My Birthday Pick #30

Dancing In The Rain by Erin Jane

I leave you with this for my last birthday pick..because I believe there is always a reason to dance! So I hope you all have enjoyed my birthday pics - now I hope all of you dance! xo

My Birthday Pick #28

Yes this is a ring...isn't it to die for? Dark Tiger Butterfly Ring by Poppet and Pinch

Ulmer Studios

I was lucky enough to make Amber of Ulmer Studios a onesie for her daughter Josie and she send me this adorable photo of my work. So if you are in the Nashville area look her up and take advantage of her GORGEOUS photography! Thanks Amber for the beautiful photo!

Moncrief Photography Did It Again

Oh Brittany you did it again. Isn't this pic adorable?? She just gets better and better and this pic of little Jackson melts my heart. Thanks Brittany for the gorgeous photo - and friends if you are in the Chattanooga area check out Moncrief Photography for all your photography needs!

My Birthday Pick #27

I know..I picked this artist on etsy already - but this Bright Sunshiny Day Print by Farouche is perfect for this beautiful fall sunshiny day! Hope you are all enjoying it! xo

My Birthday Pick #26

Okay so I have another addiction...rings! This Delicate Balances Clear White Quartz and Pearl Ring by TooSis would make a great addition to my collection.

My Birthday Pick #25

This Elipse Ring by Alisa Miller couldn't be much better - it is huge, it is metal and it has circles! I love this ring....I want it now!!!

My favorites to date

So I came up with this idea to do a bicycle for the two newest girls in our world. Ella & Riley - the two daughters of four of our friends who are all cyclists. Well I came up with these - and I couldn't be more delighted - and it makes it all worth it when I see the pics of the little girls in their onesies. I must say the onesies are cute...but the little girls are even cuter :)

My Birthday Pick #24

I admit it I am addicted to plush...and Sebastian the Mouse by Soto Softies helps feed my addiction.

My Birthday Pick #23

The colors, the big flower, fantastic!!! This Chandelier Flower Necklace by my friend Tanya of Mod Meadow Studio would make a wonderful new addition to my jewelry collection :)

My Birthday Pick #22

This Speak Love necklace by Lu Lu Bug Jewelry reminds you to speak love everyday.

My Birthday Pick #21

This Mary Had a Little Unicorn Print by Helen Darik makes me think of my hubby and our wonderful adventure together. I feel like we do make magic everyday together. Here is a recent photo of me and my sweet boy.

My Birthday Pick #20

This Blooming Lovely Green Bag by MeMake will remind you to always bloom!

Happy Birthday to My Big Brother

Happy Birthday to my big brother who has always looked out for me....from the very beginning. I love you very much.

My Birthday Pick #19

I covet this Gretel Whimsical Wonderland Comb  by The Honeycomb. It reminds me of a woodland fairy!

My Birthday Pick #18

I saw this Make Do and Mend Print by Farouche and thought what wonderful words to live by! I would love a wall of inspirational artwork.

My Birthday Pick #17

I need some blue skies - no more rain! And this wonderful Blue Skies with Fluffy Clouds Pillow by Home to Roost brings in the blue skies.

My Birthday Pick #16

A Rainy Day by A Cerriteno is the perfect thing to brighten a rainy day like today.

My Birthday Pick #15

Eat, Drink, Sing, Dance by Freya Art is the perfect gift for any birthday. I love all it has to say and we should each live by it everyday.

My Birthday Pick #14

Hot Pink Activate Ring by Muse Glass is simply to die for...it is pink, big and a ring, what more could I ask for???

My Birthday Pick #13

It's my birthday and I couldn't think of anything better than this Ring with diamond by Quench Metalworks. Anyone want to buy it for me :)

My Birthday Pick #12

I can't help it I love plush....and here is just another one I would love to have for my collection. Fredrick the Red Fox  by Koo and Poppet

My Birthday Pick #11

This Robin in Squash by Tumus is pretty much the cutest thing ever - it reminds me of something my sweet Danielle would love :)

My Birthday Pick #10

I love this simple three leaf necklace by Kristin Perkins Glass Jewelry. I have always loved glass jewelry so when I found this I knew I had to add it to my birthday picks.

My Birthday Pick #8

My Sweet hubby surprised me tonight with my first birthday gift - an ipod touch!! Of course one of my first thoughts was a new accessory for it! And so I turned to etsy to find my face covers for my new toy. I love you honey - awesome surprise!!!

Birds on Branches by Kapom Crafts

Red Wallflower by Downstairs Designs

Owl Case by Pipoca Handmade

Friendly Forest by Gerbera Designs

Orange Kitty by Vintage Coquette

My Birthday Pick #8

I love this stack of hewn bangles by Quercus Silver. They remind me of candy...and anyone who knows me knows I love candy!

A blog about me :)

Kristin over at Discover: Interior Design blog featured me last week. I feel honored to have been asked to do this and it is so exciting seeing my work on someone's blog other than my own and friends :) Thanks Kristin - I appreciate you - sorry it took me FOREVER to get the questions back to you :) xo

Inspired Interview* Ivey Handcrafted

Posted on | September 2, 2009 | 2 Comments

Hello! I’m happy to share the work of Tobi of Ivey Handcrafted today! I came across Tobi’s work at the Indie Craft Experience show last Fall (I wrote about it here). This interview has been a long time coming, so I’m thrilled to share it with all of you and hope you enjoy it!

Hey Tobi! Please tell us a little about yourself: I am just a girl living in Chattanooga, TN with her wonderful husband and three fur babies. I consider myself one of the luckiest girls in the world to be surrounded by my friends and family. I love to travel, create and entertain at home. My husband is a full time nursing student and I work at home as an artist and also at a rockin’ paper/gift shop.

What’s currently playing on your i-pod?
Ingrid Michaelson
Keri Hilson
Joshua Radin
John Legend
But my taste changes daily – love listening to Pandora and finding out about new talent!

What blogs/magazines do you read? magazines…well there should be a support group for my magazine addiction…too many to name. But my favorite currently is Cloth, Paper, Scissors. For blogs – see my list on my blog.

What do you create? Who do you create for? I create whimsical products for you and your home. Anything from headbands, to custom onesies, to brooches, to mixed media wall pieces. I love creating custom items for the special people in your life. Those are my favorites because I know my work is being made just for you. I make things that might not match and love over-exaggerated pieces. I create for people who aren’t afraid of color.

How did you get your start? I have been crafting all my life, I had the wonderful opportunity to grow up with artists parents (Robert and Dolores Wells of www.wellsmetals.com). I can’t even remember the first time I created art – I feel like I have been an artist/crafter my whole life. What a great way to grow up in this world.

What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst? The best thing about what I do is being able to create on a daily basis. The worst thing is doing shows and having slow days, because no matter what you ALWAYS take it out on yourself, because in a sense you are selling yourself.

Do you have a favorite place? If so, why is it your favorite? I have many favorite places – But there are so many places that are sacred to me – my mother’s home because of the warmth, the mountains because I am at peace there, and mostly at home with my husband and fur babies – which brings me all my happiness.

What 3 things can’t you live without?
my hubby, my fur babies, my family & friends (okay so that was four…)

What’s one thing you’ve learned as an adult that you wish you knew when you were a kid? When I was 23 I was in a fire that almost took my life – that experience taught me to never take life for granted and always tell people you love them, because you never know if it will be the last time you see them. I wish I had of known that all along. But I am glad I have this life to keep living and loving.

Do you financially support yourself by your art alone? No – but it gives me some money to spoil myself

Where do you get your inspiration? From everything around me – whether it be catalogs, magazines, a good antique shop or a walk around the neighborhood. I find inspiration daily.

Where do you create? I am in the process of turning a spare bedroom into a studio – it is a work in progress, and probably always will be. But it has a workspace, happies all around and a tv – what more could I ask for?

What is the most fulfilling part of your creative life? Making people happy – to see a happy customers wearing my items.

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year? I want to continue to build my business – one step at a time. I am really enjoying what I am doing, and I want to keep being able to do what I love.

Do you have a mentor? If not, who would your dream mentor be? My parents have always been my mentors – they have been full time artists my whole life and they are my biggest fans. It is wonderful to have two parents who have been through it all in the art world, a great source of inspiration and advice.

Is there anything else you’d like to share? Here’s a little story about how I got the name Ivey Handcrafted. Ivey is my great grandmother’s name…and what we hope will be our little girl’s name one day. We started the adoption process in 2004 and have had two adoptions fall through – one being from China and one domestic. The international one we assumed would be a girl so we were going to name her Ivey – and I started Ivey Handcrafted as an adoption fundraiser, that eventually turned into my business. We still don’t have our Ivey, we are working on our third try. Let’s hope third time’s a charm.

Thank you for sharing this information with us today, Tobi! I’m thrilled you were able to participate.

Tobi’s Etsy Tobi’s Blog

[Photography: www.moncriefphotography.com]

My Birthday Pick #7

My friend Becky from Glue & Glitter posted something about this Haunted Mansion Hitchhiking Ghost embroidered piece of art by Giddy Girlie on her Twitter account. This was and will always be one of my most favorite rides at Disney. And this just brings a smile to my face, hope it will yours too!

My Birthday Pick #6

I am in love with this little Strawberry Paperdoll Filigree Ring by Munieca - and everything in her shop is 20% off until tomorrow (the 7th) which means I might just have to purchase this sweet little ring :)

My Birthday Pick #5

I love this Bee Bracelet by Mama's Little Babies. I love the detail and it reminds of my sweet friend Tanya, which makes it pretty awesome!

My Birthday Pick #4

I love this sweet little Squirrel in His Nut Silhouette Necklace by Wild Orchid. It is such a great conversation piece, and I do love my jewelry that starts up a great conversation.

My Birthday Pick #3

Letterpress, love birds, what more could you ask for? This Nesting Birds Letterpress Print by Cindy Tomczyk would make a great addition to my ever expanding art collection.

Newest Custom Works

my newest custom work....more to come.
Is there something special I can make for you?
onesies start at $25
t-shirts start at $30
hoodies start at $45

Hope you are all having a great week!
xo

My Birthday Pick #2

These Burnaby and Alicia Paper Puppets by The Pin Pals make me smile. Whether you see it as they are trying to steal each others heart or share one heart - they are sure to bring a smile to your face.

Happy Birthday Month to Me :)

This is my birthday month - I love September and all the things that come with it! My 35th birthday is September 13th and I thought it would be fun to post something everyday that I would wish for my birthday. Hope you enjoy it too and find things you might love. xo

My first pick it this beautiful brooch by Pretty Scruffy - I am a sucker for brooches, they are one of my favorite things. Just something else september brings - cooler weather which means almost jacket time, which means almost brooch time :)