Wordless Wednesday

I keep seeing my friend Brittany do this on her blog - and I thought i should try it myself...

wordless wednesday
xoxo

Chattanooga Market

Going into Chattanooga Market - I didn't know what to expect - I had heard about crazy crowds on opening day....and it is true it was very crowded even with rain.

I didn't do horrible, I didn't do great - I will do it again.

The highlights of my day:
1. the customers that actually came to market to see me.... all smiles
2. the awesome friends and family that came and visited and spent time with me - I truly cherish my friends and family.
3. 2 new pieces of awesome art - that are making me want to start a collection of cute little pieces of art :)

Here are a few photos of the day:



And my new art:
Lisa Norris of Made By One girl who I wrote about here and I traded - I got one of her super cute flower blocks (not sure what else to call it :) But whatever it is...I LOVE IT!

And Denise of Flew To Bob and I met through etsy -I was so happy to finally meet her! I love her work - then I saw this piece...and well I had to have it!

and a big reason I wanted it....my favorite ring by Hotcakes Design...does the pics look a little familiar? :)


And finally look how great my two new pieces of art look together - totally not planned

In Bloom

After wearing my big flower in my hair last week and getting tons of compliments - I have made some more big flowers for my show this weekend. The fun thing about these is they have a bobby pin on the back - so you can wear them in your hair or pin them on a cute little cardigan! Be creative!

And seeing them all in a bundle like this gives me LOTS of idea...stay tuned :)

XOXO

Fabulous Models

So here are two more of my blankets - one I wrote about here but I had to repost the blanket in the hands of Reed - because the blankets always look better when they are being loved on by a baby ;)

So here is Reed's blanket in action and a link to his blog.

Reed I am SOOO glad you love it!

And this one just makes me smile - with Reed "showing" off his blanket


The next blanket is for Miss Ada - who is becoming a little celebrity on my blog - that sweet little girl has my heart and it means so much to see her happy wearing my work, or having a new blanket to spend her days with.

Here is a link to Ada's blog! where her mommy took fabulous pics!
This is my favorite:


Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Also - heads up sorry I am not posting too too much - I have my first Chattanooga Market this sunday April 27th and since it is my first time I am not sure what to expect! EEEK!

XOXO

Art Til Dark 4/19

Well I can't say that it was the best show I ever had - we were up against 4 Bridges Art Festival (which I got to go to on Sunday and saw some BEAUTIFUL artwork - if you are in chattanooga next year during this time you should check it out!!!) but I did get to see lots of friends, meet some new ones and finally take some decent pics of my booth!

Here are some of the photos of took of the beautiful day!

April 18th, 1998

The original Sigma Chi House, Chattanooga, TN


On a completely personal note I must write what today means to me....

10 years ago today April 18th, 1998 I was in a fraternity house fire here in Chattanooga. To make a long story short...I was the last one out of the house - and I escaped by jumping out of the top story window. I was burned over half my body, broke my back and broke both feet. I was in the burn unit for 5 weeks and had 4 surgeries- and rehab for 2 months. I lost 87% of my muscle mass and basically had to be taught how to do everything again. They originally said I would never walk again -but I overcame that after 10 weeks in a wheelchair. It was a horrible 3 months - with much pain and heartache - but I still felt lucky to be alive - and had the support of my amazing family to get me through it all. Since then I have had several more surgeries, staph infection, etc. I have scars that I can't hide - but they remind me every day how lucky I am. Please take this day to tell people you love them....not to sound morbid but you may never get the chance again....

Today I wrote this to my friends and family - but I thought I should post it on here so you could learn a little more about me.

"April 18th, 1998 - a day that almost took my life, but in the end changed my world for the better. From this day I have been given a new outlook on life, become a stronger person, great relationships with fantastic friends and family, cherished godchildren, a nephew and a niece that I love like my own, and above all the love of my life Corey, who loves me scars and all - and as his wedding band says "you were worth it all". Not a day goes by that I don't thank god that I am alive . Believe me I still have hard times, and I have days when I feel sorry for myself, but I always get back up and going and remember that there was a reason I was saved that day....I may never know what it was for, but I believe everything happens for a reason. Something good always comes from bad moments.

I remember this day like it was yesterday and I am having a hard time believing that it has already been 10 years. The past 10 years have brought the following: more surgeries (staph infection, hysterectomy), marrying my soul mate, a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, several moves with our dream homes in each city, a fur baby that brings joy to my life every day, owning my own gift shop, becoming a godmother, becoming an aunt (twice), adoption heartbreak, meeting my best friend, random jobs that introduced me to great friends, finding out what I love to do with Ivey Handcrafted (even though I always knew I would try and follow in my mom and daddy bob's footsteps), learning more and more about myself - and living my adventure alongside my partner.

If you have learned anything from knowing me in the last 10 years, I hope it is that you learned you should live life to its fullest and NEVER EVER let a day go by that you don't tell the people in your lives that you love them.....take it from me - you never know if you will be able to tell them again.

Life is short....if you don't love what you do - change it, if you don't love where you live, move - enjoy your life, cherish your friends and family - and thank god that you are in this world and able to live every day. I wish I could thank you individually - but I hope you each know how much I love you. I thank all of you for everything you have done for me over the years, whether it be sending a card or a package, driving to visit, phone calls, emails - or just being with me when I needed a friend - everything you have done for me has been appreciated and always will be. As I have said many times before I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

I can't write this without thanking one person - because everyone needs to know how incredible she is (even though most of you already do)
My mom - she stopped her life for me....and her life became me....I will never ever be able to repay her - she is the TRUE meaning of a mom - and I only hope I can be a mother like she has been to me. I love you momma....I HOPE YOU DANCE

Thanks again - and I love you all....I thank God I survived but I know I couldn't have done it with all of you either....you are all a cherished part of my world.

With forever love,
Tobi

New Headband

So excited! I finally ordered something from my friend Becky over at Glue & Glitter

I kept waiting for the perfect headband and this one just caught my eye the Beach Blanket Headband

Funny side story with Becky - I actually met her before we crossed paths in the craft world - through my old store in Asheville, NC called The Purple Iris. Ironically Becky is my past business partners sister in law...small world! I'm so glad I refound Becky through our crafts!!!

Here are a few pics of my new headband:



and just a few new hairclips of my own that I made today:

What I did today...

Here are a few projects I have done today - some in preparation for my show this weekend - and custom orders!

First off a custom order for Mr. Reed - a boy blanket! So different, I am used to girly stuff...so it was refreshing to make a blanket for Reed.



Then I decided to make some more fabric covered button hair clips - these are great little pick ups at the shows:


Then I made a few cuffs - here are 2 that are finished:


I made another blanket that is almost finished, a few more cuffs, and started on some more barrettes!

But best of all...and certainly not the least important of the day was that it was my Nellie Bean's 5th birthday - I can't believe it has already been 5 years since we got our sweet fur baby....we still can't imagine what we did without her in our world. Thanks Nellie for being the best little girl around! Here are a few pics of her new blanket and the happy girl on her birthday!

Who Fest 08

Who-Fest [08] International Folk Art Festival
Memorial Day Weekend / May 24th & 25th – 10am to 6pm

Renaissance Park on the NorthShore

Chattanooga, Tennessee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 15, 2008


Who-Fest [08]: A two-day outdoor celebration of folk, visionary, outsider & self-taught art

Chattanooga, TN – After several years in Atlanta, GA, we are proud to announce that for the second consecutive year, David Smotherman of the Winder Binder Gallery of Folk Art will be producing the Who-Fest [08] International Folk Art Festival and will once again be staging the event Renaissance Park in Chattanooga, TN. The festival will be held on the Saturday, May 24th and Sunday, May 25th – from 10am to 6pm – Memorial Day Weekend.

Artist from more than a dozen states will be represented. Who-Fest is a unique opportunity to meet and purchase directly from the artist of an increasingly popular art movement. Who-Fest will feature an array of artist shown in museums and galleries nationwide including the Smithsonian and the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore.

Who-Fest was founded in 2004 as a grassroots effort “for the artists, by the artists.” Their mission is to host a major festival, representing exceptional folk, outsider, visionary, and self-taught artists.

Who-Fest [08] will take place at Chattanooga's newest urban greenspace, Renaissance Park, located on the North Shore district directly across the Tennessee River from Ross' Landing/Tennessee Aquarium and adjacent to Coolidge Park.

Presented by Winder Binder Gallery of Folk Art and Who-ha Da--Da Outsider Artists' Fellowship, Inc.

Winder Binder Gallery of Folk Art, formerly Needful Things, has operated on the North Shore since 1994. Originally specializing in new and antique toys, books and other unusual gifts, the store added local artisans in earnest when relocating to a larger retail location adjacent to A Novel Idea in August of 2005. Winder Binder Gallery of Folk Art is committed to helping develop and support local and regional folk, visionary, outsider and self-taught artists. Besides Who-Fest [08], the Gallery produces the bi-monthly Art ‘til Dark Outdoor Artist Market and the One Bridge Folk Art Festival.

Who-Ha Da—Da Outsiders Artists’ Fellowship, Inc. is a group of contemporary artist associated with primitive, outsider and folk art.

More information, artist and vendor applications can be found at http://www.whofest.com

Chattanooga Market

So there is this market in Chattanooga.....been around for years - and until just recently had closed for good...

Until someone decided to bring the market back to life. The market is an open air market held every Sunday from April - December. Find out more about The Chattanooga Market here.

The best news about this for me personally - is I am in and will start doing the market opening day April 27th - I never got around to doing it last year - so I am really looking forward to this opportunity!

Wish me luck!
XOXO

And thanks to the new owners of Chattanooga market for bringing back a Chattanooga tradition.

Chattanooga Artists Reserve

So my friend Beth Gumnick and I were talking one day at an art show and thought up the grand idea of having a home show for a few of our fave artist...so after many emails, and a great meeting over a beer....or two or three....we came up with a plan!

Announcing:

Chattanooga Artists Reserve
The idea came from:
Reserve wine is a term given to a specific wine to imply that is of a higher quality than usual, or a wine that has been aged before being sold, or both. Traditionally winemakers would "reserve" some of their best wine rather than sell it immediately, coining the term. So we thought we would reserve our best art just for you!
Saturday, June 28th
Check out our facebook page or our blog for more details.

Looking forward to a super fun time with what we hope will turn into a wonderful home art show!

XOXO

The Reason I Do What I Do

In the last post I told you about a baby blanket I made for Miss Anna Kate...

Well I got fabulous feedback from Anna Kate's mom Amy.

First she sent me photos, then wrote a blog about it - which made my day.

Here are 2 of my fave photos:




and check out her write up on Ivey Handcrafted here on her blog.

GOODNESS I LOVE MY JOB!
XOXO

Rainy Yucky Day

So this week has pretty much been rainy, I haven't been feeling good....and I am constantly stressing over selling our house. (for those who don't know, we are trying to sell our house, and if it sells and my husband gets into nursing school, we are moving to Portland, OR)

SO in the meantime I have been sewing away and making some different things for me. Two of my favorites are the following:
The first is a blanket I made for Miss Anna Kate - I have never made a blanket like this before, so it was a challenge, but I absolutely loved it! the first one shows the front and back - and the second is the little blanket all ready to go. I got to meet Miss Anna Kate and her mommy Amy yesterday - it was lovely seeing who I made the blanket for - Anna Kate I hope you enjoy your new blanket for many years to come!


The next one is a long sleeve t-shirt made for Miss Vivian - I haven't gotten this to her yet, we are waiting till we can get our schedules together. But Miss Vivian and her mommy Kelly have become wonderful customers of Ivey Handcrafted - and I really appreciate them giving me the chance to make something different!


Here's to a wonderful weekend ahead. I have the MS Walk here in Chattanooga tomorrow - I have raised over $1000 for the walk...and I am so excited my mom is coming to do the walk with me. Then I head to nashville to see friends! Lets hope my yucky cold disappears!

Until next time - xoxo

My sweet fur baby...

I am the proud mom of a fur baby, the minature schnauzer kind. Her name is Nellie and she is momma's girl. Here is her sweet face.


I decided to go on Flickr and searched schnauzers...and WOW people love their schnauzers, as they should ;)

So here are my fave pics I found on flickr.


Lomo Mac by Dogs in Socks


Koyubi by BertoBox


DSC_0129 by Cesar R.


I love Nature by Masamonster


The Eye by MonkeyfacedRatfink

And one more pic of my sweet baby

photo digitally enhanced by Clever Violet