After a b & i selling trip, I was wistfully gazing out of the plane window, thinking of family and friends I was leaving.  As we headed farther into the sky I started noticing the silos and patterns in the land.  I loved the simple shapes they made, the stories they seemed to tell, and how perfectly they were aligned. With intention.  I thought of how it feels to be far away from the ones we love.  I thought of secret messages filled with meaningful moments.  I remembered morse code.

About one week later I taught myself how to scar metal (this is not a technical term, btw) and came up with this:

This was the first message I made.  It says, “if.”  I love that word.

The design has been super popular ever since and I’ve made more morse code custom pieces than any other custom design. Truth is, I love doing it.  I love being a part of a gesture of love.   One time, I had a woman my age buy one that said “loved” for her 90 year old grandfather.  It makes me well up a little, just thinking about it.

The other day something happened that completely blew me away…  I received a message from a customer wanting a custom morse code necklace.  I love custom work, so I was immediately super excited about it.   She had seen the necklace in a boutique and discovered quickly that I could make it more personal with a custom phrase.  A few sentences later, I learned that she is a great, great, great niece of the, THE, the Samuel Morse.  What!?!  I mean, what are the chances!?   I couldn’t be more flattered or excited that she wants to make a special gift out of this design.

People and their stories are SO cool.

***Song of the Moment: Simple X, by Andrew Bird***

Me, Kim Werker, and Kari Chapin (author of The Handmade Marketplace) at Etsy in Brooklyn, NY.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, I am offering a special discount through Tuesday, April 20th.  Just enter “Taxes Shmaxes” into the comment box when checking out for a 20% discount on ALL ITEMS!!  After that, you can do one of two things:

a) wait for a revised invoice BEFORE you pay.  It will appear in your email inbox, click it, then pay.

OR

b) go ahead and pay and we’ll refund your discount money right away!

maybe you wanna celebrate by eating chocolate bacon??

or maybe by treating yourself to a new Peruvian Opal necklace, full of light and spring. Free shipping too!!

We work with an awesome woman who specializes in the complicated numbers from musicians, artists, indie boutiques, etc.  She has done a stellar job with our taxes; she’s affordable, fair, and fun (and who can say that about their tax person)!  I recommend her to everyone I know.

I hope you all have a lovely, beautiful, sunny, inspired weekend.  I plan on it!

***Song of the Moment: Plastis Wafers, by Of Montreal***

Click pictures for a direct link to the Deco Eagle Shield necklace!!

Smooches galore!!!

***Song of the Moment: Until the End of Time, by Justin Timberlake***  (i know…I KNOW!  it’s a serious addiction)

]]> http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/new-stuff-is-rad/feed/ 2 http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/five-senses-friday-hear-me-out/ http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/five-senses-friday-hear-me-out/#comments Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:15:41 +0000 betsy http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/?p=1362 I participated in Abby’s Five Senses Friday ages ago and was reminded again through the beautiful Jena’s blog.  As I’m sure you’ve guessed, I’ve been busy off my rocker lately.  That’s what happens this time of year.  I hope that one holiday season I’ll have it all so organized and under control that I’ll be able to maintain this blog, but for now, we find that the spaces = successes.  So know that when I’m not here, it’s probably a good thing.

That said, reflecting on the week’s most potent sense memories seems a perfect way to bring me back to my loyal readers.  You all are super.  I’ve missed you.

While getting ready, I heard my husband playing the piano.  I love when he gets the urge and goes and plays and plays until he’s done.  It always sends chills down my body.  And I don’t think he even knows this.

Touching new (old) material and following it where it wants to go, in my Old Turns New line.  I’ve been making the door number necklaces for some time now, but never gave myself the opportunity to create an entire line centered around recycled material.  It was so freeing to have an excuse to focus on only one line for a week.

At Junk to Funk, I was only permitted to sell things made out of recycled material.  This entire new line melts my heart.  I can’t wait to add all the new items to my online shop.  (Speaking of which, I’m going to go ahead and plant the little bug in your ears…we are mere weeks away from opening our own online shop, right here on this website.  I’ll be sending out details (and discounts!!) through my email newsletter…shoot me an email if you’d like to stay informed!)

Seeing a good friend and studio neighbor, Jen Lamastra, put her heart and soul and hardworking hands into something and having EVERYONE witness it and hold her up into the light she deserves.  Jen took home first prize at the Junk to Funk fashion show this year.  The fashion show utilizes and makes glamorous something that Portland is famous for, “being GREEN.”  As much as the phrase has become overly buzzy and trendy, I’m happy to say that it is something that Portland and its people actually put into practice.  The coolest fashion show in the world showcases real people creating REALLY COOL OUTFITS out of things other people consider trash.  The above outfit was created by Jen out of MINI-BLINDS…WHAT!?! and the wig was created out of an old trashcan and unwanted bike tire tubes.  Along with everyone else in the crowd, I was blown away.

I smelled an amazing chocolate chip scone from Sydney’s coffee shop that one of my sweet assistant’s brought in to me.  And I proceeded to taste its magical happy powers that got me through the design working day unscathed.

For the first time in one whole month, I’ve got a day off this weekend.  W and I are going to take Flat Stanley on some adventures and spend some quality time together—who knew a marraige needed that!??  I hope he’ll play the piano for me this weekend.  I’ll soon share my adventures with you here.

In the meantime, please make your own.

Happy Weekends!!  xoxoxo ~betsy

***Song of the Moment: Mellow Mood, by Bob Marley and the Wailers***

(LOTS OF NEW JEWELRY IN THE ONLINE SHOP, check it out HERE!!)

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***

Okay okay, I keep aplogizing for neglecting my blog and it looks like I’m just going to have to let that go, for now…not the blog, but apologizing for not being here every day.  When I’m here, I’ll be here fully—know that.  Sometimes keeping up with a thriving jewelry business, creating plays, and planning a wedding at the same time, gets to be a little hectic!

No boundaries:

(Again with the blurry photo.  There’s so much action behind me, lots of blended colors and short breaths.  But there I stand in the middle, brightly signed, focused, breathing…it says to me, “I’m gonna get through this.”)

And boy did I get through it!?!!  The Bargain Hunting 101 sale at the Crystal Ballroom was such a wonderful event.  I first attended the bi-annual sale in February, as a shopper.  I was so overwhelmed by the amazing indie goodness and MAD sales, that when presented with the opportunity to sell there, I jumped onto the wagon head first and didn’t look back.

I wore:

Dress: strapless bright orange linen, with frilly hot pink detail from Zachary’s Smile in NYC

Cardigan: purchased at United Colors of Beneton seems-like-they’re-going-out-of-business sale in DC

Hosiery: I can always find the best/craziest tights at Nordstrom.

Boots: do I even have to say?  The most awesome Fryes from  Johnny Sole in PDX.

Apron: an original made by my amazing assitant, Lupe, for these such events.  It helps keep me in check.

Necklace & Earrings: Two one-of-a-kind pieces from yours truly.  The earrings were made with scrap ribbon from online orders; and the necklace from aftrican trade copper on ribbon.  The earrings are mine and the necklace was purchased off my neck at the event.  I made many new designs to test at this huge sale event.  Luckily, they were all a hit and I have MUCH work to do in adding new items to my shop.

I’ll leave you with this new design as a teaser:

(These are the Lindsay SUPERsass earrings; named after my lovely, spunky little cousin.  You can click on the picture for a direct link to purchase.)

This outfit was inspired by my assistant, Lupe.  She always storms into work with the most daring color combos, textures, and shapes all under the same-day-outfit roof.  I thought I was a wild dresser!!  I had no idea.

I knew I wanted to wear my new(ish) orange dress.  And then I wanted stripes and arms, because it was cold.  And then I wanted semi-protection on my legs and instead of opting for the most coordinating hosiery, I chose my favorite.  That set the tone for the rest of the outfit.  I continued picking my favorite choices for the purposes they could fulfill, and then I had a wacky outfit set out on the bed—and I went for it!

I felt FANTASTIC and ended up having a great/relaxed time selling.  (I like how I say “relaxed” and in these photos, you can see Lupe in blue, to the left of me, working her butt off with customers—taking payments, answering questions, wrapping purchases, etc…ah, life is good.)

I hope this bright orange, purple, striped, no boundary outfit is an indication of how this week will pan out.  I need it!

***Song of the Moment: The State I Am In, by Belle & Sebastian***

I ended up at Ether in PDX and settled for a $20 pair of sweet bright aqua (ish) slip ons.  I am definitely happy with these, but the royal blues still have my heart.

(btw, this newest betsy & iya addition would go perfectly with either pair of shoes!)

Any ideas on where to find bright royal blue (or “cobalt”) shoes?

***Song of the Moment: Blue Angel, by Antony and the Johnsons***

We’ll start off with the Robin’s Egg Wonder:

Dress:  Grandma’s basement (sorry, no link for this one)

Socks: Sock Dreams

Shoes: Shoe Fly

Earrings: betsy & iya (duh!)

Yellow Sunshine Dress:

Dress: Grandma’s Basement

Pants: Thrift store brown corduroys

Shoes: Imelda’s dark brown Euro dansko boots

Necklace (suggestion): A brand new betsy & iya listing, Old Door No. 7

And these earrings would go with this perfectly (if you’re a matching kinda gal):

As mentioned before there’s nothing like the customer service you’ll find in your Grandma’s basement and there’s also nothing like shopping local.

Gotta get to work now…uh…will I EVER catch up!?!!

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

Sight #1:

A perfectly imperfect path outside of a specially designed Venice home.

Taste:

Salty licorice fishes from Holland.  I used to hate these, now I’m hooked. (I’m preparing myself for an upcoming visit from my beautiful Dutch friend.)

Sight #2 (and my favorite):

Three of my favorite things: an old rickety bike, Will’s feet, and bright green grass in the Spring time.

Smell:

Freshly sawed wood.  Will is building me a very high storage shelf in my tiny studio.  It’s looking fantastic and cleaning up the space very well.  I also get a special handmade wooden ladder.  That boy never ceases to amaze me with all of his projects.  I’m such a lucky gal.

Sight #3:

In the same awesome space where the imperfect path lay, was this tall, strange geometric corner.  I couldn’t leave without documenting it.  I truly dig odd corners.

Hear:

Awhile back, I posted about a new (for me) music discovery, Bon Iver.  Well, I finally bought the album when in California.  The best part is that I didn’t overplay it like I am inclined to do when I first buy a new album.  Instead, I forgot about it after the first few plays through, and just yesterday I remembered I had purchased a new album.  When I listened to it the whole way through, it was like I had just bought it the moment before.  Fresh, new, moving, just like the song I was drawn to, the entire album is big and raw and honest.  I highly recommend: For Emma, Forever Ago.

Sight #4:

…and an accomplishment.  I finally had a moment to add my old door number necklaces to my store.  When I first came up with these back in December, I couldn’t keep them in the shop.  The moment I made one, I would sell it.  A few weeks back, I made a whole slew of them…as many old door numbers as I could find.  I just did not have the time to share them with the online world.  There are two available online now and I plan on adding more to the shop in the coming week.  Enjoy!

I plan on visiting with an old friend and actually taking a day off this weekend.  I hope you all have marvelous weekends, full of light and love.

***Song of the Moment: The Wolves (Act 1 & 2), by Bon Iver***

You walk out of the house with your pretty shoes on and it starts to rain.  You play in the puddles any way.

You wake up and worry that you can’t remember what it is you were worried about.  You worry any way.

You find yourself where you’re not meant to be.  You play there any way.

You don’t know what to say.  You say it any way.

You’re no longer in love.  You’re loving any way.

You’re no longer heartbroken.

You’re no longer young.

You’re no longer old.

You’re no longer lost.

You are weak.

You are free.

You are love.

And you’re heavy.

Nothing and everything are exactly what they seem.

You are exactly who you say you are.

You are exactly who you wanted to be.

Light gets in.

***Song of the Moment: Time of No Reply, by Nick Drake***