thevelvetbox

New Bridal Section

2012-05-06T18:19:00.002-07:00

I have finally got the bridal section of my etsy shop open. I only have a few items but more will be coming soon.

Unique Bridal Section

Brand New & Blue Hot!

2012-04-27T07:50:00.001-07:00

Emerald in Blue by velvetbox on Etsy

A New Feature on Me!

2012-04-18T15:46:00.001-07:00

project30

Trunk Show

2012-04-16T16:20:00.001-07:00

I will be here. If you are local come check us out!

Please Vote!

2012-04-07T08:48:00.001-07:00

It will only take a minute. This is my alma mater and it would be great for our community. Thank you! Flint Northwestern High School – Flint, Michigan | juniortheaterproject.org

For the Beadheads

2012-04-05T09:28:00.001-07:00

I was featured on this great blog!

2012-03-28T19:24:00.001-07:00

Black DIY: Black Women Who Design! Interview with Patricia Miller of The Velvet Box | lifestyle30

It Is Going To be Great!

2012-01-04T12:36:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Items

2011-12-01T17:56:00.000-08:00

Wow, it has been a long time since I have blogged. I have had a little road block, but I am still here. A blog update is a good idea and I just thought I would post some pics of some new items, some are at my Etsy store,
some are on my web site, some I haven't listed yet.

BACK 2 BASICS

2011-09-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

It has been a minute, since I have posted and I have lost a few followers.(Oh well...) I am a firm believer in what is for me is for me and I had been praying that I would get an idea that would be a very popular among my customers. Well I got it and I have been so busy making these simple bracelets that I have not had time to take pics and post to etsy. I am thankful to God that my wonderful customers have been going crazy about these bracelets, so I decided to share them with you. There is a lot of uncharted territory and now I have to get them out there.

I am going to try to get more colors posted to Etsy soon. Thanks for looking!

Buckham Alley Fest 2011!

2011-07-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

Well I got a few pic, thanks to my friend Tanja of Pristine Baskets She walked around and got a few shots for me.

Regardless of some of the conditions, the HEAT (ugh), and the cramped quarters, it was great and I would be glad to d, o it again next year.

My banner... did have a spot for it so I had to improvise. Looks a little chatty up there, but I wanted to use my banner, so there!

I don't know what I was looking at but this terrible pic of me makes me look like I was lost in space. I had such a headache from the heat and no matter how I tried I couldn't keep my table straight. But oh well, I managed to pull it off and be bubbly with the customers and not pass out from heat exhaustion.

Here are some random people and performers...

This poor kid, what where they doing to that little boy? LOL!

Some family and friends stopped by...

The even had a craft tent...

Finally a couple of other vendors and they even had an adult spelling bee.

All in all it was a great day! I enjoyed the atmosphere and hope to be there next year! Go FLINT!

The Green Thing

2011-07-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

I thought this was interesting - How quick some of us forget... Watch who you are talking to.

In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."

The clerk responded, "*That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment."*

He was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day. Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.

But we didn't have the green thing back in our day. We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.

But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day. Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that old lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana..

In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then. We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water.

We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service..

We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

*But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then? *

*Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smart mouth young person.*** Author Unknown

NEXT SATURDAY!

2011-07-08T17:47:00.000-07:00

ARTISTAN VENDORS (I'LL BE THERE!)MUSIC, FOOD & FUN!
IF YOU ARE LOCAL, DON'T MISS IT. (Maybe I'll take pics this time O_0)

I Should Have Taken Pictures :(

2011-06-28T15:45:00.000-07:00

I had such a great jewelry week and week-end. From the fundraiser at work to the Carriage Town Arts & Crafts Fair, everything was fantastic. However, I did not take any pictures. I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I wasn't. Oh well, I really don't like taking pictures anyway, and if you know about me even a little bit, taking pictures of the jewelry and all that you have to do to get them half way decent for the internet is really a thorn in my side. Anyway, I hope everyone is having a great week and here are a few more pics of some other items that sold.

Great Week!

2011-06-22T16:11:00.000-07:00

What a great week so far selling, selling, selling! A fund raiser at my job allows me to set up my creations for people to buy during work hours. I have done this all week and it has been fantastic and I have still got 2 more days to go. Then, Saturday I am doing an art fair.

Here are some of the items that have sold, some that I sold I didn't have pics though.

That's all that I am going to upload for now. Maybe I will show you what else sold later. :)

Free Shipping - Still Going On!

2011-06-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that I am still offering free shipping on all items from The Velvet Box

I am going to keep it going until I decide to stop :)

Also to let you know, the shop will be on vacation from 06.20.11-6.26.11, due to fund raising event and another show that weekend. So if you want to get anything with the free shipping, now's the time!

New Conditioner

2011-06-07T15:21:00.000-07:00

Hi guys! I know this is not about jewelry, but I had to talk about this conditioner for all my naturalistas. Someone did a review on this product and I can't for the life of me remember who it was, so to you thanks! When I was a hair stylist, a great conditioner would always be what I was on the search for, So I just had to put my 2 cents in. "Say Yes To Carrots" is fantastic. I happened to get a buy one, get one half off at Walgreens and it was only $8.99 to start with.

I don't feel like getting technical, I just want you all to know how much I like it. :)

I did a co-wash with it and my hair was instantly soft. The smell is nice and not over-whelming. It soaked right into my hair and when I rinsed the comb out was super easy with hardly any detangling. It also left my hair shiny and feeling moist, even in the section of my head that is the most coarse. I don't know what else to say. except try it. The price is friendly and if your a product junkie, you won't have anything to lose. :)

Free Shipping on all Items at The Velvet Box

2011-06-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

I decided to put the free shipping coupon back up and it will be on until ????????? The coupon code is FREESHIP. I have been working on some new items. Check out the affordable designs at The Velvet Box. Here is just one set that I finished tonight.

I needed to try something different and The Beading Gem reminded me of the tubing. I love this look. I think you will see a lot of tubing now... (giggle)

Misconceptions of Natural Supplements

2011-06-01T15:27:00.000-07:00

Some News You Can Use... A Public Service Announcement from WTVB

Everything all natural is not all good. What do you know about all natural supplements that are sold without FDA regulation? Do you research before you buy? It would be wise. Although I believe that God put everything on this earth that we need, some things are not meant for human consumption, especially after the manufacturers tinker with the original chemical composition of an item. I don't intend on starting a one woman campaign on drugs and supplements, (I should and I could probably write a book) I just thought this was a little piece of interesting information.

[ This is all I have right now, so bear with me :) ]

One popular supplement Kava Kava, a short term anxiety treatment and also used for sleeping is known to cause liver damage, renal dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension and high cholesterol.

Another herbal supplemtent Germander is used for Gallbladder conditions, fever, Gout, Stomach ache, Diarrhea, Weight loss, used for an antiseptic, and as a mouthwash. According to WEBMD Germander is UNSAFE. France has banned its sale. Canada does not allow germander to be included in products that are taken by mouth. However, the US still allows germander to be used in small amounts as a flavoring agent in alcoholic beverages.

The safety concern is that germander has caused several cases of liver disease (hepatitis) and death.

Special Precautions & Warnings:
Germander shouldn't be used by anyone. Some people may be at even higher risk of side effects.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Germander is UNSAFE for anyone to take as medicine. If you take it while pregnant or breast-feeding, you will endanger yourself as well as your baby.

The Mayo Clinic says that Bitter Orange & Ephedra sinica , a species of ephedra (ma huang), (used for weight loss)contains the alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which have been found to induce central nervous system stimulation, bronchodilation, and vasoconstriction. In combination with caffeine, ephedrine appears to elicit weight loss (in trials of 1-12 months duration). However, studies of ephedra or ephedrine monotherapy have been equivocal. Numerous trials have documented the efficacy of ephedrine in the management of asthmatic bronchoconstriction and hypotension. However, commercial preparations of non-prescription supplements containing ephedra have not been systematically studied for these indications.

Major safety concerns have been associated with ephedra or ephedrine use, including hypertension (high blood pressure), tachycardia, CNS excitation, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and stroke.

Finally from WEBMD regarding the supplement Yohimbe:
Yohimbe is the name of an evergreen tree that is found in Zaire, Cameroon, and Gabon. The bark of yohimbe contains a chemical called yohimbine, which is used to make medicine.

Yohimbe is used to arouse sexual excitement, for erectile dysfunction (ED), sexual problems caused by medications for depression called selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and general sexual problems in both men and women. It is also used for athletic performance, weight loss, exhaustion, chest pain, high blood pressure, low blood pressure that occurs when standing up, diabetic nerve pain, and for depression along with certain other medications.

How does it work?
Yohimbe contains a chemical called yohimbine which can increase blood flow and nerve impulses to the penis or vagina. It also helps counteract the sexual side effects of certain medications used for depression.

Yohimbe, taken by mouth, is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Yohimbe has been linked to reports of severe side effects including irregular or rapid heart beat, kidney failure, seizure, heart attack, and others.

The primary active ingredient in yohimbe is a drug called yohimbine. This is considered a prescription drug in North America. This drug can be safely used short-term when monitored by a health professional. However, it is not appropriate for unsupervised use due to potentially serious side effects that it can cause.

Children should not take yohimbe. It is POSSIBLY UNSAFE for children because children appear to be extra sensitive to the harmful effects of yohimbe.

When taken by mouth in typical doses, yohimbe and the ingredient yohimbine can cause stomach upset, excitation, tremor, sleep problems, anxiety or agitation, high blood pressure, a racing heartbeat, dizziness, stomach problems, drooling, sinus pain, irritability, headache, frequent urination, bloating, rash, nausea, and vomiting.

Taking high doses can also cause other severe problems, including difficulty breathing, paralysis, very low blood pressure, heart problems, and death. After taking a one-day dose of yohimbine, one person reported an allergic reaction involving fever; chills; listlessness; itchy, scaly skin; progressive kidney failure; and symptoms that looked like the auto-immune disease called lupus.

Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy or breast-feeding: Yohimbe is LIKELY UNSAFE. Yohimbe might affect the uterus and endanger the pregnancy. It might also poison the unborn child. Don’t take yohimbe if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Schizophrenia: Use yohimbe with caution. The yohimbine in yohimbe might make people with schizophrenia psychotic.

Prostate problems: Use yohimbe with caution. Yohimbe might make the symptoms of BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) worse.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Don’t use yohimbe. There is a report that four individuals with PTSD suffered worse symptoms after using yohimbe.

Liver disease: Don’t use yohimbe. Liver disease might change the way the body processes yohimbe.

Kidney disease: Don’t use yohimbe. There is a concern that yohimbine might slow or stop the flow of urine.

High blood pressure or low blood pressure: Don’t use yohimbe. Small amounts of yohimbine can increase blood pressure. Large amounts can cause dangerously low pressure.

Chest pain or heart disease: Don’t use yohimbe. Yohimbine can seriously harm the heart.

Anxiety: Don’t use yohimbe. Yohimbine might make anxiety worse.

Depression: Don’t use yohimbe. Yohimbine might bring out manic-like symptoms in people with bipolar depression or suicidal tendencies in individuals with depression.

Diabetes: Don’t use yohimbe. Yohimbe might interfere with insulin and other medications used for diabetes and cause low blood sugar.

2 Strand Twisting Emergency

2011-05-25T15:17:00.000-07:00

To all my naturalistas, curly girl friends. I had an emergency and suprisingly this product came through for me. I ran out of my aloe flax gel from Naturalista Cosmetics and couldn't order any just yet. So I ran to the local Tar'ge (LOL) and since the budget was tight, and we hardly have anything to choose from any way, I tried this

It has not flaked and my hair is still soft, it is not dull or gummy feeling and it helped with the shrinkage. So, until I get my flax, IC you fit the bill.

Has anyone else ever tried it? What was your experience?

I Won and You Can Win Too!

2011-05-19T15:47:00.000-07:00

Go to Cherished Bliss and check out my feature and giveaway. Ashley was kind enough to host a chance for free exposure on her blog and I won. How great! Now she is sponsering a giveaway for me, go check it out. Thanks Ashley!

Cherished Bliss

I Need Your Votes!

2011-05-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

I was surfing along and found this great opportunity. Please help me win a feature! Go here Cherished Bliss and vote for #20 Thanks!
You'll see this necklace by my link:

Thanks again for your help!

Free Shipping!

2011-05-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

The Velvet Box at Etsy has free shipping from now until ??????? On all items!
If you need a gift or even a treat for yourself, go take a look, there are styles for all tastes.

I WON!

2011-05-11T16:43:00.000-07:00

The winner of the French basketeer giveaway is moi! What a pleasant suprise. I am so excited, I can't wait to get it.

Check out the blog that I won from, it is really nice.

Thanks Morgan & Andrea!

Just one Bracelet

2011-05-06T21:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks to All Wire Up TOO this cause came to my attention

All it takes is one bracelet, and I am helping. It's a blue jean theme and I made this bracelet of mixed gemstones, glass, silver plated and sterling silver metals to donate to the cause. What do you have to give?

The Global Genes project is where you sign up.