An interview with Chelsea Ann Redinger AKA Ittybittybirdy

I'm SO happy that Chelsea Ann agreed to do an interview for me... she is one of my best Internet pals and she makes the sweetest creations! She has an awesome sense of style and she is a great friend to have :) I hope you enjoy her interview as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

Chelsea Ann is based out of Portland, Oregon and she has two lollishops, keepsake cakes and ittybittybirdy - check them out!



1. What inspires you as an artist?

I have found that many artist, myself included find it difficult to embrace their own unique style. We are inspired by others and we try to mimic or incorporate aspects that we admire into our own work. My work has always been "cutesy" and I struggled with excepting who I was as an artist for way to long. I graduated with Interior Design and the whole way through my instructors tried warping my artistic talents into the traditional commercial style. It was an extremely challenging time. I thought it was going to be a creative outlet for me and instead it became something I despised and in the end I started to rebel against. I started to embrace my cartoony, whimsical style... my grades suffered but my personal happiness was well worth it. I grew up in a home where no one pushed me to pursue my artistic talents. It has only been in the last year that I have really started to explore myself as an artist. I'm trying new things, and more and more becoming comfortable with who I am as an artist. It has truly been the most exciting and fulfilling adventure, and blogging has played a huge role in both documenting my growth as an artist as well as gaining new friends who are a daily source of inspiration and support.Growing up my only medium was drawing. I painted ceramics when I was very young but mostly I just loved to draw. My drawing style has always been more imaginative than realistic. Crafting has been a big jump for me. My creations are primarily inspired by the love of candy.Both the sugary kind and the visual kind. I like to make creations that seem almost edible. My creations are constantly evolving as Ileane more more techniques. However I am trying to transition back into drawing a bit. I would like to start to incorporate my drawings into my keepsake Shop. I'm currently working on creating some paper dolls, and I would love to make coloring book pages and maybe just some larger fine prints ( maybe of my houses) you can see a few of my drawing by visiting my art folder in flickr



2. How long have you been collecting lovely vintage clothes, and where do you find all of your gorgeous dresses? Your style is so awesome!

Gosh thanks! Well I was always wearing dresses as a girl. Both for school and by choice. At the age of 13 I was still wearing very young style holiday dresses. Then I transitioned into to awkward 70s style stage of shiny polyester shirts... not a good look for me. By college had started to develop my own unique look. I refused to dress in sweat pants and flip flops like most college freshman. Instead Always wore hats and red lipstick. It was this look that caught the eye of my now husband in a class of over 300 students. But my look now is the most me. It incorporates my love for vintage and girly dresses,and the sweetness of youth all into one. Its whimsical and unique and truly my own. Project Dress Up has really been an exciting adventure so far. It has allowed me to use part of my wardrobe that was stuck in my closet, just waiting for special occasions. Most of my wardrobe is from thrift shops. I hardly ever pay more than $10 on anything. I still have so much that you haven't seen just waiting to be altered. Shopping with friends can be fun... my friends will find something and hold it up as a joke and I fall in love. I guess I'm just a bit odd, but it works for me.




3. What do you enjoy creating the most?

The lollipop lane gingerbread houses are my favorite to create because each one turns out sweetly unique. It's really fun to imagine what it would be like to live in such a magical little world. I also love custom work. There is something that changes in the creative process when your creating something with the intention of fitting it to someone else's personality.


The Lollipop Lane house that Chelsea Ann made for me..


A teacake with a little chickie on top!



4. We all want to grow and change as artists (and people!). Tell us about a> future goal you have or a new skill you want to learn

I would really love to learn to sew, paint, and also learn more about graphic design. I would love to have formal training in these areas.At this point art is more of a hobby and like many others I want to be able to transition it into a career. But my biggest goals are to one day own my own boutique, a dream I have had since I was a young girl.And perhaps my next goal is a bit silly but I would be so honored Tobe on the Martha Stewart show one day.


Notecards available in her Keepsake Cakes Lollishop

Vintage Dresses for little Girl's avilable in her Ittybittybirdy Lollishop


5. What made you want to become an artist?

Was there a certain event in your> life or has this always been something you wanted to do?Like I said before I grew up with pencil in my hand... and while I was always interested in art, it hasn't been until the last few years that have really started to follow my heart and pursue my love for creating. Blogging was really a start to my personal exploration of crafting that I had never before known was going to be such a big part of my life. But like I said before I think it is time that I start to reflect on my drawing and even perhaps pick up a paint brush. I think will always be evolving as an artist. I love my work know but I'm not sure that I have truly found my style or my niche. Art is part of my soul, as my talents grow and evolve so do I as a person. It's process and I'm loving ever moment, and even more I love sharing it with the blogging community as I love seeing what others are creating and their creative processes. Our Artwork truly reflects who we are.I've never been good with words, I'm pretty surprised I have been able to keep up a blog with my anxiety about my writing... but each creations says so much about me. I hope if ever I was to meet a blogging friend they would think I was just as sweet as the items I make. Their is so much kindness and generosity in blog land. So many of you have changed my life and I would like to think that I have done the same for a few of you.


Rosette Pins available in Chelsea Ann's Lollishop

Lollipop Lane Gingerbread House


Thanks for reading! Check out Chelsea Ann's BLOG here