See you later!

photo taken in New Zealand in 2008

Yes! I’m finally off to Canada! See you in three weeks or so! Be safe!

xo, Inge

Right now

My friend Krystin does these “Right now” posts that I love. They always make me feel like I’m right there sitting next to her, sipping tea. I thought I’d try one myself today!

Right now, I’m…

• Enjoying a moment to catch up on blogs.
• Feeling grateful that someone chose these bracelets to be a part of her wedding.
• Dreading having to go to meditation class tonight. I’m just so bad at it.
• Seeing sunshine and rain alternating outside my window.
• Listening to birds chirping. Some mornings, it sounds like a rainforest.
• Contemplating where this ol’ blog will go.
• Counting the days until I finally get to go to Canada. (Five!)
• Finding it difficult to do anything in the meantime.
• Looking forward to seeing the mountains.
• Having a little sale before I close up shop. 20% off with coupon code CANADA12.
• Biting my nails. I never use a file or scissors.
• Thinking that last part might have been too much…

xo, Inge


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To share (some thoughts and changes)

I’ve been a little irregular with my posts lately, while one of my goals for this year was to be quite the opposite. The thing is, I’ve been rethinking a lot of aspects of my life lately, including Damsel of Dainty, the jewelry line as well as this blog. Reading a lot of posts on this topic lately*, gave me the courage to share.

I started Damsel of Dainty in early 2008, only having a Dutch webshop for the first three years. Since that early start, both me and Damsel of Dainty have changed and grown so much. I’m happy to say the jewelry evolved with me, both the designs and it’s presentation, so it would always be a reflection of me. But for the past couple of months, I’ve been feeling like that is no longer the case, like I’ve grown into a direction where Damsel of Dainty cannot follow. Of course I could take it there, since it’s mine to do with what I please, but it wouldn’t be Damsel of Dainty anymore. It would be something very different, something new. And I’m excited to see what it will be, when the time is right.

I will release one last, small collection when I return from Canada at the beginning of June. And I also have some nice promotions planned. So this is not the end (if there ever will be an end; I like to think of it as more of an evolution), but there will be changes and I did want to share my thoughts on this.

The thing is, for a long time I’ve felt that if I was too open about certain matters, it would hurt my business. But I’ve come to understand that quite the opposite is true: the fact that I haven’t been open is what’s been hurting my business. There are quite a lot of things I care deeply about, yet (almost) never talk about here. Which would be fine if I was just here to promote my jewelry, but I’m not. I love writing, for example, and would love to share my passions and meet new people and this place could be all of that for me and more. But it’s not. Because as it turns out, I’m highly impressionable and keep wanting to do it “right”, which most of the time just ensures I don’t do anything at all. When all I have to do is just do and share what I love. Even though I’m not so sure what that is at the moment. But I’m sure I’ll find it again and when I do, I’ll be here to share.

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* It started with this post by Kate Miss, linking to this post by Jenny Gordy, who also wrote this recognizable post two weeks earlier. She is the one who has me reading this book right now, which I love and which has helped me see that I need to be more open. And then this morning I read this post, which coincidentally also mentions that book. I suppose it’s time for Spring cleaning, y’all.

xo, Inge

A day at the fair

all photo’s by Joop

A week or two ago, an old friend from my college time asked me if I wanted to go to the Elf Fantasy Fair with him. We went together a couple of years ago, when I was more into the whole fantasy thing. I liked the idea of visiting again and seeing an old friend, so yesterday Joop and I hopped in the car to meet him there. We had a wonderful time, courtesy more of each other and a nice pint of meadbeer than the fair itself.

1. An assortment of soaps and spices.
2. Bread and taking a closer look at handmade rings.
3. One of the fair’s visitors.
4. Free rides.
5. My buddy and me.

xo, Inge

Happy Hearts

I love that photo on the right of my newest bracelet design. We were trying to come up with a way of showing this bracelet which did not include reaching out to nature. I had just baked these insanely good coconut blueberry muffins (which I should share soon), and the liners were a perfect fit for the bracelet.

It is now available in the shop. I’ve also updated my SALE section with a few more nice pieces for equally nice prices.

xo, Inge