Today we’d like to introduce you to Toni Davenport
Hi Toni, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started crocheting when several of my friends were having babies and I wanted to make them gifts. I learned from a coworker at the library and then mostly through YouTube.
Turtle & Bird Creations started because I was crocheting a lot for friends and family and everyone kept saying I should sell my work. I started the business officially in 2019, and enjoy selling at markets and local shops, as well as making custom orders, and creating patterns I sell online. I love creating new products and exploring various fiber arts.
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Red Truck Home Solutions is my new decluttering and home organization business I started in 2024. This all started after I’d helped several friends downsize and move. I realized we all have so much stuff and started to declutter my own home. I realized with clear spaces comes a clear mind. I decided I wanted to help people who are overwhelmed by clutter create peace in their own homes.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Turtle & Bird Creations started in 2019 and it was a busy year full of local farmers and artist markets. Some were more successful than others and sometimes I didn’t get accepted to markets I really wanted to attend.
Then 2020 hit and most markets were cancelled, so things were tough for this tiny new business.
As I created more patterns and made more custom orders, my skills grew. By the time markets opened back up, I started getting accepted into the juried artist markets and gained more of a following. In 2024 I got my products into Guadalupe Trading Company in Seguin, which has been a great partnership.
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Red Truck Home Solutions just started in 2024. I filed for the LLC and officially started the business in October so I don’t have much of a story here yet.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My creative business, Turtle & Bird Creations, has been ever changing partially to meet customer needs and partially to explore different things creatively for myself.
I started with crochet stuffed animals and small things like that, but I’ve been shifting to home decor and working to make things out of more sustainable products. This year I’m using old t-shirts to make my own t-shirt yarn and then I’m making products from that yarn.
I’ll still likely make my most popular products from previous years, like silent fidgets, and ornaments during the holidays, but I like adding new ideas to my selection every year too.
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Red Truck Home Solutions is a new business, but what I’m working to be known for is helping people reclaim their homes when they feel completely overwhelmed and don’t even know where to begin. So often we feel ashamed about the state of our homes and I want to help people create a home that works for them and their needs, and is a place of peace for them in their busy lives. No judgement, only hope.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I very often listen to audiobooks through the public library or podcasts while I crochet. I was a librarian for about 12 years before starting my crochet business, so I still have a deep love for libraries and seeking information.
What’s funny is that I’m often listening to helpful resources about decluttering and home organization!
If you’re looking for inspiration on decluttering, I highly recommend the Clutterbug podcast.
I’ll also be doing book recommendations throughout the year on my Red Truck social media pages (RedTruckTidyUp).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.RedTruckTidyUp.com
- Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/RedTruckTidyUp
- Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/RedTruckTidyUp
