I’ve been in crazy design mode lately.  The awesome pleasure I have of working with amazing people who get things done (Will, Lupe, and Kate + other amazing folks) has afforded me the open time and space I have needed to let the ideas flow.  With that plus the weather, these are the outfits I feel like wearing most days:

Every morning I think…oh this could be an outfit-of-the-day day…and most mornings I end up throwing on my brown cords or slumpy jeans and think…no, this is what I need for design brain.  So I figured it’s only fair that I show you where I’ve been for the past few months.  Cheating, maybe, but this is an accurate OOTD for the time being.

Pants: years old J. Crew staple

Shirt: Forever 21

Headband: an amazing trade from the Holiday Crafty Wonderland sale (I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the company…I will post as soon as I do)

Boots: Matisse

Earrings: new color vintage, betsy & iya

In addition to the new design project, The Music, we are busy editing (slash: killing) old designs and making room for new ones, like these hot new color vintage pieces:

These color super models will premiere at the Crafty Wonderland Spring show this Saturday and we’ll have them available in our online shop very soon.

In the meantime, we’ll keep on climbing that bright ladder and hope you do the same.

See ya up there.

xoxo~betsy

***Song of the Moment: SpottieOttieDopaliscious, by OutKast***

Have a beautiful weekend.

~betsy

***Song of the Moment: Where I’m From, by the Digable Planets***

A few weeks ago, I received a care package from my mama.  I love care packages.  I remember the first time I left home for more than just a down-the-street sleepover, I felt like I was leaving for years.  I had a blast making new friends and learning how to ride horses and shoot with a bow and arrow and slide down huge slides and fight for the red team and spill an entire box of beads from the top bunk to the floor, but I never forgot about home.  And the thing is, I was the envy of all my bunk-mates.  The reason:  my family sent me letters and packages EVERY day.  I started feeling a bit guilty because the mail dude would come in and say our names if something came in for us… it never failed.  I felt like the luckiest little girl in the world.

Jumper:  Stewart & Brown

Tee:  American Apparel

Leggings: basic blacks from anywhere

Jellies: CARE PACKAGE! (steve madden)

Earrings: yours truly

When I opened this package is was like a gust of childhood nostalgia permeated the room—swim team, bathing suits with holes in the middle, dress up, long afternoons of song writing (I used to take old songs like…”It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to…” and somehow manipulate them into my own), forest deck forts, painted rocks, friendship bracelets, the 80s…just– the 80s, lots of cuddling, lots of love.  All of these amazing memories jumped out at me in the form of jellies and my day was instantly made.

Thank you, mama!  I love my new jellies SO much!

If you’re thinking about sending a loved one a care package—do it.  In the age of facebook messages, texts, and emails, there’s really nothing like a rough cardboard box with a handwritten note and a little surprise inside.

xo~betsy

***Song of the Moment: Lovin’ Arms, by Etta James***

Meet model Amanda, who won the challenge, wearing betsy & iya jewelry:

Beautiful!  She’s wearing the Righteous Record earrings in black.

Sooooo fun!

***Song of the Moment: Moves, by The New Pornographers***

]]> http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/famous-jewelry/feed/ 8 http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/today/ http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/today/#comments Wed, 21 Apr 2010 07:00:13 +0000 betsy http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/?p=1841 looks a little bit like this.

***Song of the Moment: Mayfair, by Nick Drake***

]]> http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/today/feed/ 2 http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/random-pop-the-ultimate-lovebird-earrings/ http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/random-pop-the-ultimate-lovebird-earrings/#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:31:24 +0000 betsy http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/?p=1672 I can’t get OVER how much I love this image.

I wish I could say my own version of the lovebird earrings was born out of this scrumdiddilyumpscious lady image…

Don’t you just want to be friends with her??

Happy dappy Monday to all you lovelies!  I plan on having a productive (and Olympic) week; this Oregon sunshine has really had a bolstering affect on me!

(don’t forget to enter the Giveaway!…you have one week!!)

***Song of the Moment:  Sun is King, by Laura Veirs***

It comes out of that place of being slightly uncomfortable, but once it’s there, it just goes wild…

there it is.

and then it sort of takes off.

and once it’s going…

…it would be MORE awkward to turn it off…

…so we let it play out.

and see where it takes us…

The best is when we figure we can take a stab at those ridiculously unbecoming model poses.

hmmm…  it’s the face.  if the face is wrong, it throws the whole thing off.  The expression is key.  Look how I NAIL it in these last few pics.

yes.  if you hesitate, you’re in trouble.  it’s all about follow through, folks.  and then you’re smooth sailing—picking berries at prom.

Boots:  Portland Outdoor Store.

Textured Tights:  Nordstrom.

Vintage navy blue slip:  Folly.

Ocean Dress: Stewart & Brown.

Cowboy Shirt: Vintage shop in NY.

Glasses: Amy Sacks.

Sassy Hoops: betsy & iya.

I hope you all have colorful and productive Wednesdays in your own ridiculously awkwardly awesome model poses!  (If you choose to do any, please please take a pic and send it my way.)

***Song of the Moment: About Face, by Grizzly Bear***

This holiday season we’re going to be ALL OVER THE PLACE…starting this weekend!

Please come visit b & i here on Saturday, it’s going to be ridiculously warm and fuzzy:

There are lots of wonderful vendors in the line-up, including my sweet crafty friend, handmade julz.

If you can’t make it on Saturday, no fear, I’ll be over at Seven Dees on Sunday, November 8th!!  Bazaars bizarro bravo shmavo!

This is just the beginning, you guys.  Seriously.  Stay tuned for announcements of MANY more holiday events to come!  Including:

Crafty Wonderland’s Super Colossal Holiday Event

and at the fashion show JUNK to FUNK at the Crystal Ballroom!  (I’ll be unleashing the whole of my Old Turns New line.)

Also, lookout for many more Outfits of the Days (the easiest way for me to stay in touch with the blogosphere while maintaining a crazy holiday season!).

For now, it’s time to make my fingers fall off.  (I need to make at LEAST 40 pairs of earrings today).  Have lovely Mondays!!  xo-betsy

***Song of the Moment: The Season, by The Dodos***

The theme will be:  things that I would wear (maybe. if I were just slightly cooler).

From Copenhagen Street Style blog.  Man, I love those Scandinavians.

I love everything about this photo, also from Copenhagen.  Helga, Lisa, and all my other Scandinavian beauties—I miss you.  Bring your style back over here and visit me!

YES!!!!  This one hurts a little—it’s so good.  From Style Clicker.

Dirty Vintage.  love it.  From Face Hunter.

…will never be cool enough for those boots.  But Portland might dig it.  From Toronto Street Fashion by way of Shark Vs. Bear .

Cigar Chic.  From 2 Threads.

And this is what I would be doing in my cool outfit.  My travels have proven incredibly valuable…but I’m not finished yet.  I have 2 more days in NC to sell to my oldies but goodies and find new indie boutiques wishing to sell b & i.

In the boots/stripes pic, the only thing I would do differently is sport some rad betsy & iya earrings to balance out the elephantiasis-esque condition of the boots.

Inspired back into bold style, I must prepare myself for another day’s selling adventure.  Raleigh, here I come.

***Song of the Moment: Don’t Hide Away, by Bishop Allen***

Fashion does not have to follow the trends of the seasons.  Somewhere someone says that bright popping summer color is forbidden in the darker quarters of the year.  And we believe them??  Not this gal…  All the more reason to color me up.  Fight the norm I say, FIGHT IT.

Or at least, make your own molds.  (And then keep breaking them.)

Shirt:  Pink by Nature, Maui

Scarf: Sloan Boutique, local pdx

Pants: from high school (what!??  …not a pack rat, just a saver)

Belt: Buffalo Exchange, pdx location

Shoes: Shoefly, local pdx

Socks:  (my fave) Sock Dreams, local pdx

Earrings: (you guessed it) betsy & iya (in teal)

(click on the earrings to purchase…make sure to specify which color you prefer)

Brightly colored accessories can completely transform an otherwise mundane outfit.  Literally and Figuratively.  Do it.

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