lots of love.

***Song of the Moment: undertaker, by M. Ward***

I’m lucky enough to be one of only FORTY select vendors showcasing my items at the amazing Show of Awesome (as part of the fantastically marvelous Summit of Awesome) taking place at the Doug Fir Lounge from 10 am to 3 pm tomorrow.  TOMORROW.  tomorrow. tomizzle. TOmorrow.  TOMORRAROW!!  come by and see me and all the other amazingly talented vendors!  I plan on having only (mostly) new things to sell, including the photo project line.  Things you’ve never seen before…Woot Woot!!

Etsy will be there!  All the amazing folks from Hello Craft (who have been putting on a HECK of a Summit over at the Kennedy School)!!  And course, my favorites, Cathy, Torie, and Jen—the wonder women from Crafty Wonderland and DIY Lounge respectively.  These people blow my mind!  I’m so honored to be a part of this event.

Mostly, enjoy this glorious weekend and give A LOT of love.

xoxo~betsy

***Song of the Moment: Rise Up With Fists!!, by Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins***

It’s supposed to be gorgeous here this weekend.  I NEED the sun.  should be perfect.

Have beautiful weekends!

xo~betsy

***Song of the Moment: Weeks of Rain, by Hauschka***

Tonight at the Portland Art Museum, I’m happy to be a part of Power of the Purse 2010 to benefit the amazing organization, Girls, Inc. 40% of my sales tonight will go to the amazing organization.

P.S. Dionne Warwick will be singing tonight…wahh!!

Saturday and Sunday, here:

Can’t wait to see you all!!

***Song of the Moment: Fast Car, by Tracy Chapman***

Remember that awesomely amazing book I told you about?  The book every indie crafter, artist, etc should own?   The one I told you I was in??  This one:

The one with advice and contributions from hot hot hot folks like, Grace Bonney from Design Sponge, Emily Martin of the black apple, and Matt of Etsy.com (to name a few)?

Well, the book’s awesome author, Kari Chapin, has organized a discussion panel for the Etsy Speaker Series—and (you guessed it) I’m ON THAT THING!

A great group of folks who were featured in the book, including the author;

Kari, Kim Werker, Jennifer Judd-McGee, Liz Smith and yours truly, will talk about selling crafts locally, globally and online, LIVE at 7 pm eastern time TONIGHT!!  wheeee!  I am SO SO SO grateful to be included in this.  Kim gets to the point better than me:

“The panel will be a live event there [at Etsy headquarters] (if you’re in NYC, you can sign up for free here). If you aren’t in NYC or you can’t make the event in person, you can catch it live in the Etsy Virtual Labs. I’m not sure if they’ll record the panel for non-live viewing, so watch it live if you can! (Note: The panel starts at 7pm Eastern time.)”

Speaking of Kim, she said she’s “stupid excited” to see Etsy in person (I couldn’t agree more).  Which makes me stupid excited to meet her.  I spent many parts of my tryst with Vancouver, BC trying to explain to my Canadian friend what “stupid excited” meant.  I don’t think he ever got it, but I’m hoping this post will help.

In the spirit of what-to-wear-to-Etsy-tonight, I offer you a glimpse into my Charleston Outfit of the Day:

(these earrings are some of my favorites from the new Old Turns New line.  lookout for them in the shop soon)

Okay okay okay, we gots to get on the ROAD!  Yesterday, Charleston.  Last night, DC.  Today, NY.  Brooklyn, here we come—

I’m STUPID excited for all of it!  Kari Chapin, you’re… too much for words; thank you for—well, everything.

(new stores in SC and DC—lookout for ‘em!)

miss you guys (wish me luck)! xo~betsy

***Song of the Moment: Walking, by the Dodos***

Coffee.  Lady Bug.  Salvaged wood.  Record store.  Astral Weeks.  Rega Turntable.  Surprise-a-friend Sunday.  Saint Cupcake.

Dakota and the Humane Society.  Swedish meatballs.  New sheets, high thread count, mm.  Pictures in toy bins.  Colanders.  Frozen yogurt.  TJs and free coffee.  Good talks and reading.  Scrabble.

Silence.

I feel like I could live in these perfect creations by the inimitable Betsy Walton.   The colors and their combinations astound me.  I own a favorite shirt by the artist which was a gift from W (I think he purchased it at Crafty Wonderland…I’ll be there again for the spring show).  I didn’t put it all together until I started seeing her work more and more around town… and finally I realized she is in some of the sweet stores I also sell in.  It’s official:

I am smitten.  (Plus, she has a great first name…)

so, like me,  take this color and get through your Mondays!   ~betsy

***Song of the Moment:  Sweet Thing, by Van Morrison***

I’m a lucky guy.  I’m married to an amazing woman.  I probably don’t have to tell you how amazing Betsy is, but just in case you’re new here:

She’s built a business from nothing in 2 years.  She’s got this incredible knack for following her gut to beauty, humor, truth, and the more than occasional perfect pair of earrings.  I don’t think I’ve met anyone else who’s more well liked by more people in less time.  She’s magnetic.

Well, my good fortune doesn’t stop with Betsy; my friends are pretty excellent as well.  I met Kari Chapin in quaint Montpelier, VT during the summer of 2004.  In fact, she was my boss for a whirlwind 3 months of creemees, mint juleps, Grimm fairy tales, late nights, and early mornings of yard sale hopping.  Yeah, she was a real slave driver.

Czar Chapin lays down the law

I introduced Betsy and Kari right before Betsy and I won $75 in nickels in the loose slots of Atlantic City.  Since then, Betsy’s begun making her living in the handmade marketplace and Kari’s written a book about it (not just about Betsy).  The Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally, and Online is the current top seller at Powell’s, and in three categories on Amazon.  Kari basically walks you through how to be Betsy (and many others like her) in 218 pages.  It feels good in the hand; it’s got Kari’s joy, optimism, and hard-(and fun)-work-will-pay-off ethos on every page in addition to thoughts, tips, and inside advice from heavy hitters in the handmade world (Betsy is on pgs 50-51).  I’m so proud of Kari.  This book is fantastic.  But you don’t have to take my word for it…

Well, Betsy wants to brighten your day and de-blight-en your bookshelf (I know, I have a way with words) by giving you your very own copy of this gem!  We’ll mail the book out to one lucky commenter (haikus about Vermont summer days are encouraged.) Be sure your email address is valid so we can find you if you win.  We’ll pick a winner at random on Saturday, 2.27.10, so comment away until then!

Thanks for sharing your blog with me, Betsy.  xoxox

Found these items on Etsy to help express how I’m feeling:

These Vintage Boxers from Xander Graphics

The Fighter, by Tony A Engel

Cat Fight Buckle by Alaska Gadgetry

Toilet Fighting = funny

Bears Fighting, by Dan Bob Thompson

With that, I better get on with this battle, so I might actually get some work done today.  yikes!

***Song of the Moment: Fighting on the Stairs, by The Frames***

I’ve received a fair amount of new inquiries from (rad) places I didn’t even know existed:  wholesale, international blogs, magazines in Greece (one of my favorite places in all the world)…but my most treasured correspondences are with the individual people who come to me with orders, questions, praise, etc.    Something different:

This last press post has inched the men closer in my direction; and not just for their women, but for themselves. I LOVE this.  Not just because they’re men and I love men, but I’ve always wanted a man to want my jewelry for himself—-this time around I’ve been asked by several to create a men’s line.  COOL, right!?!!  Let’s just say—it’s in the works.  and I’m SO excited.

One of them went so far as to send me links to things that accurately represent his style.  And I really like his style.  I was introduced to Mr. Jones Watches.  In fact, I think I want one for myself and I’m not even in to wearing watches.

Maybe W will see this post and run off to Mr. Jones for the next holiday!?  Oh wait… aren’t we still in one?  W??

I am so very grateful for the ever increasing interest in my work and the call to push me even further.  I plan to meet you there and then keep on running.  Thank you, everyone.

***Song of the Moment: Sealed With a Kiss, by Deerhoof***

]]> http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/when-things-blow-up-the-men-come-running/feed/ 2 http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/new-stuff-is-rad/ http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/new-stuff-is-rad/#comments Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:56:46 +0000 betsy http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/?p=1458 These new designs are making me CRAZY!  I’m SO EXCITED!  I have so much more to share with you, but today I’ll leave you with this newest one-of-a-kind design I just posted in my online shop.

Click pictures for a direct link to the Deco Eagle Shield necklace!!

Smooches galore!!!

***Song of the Moment: Until the End of Time, by Justin Timberlake***  (i know…I KNOW!  it’s a serious addiction)

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