploading.

Go check out the challenge.