crafting my future...

Hello there friends! My name is Tandie and welcome to my shop. This is the space where I dream, experiment with designs, perfect a craft and (hopefully) supply your home with a piece of my handmade story.

my roots:
I grew up in Northern California and played volleyball for as long as I can remember. Sports gave me the opportunity to travel all over the U.S. as well as a very eye opening journey to Japan. At 17 I left home with a scholarship to play Volleyball at UC Irvine in Southern California. As an Anteater (yep, our mascot), I majored in Sociology, minored in Film Studies and slowly drifted into studying art and design and longed for international travel again.

Unsure of what I wanted to 'be' when I grew up I decided to spend a year living and working abroad in London, England. Being alone in a big, foreign city really created a heightened awareness in me, one that I would later revisit making pieces in my Etsy shop.

Back in the states and now residing in Phoenix, Arizona I was working in the field of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning when the economy took a dive and jobs became hard to come by. The economy slumped and I was jobless with limited options to earn a living.

Following a suggestion from a friend (thanks Ellen!) I opened an Etsy shop to try my hand at selling sketches and prints I had made based on my travels. After a few sales and a restored self confidence I reinvested that money into sewing and printing classes, immediately falling in love with printmaking. By 2008 Nesta Home grew into my own little thriving small business and has continued to be 9 years later.

I am still reinvesting my income but these days that comes in the form of spending my days with my 6 and 4 year old kiddos. This creative little business has helped to fuel a lifestyle that is truly rad and I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to develop numerous 'crafts' in my life to get me by. Some by choice, others through survival and resourcefulness.

Robert NESTA Marley puts it perfectly, 'When one door is closed, don't you know, another is open'.

ZotZotZot,
Tandie

----- about my work ----

the collections: I have always found the study of both natural and crafted environments fascinating. The city we live in, the objects in our home, the overall environment we surround ourselves with all have a life of their own.

the city:
Through my 'Dark City' art series I explore the urban environment, investigating cities and their vibe, telling their stories through manipulated photographs printed on antique atlas book pages.

the home:
The place where one lives, surrounded by objects one has collected for their function, sentimental value, beauty... A colorful dish towel hanging from the kitchen sink, a handmade throw pillow nestled in the babies crib, these are the little accents of comfort and love that I strive to create.

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