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/the-boss-is-out-of-townparty-time/ http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/the-boss-is-out-of-townparty-time/#comments Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:39:09 +0000 betsy http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/?p=927 Psst….

(don’t I have a cute outfit on too!!  It’s all thrift store finds with a minnie mouse feel!)

Meet me at Shecky’s Girls Night Out!  I’ve got a pair of free tickets that will get you through the door!  Who wants them!?!  I’ll be there all 5 days (June 23-June 27).  (Just leave a comment after this post and I’ll select a winner at random next Wednesday, June 17th…can’t wait to meet you!!)  …okay, it’s (btw, just accidentally wrote “tit’s” and it really made me giggle) decided— this entire post is going to be emphatic!!!

HANDMADE IN PORTLAND AT SHECKY’S NYC!!!:

(betsy & iya as featured in Shecky’s hot picks for the NYC Summer 2009 event!  The Coin Goddess Necklace is featured above… with the massive black arrow pointing to it.)

This will be my first Shecky’s event and I’m trying to spread the word that handmade designers/artists like me will also be vendors there.  I like selling at events like this precisely because an audience that is not typically exposed to handmade might, for once, get a great taste of it.  I think there will be many awesome items to choose from and if people know about the handmade dudes, like me—it becomes all the more exciting.  It’s a tangible face-to-face sense of design, hardwork and community.  Also, those of you who read here from far off lands (slash: NYC or Philly)—we could meet!!  I’m bringing ALL of my jewelry plus loads and loads of new designs that I’ve yet to list in my online store!

This coin goddess necklace will be on sale—(special for Shecky’s customers $10 off):

Awesome photo by: Jasmine Photography.  (click and be directed to item in my shop)!

Okay, so if you wanna meet me in NYC, come to Shecky’s Girls Night Out, any night June 23rd-27th…FREE BOOZE, btw!  If you want to get in for free…COMMENT BELOW, you just might win!!

Again, consider coming to support those handmade designers who come (making the trek ALL the way from beautiful Portland, OR…ahem) from faraway to showoff and sell their wares made by their own two hands.

***Song of the Moment: The Ballad of Dorothy Parker, by Prince***

]]> http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/giveaway-meet-me-in-nyc/feed/ 3 http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/giveaway-on-design-for-mankind/ http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/giveaway-on-design-for-mankind/#comments Wed, 27 May 2009 23:18:47 +0000 betsy http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/?p=839

Hey, gang!  One of my favorite blogs of all time, Design for Mankind, is hosting a Giveaway of one of my necklaces on her site today.  Go there and comment on the post for a chance to win one of my scarf necklaces!!  (Plus, if you’ve never been there before, you should—Erin runs a tight blog ship, the girl is brilliant.)

If you’d like to bypass all of that stuff and just buy one of these beauties outright, click on the picture below!

OR go straight to my online shop!

Hope you’re having a lovely Wednesday!!

xo-

betsy

***Song of the Moment: Flume, by Bon Iver***

Two Mondays ago, I went to a book release party for a book that… I’M IN!!!!  What!?!!  Wow.  It was super duper exciting.  I was attempting to sell it on Etsy when I realized I couldn’t…wah wah.  I’m a handmade seller featured in the book, but I didn’t actually make the book with my own two hands—though that would’ve been way cooler.

So—I’ll say it here and hope it spreads via word of mouth:  I’m selling these in my studio for $20.  If you want one, feel free to email me or give me a call.  You can find my info in the contact section.  ****ALSO, if you spend $100 or more in my betsy & iya online or studio shop, I’ll include it for free, just mention it when you check out.  (I don’t want to give a book about cool Portland women to someone who lives in Mexico, unless they really really want it).

YAY!!

Happy Wednesday!

***Song of the Moment:  My Life’s Work, by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy***

Behance.net front page...oh yeah, baby! (bottom left)

The awesome photographers with whom I’ve worked on various shoots, who did my crazy website idea shoot (and totally stood behind me when I kept going wackier and wilder with the ideas), wrote me this morning to tell me we had been featured on the front page of this awesome site called, the Behance Network:

Apparently, it’s a pretty cool deal to be featured, so YAHOOEY!  (It’s fun to watch it all spread).  I’m also super glad that the awesome team behind those wildly hot photos are getting the shoutouts they deserve.  I’ll just reiterate here:

Jen Lamastra of Transform Salon did the amazing hair and also held my hand as I toiled over the perfect wardrobe for the models.

Sabrina Cayne did the sexy make-up.

Enko Photo rocked the amazing shots, just like I had pictured them.

And thank you to all the models who allowed this project to be so darn FUN!

Now I must run back to work–crankin’ crankin’ crankin’.  wait…does that sound bad?

***Song of the Moment: Next Time, by Little Wings***

Awhile back, I introduced/teased you with the smaller version of the Normissima earrings: the Norma lacy baby.  Though I didn’t have any good pictures for the sweet babies and I had not one iota of a moment to list them in my online shop.  And lately the lace earrings have been getting more attention.  I recently mentioned the Interview by the awesome FB over at the Fabulously Broke in the City blog.  Check it out if you get a moment; I really liked the questions she asked and the Normissimas make an appearance.  Here they are for a refresher:

Normissima sexy lacies

I found this awesome 40s vintage lace from a fellow Etsian and I knew immediately I had to turn it into earrings.  At the time, I had been dreaming of mixing old fabric (preferably lace) and metal—and this lace was a match made in heaven.  I carefully stiffen the lace overnight.  I “glue” the fabric in huge batches for efficacy after I’ve cut them into the shapes of my liking.  After I determine what the design needs by staring at it for awhile and then I usually do something wild with skinny sterling silver wire.  My friend Jen, from her killer salon next door, says she loves how delicate the lace looks with the hardness of the wire.  I. LOVE. CONTRASTS.

After that interview, something magical happened…One of my favorite bloggers, Jena, from the Modish blog featured my Charlotte’s Grace earrings along with a collection of other very fine items.  I was SO excited and I’m SO not afraid to gush it out here.  This is what it looks like and if you haven’t ever checked out her blog, you should go over there NOW:

Betsy on Modish

If you love the lacies, you should go for it.  Everyone’s doin’ it!!  As promised then, here are the smaller (more tame) version of the above Normissima earrings.  These are a direct link to my online shop to buy, so –WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  You deserve to look this hot:

Norma Lacy Baby earrings

I hope you all have a glorious day!!

***Song of the Moment: Furr, by Blitzen Trapper***

Fabulously Broke in the City

It was so fun doing the interview and hopefully will introduce my designs to many new great folks.   (Plus, if you visit her blog and read through the interview, you’ll find a nice discount surprise at the end…just sayin’, EVERYONE needs pretty jewels).  Thanks, FB!  Enjoy everyone!!

***Song of the Moment: Suffer for Fashion, by Of Montreal***