On June 3rd, we signed the lease for a new space on NW Thurman and 24th.  Whoa.  Let me back up a little…

Many of you know that it hasn’t even been a year since we opened our current studio/store, so it might have come as a big surprise to you.  Well, it did for us too.  Just after we made our way back from our second road trip, we learned that the rent on the b & i studio was going up.  And not just a little bit, it was going up 11% and without much of a warning.  Now, rent on a tiny space (289 square feet, to be exact) is not unreachable, so even with an unfair hike, we could have still afforded it, but it was the principle plus their corporate guy’s lack of flexibility (and down-right rudeness) that launched us in a new direction, one that we hadn’t quite dreamed of yet—opening, like, a real store.  uuuuuuugheeeerrraaahhhhhhhhohmygoodness!!!

We started looking right away.  It’s amazing what you begin to see of a city when you’re looking for something you had never been looking for before.  I felt like I started understanding the neighborhoods in a different way, getting major feelings from each, rather than just an impression, like which friend would I want to spend the most time with—and which friend would accept me into their already existing, beautiful circle.  Truth is, we love so many neighborhoods in Portland, it became a daunting task to narrow down the options.

About one week before we left for the awesome Renegade Austin affair, we put an offer in on a space on lower SE Hawthorne. For reasons I won’t bore you with, it didn’t work out.  We realized it wasn’t going to work out (for certain), the day before we left—the day that things were insane in our world.  We were trying to nail down a new display for our booth that would easily flat pack for plane trips and with that new display idea came a revamping of how we display…well..everything. This meant new card stock for earring cards, new necklace cards, new display packaging –cough, overachievers– and new printing.  On top of all that, we still had orders to get out and jewelry that needed to be made for the show.  It makes my heart skip a beat to think about all we were stuffing into 48 hours.

Will had stayed up way too late the night before, getting spreadsheets finished and new items listed online.  I wanted him to have a full night sleep (not just because I’m nice, but because less hours of sleep  = cranky William and I needed happy-go-lucky William that day)…so I got up at the crack of dawn and started running errands while he slept a bit longer.  This is pertinent to the story because I drove into work a little bit differently that day.  I needed to go to the printers before, so I took a right turn one street too early.  That mistake drove me by the most beautiful space with a more beautiful sign on it that read, “SPACE FOR LEASE,” in lovely bold, capital letters.  I remembered that space because I had admired the building before.  It’s an old cinema building, full of charm and character and stories, just how I like it.

We were leaving the next morning, early, so the window of opportunity seemed to be closing in on us and fast.  I drove home, woke Will up, took the early turn again and told Will how I felt about the space–I was basically foaming at that mouth while I tried to spill out in 5 minutes why that space would be a dream.  Luckily, he felt the exact same—it was perfect for us.  It was more perfect than any other space we had looked at; it had a back room, a loft, character…and BRICK.  I love brick so much. It was exactly the size we needed and in exactly the kind of neighborhood we are ready for–quaint, but full of life and community.  There is something so special about this neighborhood.  As cheesy as it sounds, it felt right in my heart.  No other place had given us that feeling.

We ate lunch for the first time at the amazing deli, Kenny and Zukes (the NW Thurman location), sat outside in the first Portland sun in months and watched how many people walked by, guessing what kind of people they were and dreaming about the kind of shop we could make for the neighborhood.  This kind of dreaming lead me to realize that I wanted that space, in just a few hours, my heart was already set on it—something they tell you NEVER to do when you’re searching for a new place to live or work.

We called the amazing woman we were working with, Marilen from Elliot Associates, and expressed our sentiments for the space. Then we left for Austin. Over that weekend, Marilen and Lupe were able to see the inside of the space.  They said they contained themselves while in the presence of the landlords, but in their own time and space they had a squeal or two.  They loved it and they knew we would love it…the inside even more impressive than the outside.

you didn't think we were going to keep that carpet, did you?

When it was our turn, I wanted to do a dance with the landlord and gush about how much I loved everything about it–it had a bathroom INSIDE for goodness sakes!  In just a few days, I had fallen head-over-heels in love with the neighborhood and I wanted to run to the rooftops and tell the world that it was ours.  But…that’s not how it works when you’re looking for a space.  You have to be all formal and pretend that you could go either way.  So I pretended that the space was alright and might work for us if we choose to make an offer.

This part is the boring part: negotiations, paperwork, lawyers, numbers, meetings, etc.  What’s important is that they all lead to the same thing: WE GOT THE SPACE.  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We got it!!  We love it!  We love our landlords!  We love the neighborhood!  We love each other!  We love our jobs!  We love it all!! …

And now we have to make a shop out of it.  Oh yeah YEAH YEAH. The weekend of the signing, we had a HUGE show in San Francisco then on to a trunk show in Santa Cruz, then on to important meetings and two MORE shows in LA.  We decided that Will needed to stay in Portland to get started immediately on the shop (of course, we’ll be doing all the build out work ourselves, with the help of some amazing friends) and that I would head on to California with Lupe.

It was Friday, June 3rd.  The signing took so long that we didn’t get on the road until 4 pm when we had planned to leave by 10 AM at the latest.  We had to be up by 6 am to set up our booth for the Union Street Fair in San Francisco the next day.  It takes 11 hours to drive to SF…

stay tuned for part 2.

missed you guys!!

xo~betsy

***Song of the Moment:  When the Deal Goes Down, by Bob Dylan***

We stayed at the historic Charleston Place hotel, right in the middle of downtown Charleston.  The moment we got in there, we were overjoyed with the decor—-the warmth, the detail, the tradition, mmmmm.  We immediately jumped into photo-shoot mode.  Seriously, for at least 30 minutes, my mama, sis and me took pictures of the gorgeous room and each other in it.

So. much. FUN.

Chocolates on your bed.  Whaa??  Who does that any more???  love.

That moment stood out as one of my faves of the whole trip.  I mean, what’s more fulfilling than being completely goofy with the ones you love most?  So I combined it into my Outfit of the Day.

girly dress:  Free People from Radiance in Hilton Head.  (a new boutique who will be carrying my line)!

graphic tights: from Philly’s Bus Stop boutique (another loyal betsy & iya seller)!

boots: Frye.

new earrings and necklace: betsy & iya

Turns out mama has some SKILLZ with the camera…go mama!!  I heart this new head shot!

And then…ahhh…my favorite shot of all—the real deal, iya.  Sis, you melt my heart.

More on this east coast journey to come (including: my trip to Etsy headquarters, the NU hotel in Brooklyn, and sweet memories of childhood beaches.  Also, I’ll be listing those new key/chain earrings for you today.)

I hope you’re holding your Monday’s hand and skipping all the way into the sunset!

***Song of the Moment: Blues for Mama, by Nina Simone***

]]> http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/outfit-of-the-day-charleston-place/feed/ 1 http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/the-workshop-collaborations/ http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/the-workshop-collaborations/#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:49:41 +0000 betsy http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/?p=1622 (picture I took of Maple XO pieces from Radish Underground event …Love Is In the Air)

It turns out that my Old Turns New line is super popular; I never even had the chance to add most of them to my online shop.  I have nearly sold out of the pieces I created for the Junk to Funk show and subsequent holiday events.  Radish was a HUGE champion of that work during the holidays and after…and I’m so thrilled by it all.  This line has shocked me out of ANYTHING ordinary—and i LOVE it.  I can’t wait to make more.

In the spirit of sustainability, I’d like to introduce two folks whose work embodies that idea.   Two folks who truly inspire me and who I’d like to collaborate with one day:

1) Isaac B. Watson and his amazing Focal Length Designs.I WILL own one of his rad cuffs one day.  I am awed by his creative, agile mind and his infectous, positive attitude.  Every time I see him, he makes me feel happy.  Isaac and I have already been cooking up some steamy yum ideas together.  (Remember that men’s jewelry line I mentioned…???)

speaking of collaboration…check out the amazing project he’s working on with Etsy and local art school PNCA:  I Heart Art, Portland.  I’m sad that I won’t be able to make the opening meet ‘n’ greet on February 26th, (because I’ll be at the OLYMPICS..what!?)…but YOU should definitely go!

2) Lindsay Jo from Maple XO.

For 5 years, Lindsay Jo (a super betty skateboarder), has transformed old, otherwise useless, skateboards into fine fine pieces of jewelry.  I looooove the bangles she makes!  We sat next to each other at the Radish Underground event, where we were making custom jewelry for Valentine’s Day and well…we sort of…fell in love (in a fellow-crafy-jewelry-maker-on-valentine’s kind of way).

I’m so excited about the possibility of working with these two geniuses one day.  I’ll definitely let you know when the magical meetings occur.

In the meantime…Happy Tuesday!

***Song of the Moment: The House with Two Front Doors, by The Finches***

]]> http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/the-workshop-collaborations/feed/ 3 http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/confessions-unabashed-confidence/ http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/confessions-unabashed-confidence/#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:07:13 +0000 betsy http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/?p=1593 This morning I had this equally exhilarating and terrifying thought:

I am exactly where I need to be.

(And somehow that thought corresponds with this wicked picture I took of my good friend, SQ.  beautiful.  hard.  soft.  lovely.).

I hope you all have unabashedly confident weekends.

xox~betsy

***Song of the Moment: Godspeed, by Jenny Lewis***  (okay okay, I’ll switch it up next time.  I’m just really loving Ms. Lewis this week).

feeling a little raw today. yes.

look forward. think. about. everything. or nothing.

pretty. in that sad sort of way.

geometry. yum.

mysterious morning.

i see you.

cool.

I didn’t want to waste the entire half hour just staring away at my steering wheel.  I remembered my camera was in the car.  Above are flashes of the experience I had, being forced to wait in the car this morning on the way to work.

It was nice.

Have lovely weekends.

And remember, if you’re in Portland, come see Truth & Beauty (tonight & saturday and next thursday, fri, sat only) 8:30 pm @ Shaking the Tree Studio 1407 SE Stark.

***Song of the Moment: Down is the New Up, by Radiohead***

(the following pictures = the wife in her many states.)

“It is also good to love: because love is difficult. For one human being to love another human being: that is perhaps the most difficult task that has been entrusted to us, the ultimate task, the final test and proof, the work for which all other work is merely preparation.”  -Rainer Maria Rilke

(love her)

(New York ready)

The other day, W took time out of his crazy work schedule to tell me (via email), that something I had said the night before had impressed him.  He did the kind of thing that one usually does when courting another…not after knowing them for 10 years.  It reminded me that we both do that sort of thing more often than I think; and that I admire that about our relationship.

When I read his words, it gave me butterflies (the free, colorful kind, not the dark, trapped kind) in my stomach.  I pointed out that we must be doing something right if we can still make the other feel:  chills from a new hand accidentally brushing our own, tingling lips the way a first kiss awakens us, (in a instant) loneliness transforming entirely into familial warmth—after all these years we’re still learning about each other as if we’re anxiously awaiting only our 3rd conversation—so much that lives inside the beautiful shell of a person, undiscovered, who sits in front of you, only waiting to be discovered by you…and you by them.

(morning and glasses.)

(meet: great grandma betsy)

newness.  When we decided to get married, this is one thing that I knew I couldn’t live without and I knew we had found in each other.  passion.  for life, in each other, and in all things we do (together or apart)…recognizing this in the other person and constantly supporting it, ferociously. wholeness. We would not be together, would not have truly uninhibitedly seen the other if we were not first whole within our own selves.  I find solace in this idea.  I find strength in my own independence, through my husband—crazy, I know.  ambition. to push yourself and your partner farther than you ever thought you could go.  music and art. inspire each other.  do these things together.  a lot.  support. faith and loyalty in all things we do.  love. strong, deep, the never-stopping-always-searching-for-more kind of love.  truth and honesty. who are you without these two things?  You owe them to the other and you owe them to yourself…for all time.  we must always seek out the deepest of truths and then we are honoring our purest and most beautiful selves.

(business and crispness)

(wife.  wiiiiiiiife?  wife. WIFE.  wife!!  wife.)

I really like the German poet, Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet and highly recommend reading it if you have even a glimpse of a human heart.  It’s a quick read and it moves me every time.

I am a wife.

I like being one.

it is an honor.

***Song of the Moment: Stillness is the Move, by the Dirty Projectors***

(Throughout this post, I will attempt to de-stress myself by posting pictures of things that make me feel calm.)

When I got home last night, a neighbor asked me how I was feeling about the upcoming wedding and I said (sincerely), “Oddly enough, I don’t feel stressed AT ALL!  weird…hahahhaHAHAHAhaha,” and we continued to banter about that and I continued to giggle. It was lovely.  I felt different from ALL the other brides.  I felt in control.  That was last night.

This morning, however, is a completely different story.

If you didn’t know, Thursday is COMPLETELY different from Wednesday.  I feel like I have pushed my body’s fast forward button and it’s stuck, and my brain can’t figure out how to un-stick it AND my brain is like two steps behind my body, so I feel all jittery (wait…maybe that’s the 3 cups of coffee talking)—so Betsy World is a bit tilted, nay UPSIDEDOWN, today.

The best way for me to get over it is to talk about it:

I’m insanely busy right now.  I probably bit off more than I could chew, work-wise, just moments before the wedding.  The last minute business trip to Seattle last week, seemed like SUCH a great idea at the time.  I’m so grateful that I picked up some new fresh stores there, but I’m also like…really, Betsy…REALLY?  I’ve got 3 NEW wholesale orders to produce and send out before the end of next week.  Online orders keep rolling in (AWESOME…seriously, I say this).  On top of that, there are still so many details to sort out about the nuptials and while I know they will continue to fall into place, I’m having a tough time envisioning that at the moment.  My email accounts are spewing over and I’m feeling sickningly guilty about it.  Social Networking is beginning to look like Beelzebub’s righthand man.  I’ve booked fashion/craft shows that I cannot even attend in September (b/c I’ll be with my honey, mooning), so before I get married next weekend, I must have created enough product so that my assistants don’t get stuck battling out who’s gonna sell the ONE thing I’ve left for them to showcase.  Not to mention, I’d like to keep my tiny shop full of merchandise so the ladies can open it up to the foot traffic that has begun to frequent the shop.  Writing it out is not helping at the moment, making me a little breathless—not in that sexy, romantic kind of whisper way…like in the—I-might-die kinda way.

See…I KNEW posting seemingly arbitrary pictures of warmer moments in life, would help.  I stop the anxiety destruction train that I’m currently riding, to stare at these last two photos.  Instantly, I am reminded that the stressball is fleeting and the ladder is here to stay.  W built it for me from the ground up, the one he stands on.  It hangs from the ceiling of my studio, suspended, part of a pulley system that W created.  No training whatsoever, he figured it all out along the way.  Kinda like how it is to live—nothing is known from the beginning, we have to be open to it, we must believe it can be done…and it probably can.  Not unlike our own relationship and journey to this end/beginning—the end of a courtship and the beginning of our own forever.  I proudly take these steps with him, up that thing we built together, the thing we didn’t even know existed until we tried.

And we will fight for it, until the end.

Thankfully, I’ve forgotten why I started this post in the first place.

***Song of the Moment: Unravel, by Bjork***

The treasury is the collection of items you see everyday on the front page of Etsy.  The treasuries are handpicked by other Etsy members.  It always feels good when someone wants to put you in their treasury.  The treasury is sort of a wild subculture of the handmade world—people become addicted and obsessed with having the best treasuries.  This morning I had a sweet message from Impulse Art that she had chosen one of my pieces for her “Old World Feel” Treasury.  I immediately fell in love with the mood she created here.  I am drawn to Greece, the brown/gray texture, history, and cracks of this treasury.  I had to share it with you all.

The bottom middle necklace belongs in my collection.

(btw, you can create a drinking game with this post:  for every time I use the word “treasury,” take a swig!)

***Song of the Moment: Dirt On Your New Shoes, by Bishop Allen***

Once a brenda, always a brenda.  Back in ‘06, along with one of my favorite people in the entire world, Louise Watson, I started an all-girl band called, The Brendas.  The two of us were itching to do somethig non-theatre related, something big and something full of joy.  We decided our sound would be catchy, ridiculous and sappy (straight from the heart).  Soon after, we had some of the most awesome, talented women in town, wanting to join our team.

(Brenda Lou and Brenda Betsy…playing in Denmark, no less)

(The Denmark installment:  30s’ girls with an 80s twist.)

(Hours before our Denmark show, I had tripped and fell on some stairs when loading up the van with music equipment.  I was in extreme pain, but so devastated because playing in Denmark was almost like a joke…it was so cool.  I knew I had to push on.  With painkillers, a shot of whiskey, and adrenaline, it was a piece of cake.  Funny that over a week later, I finally went to the doctor in England, to learn that it was actually broken.  Without insurance, I was so grateful that it happened in Europe.  They took x-rays, cast me up, gave me new sweet crutches, and when I asked about payment, they looked confused for a moment and then smiled and waved me out the door!!  Ahhhh universal healthcare.)

We don’t take ourselves too seriuosly.  In fact, we didn’t consider ourselves musicians then.  We still don’t really.  But MAN, do we put on a good show!!  We’ve had anywhere from 5-9 members at a time.  We’ve had a few Americans, a Brit, a Czech, a Swede, a Dane, a Brit, a Dutch, and two Canadians as part of the band.  An instrument smorgasbord, including: 2 accordians, mandolins, trumpets, saxophone, guitars, violin, bass, ukeleles, ukelin, lap harp, kazoos, washboard, drums (kiiind of), xylophone, egg shakers, and even a boy!  We’ve played many times at the world famous Logger Bar in Blue Lake, CA and even a huge Euro tour (slash: one very well received show in Arrhus, Denmark).

(Glam Rock Brendas 2007)

One thing that we decided early on:  our outfits must have a theme for every single show we play.  We started off quite modest—secretaries, or something similar.  Later we moved on to Sailors, Glam Rock, Gingham & Lace, Mechanics, and many other amazing costumes.  This latest installment is quite possibly my all time favorite.  My heart aches because I couldn’t be with them, but I share this picture with you with great GREAT pride:

The Super Brendas

(clockwise from top left to bottom left:  Generally Super, Wondercorn, The Hot Flash, Beauty Sleep (with the power of napping), Green Fingered Goblin, and lastly, the Superslav)

There was a time when I was traveling down to Blue Lake (where the band is based) more often, to participate in shows.  Lately, though, life has been too mad to allow me the time to get down there.  When they play, I hear them and I miss the everything out of them.

This post is a dedication to all Brendas out there.  I miss y’all and your genius sounds!

(By the way, The Brendas will be playing a few numbers at W and my talent show “rehearsal dinner,” the day before our wedding.  I am SO excited.)

***Song of the Moment: All songs, by the Brendas***

(If you like this, go explore Monfort on Etsy.  Her work is monstrously lovely.)

I felt like Of Montreal existed right there in the colorful mountainside—it was a world I immediately wanted to be in.  And so I am there, today.  It helps the hands move faster and the mind slow down.

***Song of the Moment: Gallery Piece, by Of Montreal***