Two in One Love Stories

Those who know me best know that I am a crazy sucker for 90s RomComs. Like I could probably recite the entirety of You've Got Mail to you. You know the opening scenes of The Mindy Project's pilot - that's basically based on my life.

So two love stories in one here today, in the spirit of all that is lovely and romantic for Valentine's Day. This year, each of my candle scents is going to have a signature book attached to it. For pomegranate, it's Pride and Prejudice - two favorites.

Don't you just love that scene in You've Got Mail when Joe Fox says this line? It's one of my favorite things in the world. Versions of Mr Darcy that I love: Colin Firth (VHS Pride & Prejudice), Tom Hanks (You've Got Mail), Colin Firth again (in Bridget Jones' Diary) and this new super cute guy- Matthew MacFadyen (new Pride & Prejudice with Keira Knightly). These are my cultural reference points. ;)

For those of you in love with pomegranate and Pride and Prejudice, this candle is for you. Covered in the pages of Elizabeth vs Darcy and Jane pining for Bingley, this candle will literally warm your heart. Check it out in the shop.

Photo cred

New in the Shop: For Your Honey

Just in time for Valentine's Day, beeswax-soy blend pillar and votive candles for your honey. 

Bee Mine.

Photo cred

A Gift Guide to Candles - Candles for Everyone!

I make candles. I love candles. Candles are great for everyone. I know everyone always buys candles as gifts, but you know why - it's because they are amazing! I see tons of people buy my candles at markets, and I think I've successfully typecast each candle to its perfect recipient. So no matter what kind of person you're shopping for this holiday season, I think I have a candle that would be perfect for them. 

Grapefruit: Sweet & Spunky. Grapefruit packs a punch. Just like Mindy Kaling, it's sweet with a little bit of spunk that will make you smile. Sidebar- if you haven't been watching The Mindy Project, I hate you for causing it to go on hiatus. It is my No. 01 favorite show. Period. 9.5 oz Grapefruit Soy Candle in the Shop

Pomegranate: Classy as Shit. Pomegranate is a great go-to fragrance to give as a gift. It can go anywhere, in anyone's house, all year round. It's the most popular fragrance that I have, and a good safe bet, just like Marion Cotillard. Who doesn't want to be her? Classy is always the way to go. 9.5 oz Pomegranate Soy Candle in the Shop

Vanilla: Sweet as Pie. This vanilla is sweet like sugar, spice and everything nice. Meryl Streep is my vanilla. She's amazing, she's sweet - especially in this old picture of her. And you'd always want her around. Vanilla - for the naysayers - is NOT a boring fragrance, flavor or anything. It's amazing! It's simple, it's sweet and it's a crowd pleaser. I love it. 14 oz Vanilla Soy Candle in the Shop

Lavender: For Soft Souls. Corinne Bailey Rae is my kind of pop icon, in the way that she's kind of the anti-icon. She doesn't go out of her way to be heard or make a statement; she makes great music and she seems like an amazing, laid back person. Her music puts me at ease and it's just about the only thing I listen to. Lavender is a good fit for her - calm, reliable, amazing. 8 oz Lavender Soy Candle in the Shop

Cedarwood: The Woodsman. Life is not complete without a super manly, cedarwood candle, embodied by who other than Nick Offerman. The man is a real life woodworking celebrity. If there was ever a candle to put a smile on a man's face, it's cedarwood. Mr. Handmade Habitat requests them on the reg for his personal use and burns them all the time. If there's one way to keep him happy, it's with a full stock of cedarwood candles. 14 oz Cedarwood Candle in the Shop


I hope you've enjoyed this guide as much as I have enjoyed putting it together!


Note: These pairings are based on my perception of these amazing, talented people- not their actual tastes.

A Milestone: The Big 200

The other day, I woke up to my 200th Etsy sale! My goal for the end of the holiday season was to reach the big 200. (I come from a mathematical family and we all agree that there are pretty numbers and there are ugly numbers. 8 is ugly and gross; 200 is pretty damn awesome.) By November 4th, I had reached my goal and by November 5th, it was exceeded. Oh yes, we are officially at 201 Etsy sales.

Self employment is a little more than difficult sometimes, and it is the little milestones like these that keep me at it. So thank you to everyone for your love and support during the past year while I've left my day job and gotten into this world full time. It's been a great experience and I will never be able to be in an office chair in front of a computer screen by 9 a.m. ever again. Reflecting on this time last year, I think about how much I've learned and how much I've grown in my business. It's been awesome and I can't wait to see what new things will arise in the coming year.

Thanks for sticking with me and being a part of this grand adventure. Take 15% off in the shop this week and next with the code "BIG200." It expires November 23 at midnight!

With lots of love,
Amina

Let me share with you my story:

I started my handmade business because I make too many things. I love the process - coming up with an idea, planning it out and turning a really small concept or idea in my head into a real, tangible item to love.

I've been making things since... I could use my hands? I remember making things with my mom and sister when I was really little, but I can't pinpoint a day where I learned to sew. I remember learning to knit and the first thing I knitted (a conveniently holey vest for my doll - there were two gaping holes in it where I had dropped so many stitches that it worked pretty well as arm holes for a vest) and I remember learning to crochet (my mom totally faked like she knew what she knew how to crochet and taught me before she ran out the house for work one day and came home to me having "crocheted" a scarf - said she was making up what she told me - turned out pretty well!) but I really can't remember the day that I started making things.

My mom comes from a family of do-ers, not thinkers. My grandparents emigrated from Pakistan in the 70s (had their 30-years-in-America ann'y over the summer!) and opened up a curtain-making business - Jamil Interiors - in Forestville, MD - just over the DC line in probably the greatest state in America.

So I grew up in Maryland - well, southern Maryland (which is practically The Deep South) and have been making things foreva. I was an indoor kid, as my boyfriend likes to say. But I was probs the coolest indoor kid ever.

And if we fast-forward to today - I am now 22, an underemployed college grad, happily domestically partnered, with a dog, about to quit my day job and dive head-first into the world of self employment. Because I love making things. And I love being home with my dog.

Sidenote - I started my business under the name "Cats & Crafts by Amina" but people thought I was selling cats and plus, I don't live at home with my cats anymore. Just have a little pup named Rosieeeee. So now I'm Handmade Habitat.

So it's nice to meet you. I make candles, scarves, bags, hand-knitted socks and catnip toys still (because it's fun). Check out my Etsy shop!

Love Amina

A Handmade Life

Handmade has been my life for practically my whole life. I love making things so much that in 2010, I turned this hobby into a part-time business. This past November, I quit my day job to see how far I could get with this. Welcome to my journey, my life, my Handmade Habitat. I'm Amina.

{Photo: 9.5 oz soy candle. Available in pomegranate, lavender, vanilla, rose & pine.}