(Betsy is in a best selling book!! Leave a comment after this post to enter in the GIVEAWAY of the book + an awesome discount to the betsy & iya store! Winner will be announced on 2.27.10)
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
This is an amazing post. Thank you so much for supporting the woman in your life as she grows her business!!! It’s amazing as a business owner to be able to look at your creation and have no regrets and never look back. Rock on Betsy!!!
How sweet! I hope there are more like you out there.
Sitting here wearing my Betsy & Iya envelope chain and feeling super inspired by this post. I have just started working on my own jewellery in the hope of setting up an online business and maybe one day becoming as successful as Betsy :) Absolutely have to get my hands on this book. Congrats on being so luffly :) LolaDee x
Hooray for fabulous pioneering businesswomen! So inspired by this post and can’t wait to check out this new book – it sounds like just what I’ve been looking for.
CAROLINA BLUE
TARHEELS WAVING YEAH TO YOU
BETSY AND IYA!
[...] Betsy & Iya Jewelry Handmade jewelry from Portland, Oregon designer Betsy Cross. Big pieces, mixed metals, confident entrances. Clunky or intricate. Earthy or Army. But always, always, 100% handmade. About Blog Shop Wholesale Contact « GIVEAWAY: The Handmade Marketplace [...]
So cute call Betsy your fortune and hearing this kind of words by a man! We young handmade artists need support! And you, Betsy, are a great woman!
Enjoy create and sell handmade as we all do!
All my respect to you guys!
Laura
This book would surely come in handy! Thanks for the chance to win.
If you’d like to enter my giveaways, check out the new one for FREE ad space:
http://etsyinterviews.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-look-from-dumplin-design-studio-ad.html
i’ve had my eye on this book since i first read about it a couple weeks ago — it looks perfect!
inspiring and gorgeous, and just what i need to motive myself a little more.
i’d love to get my hands on a copy :)
Can’t wait to give it a read!
Not that I need to read a book to be inspired by the great Betsy Cross, but I have been tempted to take a stab at getting a bit further with *idiosyncrasy by design….
That book looks really interesting and very inspiring! ;)
Love it!
As a fellow Stumptown artsy type I’m inspired by your success! I just quit my day job to be home with my new baby girl and have been slowly building my own handmade business. I hope in two years I’m doing that well! It sounds like a copy of Kari’s book would get me going in the right direction.
I too, have been looking – nay – coveting this book for a while. :)
Your words are very sweet! I love the book illustration and am excited to read that you are giving away a copy. I am crossing my fingers. :)
Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity! I will buy this book in any case for the great articles a have heard of and for the wonderful illustrations I saw, but I do not mind taking chances in your giveaway!
Good Luck and My Best Wishes!
Yuliya
How exciting another fellow Oregonian following their dreams to success!
What a great post! They sound like two very inspiring women. :) Would love to win this book!
So cool! I can always use another book to read, especially one on how to do things better!!
Yes, you are a lucky guy…and after reading your article, I would say that Betsy is a lucky girl! Please toss my name into the hat for a chance to win this book! Thanks so much for the opportunity… :)
Sheesh… a giveaway sure brings commentors out of the woodwork, eh? That “eh” was a nod to your upcoming trip. Have a fabulous time north of the border and e-mail me when you get back. ‘Cause we are for real going to hang out then.
We would use the heck out of this book for sure!!! :)
yay Betsy! I am continually inspired by this gal {and her jewelry}. she totally deserves to be featured in this book- congrats Betsy!!
congratulations to you all!
it’s stories like yours that inspired me to start my own business Great job and congrats on the mention in the book I always pass it in Borders so it would be great to win it
Ps i was never good at haikus but I hear vermont is lovely this time of year
betsy stole my identity
You both are an inspiring team and I love the way this man talks up his woman! Yes! I continue to be awed by your work too, Betsy! xo
So the dream can come true. Very moving. I would love to win a copy of this book with an autographed from Betsy and Keri. Betsy your living the dream my dream.