Getting Opportunity to Knock on Your Door

It's one thing to wait for opportunity to knock on your door, but quite another to actively engage in opportunity finding. I am not advocating to go out there and seek opportunity every chance you get. That's not my style. I am far too shy to do that; however, I have found that learning to recognize opportunities and simply allowing for them to come to be organically works wonderfully. It seems that it is when I am not actively thinking about the task at hand or worried about outcomes that life surprises and continues to surprise me. It is under these conditions that I seem to meet the right people or be at the right place at the right time. I feel that as I have become increasingly open to the idea of what may come may come, then what I desire to be manifests itself to be.

Learning not to butt heads with opportunity can be a tricky skill.
One of Phil's Yellowstone photographs from our recent cross-country trek.

Recently the most obvious instance in which I have found this to be true has been in relation to my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/daintylittlegarden/), my Instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/daintylittlegarden/), and my Etsy sales (https://www.etsy.com/shop/daintylittlegarden/sold).  

So excited to have 110 followers!

It is always when I'm least expecting it that something happen. When I sit an wait for something to happen, nothing happens. It's the quintessential watched kettle never boils story.  A few days ago I was patiently awaiting having 100 Instagram followers and preparing for a giveaway in celebration thereof.  The more I watched and waited, the less anything happened.  And lo and behold, last night I hit 104 followers and today 110! :)

I truly could not be more excited and pleased! And to make things even better, I also sold additional items this week. It's truly been a wonderful week. I've had fun with friends, made new friends, created a new product line that I will be launching soon (stay tuned!) and have just been having an overall blast.

On that note, I'm going to make the same exciting announcement here that I made on my Instagram...

Stay tuned for details regarding my FIRST ever GIVEAWAY!  I will post details on each of my social media accounts and notify all of my previous customers regarding the details for entry in this giveaway shortly.

And just so that everyone gets a taste for what I've been up to, here is the sneak peek photo I posted yesterday on Instagram:

Getting my bake on! Prepping for an earring giveaway. :) Stay tuned!
#daintylittlegarden #giveaway #sneakpeek #cupcakelovers
#sweettooth #minifood #minibakery #polymerclayearrings
#dangleearrings #invisiblecliponearrings #clipearrings #giveaways

Can't wait to get this giveaway raffle started!

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