Betsy & Iya Jewelry


Posts Tagged ‘busy busy’

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***

You Slacker.

Friday, December 17th, 2010

If you’re anything like us, you haven’t done ANY Christmas shopping.  None.  If you’re a lot like us, you’ve also been working 12-14 hour days, so you don’t feel particularly beat up about it either.  But guys: Christmas is breathing down your neck.  Can you feel the chill?  Why not kill a few birds with one stone tonight?  Allow me to enumerate the birds:

1. jewelry
2. complementary booze
3. free gift wrapping
4. avoiding wandering aimlessly around the mall on 12/24 in a cold sweat.
5. making at least one special lady in your life very, VERY happy.

This evening, stop by Uncommon Jewels, where yours truly and six other high-profile Portland jewelry designers (Alisha Louise, Amy Bengtson, grayling, Lauren Harkness, Sahlia, and stone + honey) will push your gifting across the goal line.  The deets:

Olympic Mills Building
107 SE Washington Street
Portland, OR
3pm-9pm

*Major credit cards accepted.

Puppy playtime.

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

We’re slammed these days. After work is over, we have just enough time to blow in our puppy’s face, capture it on video, and post it to the blog before bedtime.  So, apologies for the long gaps between posts, and you’re very welcome for these little gems.

***Song of the Moment: One Day, by Sharon Van Etten***

Studs + The photo project.

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

This post feels like sitting down for coffee with a good friend I haven’t seen in a while…

Available: $69

With the new shop, the new website and store launch (coming soon), new before & after shots, loads of new designs, and b & i being featured on a national television show—Model Latina NYC: Season 3 (airs on August 2nd)—there’s so much to tell!

Deep breath, people.

Let’s start with a glimpse into just a *few* of the new designs I’ve been cranking out:

These are still part of the collaboration between Isaac and me; we continue to sell many, but we keep adding new designs and we’re adding these to our online shops very soon!  If you see any that you want to snatch up, feel free to email me and put in a request.

And introducing, the STUDS:

More to come, my friends.  So much more…

***Song of the Moment: Flourescent Half Dome, by the Dirty Projectors***