Shop Talk: juggling a toddler and crystals

I absolutely love having my online crystal shop. I love it so so much, all parts of it. It has grown over the past year from a handful of crystals to more stock than I could cope with, and now back to a slightly more manageable level. The difficulty for me is in finding a space to keep them all in. The need to up high, out of reach of small hands, but easy enough for me to reach them quickly for photographing and packaging up for posting. Plus all the posting stuff that goes along with it, padded envelopes and wrapping materials. It's become quite the little operation for me and (thankfully) I've gotten quicker at doing it all, out of necessity and familiarity.

I still don't have it all worked out, but I start to know what doesn't work, so that points me in the direction of what does. I have shuffled the shop crystals through three different rooms in the house, and then out to the separate room out the back, in the short space of time I've been in this house. Shuffle shuffle shuffle. I'm still not there with it, as in keeping them all in a separate room (granted not far away but still, separate enough) I find I'm torn between the house and the crystal shop. With it being something that I manage pretty much daily, I've come to realise that I need them back in the house. In their own space, with a door that closes, in the house. But I'm so tired of shuffling that I'm just operating between two spaces, and the kitchen table is now currently home to about half of my stock.

All sorts of growing pains really, but I welcome it all. My shop is ticking along at a rate that is perfect for me just now, and we're starting to fall into a rhythm of daily work in the shop (rather than the erratic, late night, hurried way of operating at different times over the past year). Our morning work, starting between 8:30 and 9am, breaking for morning tea around 10am and sometimes following on with more, sometimes leaving it at just that. Keeping a toddler entertained is definitely easier in the house. The options are still not my favourite - deal with the constant whirlwind of toddler activity while concentrating on packing orders or buy myself some time while he watches something on the computer (trains, mostly). I suppose like everything we work it out as we go. And usually an afternoon pedal on the bike up to the post office. I do love the way the rhythm is falling into place.

And over in the shop, there are plenty of beautiful crystals to be had with more arriving this week. It certainly is work, but it never feels like work. I suppose that's why the saying is that when you do something you love, you never work a day in your life.

I just wanted to mention how grateful I am for the support in my shop from a few readers here too, it means the world to me and it was definitely that support that got my shop up and running. Runs on the board, you know? So important and I'm so grateful. Thank you!

Shop Talk

I hardly ever mention my shop here on the blog and I guess that stems from the old days (like, a year ago) when talking about crystals and metaphysical stuff was something I kept fairly private, I suppose because I often felt like it was an unusual interest, even though it was more than an interest, but still, a bit different. But since that side of life has become even more important (the spiritual aspect), talking about crystals just feels very normal now. Plus I do love talking about crystals, to pretty much anyone who will listen.

I started my shop almost a year ago now, probably spot on a year from the point where I had one of those flashes of inspiration to start the shop. At the time I didn't give any thought to how the shop would go, in terms of growth and success, other than that I didn't think I would make any money out of it in the first year. I was wrong, at some point in the second half of the year it started to build up momentum, and I started to see that I could grow this thing a bit bigger, and a bit bigger again. And I learned there is a point where it would be too big for just me to manage, which is also handy to know, as I'm now positioning it to be at a sustainable level for me to manage physically, and which provides a little income as well.

The thing it always comes back to for me is that I just love working with crystals, and sharing crystals, and there is a part of me, being a Gemini and all, that loves and thrives on the commerce side of things. I have fun with it. There have also been times in the past year where I've wondered if it's all worth it, but in getting through those times, I still say a big yes. It is worth it. And of course my shop has evolved over the past year, and will continue to evolve, although I do feel that I've found my 'place' in the crowded market that is online crystal shops. One big lesson for me in business is that when you're in your element, there is no competition. There is space for everyone to do what they do and it is always worth supporting other businesses in the same market. I honestly feel that the very competitive mode of doing business is outdated.

Crystals are such a huge part of my everyday life. Most of the time I have too many little crystals stuffed into my pockets, just bringing with me whatever energy I feel I need or want to connect to in my days. There is usually a crystal under my pillow at night, there are crystals on the bedside table, on the mantlepiece, the fridge, shelves, the bench, everywhere. And then shop crystals on top of that. I will openly admit that it's become a bit too much, but the collection continues to grow. I often meditate with a crystal in my hand (the non-dominant hand, as this is the one that receives energy) and it is an excellent way to really connect with the energy of a crystal. Some of my most profound meditative experiences have come from meditating with crystals. So I guess I'm lucky in that my shop is based on something I myself am truly passionate about.

It does take work though and right now I've got a mountain of crystals waiting to be listed, a bunch of orders waiting to be packed and posted and a bunch of administrative work to catch up on. All of which I love doing, but gosh it would be easier if there were 30 hours in a day instead of 24. Anyway I thought I would start talking about the shop a bit more in this space, so each Saturday I'll be doing my Shop Talk post. If you haven't yet had a look at the shop, hop on over and take a look! It's a work in progress, just like everything else, and it's one that I love.

This and That

Winter officially starts in a couple of days. We've had a couple of frosty mornings already, and the fog is starting to sit. Life in this little home is mostly delightful; mornings, our outside time, the lunch hour, the outside jobs and the dinner and bed routine - the rhythm of our days. I watch the interruptions to our rhythm, and try to minimise them. I watch as my little boy's own rhythms change, creating changes to our day.

I've picked up a crochet hook again, which I've not touched in months. A blanket for my little boy is slowly taking form. With the yarns that I rushed out to buy about a year ago, for this purpose. I guess there wasn't such a rush after all.

Managing the animals here continues to take up much of my time and head space, on top of parenting a wonderfully bright toddler. Flo and Harmony have completely opposite needs - I'm trying to keep the weight on Harmony, and with not much feed coming through in the paddock I'm relying on hay, mostly oaten hay as that is what I can get. And with Flo, well she founders at the sight of oaten hay, so I've got to keep her away from it. So we fenced in her spring paddock in the trees again, my little one and I, and she's going to stay there for a little while and eat lucerne in peace. Plus the two roosters, Edward and Edward. One of them can stay, the other has to go. Anyone looking for an Australorp rooster?

Apples. We have a lot of apples to eat. I'm thinking up all the things I want to bake with William, so we can eat them warm with melted ice cream. Apple pie, apple crumble, maybe some apple muffins or apple scrolls. I will make at least one of those happen!

All of the images in this post are cropped from my Instagram account. I'm over there much more than I am here, simply because it's more accessible, and I could probably talk about crystals all day. I'm spending more time away from the computer than I have in years actually, and it's a nice change.

A little crystal giveaway

So if you read my last post, I was talking about following along with the #EtsyResolution thing to open a little Etsy shop for myself. I have to say I've fallen off the wagon a little, with a bunch of other things competing for my attention for the past few weeks (including a weekend spent doing my Reiki II, which was amazing). But I'm pulling myself back into line and getting it moving again.

I've been finding so many little new pieces for the shop, it's hard to stay focused to be honest. As in, I just want to buy everything I see, to stock the shop, because I love it all. So over the next few weeks I'll start to get some new lovely pieces coming in. But in the meantime, I'm offering one reader a $20 voucher to use in the shop. To be in the running, just leave me a comment on this post. To get an extra entry, you can favourite my shop The Little Crystal on Etsy (and let me know here that you have). Winner will be drawn at random and announced here on the blog on 28 Feburary, a little over a week away.

I'm also offering 20% off for the rest of February for everyone - just use the code HAPPYFEB15 at the checkout if there's anything in there that you think you must have.

Graceful Acceptance

I noticed a lot of people in blogland coming up with a word or theme for the year [back at the start of the year], and I thought that was actually a pretty cool idea, and something I could work with for myself. The word that resonated with me, if I were to pick just one, was acceptance. Acceptance of things as they are, accepting that my world is perfect and exactly as it needs to be, despite how I might be feeling at any given moment.

I'm extending that one step further. The way I've been thinking of and using the word is to say graceful acceptance. Because it reminds me to be graceful, in my acceptance of how things are. Gracefully accepting that I wake up full of agitation some days. Gracefully accepting how my body rejects my attempts at breakfast. Gracefully accepting those tasks that I really don't want to do, but feel I must do anyway. Which is not to say I always behave gracefully! I wish I did. But perhaps in reminding myself regularly, I will become more gracefully accepting of both the ups and the downs of life. 

A handful of crystals that made it outside for a full moon cleanse this week. Garnet, moonstone, boji stones, blue tara quartz, black tourmaline, selenite. 

Did you pick a word or theme for 2013? Do you find yourself going back to it regularly?

Wishing you a wonderful weekend, whatever you're up to.

My First Giveaway!

I've never done a giveaway on a blog before, mainly because I figured I didn't have anything to give - you know, I don't have an Etsy shop, I don't offer custom blog design, I haven't ever gone down the path of sponsored giveaways. I just haven't done it.

But then I realised, of course I can run a giveaway! And, with my new little blog just ticking over 1000 page views, what better way to celebrate than with a giveaway. So as a way of saying thank you so much for reading, I'm giving away this beautiful pair of [new] citrine and pyrite dangle earrings.

How these lovelies came to be in my possession [there's always a story] - well, last year one of the things on my birthday goal list was to buy myself a citrine crystal. I found a beautiful little necklace with 3 raw citrine pendants and lovely pyrite beads on Etsy [from this lovely shop], and the deal was done. When I received my package in the mail, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a little gift included - some citrine and pyrite dangle earrings! Unfortunately, I can't wear them [I wear larger size jewellery in my ears], so they had to find a new home. I tried to give them away once, but they were rejected, which to me simply means that I was giving them to the wrong person. And they've been sitting around my desk waiting for something to happen to them ever since. Which has been quite a while.

Anyway, these earrings need to find their rightful home, so they are being offered as my first ever blog giveaway. To enter, all you have to do is:

a) follow Dusty Country Road via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin, and
b) let me know in a comment on this post that you're following [just leave a comment if you're already following and want in!].

For bonus entries, you can follow on Instagram and/or Twitter and/or Pintrest, and just let me know in your comment. One entry will be picked at random as the winner, which I'll announce here on the blog. The giveaway is open now and will finish at midnight [Aussie time] on Sunday 24 February with the winner announced the next day. Good luck, and thanks again for supporting Dusty Country Road.

Oh and you can see the necklace I bought on my Pintrest board!

This Week I... Made a Necklace!

A long time ago last year, I bought these stones from different Etsy sellers. The long blue stones are lapis lazuli and the small round ones are turquoise. I had always been meaning to make them into a necklace, but they ended up in the pile of things to be done on my desk, and that's where they stayed for months.

Finally this week I did it! Now I'm no jewellery maker, I'm just saying that now, but I did manage to google 'how to make a necklace', find a good tutorial [I followed this one], take a trip into town to collect what I needed from the craft shop [a surprisingly successful mission] and put it all together into something that, for all intents and purposes, can be worn as a necklace.

I like how it's turned out. I love the combination of the two different stones, both in colour and in wearing the two of them together. I always feel special wearing lapis lazuli, it makes me imagine that I'm in ancient Egyptian times or something. It feels very regal. Turquoise is also lovely. I'm waiting on some turquoise stone plugs for my ears [also from Etsy] to turn up in the mail, I wonder if they'll go well with this necklace.

I love crystal jewellery. Do you wear any? What resonates with you?