The road trip was so dang successful that we’ve been working like MAD PEOPLE since our return.  We picked up TEN new stores in Boulder, Denver, Lawrence, Kansas City, Chicago, and Columbus.  For all you kids in the middle of the country, check out our updated Where to Buy page here!

We’ve got big things happening right now.  Expect more updates VERY soon.  In the meantime, check out our current biggest DISTRACTION:

Meet the newest addition to our family, Ms. Gingham Macpherson…

Also, come to our Grand Opening Party on Friday from 3-9 pm.  Check out details here:  On our facebook event page!!

Check back in the next few days.  We will be posting some studio-fix process photos to entice you in.

See you Friday?

xo~betsy

***Song of the Moment: El Carretero, by Buena Vista Social Club***

lots of love.

***Song of the Moment: undertaker, by M. Ward***

I’m POOPED, to say the least, but I can’t take any days off and here’s why:

You know that AWESOME book I keep rapping about, well…

on THURSDAY, JUNE 17TH, starting at 7 pm, there will be a book signing for the AUTHOR of The Handmade Marketplace, Kari Chapin.  I am sooo excited to have her in my shop and for the opportunity for you all to meet her.  If this is the first time you are hearing about the book, I shout—GET IT!  It is one of the most useful books that has ever come out for us crafter entrepreneurs.  I am so honored her publisher wanted to do the signing at my studio and even more honored that I’m a small blip in the book.

Please come by on Thursday and say hello to us!!

1722 NW Raleigh St.,  Suite #101 (on the corner)

Can’t wait to see/meet you again!

xo~betsy

***Song of the Moment: Ladies on Parade, by Benji Hughes***

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***

I’ve been rambling on and on and on about so much giddily mushy stuff, that I’ve forgotten to announce all the good biz news.  Yes, it’s been tough to get back into the groove of things after such a vehement love infusion, but I haven’t left you to fend for yourself, betsy & iya, no no.  Oh those wheels, maybe I had to add a little juice in the past few weeks, but friends, they have been turning.  And boy oh boy, do I have something in store for you:

frillier frills, frosty metals, drippier drips, wackier color combos, necklaces…lots of them (delicate, bold, refined, raucous), vintagier vintage, harder hardware, subtler subtleties, lightness, humor, human, hungry, handmade, hi – YAH!!!

(click on any of the photos if you want to be directed to the online shop to purchase!)

SNEAK PEEK: English Tea Time earrings--- lookout for a new listing in the next few days.

SNEAK PEEK: Frosty Goldy Pop earrings---lookout for a new listing in the next few days.

Stay tuned.  It’s all on the way.

***Song of the Moment:  Secret Meeting, by The National***

Okay okay, I’m not actually going back to school…but…throw me a bone here, friends.  With the crispness of the fall Portland air and the newfound inspiration in today’s studio work, I feel like I’m coming back.  It’s that similar feeling to starting a new school year and wanting to impress with that fresh, blank-slate of a first day—in those nostalgia filled halls of new textbooks, new crushes, old loves and old looks.

Today I’m ready to start my new school year.  I met with a new (for betsy & iya) store in Portland.  One that I’ve adored from afar for some time now, but have been too busy/intimidated to approach:  Radish Underground.  I love everything about this shop.  The two women genuises who created the sexy beast are no less impressive than their perfect storefront.  I’m super excited to be a new addition to their store and I’m looking forward to continuing business with them…the sweetest gals on the block.

Sweater:  Benetton

Shirt: old long johns

Skirt: grandma’s Basement

Hat: grandaddy’s Basement

Tights: textured wonders from Nordstrom

Boots: Frye from Johnny Sole

Scarf: Coclico

Earrings: betsy & iya

Brand new earring design…so much more to come.  You can click on the picture below to be directed to the listing.

Cheers to fall, to colors shifting, newness, crispy clear heads, new discoveries, new partnerships, new designs and killer outfits.

Bring on the layers, I say, BRING THEM ON!

***Song of the Moment: There is a Kingdom, by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds***

]]> http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/outfit-of-the-day-back-to-school/feed/ 5 http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/guest-outfit-of-the-day-less-is-more/ http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/guest-outfit-of-the-day-less-is-more/#comments Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:23:35 +0000 betsy http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/?p=1010

Courtney from kelly + olive (an AMAZING e-decorating site…seriously, USE THEM) is a long time friend.  We met years before betsy & iya and kelly + olive were even baby zygotes.  We were theatre junkies in Virginia at the time (we still kind of are…secret sides of our lives), but style was always knocking on the door—popping her head in to say hello.

I’ve always admired Courtney and been impressed by the amazing woman she’s become.  She used to live in Portland (wah wah) and comes to visit on occasion.  She came to me with some mini champagne, stinky cheese and fresh bread from City Market on 21st.  It was so nice to escape from work and spend a sunny PDX afternoon with her.

Her style was rocking (as per usual) that day.  I like how simple and elegant this particular look is.  The girl looks good in anything! Dress, shoes, purse…kazam!

dress: an old Gap goodie.  clean lines, simple, beautiful.

earrings: betsy & iya

(brand new b & i design, currently owned by the beautiful lovely,  Courtney)

This time she couldn’t leave without a new pair of earrings.  She looked so darn cute in them that I had to capture it and share it with you.

Make sure you check out her awesome work at kelly + olive.  And definitely check out her inspiring blog, here.  I can’t wait to see what else she comes up with.  It’s beyond satisfying to watch your friends grow.  Courtney, you’re great–I’m so glad your stylish self is in my life.

***Song of the Moment: Everything in its Right Place, by Radiohead***

Also, if you’ve never checked out k+o, you MUST.  Those girls have impeccable taste with an exciting yet easeful delivery.  Their ideas are innovative, accessible, and attainable.  I seriously can’t wait to have the time to implement so many different projects I’ve discovered through them.  Also, I can’t wait to hire them!!  Plus they’re super sweet, smart, and exciting women.  Yippeeee!  Go check it out!

Today will be filled with making jewelry.  I just ordered enough raw wire to make 2,000 pairs of earrings in preparation for NYC.  And I’m not even sure that will be enough.

***Song of the Moment: Electric Feel, by MGMT***

Okay, I can’t think of a better title to encompass the whirlwind that has been my life the past few weeks/months.  And then there’s the past few days where I’ve sort of been sitting zombie-like, with my jaw dropped reflecting on all that has happened and all that is about to happen in my life.  It’s like I’ve been hit with a frying pan and I’m seeing the pretty stars circling around my head, while blinking very slowly.

(Art Hop on Alberta Street, May 2009.  Lupe is wearing my wooden curtain rod hoops in this photo.)

(The colors always draw people to our booth.)

The last two street shows have been the best we’ve ever done.  The weeks leading up, I basically made jewelry until my fingers bled.  And now I must prepare for the Rose Festival (I’m selling with Handmade NW right on Waterfront Village!!!)  and then comes…New York!!  That’s right, NYC friends, I’ll be at a MASSIVE show at the end of June, for 5 days!!  I am also planning on hitting up some NY stores to try and get in long term.  Any suggestions??

Stay tuned, I’ve gotten some great suggestions on this blog and I intend to tune in more often than I have as of late.  I think I just needed to break for a second.  One thing that’s for sure—you all love the Outfits of the Days!!  This actually really cracks me up, because even though I love playing dress up, I feel a bit like a fashion impostor.  Maybe that’s why you love it so?—it does truly make me giggle sometimes.

Lookout for upcoming OOTDs.  Tomorrow’s might be my favorite of the month.  Here’s a teaser.  I like to call this photo:  Locker Butt.  (I’ll explain tomorrow).

***Song of the Moment:  1-2-3-Apple Tree, by Herman Dune***

It was the other day when I recognized, in the moment, just how much the post office means to me.  First of all, I’ve never had a bad experience with a Postperson.  In fact, beyond getting my important packages to their even more important destinations, some of the postpeople actually make an effort (it seems) to liven up my day.  With the characters waiting behind their respective PO windows, my wait has never been boring.

The counter itself is like a gateway to postal heaven—the clerks, its angels.  My favorites are the ones that you know have been there forever, like the sprightly yet cynical short fiery redhaired woman with academic glasses.  She could easily be viewed as the wiser, more intimidating person on the crew—she means business.  In reality, she’s the goofiest and most playful of them all, you just have to give her a chance.  Sometimes when I’m waiting in line, I cross my fingers that the heavens will open up and line it up perfectly so she’ll be my clerk.  With her wild red hair, her intense eyes, and rubber chicken bright yellow earrings (and crazy hat wearing near the holidays), I know I’m in for a wild checkout ride.  Most of all, she’s kind and it seems as if she truly enjoys her job.  I think she gets how important she and the whole post-office experience is to me. …I can see it in her smile when I’m walking away.

And then there’s that journey down the long post office hall when the pride sets in.  After passing my things off to the post office Angels, I feel like I’ve earned my little spot in post office heaven.  They know how hard I worked and they’re passing the product on to the next place.  They’ve guaranteed to take care of it from there on out—and they always do.

In that journey down the crisp post office hall, sometimes my feet  (depending on the type of shoes I wear), punctuate and trumpet my recent shipping victory…I feel as if the world has been lifted from my shoulders, every time.  Sometimes it’s as if I’ve been holding my breath and I can finally breathe again.

Insert:  Man, I love Portland!  I’m riding the bus right now and out of the North side windows, I see a boyish person (kinda nerdy looking….but cool) just come out of the coffee shop with an iced drink and proceed to get on his unicycle to go wherever he’s going.  (note: second time in one week that I’ve seen people traveling by one wheel…love it.)

This one goes out to the Post Office peeps:

Check out this cute Thank You card from a shop I just discovered on Etsy: Swieky Siggies…love it!

To great people, great post office experiences and great weekends!  Cheers!!

***Song of the Moment: The New Post Office, by Denis Cahill and Martin Hayes***