Solo Feature: Ever So Lovely + Giveaway!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself!
Hello all! My name is Brandi Moody and I am the founder of Ever So Lovely® which is a small design studio just outside of Raleigh, North Carolina.

2. What made you decide to start your shop & blog?
Well, ever since I could pick up a crayon, I have always loved art and design. It is something that I have to do and after going to college for Graphic Design and working in the industry professionally for fourteen years, I decided to start up Ever So Lovely. When I was at Meredith College (an all women's college here in NC) I minored in Creative Writing and I've always loved interviewing people about their craft. Naturally, I decided to start up Ever So Lovely as a blog where people could go to be inspired by all of the talent that is around the world.

I also used to have a shop under the name Creativ*Bee Designs where I sold my handmade jewelry designs and art. I just decided to rebrand my company and have everything under one name.

3. What are your favorite things to blog about? Favorite posts? 
That's a tough one. I would have to say all of my posts become my favorites because of what different designers share about their journey as artists and designers. What inspires them. What drives them. It's just all so intriguing to know what motivates everyone since everyone's craft is so different. I totally understand what each person goes through, because being an artist myself, it's great to learn about others.

But if you would like to know a couple of my favorite interviews, I would have to say interviewing international photographer Lara Jade was amazing! I have always been a huge fan of her work and the fact that she took the time out to talk with me about her work was amazing. I interviewed her last year and she had 17,000 Facebook fans. In just a year, she's grown to almost 70,000 fans which is astounding since she is just 22 years old.

Another interview I loved was with the two sisters, Jessica and Gwynne, who are the talent behind the label Rosella Resin. They make the most unique resin jewelry with feathers and found objects and they are really great people!

I absolutely LOVED interviewing with Adrienne Berry of Dingbat Press who is one of the most talented letterpress designers I have ever known. She really dives deep into her craft and creates some gorgeous work for her clients.

4. What are your favorite things to make for your shop?
It varies depending on my mood. Some days I really love making my hand-painted silk scarves because it's an art form, while other days I really love spending time surrounded by various vintage findings and gemstones which light up my work station with color.

I also love, love, love creating logos for my clients. That has to be one of the most rewarding things I do since I get to learn so much about someone else's company and what they want for their business. It's the best creative journey you can go on and in the end you help someone else create something they love so much that they use it for their business. That is probably my most favorite thing to make.

I also love to create custom illustrations for weddings and anniversaries. People give me some of their favorite photographs and I combine everything to make a unique image for their special occasion. The framed oval illustration was a design I created for two of my best friends who were getting married. They both loved the beach and I created an illustration of the bride in the dress similar to the one she was wearing when her fiancé proposed to her. They really loved it and I was really excited about the finished design.

I also am working on several new projects that I will be unveiling in 2012 which will involve some of my hand illustrations.

5. Favorite pass-time?
That would be spending time with my husband and taking weekend trips out to the Outer Banks of NC. I also bake some mean cookies! (photo attached). I gave my famous chocolate cookies away for Christmas and my friends said they were the best cookies ever.

6. What was on your Christmas wish-list? 
Well, I had a long list to give my husband, but he made my year with three things I really wanted. The first was a handmade Amethyst Heart Necklace from Moorea Seal, the next was a beautiful Black Quartz Necklace from Pole Star and he knew I love pretty vintage bags...well he searched all over and found the cutest vintage Louis Vuitton satchel from the early 80s in pristine condition. Yes, my husband is awesome! :)

7. Favorite blog reads?
There are so many out there but some of my favorites are Oh Hello Friend, Design Sponge, Indie Fixx, Style Me Pretty, and 2Modern Blog.

8. If you had three wishes what would they be?
Hmmm. 1) I would say - win the lottery 2) buy a house at the beach with said lottery money where I would keep designing and blogging 3) just live a long and happy life

9. What's your favorite meal?
My husband and I just discovered a dish this week that Carrabba's makes called Chicken Bryan. OH MY GOSH! That was the best meal EVER! It's two grilled chicken breasts topped with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes and a basil lemon butter sauce. If you haven't had it, you owe it to yourself to try it....It's probably my favorite dish of the year.

10. What inspires you the most?
I would say nature. There are so many organic things out in the world that have pattern and shape which at some point or another has helped to inspire my work. That and a good cup of coffee. :)

Find Brandi Here:
Blog: http://eversolovely.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/eversolovely
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EverSoLovely
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/eversolovely
Design Services: http://eversolovelydesign.com/

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Giveaway Time!! Brandi is offering one person the chance to win one of her peony necklace in either blue or pink! See how to enter below. 

Main Entry:
1. Leave a comment on this post sharing your favorite item from Brandi's shop!

Bonus Entries (please leave one comment per entry):

1. Take a visit to Brandi's Blog and leave a sweet comment!

2. Tweet about it! Just copy & paste this: Win a beautiful peony necklace from @eversolovely on @MaieDae! http://maiedae.blogspot.com/2011/12/solo-feature-ever-so-lovely-giveaway.html

One winner will be selected at random and announced within the week! ALSO, I'd like to announce the winner of the December Sponsor Love Giveaway! Congratulations #37 Ragnhilds Cubicle!! Please email me at MaieDae@gmail.com with your shipping information. :)