Disclosure: There are no affiliate links/referral links in this post. The box was paid for by me.
Background:
The Autumn 2015 box is here. I decided to purchase the autumn box based on the spoilers even though the Decoterie Summer Box was not a fit for me color-wise. I liked the spoilers and took the risk of purchasing the autumn box. The main thing that attracted me to The Box by LE was Letitia Elizabeth’s process in crafting her creations. To me it said eco-luxe with a feminine bohemian twist.
I feel that I need to add a bit of background information. Feel free to skip it and head straight to the cat picture. You won’t hurt my feelings.
Letitia Elizabeth originally started her subscription box as Decoterie using the CrateJoy platform. She changed it to The Box by LE that is still on the CrateJoy platform. She alerted subscribers by email on October 11th to the change. The tracking number for the autumn box was sent on October 27th. The tracking number was sent out a week early for the summer box. The lack of movement did not concern me. The Box by LE sent out an email update on November 1st explaining there was a delay, and a new website was under the way. I did not post that email to the blog.
My box arrived on November 12th. On November 12th, an email went out explaining about the new website, subscription options, and the Holiday Box. The Box by LE is now on the Subbly platform. I mention this because my Cratejoy username and password does not work on a different system. I did not purchase a yearly subscription. As far as I can tell my subscription with The Box by LE has ended unless I sign back up again. Cratejoy holds the credit card information. I don’t see how that can be transferred to Subbly although I could be wrong. In other words, I have no idea if I have a current subscription or if I will be charged again. The email on November 1st explained that the annual members will continue to receive the original subscription. I will post the email from the 1st in the comments for those that want to read it.
We all need a Little Lamb break. He is visiting the farm this week and is having a lot of fun. He will be back in a few weeks.
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The Review
Subscription: The Box by LE Autumn Box Edition – Please note that Quarterly subscriptions are no longer available although annual subscribers will be receiving them per an email sent on November 1st. That email will be posted in the comments.
The Box by LE now offers 2 subscription options. Monthly and mini monthly boxes are available. The Holiday Box is also available for purchase and offers customization.
Cost: I paid $150 plus $15.00 shipping for The Box by LE Autumn Box Edition. The monthly box is $100.00. The Mini Monthy Box is available for $49.00. The Holiday Box is $150.00.
What to Expect: The spoilers for the autumn box was released on October 7th via email. It’s best to click on the links in the cost description to see what to expect for the other boxes. I don’t know if they are subject to change and don’t want to mislead anyone who reads this post a month later.
Here’s the first peek into the box. I opened the box up last night and wished I took a second unboxing picture of what was underneath the canvas.
I was hoping for the canvas that was the original spoiler.
The items are the same items listed in the spoiler email. The spoiler email mentioned the possibility of bonus items. I have not read of anyone receiving them. The bonus items were not a guaranteed. I placed the items on my recliner for the pictures to allow for more space.
It’s another cloudy and windy day in my area although the sun is trying to shine.
I can see the feminine bohemian look when I place the blanket and canvas together.
I was surprised! I was looking forward to a floral watercolor as described in the spoiler.
Insouciant Fine Art Canvas by Leigh Viner: The link leads to the print, not the canvas. It’s a watercolor abstract. Vanquish is the second print. I have not seen the third print and was unable to find anything titled “Lotus Flowers”. I am trying to understand the picture. I realize it is an abstract. However, after looking at some of the prints on her website, I am wondering if this is depicting domestic violence? It would explain the name. Check out her website and let me know what you think.
The canvas is stretched on a wood frame. I sent a picture to Subscriptionista, who loves the canvas. She sees it as an explosion of watercolors. I’m glad that she likes it because I am going to ship it off to her.
Great art should generate conversation and cause people to think! Mission accomplished.
L.E. Throw Blanket: I’m not big on a lot of packaging. However, I do expect a $197.00 blanket to be wrapped in plastic or tissue paper. The blanket was loosely folded and placed between the rug and the canvas. The rug and the canvas are wrapped in plastic.
The dirt mark is the first thing I noticed after removing the canvas print from the box.
It caught my eye because of the way the blanket was folded. The mark was right on the top of the blanket. I did try to brush it off.
It’s a great size for the winter and cheerful. The blanket is incredibly soft. I would be very happy with the blanket if it were not for the stain. The front of the blanket is a cream color. Correct me if I am wrong because I have poor lighting in my house.
I’m also surprised by the blanket tag. It states that the blanket is polyester and made in China. That is not what I pictured in a box curated by LE. I don’t know anything about printing on a blanket. Maybe it is easier to print on a polyester blanket? This picture also shows the whiteness of the back of the blanket.
Here’s the Burke Decor August blanket tag for comparison.
My boys will still try to take the blanket despite the print because it is incredibly soft.
Artim Area Rug: The rug is the type of rug that I expect to see in The Box by LE.
We pulled up the rug in the family room and will be refinishing the wood floor. Ignore how bad it looks. I love the rug. It matches the furniture in the family room. I placed it in front of the TV.
It’s 100% cotton and hand made in India. I’m very happy with the rug. The rug is the type of rug that kitties may think is great for sharpening claws. It has a nice, tight weave to it. I better keep an eye on Link!
I like that swappable colors were selected.
Verdict: I want to like and support this box. I love the concept of eco-luxe. I do not know what to think of the watercolor print. I’m disappointed that the blanket was not wrapped and had a stain that was visible to me right away. I do love the rug and wish the box was full of items similar to that in that it is handmade or natural fibers. I don’t think the packaging is reflective of a higher price point box. I don’t know what happened to receiving a pillow cover in each box. I will have to go back through my emails to see why I thought that was to happen.
It’s also difficult to launch a subscription box especially with the type of scrutiny that The Box by LE/Decoterie experienced. I do think Letitia Elizabeth pours her heart into it. She made the box easily swappable among subscribers wanting a different variation. She also provided a blanket with an exclusive print to subscribers along with exclusive canvases. I hope that she finds the proper appreciation for her subscription box business and is successful.
Subscription Box Flashback
Decoterie Summer Box: I used the candle as a blog raffle prize. I shipped the pillow and the leather case to Subscriptionista. I’ve been using the scarf, bowl, thank you cards, and coasters.
***Click here to read more The Box by LE/Decoterie news and reviews***
What do you think of The Box by LE Autumn Box? Are you planning to subscribe to the monthly box or purchase a holiday box? Share below and anything else on your mind!
Here is the Nov 1st email as promised.
-Sub Bella
HAPPY SUNDAY FUNDAY!
We hope everyone is enjoying their lazy Sunday and avoiding cavities at all costs. We’ve seen some of our customers really knock it out of the park with their costumes. Kudos! Just dropping in quickly with a few updates. Our studio is all a buzz putting final touches on each and every box. First up, we want to let you know our box will be a bit delayed. Not cool, we know. Our previous box was not on time…it was early! We were so proud of that. But alas nothing remains perfect in the subscription world and unfortunately one of our collaborators sent in their goodies a week late so we missed our deadline, but no worries, they will arrive soon! Also just a note that we always do shipping labels early, this is to allow customers to login and change their address when they realize they have the wrong one on file, or for those traveling that need to arrange mail hold. Or those moments a tracking says delivered but there’s no box in sight, and you realize oh shucks, wrong address. Yeah, we’ve been there! Some are ready to go, but we didn’t want half of the boxes to get there before others and unfairly leave you with delivery envy, but looking at them, let’s just say please expect a box bursting at the seams! We did this ship label release a tad bit earlier than normal because our site will be under a new name with new products and we wanted ample time for customers to login to their account, which they did. So excuse our appearance, our site will be back up soon!
Speaking of new products, the majority of you are curious and really want to experience more high value. We totally understand and don’t want to force anyone into the monthly arrangement when they signed up for a full year. So annual members will keep receiving the original box, and we will launch the cheaper monthly option for everyone else that wants to give it a try. We also might be secretly working on a $59 option! We are so inspired by our friends over at Designerbox and might give the one item box a try for even more affordable options. Can anyone say organic bed sheet sets or Japanese handcrafted sherpa lounge shoes for the winter? Shhh.
Please Note: Lastly, just as a reminder, please remember our social media is not used for customer service. We found out the hard way notifications for these apps aren’t the best once you have more than a few hundred followers, so please email us. If you have emailed us once or even 30 times and not heard back, we are not ignoring you, trust us it frustrates our team as well. Our server simply rejects some, so please try a different address if you have one and try again. We tried to reach a North Carolina vendor for 6 weeks thinking they were ignoring us, and it was just email trouble. We don’t know why, but hopefully with our new website we’ll have a new email that behaves better. If all else fails, reach us on Twitter. They have the best notification system that is hard to leave anything unseen. And don’t forget, those few of you with coaster replacements – they will be included in the fall box, so get those mugs of hot cocoa ready!
From your fellow box addict in crime,
Shop Letitia Elizabeth
Autumn boxes have sold out!
I’m very disappointed with this box and they still won’t do anything about overcharging me on the shipping. The box and company has been drama!!@
Sarah – I hope you reach a resolution with the company.
Won’t lie, was excited to see this review just because of the drama surrounding the last box. That being said, I blanket I dislike (made in China?!), the rug is okay, but I ADORE that canvas you got! Beautiful artwork!
LOL on the drama. I’m glad that you understand and adore the canvas!
I love the canvas! I subscribed to an art sub box and I should be getting my options tomorrow.
I’m also very very surprised that blanket is from China. I thought she was a fan of US sources. Now I’m curious why it’s $200. Anyway, if it’s soft I’ll sleep all over it. My mother-in-law keeps getting me blankets for Christmas bc her son doesn’t like using the heaters. For $27 from Costco they’re soft, warm, and most definitely not from the US.
I can’t wait to hear about the art sub box!!! I’m glad you love the canvas! I feel bad that I am not understanding it.
I like everything in this box. No way would I pay $150 for it though. And I hate to be mean, but the verbose cutesy emails need to stop.
The comments show me she is doing a great job curating the box. The emails remind me of the ones that Little Lace Box used to send out.
These items do not say luxury to me at all. I would be furious if I paid $165 for this. I hate the canvas print. It would not go with my decor at all. A stained blanket is not acceptable and I really dislike the lips. I would not want to use it, soft or not. And the rug while nice seems really small. Like almost placemat size. These items all seem like things I could get at tjmaxx. The price point is outrageous.
Thank you for commenting! The rug is small. It is 2′ x 3′. I am fortunate that I found the perfect spot in my house.
Loving this box. I am going to try to swap for the print and blanket. I am super surprised though that the blanket is polyester and made in china. That just doesn’t seem like her M.O.
Good luck with swap! I agree it does not seem like her M.O. That was disappointing to me.
I too and surprised you got a blanket with dirt on it, and a $200 value to me means the blanket should be a bit more luxe. I wonder about the whole pillow case thing as well! I like the canvas and itll liven up my spot. I can see why it wouldn’t be for everyone…
I looked back at the summer review. I written that it sounded like a pillow case would be included in further boxes. I really thought the idea was to have a good USA pillow insert and have a new pillow case included in each sub box. I did not keep the summer information card. It’s a mute point.
I need to figure out how to ship it out to you!
I need to get everything together for you! I have just a mess of a life right now. But Sophia, Camilla, and you are all helping me laugh my way along!
This box lost me with the lips print, the stain is not acceptable.
J loves the print! He thinks it is a great color. So much for my theory that the boys won’t use the blanket. I’m not crazy about the print either.
I realized that what I wrote about Little Lamb may be misunderstood. I meant that we needed a cute Little Lamb picture break to enjoy his cuteness after reading the background. I did take the cats up to the farm during the college tour. I brought back Puss in Boots’ girlfriend instead of Little Lamb. He will be returning on Saturday. He is enjoying hanging out with the farm cats and doing farm cat stuff.
How are the chirping kitties?
Everyone is happy! Puss in Boots brought back a girlfriend. I’ve been taking pictures of her.
I think Subscriptionista should review the holiday box or the monthly box. I am very curious about both of them. A part of me wants to try the holiday box and the other part of me says I may not like it.
Subscriptionista liked both boxes more than I did. I think she would write a great review!