Betsy & Iya Jewelry


Archive for the ‘Handmade Revolution’ Category

SHOP TO THE HEART: Laura George artwork & illustrations.

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

I was having a cranky day—more emails than time to get through them, everything taking longer than planned, and general stress-inducing activities (like paying bills).  And then our newest order of Laura George arrived…

…and all was right with the world.

These amazing cards and prints make me cry and laugh all at once.  That is my favorite.  I mean, who wouldn’t want to get a nipple card??  amazing!

xo~betsy

(come to the shop to get a live look at Laura’s sweet work!)

p.s. don’t forget to enter the GIVEAWAY, you have until Monday…get IN on it!

***Song of the Moment: It’s All in your Mind, by Beck***

Don’t Call it a Comeback.

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

…I been here for years.  Rockin my peers and puttin suckas in fear.  Makin the tears rain down like a MON-soon.
Listen to the bass go BOOM.  Explosion.

Anybody else listen to LL COOL J back in the day?  I sure did.  And I’m pretty certain my rap sounded nothing like the lyrics above.  And I’m also pretty sure my eleven year old self felt FIERCE rapping along.

It’s time to revamp this here blog…explode with the things, anecdotes, designs, shop before/afters, new products we’ve been hoarding. It’s time to purge!  I can’t wait to purge on you!

Here is just a taste of what our 6 am wake ups and all-nighters have looked like over the past two months:

We’ve missed you guys.  Can’t WAIT to jump back in here with you.

As my good friend Gina always says:

lovies,

-b

***Song of the Moment (derrrr…): Mama Said Knock You Out, by LL Cool J***

Design Love.

Friday, January 7th, 2011
(and a mini OOTD for you.  I’ve got lots of new outfit combos stored up for this year; I can’t wait to share them all with you.)

OSBORN.

I love these shoes.

I can’t remember what blog I first saw these on, maybe one of my faves, Modish or Creature Comforts, but I feel like I’ve seen them on lots of great blogs that I read.  Anyways, they would pop up here and there—teasing me.   In this whole saving money phase of my life, I wasn’t sure when or if I would ever be able to obtain a pair for my very own.

Needless to say, I was astonished when I opened a present from my parents-in-law, with this pair inside:

They weren’t sure which pair I wanted, W had just send a link to the whole site, saying that I was obsessed.  When I opened them, I wanted to do back flips.  Weird, I know—for shoes. I couldn’t believe how well made they were.  I thought they looked great in the pictures, but in person, in person…they blew me away. There was a return slip inside so I could pick the pair I really wanted.  When I went on their site again, though, I was reminded that I pretty much want every pair.  I chose to keep this one—aaaaand start a new collection.  I hope to own a bootie type pair by 2012.  Ah, goals…they’re GREAT!

I can’t say enough good about this independent company from Brooklyn.  Their handmade shoes are so divine.

***Song of the Moment:  Deep Blue, by Arcade Fire***

Give me a BREAK.

Monday, January 3rd, 2011

I was ready for a break.  More than any other holiday season leading up to this point, I was ready.  In November, we took a few days off.  We took Thanksgiving day off, and then…literally…we worked straight, every single day (some, until 1 in the morning), until our break began, on the airplane, on December 19th.  There were crafty shows, trunk shows, benefit brunches, studio openings, happy shopping hours, a new online shop, a new line (my current favorite), a pop-up shop, and loads of amazing wholesale orders to boot.  I was honored to be so busy.  I was happy.  I was tired.  I was ready for a break.

There is a feeling of love that comes over me when I learn that someone wants to wear my designs.  It’s more than satisfaction.  I still have thoughts like: really, you want to wear this thing that I dreamed up?? really? You’re soooo great!!

It makes those breaks feel so much more special.  We worked hard, really hard, and it was worth it.

And then…

I have a moment, finally (usually on the plane or in the car), to remember why I do it all in the first place.  A moment to sit down and realize how important it is that we make time for space.  Because that’s where the magic happens.

Magic =

1) Gingham meets her auntie and uncle dogs.  And plays a LOT.

2) We see some of the most important people in our lives:  family.

3) We see each other.

4) We play.

5) We eat Christmas cookies.

6) We experience the real kind of love.

7) We hear new music.

8) We tell stories.

9) We have amazing conversations.

10) We enjoy the silence.

Now we’re back.  Now I know why we’re really here.

I hope you all had the most wonderful breaks and saw what you really needed to see.

Hope to see you in the New Year!!

xo~betsy

Song of the Moment: All You’ve Got to Do is Fall in Love, by Benji Hughes***