Fair Ivy Duet: January 2014

Fair Ivy’s been kicking off the new year with a lot of fun changes.  As I mentioned in my last Fair Ivy post, they’ve changed their subscription options and this will be my first one featuring their new “Duet” subscription.  They’ve also revamped their website to feature more info on their featured artists.   For more info on subscription options, pricing and a coupon code, jump down below.  Now let’s jump into the packages!

Package #1 – Cajeta Goat’s Milk Caramels from Bliss Farms Dry Goods
(Retail: $2.00 each = Package of 8 for $16.00)

Verdict: Miss/Hit for a different month
Last year Fair Ivy included a wonderful goat’s milk caramel sauce by these same folks at Bliss Farms Dry Goods  and I loved it.  I’m sure these are delicious, but January is sandwiched between December’s Christmas excess and February’s Valentine’s decadence, so getting candy felt very ill-timed.  I think food items like jarred preserves, interesting seasonings/spices or specialty trail mix/dried fruit would have been more appropriate.  I’m sure these are still wonderful but I’ll just wait a little while before I enjoy them.

Package #2 (Jewelry) – Sterling Silver & Freshwater Pearl Necklace from Just A Charm
(Retail: $25.00)

My second Fair Ivy package has a funny story attached.  As usual I received a gorgeously packaged box.  It was from Just A Charm who’d sent me lovely things before.  I excitedly opened the box and inside was….nothing?  Cue confused Lisa searching the packaging and the floor making sure I didn’t miss something.  But it seems somewhere along the way someone had painstakingly wrapped an empty box which got sent to me.  I emailed Fair Ivy and they responded immediately with an apology and a brand new package.   All subscriptions get the occasional bump in the road, but they don’t all have such wonderful customer service.  Just A Charm also more than made up with it by sending me an additional gift. I really couldn’t have asked for it to be handled in a nicer way.

Verdict: Love!
Just A Charm describes themselves as making “contemporary jewelry with clean and simple geometrics…The style is modern, versatile, minimalist and understated.”   I adore the unique way the pearls have been included on this chain.  I don’t have a single piece like it and I think it’s going to be so lovely for spring.  It is feminine and dainty and exactly the type of jewelry I’ve come to expect from Fair Ivy.  I can’t wait to wear it.

FREEBIE
This is the just charming necklace that Just A Charm added because of the mishap with my package.  It’s really lovely and I think it will make a wonderful layering piece.  It was such a nice surprise in the box and I appreciate that they went that extra mile because of the earlier mistake.

OVERALL

Estimated Retail: $43.00.  I paid $43 including the shipping so I got exactly the retail value but without paying the shipping costs I might have if I just purchased through their Etsy stores.  The necklaces were beautiful and I even though I wasn’t crazy about getting candy this month, they still won’t go to waste. I’m excited to see what new things will come in February (Valentine’s Day theme perhaps?) and I’m hoping we’ll see some exciting new artists!

What did you think of this box?
Would you be all about the caramels or is the pearl necklace more your speed?

THE BACKSTORY

Fair Ivy is a subscription box of beautifully wrapped, handmade items made by individual artisans.

There are two subscription options:

A jewelry only subscription at $25.00 a month (plus shipping) for 1 jewelry item per month.  (This option will ship in the US & Canada).

Or

The Duet subscription at $35.00 a month (plus shipping) of 2 handmade items (1 item will be jewelry).  (This option only ships in the US).

Because the items ship directly from the artisans, if you choose an original subscription you will receive the packages individually throughout the month.

DISCOUNT CODE:  FAIRIVYFRIEND for $5 off the first month of any subscription.

Author: Writer Preziosi

Once upon a time, long, long ago, Lisa attended Syracuse University where she studied singing in a giant castle surrounded by ice and snow. After she earned her music degree, she headed to the island of Manhattan, down to the West Village, to a place called the New School. There, she earned another degree in the great art of writing stories for children. She currently works on that same island trying to help real people, while making up stories about imaginary ones. Her first book, “The Ice Maiden’s Tale,” a fairy tale adventure, was released on May 30, 2017 and is up for sale on Amazon. View all posts by Writer Preziosi