Umba Box Loves

“Style is a way to say who you are without having to...

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:58:22 -0400

“Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” - Rachel Zoe

Photo

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:32:39 -0400

Here are some of my favorite handmade items for Mother’s...

Thu, 10 May 2012 17:07:36 -0400

Here are some of my favorite handmade items for Mother’s Day. Which is your favorite?

Heirloom Seed Kit in Paper Envelopes | Honeycomb Bucket | Lace Bracelet

Peonies in the office make work more cheery. But loving your job...

Thu, 10 May 2012 15:50:35 -0400

Peonies in the office make work more cheery. But loving your job also makes work cheery. (Taken with Instagram at 500 Startups)

the-t-files: Filed Under: Sweet Subscription The...

Sun, 06 May 2012 16:31:16 -0400

the-t-files:

Filed Under: Sweet Subscription

The product-subscription service was at full steam over the past year—you can subscribe to anything from beauty samples or undies to artisan foods. As much as we all love getting surprise packages in the mail, those subscriptions always seem full of things we could get, well, at the store. But there’s a new box at the door—subscription skeptics, reconsider! Umba Box is full of a beautiful curation of handmade goodies like jewelry, home decor, and accessories. No more wading through tons of teeny shops and endless Etsy for the perfect gift; Umba Box offers a streamlined service that takes you straight to design gold. Still stumped for Mother’s Day? Send a special handmade surprise from Umba Box that’s sure to delight!

Going on Holiday: Handmade Style

Sun, 06 May 2012 15:40:00 -0400

I’m back from our island hopping holiday! (Doesn’t calling it a “holiday” make a vacation seem so much fancier? Those Europeans know what they’re talking about.)

We had a lovely time learning how to cook Mexican cuisine, climbing Mayan ruins in Belize, ziplining in Honduras, and sunbathing on Grand Cayman.

I have a few hours at the airport before our flight back to the Bay area, so thought I would share a few handmade things perfect for a sunny holiday that I wish I would have picked up before our trip.

[sources clockwise from top left: Independent Reign, Amy Lehfeldt, Beverly Swimwear, Tumbleweeds Handcraft]

Do you have any fabulous plans for a holiday this summer? I’d love to know where you’re off to! Let me know in the comments!

xo,

Lauren

Up, Up, and Away!

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:30:58 -0400

Hi Friends! I’m currently writing to you from 30,000 feet, somewhere over oh, Arizona, or New Mexico, or… (it’s hard to tell from way up here).

I just wanted to check in with you all and thank you for all of your support. Since our move out to the San Francisco area for 500 Startups earlier this month, things have been quite hectic, so I haven’t been as personally involved with subscribers and blog readers as I would like to be. I’m going be much better about it going forward, promise!

[photo of Grand Cayman by Fevi Yu]

So why am I on a plane? I’m off for a much needed (though poorly timed- things are crazy around the Umba Box office!) vacay to sink my toes into the beach somewhere in the western Caribbean. I’m so excited, but a little bit apprehensive to step back from the Umba Box reigns for a full week. But fear not, the lovely (and HIGHLY capable) Allison and Erin are ready to help you out with any questions you might have. Feel free to email them at customersupport@umbabox.com or stop by our new site at www.umbabox.com. We have added a live chat feature on the lower left side. If they’re not in meetings, they’ll be logged in ready to chat!

If you want to live vicariously through my sandy adventure, feel free to follow me on Instagram (username: umbabox). I might post one or two shots on the blog this week.

xo!

Lauren

The April box is revealed!

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:19:00 -0400

The time has come to show you this month’s Umba box! Subscribers received 3 awesome items this month!

Your kitchen will be brightened with a pop of bright blue color from the gorgeous blueberry basket flour sack dish towel from Tinaproduce. You’ll be able to scribble quick notes, grocery lists, or write sonnets and songs in the adorable note pad from Paper Lovely and while writing the next big hit you’ll be able to savor the amazing flavor of the goodies from The Caramel Jar (I want some right now!).

Get to know the designers:

Kristina Basgen from Tina Produce:

I love promoting sustainability by offering reusable napkins, kitchen/tea towels, totes and tees. My initial designs are inspired by farmers’ markets and aim to celebrate the abundance of year-round fresh local produce. All functional art pieces are designed, hand screen printed, and cleverly packaged in my Oakland, California home studio by me, Kristina Basgen.

Kim from Paper Lovely

I started my career as a graphic designer in a corporate setting, but soon realized that I yearned for something more. In 2006, I started my own graphic design studio. Today, I am happy to be able to combine my passions for design and paper by creating little paper lovelies to bring a smile to your face. Paper Lovely is cozily nestled in the heartland of America-in Omaha, Nebraska. I am inspired by life’s simple, sweet pleasures and I am here to rekindle your love for written correspondence.

Nicole Ebbitt from the The Caramel Jar:

My self-proclaimed love affair with food led me to the creation of the best job ever, I am the “Chief Caramel Girl” of The Caramel Jar. As a former non-profit executive turned full-time caramel maker (quite the switch I know!) now I spend my time creating creamy, homemade, hand cut and individually wrapped caramels. I also make it a goal to be conscious about my environmental footprint by packaging with reusable canning jars and unbleached, non-toxic parchment paper. Our signature soft and chewy Fleur de Sel caramels may just tame your sweet and savory cravings!

Limited Edition Mother's Day boxes are here!

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:01:26 -0400

Moms everywhere have been treated over and over again with the cliche IOU coupon book for free hugs, a lukewarm breakfast in bed, or the traditional (and lovely) bouquet of flowers. This year, let’s try something new!

Umba Box has the perfect something for the Moms in your life: a limited edition Mother’s day box! We have curated 3 months worth of goodies that we think moms will adore.

Unique, lovely, and handmade (of course!) creations that will make Mom swoon and be amazed at your creative gift-giving!

Follow us here to the Umba Box site and pick up something new and exciting for mom this year! http://www.umbabox.com/mothersday.html

Join us this Sunday

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:35:37 -0400

While we are busy with the final touches of our new web design, we have an opportunity for our favorite handmade friends.

This Sunday we are looking for a few creative gift-givers to join us for the afternoon. Your time will be rewarded with a $25 Amazon gift card and a tasty lunch.

We are looking for people who love to give and receive creative gifts. If you find yourself combing etsy for the perfect handmade items and are passionate about giving unique items we would love to chat with you.

We are working to make Umba Box the place for your handmade gift-giving and would love your feedback to help make it awesome.

Time: Sunday 4/15 for at least 30 mins between 2pm-4pm

Location: Downtown Mountain View, CA

Contact: allison@umbabox.com

Compensation: Catered lunch & $25 Amazon gift card

Amazing opportunity to meet with us and tell us what you would like to see at www.umbabox.com.

Please contact Allison at allison@umbabox.com if you think you would like to come.

Umba Box is Accelerating

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:48:42 -0400

Umba Box begins a landmark experience today. We are thrilled to announce that we have been chosen to participate in one of the top start-up accelerators in the nation.

500 Startups is a startup accelerator committed to giving new businesses access to resources that will help them succeed. Forbes magazine recently featured 500 Startups as one of the Hottest Startup Incubators. Check out what they had to say here.

Umba Box is thrilled to be one of 25 fancy, new startups that will be in the new class at 500 Startups. The Umba Box team is hanging out in Mountain View, CA the next few months while we explore the best ways to deliver you the best handmade goodies we can get our hands on.

With a view like this, we can’t help but be inspired!

The Umba Box website is getting a fresh coat of paint and we can’t wait to show you around sometime in the next week. In the meantime, check out these recent articles about all the exciting stuff happening around here!

Business Week Forbes Times

Prepping Bonus Boxes for new subscribers who join at General...

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:25:28 -0500

Prepping Bonus Boxes for new subscribers who join at General Assembly tonight. (Taken with instagram)

On the train up to NYC for a quick trip for @UmbaBox. Demoing at...

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:20:18 -0500

On the train up to NYC for a quick trip for @UmbaBox. Demoing at @GA tonight. (Taken with Instagram at Amtrak North East Regional #84)

The February Shipment is Revealed!

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:47:06 -0500

The moment is here! The contents of the February box are officially revealed now that all of the boxes have arrived at their destination. Subscribers who joined before January 10th received various colored leather & canvas clutches from Velle Purse, perfect for an afternoon of errands or dinner & a movie. In each shipment, we include a little bit about our featured artist, connecting consumers with the people who make their new handmade goods.

Angeline of Velle Purse told our subscribers about how she became a handmade artist:

I started my career working in a laboratory researching vaccines for bird flu. That only lasted for 4 months, as I felt pretty much like a machine on auto-pilot. After quitting, I took a certificate course on entrepreneurship at UCLA and decided to start my own small business. I moved back here to Surabaya, Indonesia about 2 years ago. Even though I was born in here, I moved to Singapore at the age of 5 and then to Los Angeles, on my own, at 17. Thanks to my limited command of the Indonesian language, I’m pretty much left with teaching science class at international schools as a career choice. But thankfully, I also know how to sew. I never really thought about this as a career until I stumbled upon a shop that sells beautiful scrap leathers bought from leather factories all over Indonesia- those leathers were so good that I had to buy some and try to make something out of them. And Velle Purse was born!

Check out Angeline’s shop for an assortment of fabulous handmade leather bags. We’re dreaming of beach weather, so this leather tote is right up our alley!

Like what you see? Subscribe to Umba Box and receive our April shipment.

Sometimes you just need a compliment to keep in your...

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:58:18 -0500

Sometimes you just need a compliment to keep in your pocket.

(via Instant Comfort Pocket Box bearded bloke by kimslittlemonsters)

Sorting through catalogs and line sheets from #NYIGF. Lots of...

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:22:48 -0500

Sorting through catalogs and line sheets from #NYIGF. Lots of prettiness. (Taken with instagram)

On the hunt for new products to feature. Lovely booth by Noon...

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:21:56 -0500

On the hunt for new products to feature. Lovely booth by Noon Designs at the NYIGF.

“With a dash of easy-going color and our little wooden...

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:28:53 -0500

“With a dash of easy-going color and our little wooden wick, we think you’ll agree; it’s the cutest candle in the world!” (via Signature Votives | Catalog Products | Shop | Luminology Soy Candles) // These are UB’s favorite candles ever!

(CLOSED) An Umba Box Pinterest Challenge: Win a 3 Month Subscription!

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:57:00 -0500

Rules:

Create a new Pinterest board with the words Umba Box in the title.
Pin handmade items that you love from Etsy, Cargoh, Big Cartel, Artfire, or any other handmade site/blog. Be sure to credit the artists in the pin descriptions!
Post a link to your Umba Box Pinterest board as a comment on this blog post OR as a comment on this Facebook post. If you leave a comment on the blog, be sure to leave your email address.
Follow our Pinterest board, if you aren’t already.
Contest closes at 11:59 PM EST on Tuesday, January 24.

Notes:

Pinterest is currently accessibile by invite only via their site. If you don’t have an account yet, you can usually get an invite on the Pinterest Facebook page, but no promises!
One winner will be chosen randomly from all submitted entries.
We may choose another winner if we find a product via submitted boards that we end up featuring in an upcoming box. Because this can get complicated with a lot of people pinning the same item that we love, we reserve the right to choose one winner at our discretion. Keep in mind the monthly price of our Umba Box (aka- we won’t feature an item that costs $100)!

Questions? Email contests@umbabox.com.

Let the pinning begin!

[The contest is now closed. Congrats to Dawn L.!]

January Umba Box Reveal

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:20:00 -0500

The moment is here! We’re ready to reveal the contents of the January delivery now that all of the boxes have arrived at their destination.

Subscribers who joined before December 10, received a nautical-inspired necklace by Alyssa of BROOKLYNrehab and a wintery-scene fine art photography print by Meg of September Wren.

In each shipment, we include a little bit about our featured artists, connecting consumers with the people who make their new handmade goods.

Alyssa of BROOKLYNrehab grew up drawing, crafting, and making elaborate pop-up cards, and then sculptures when she was old enough to use her father’s power tools. She always preferred to work in 3D, which lead her to study industrial design. She loved the creative problem solving, but found she missed working with her hands. After she graduated, she realized she’d become obsessed with the idea of handmade, and kept learning new crafts to keep her idle hands busy. Originally, her creations were just a hobby, but as the demand has grown, she’s made her business official. It now bears the label BROOKLYNrehab, based in-you guessed it-Brooklyn, NY. Check out Alyssa’s shop for some awesome handmade & vintage goods. We also love these custom silhouette mugs!

Meg of September Wren was inspired by her mother’s photography skills, as she grew up looking at perfectly composed family snapshots. She started taking her photography more seriously she she became a parent herself; she knew she didn’t want to loose a single memory! In fact, she just welcomed another precious little one into her family, so she’s been capturing even more memories these last few weeks. Meg’s shop September Wren features photography prints that are modern with a vintage feel, capturing little bits of nostalgia in everyday life. Her “Sweetheart” print would be such a cute Valentine’s Day gift.