The Work Behind the Fun

It may come as a surprise, but the art of crafting necessitates a lot of research and hard work in the pursuit of perfecting one's "craft."  There is a constant search for perfection, at least on my part.  There is market research, learning how to use various types of social media, actively posting and expanding a social media following, learning how to troubleshoot creative issues, finding the most efficient and effective methods to achieve your results, and of course, making time to do the actual crafting and photographing of your latest creations. 

In this respect, the countless hours I have spent learning how to conduct and conducting legal research, as well as my background in Communication seem to pay off heavily.  There is a constant thirst for knowledge and the security of knowing that I can find the answer so long as it is out there.  I once spent a few months searching for a particular type of molding compound.  All I knew was the color of the compound, no more and no less.  I searched for the compound on and off again whenever I had some spare time, and I found it!  Not only did I find it, but I also located a supplier to sell it to me from overseas!

The result of fun time! One of the new hairstyles I created over the weekend.

In all honestly, that's the not the first time that I've gone on a seemingly wild goose chase for something that caught my interest.  In college, I researched and contacted the number one Japanese nail sticker company after buying a pack of nails stickers and delighting at all the crafting possibilities they opened up (Yes, I came up with ways to use them for decorating jewelry boxes, creating your own body tattoos, facial stickers, and much much more...).  Surprisingly, my passionate email reached the attention of the company's president, and for a long while, I was the authorized U.S. distributor of their products.

It's easy to get downtrodden by the sheer amount of work that is necessary to achieve the goal at hand, but rest assured, each bit of work that's done is a little less that needs to be done tomorrow, and a lot less that will need to be done later.  The work gets easier and easier, faster and faster, and the fun grows exponentially as well.

With a little hard work and a lot of practice, anything is possible!

If the endangered piping plover can do it, we can too!

XoXo,

Joyce

Flashback Friday and a Sneak Peek for Next Week

What better way to take it easy at home while nursing a vicious cold than going through some of my past creations. :)

I had so much fun making this ring.  It all started when I was exploring making my own polymer canes.  I created the blue base as part of what would later become flower petals and decided that it would make a great looking pond in a ring.  

At first I was thinking about making a koi pond, and then I added a bunch of colorful flowers and some Swarvoski crystals, and this is what I got. 

It reminds me of a reflecting pool.  It is so amazing what is created when we just go with the flow and see where life takes us.

This was one of my very first creations.  I was very into the harajuku and decoden style at the time, but wanted to give it my own glamorous, sparkly twist.  Making this necklace took a lot of thought and much trial and error.  I made each one of the glass covered discs unique (AB porcelain roses, metal roses, rose cabochons, faux pearl hearts, crystals, and more) and surrounded the rose centerpiece with both faux pearl cabochons and Swarovski crystals.

I truly love creating one-of-a-kind pieces, even if all the business journals and guidelines I have been reading tell me that that is not the way to go.  Time will tell, but I will definitely be making one-of-a-kind pieces all the time.

In case you couldn't tell, pink is one of my favorite colors! 

A few of my miniature doll figurines from when I discovered braided and multicolored hair! :)

 When I got the idea to make my very first miniature doll, the name "Megumi" literally came to me in a dream.  When I looked up the meaning of the word (which I had never heard before), I discovered that it meant "blessing" or "grace."  Pretty cool, huh?

I have since made these little dolls into lucky charms for my necklaces and bracelets (coming soon due to popular demand!) and hope that they will bring joy, luck, and love to their owners!

And on that note... here is one of my little dolls today!  I have named this one Persephone!  She's got gorgeous pink, purple, and lilac hair and has a hot pink flower and Swarovski crystals in her hair.

I have even made a little companion for my dolls! :)  He's not a charm, but a cute miniature friend, nevertheless.

Perhaps an inspiration for dolls with companions! (coming soon?????)

Keep an eye out for sister and best friend necklaces (my latest idea) coming soon to my store!

XoXo,

Joyce

Finding Inspiration

How does one find inspiration in the doldrums of everyday life?  My first thought is that the immediate answer is to shift one's perspective.  Sounds easier than it is in practice.  Certainly there are a number of seemingly endless menial tasks that each and every one of us must engage in on a daily basis.  We stare out of the same window, wash the same dishes, clean the same floor, work at the same desk... the list goes on an on, right?

Change your day like this into...

Wrong!  Wrong, you ask?  Yes, wrong!  It's a choice to see everything as the same.  Why not enjoy the intricacies of each task.  Maybe it's the way the wind blows across the trees as they change into their fall colors, remembering the wonderful meal you just enjoyed as you wash those dishes, reflecting upon the wonderful company you had this week as you wipe the floor, or even giving yourself a pat on the back for the brilliant idea you had yesterday while sitting at your desk.

a day like THIS!!!!!!
These photos taken on the same day within a four minute span!

And, oh the surprises that we encounter at times, especially when we are lucky enough to face a hillside covered by trees!  I can easily shift my perspective by choosing to focus upon and admire the beauty of the trees while blocking out the busy street, the parking lot, and dilapidated building below and across the way.

Choosing to see the positive: the beautiful portion of the view from my window.

There are plenty of inspiring moments if we remember to look for them.

Are you ready to open yourself up to the opportunities presented?

XoXo,

Joyce

The results of turning a day that was a bust into something memorable.
Piranha fishing on a day that was too hot to do much of anything (A.K.A. not a bird in sight).
Don't worry, this "little" guy was put right back into the Amazon!

Life as an Adventurer

I have been drawn to nature since the very first summer that my mother signed me up for the local Audobon Society.  I will never forget that my birding journal featured a Scrub Jay and that I won a much coveted peacock feather for having a noteworthy journal entry.  I don't remember what the entry was about but I do remember how proud I was to own such a beautiful feather.  I also remember admiring a mallard feather in one of the volunteer teacher's hat's to such a degree that he gifted it to me while he explained to me that such feathers are often used for fly fishing.  I could never image destroying such a magnificent feather for the purpose of trying to catch a fish.

Not a Scrub Jay, but an equally brilliantly colored Green Honeycreeper.

Sadly, I think that over the years I had all but forgotten my love for nature.  Like all too many of us I spent hours with my head buried in books or sitting indoors at a desk, far far away from nature.  At least during high school I would look up and remember to look outside and admire my favorite roses in my mother's garden, but once college and graduate school hit, I started to forget to look around and admire what was outside.

Luckily I fell in love with an avid adventurer and lover of photography, who has since served to constantly remind me of the beauty of nature and has taken me to countless places to fall in love with and explore my surroundings.  Every chance we get, Phil and I look for a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.  My wonderful husband caters to all of my whims when it comes to where I want to go and what I want to see next, and he never runs of of ideas of his own!

Taking photos of seabirds in the Galapagos.

I am fairly certain that this photo depicts my attempt to capture
photographs of the Tropicbird and my failure to zoom in due to my sheer excitement.

I once told my husband while we were sitting at home watching a David Attenborough special on the Galapagos that I would love to go to the Galapagos one day, and mentioned in passing on another occasion that as a child I dreamed to one day visit the Amazon.  And lo and behold, for our honeymoon he surprised me with an unforgettable trip to the Ecuadorian Amazon and the Galapagos Islands!

Kayaking in the Galapagos.

I feel very blessed to have found a soulmate who takes me to all of the places that I would not dream of exploring on my own, and I am always looking forward to our next great adventure together!

XoXo,

Joyce

Pumpkin Madness and Paying it Forward

Halloween will be the first big holiday for my shop.  I can't say that I consciously prepared for Halloween, but I must have had the holiday somewhere in the back of my mind as I happily share with you the pumpkin themed items I have made and listed for sale.

Jack-o-lantern studs. Pumpkin Necklace. Pumpkin Princess Necklace. Cutie Pie Invisible Clip Earrings.

What has been consciously on my mind, however, has been the idea of "paying it forward."  We receive so much in life from others, including from strangers.  Sometimes all it takes is a kind smile, a gentle word, or a pat on the shoulder to give us that much needed boost of energy, reminder to smile, or encouragement to go on.  Sure, there are definitely those in the world who take take and take, but I would like to believe that human nature is more so inclined toward the spirit of giving.

Giving conscientiously is such a simple choice.  Often it is the decisions that we make on the spur of the moment that grow into seemingly fantastical realization.  Our one decision can ignite a passion that kickstarts us and sets us onto the right path toward fulfillment of our goal.  One powerful decision can lay the foundation for building something truly great.

I heard an interesting story about my uncle over the weekend.  He viewed his career as a geotechnical engineer as a way to pay it forward.  It seems like such a strange idea, but it makes sense.  His job was to ensure the safety of the foundation so that the project could come into realization, be it a parking structure, a building, a subway line, or even the first ever public toilet in Hong Kong.  He was proud of his achievements, even if they weren't always recognized.

I was told that many years ago, when my cousins were very young, he took them to the basement of one of the skyscrapers he had worked on.  My cousins asked him, "What are we looking at?"  To which he replied, "Look at this beautiful foundation that I have built."  I can only imagine the looks of puzzlement on the faces of his young children as my uncle probably broke out into his classic laugh and knowing smile.  To him, the buildings, the subway line, the parking structures, and the public toilet were all ways that he could impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of people over the years.

In his small way, through his tireless giving of hours of thought, the heavy responsibility he carried for the supervision of his projects, and the time he spent checking and rechecking numbers and calculations, he hoped to build something that would lay the foundation for others to build an amazing final product that others could see and admire.  He did not seek admiration, praise, or even understanding of his contribution.  His joy came from realizing that he had contributed towards something that would continue to pay it forward to friends, family, and even strangers.

Uncle Stephen's Second Avenue Subway Line.

Join me in taking a moment to remind yourself just how little it takes to give a little.

XoXo,

Joyce

What to Expect When You're Not Expecting Anything

Life is truly full of surprises - some good, so not so good.  But overall, it's a net positive.  It's funny how often times it is when we are not expecting anything that good things happen.  It is the surprises in life that often bring us the greatest joy, whether it be in experiencing the wildest, most colorful sunrise you could ever imagine, capturing an amazing photograph, hearing a friend's great news, or simply finding that you've made your first sale on Etsy!

Hawaiian Sunrise Post Hurricane

It is when we "keep on moving on" that life presents us with the those "stop and smell the roses" moments.  Sure, there are definitely times when sitting and reflecting are necessary, but that's not quite the same was dwelling and worrying.  There is a genuine power in building momentum by means of "doing," whereas inertia can often cause us to feel uneasy or even stuck.

One of Phil's amazing photographs:  Check out the fly between this little bird's beak!

The beauty in life is that we have options.  We can choose to dwell or we can choose to move forward.  It is all a choice.  Certainly there's comfort in doing nothing since we know what that feels like and there's a certainty where that will lead - nowhere; however, it is in taking risks and continuing to move forward towards our goals and dreams that our path becomes increasingly clear.  Each step we take leads us to the next step.  Sure, there will be stumbles and falls and false steps along the way, but ultimately, we will be able to look back and recognize the path that has taken us to where we are now and understand the curves and turns and obstacles that taught us the lessons we needed to learn to get to now.

My first four Etsy sales for DaintyLittleGarden.etsy.com!

Let's all get out there and keep on moving!

XoXo,

Joyce

My Dreams in the Form of a Shop: www.DaintyLittleGarden.etsy.com

It has been a long time dream of mine to give my artistic endeavors a full go and to pursue art as a full time job and see where it goes.  I had never allowed myself to freedom to try it, in part due to my not having the confidence in my ability to do so, and in part due to my listening to the well-meaning naysayers in my midst.  Nevertheless, the dream lived on and my drive and confidence grew, and I have decided that that time is NOW to "do or die" trying.

Latest creations in the works.

So what does it mean to live as an artist?  What is my style, and where do I find inspiration?

These are all questions that are a work in progress, but I am sure going to have some fun finding out!

I know I am a bit late in the market for trends that I spotted years ago (i.e. the invisible clip earring trend), but I seek to bring to the market something new - my individuality.

And I am confident that in the midst of creation, I will discover who I am and what makes my own voice unique.

On my palm for scale

People who know me never believe me when I tell them that I am actually a shy person.  I think that people tend to confuse being friendly with being outgoing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely a social creature.  I love making friends and getting to know people, but I won't be the first to say "hi" and get to know someone unless I force myself to.  And yes, it really is a matter of "forcing" myself to do so.

One of the ways I put myself out there is through my art.  It's always nice to meet people with similar interests and talents and it is always a pleasure to meet those who have made it pursuing their passion in life, whatever it may be.


I have long envied those who find and pursue their passion - whether it be the willingness to stand in blood soaked new shoes for an entire day for an unpaid acting role (*a nod to my brother Kevin - https://www.facebook.com/KevinYoungActor/*); standing all day cutting and styling hair while experiencing an incredibly difficult pregnancy, or try three (*a nod to my friend Kasumi Grillo - http://www.kasumigrillo.com/*); being inspired by an office visit by a massage therapist to quit your day job and begin a full time pursuit of bodywork, which leads you to your true passion in life - rolfing (*a nod to the amazing Susannah Myrvold - https://www.larolfing.com/*); simultaneously pursuing silversmithing, bodywork, and life-coaching (*a nod to the superstar Stevie Duren* - https://www.etsy.com/shop/enchantedsilverworks and http://blissbodyworkjh.com/*); or spending your lifetime teaching others so that they may learn to enjoy, appreciate and strengthen their bodies (*a nod to my mentor and the world's most amazing Pilates teacher Michele Sheinbaum*).  But, envy no more will I, as I take the plunge and join them!

So, without further ado... **drum roll** my shop:  www.DaintyLittleGarden.etsy.com.

XoXo,

Joyce

The Making of an Artist

For as long as I can remember I have dabbled in the world of art.  I was never one who "drew inside the lines."  My mother told me that when I learned to write on grid paper, my letters would be various shapes and sizes, and when she asked me what the grid was for, I simply replied that it was for "decoration."

Coloring outside of the lines...

My kindergarten teacher was worried that I had a learning disability because while all the other children drew portraits with necks, my human portraits had neither necks nor ears.  What my teacher didn't realize was that I didn't draw necks on my portraits, not because I failed to notice them, but because I didn't like the way they came out when drawn.  And ears... those were even more difficult to get to look even!

Me showing off my Gumby skills as a toddler.

More confusing still may have been the fact that although I was ambidextrous, I definitely had preferences in terms of which hand I did what with.  In fact, for years I was convinced that I could only draw with my left hand until one day a friend pointed out to me that I had drawn half of a doodle with my right hand before finishing it off with my left (This was in high school!).

A further demonstration of child Gumby-ness.

Throughout elementary school I would use pens and pencils to carve my erasers into stamps, using markers as stamp pads.  I would always be doodling away in school, trying to perfect the drawing of a perfect star (which has yet to happen...).

I started a jewelry making club in high school and was a member of the school's dance choreography team.  In college I took a Makeup for the Motion pictures class, and when it came time to decide on what to do after college, I was thoroughly torn between trying my hand at fashion design or attending law school.

Yes, I really went out like this for fun with friends one night.

Ultimately, I chose law school because I figured I would never want to go back to school after trying fashion and that art could always wait.  However, throughout graduate school I continued to dabble in both cooking and artistic endeavors.  I would often spend a few hours a night making various trinkets and would often cook elaborate meals for large groups of friends.

My first ever attempt at more elaborate clay creation - a wedding topper for a friend.

Post graduation, I practiced law for a number of years, but always in the back of my mind, I always wanted to give a real go at pursuing my artistic endeavors.  And so, now in Boston, I find myself in a new environment, giving myself time to cultivate, discover and find the artist inside.

Whew!  Graduation day!

Wish me luck!

XoXo,

Joyce

A Passion for Clay Fashion

Welcome to Dainty Little Garden, the musings of a girl who is in love with the world of crafting, cooking, writing, travel, nature, and photography!

A born-and-raised native Californian, I have recently relocated to Boston, where my husband and I busy ourselves with adventures in cooking and nature photography on weekends.  I am literally shaking in my boots thinking about my first "real" winter!

I hope you enjoy reading about our exploits!

XoXo,

Joyce