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***

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***

In celebration of the new site, I’d like to share my new ideas with you:

My new line: Old Turns New

the number 3

When Will decided he could build me a new workbench, I needed it to be as economical as possible.  Therefore, he went to the amazing Rebuilding Center to find all of the materials he needed to build my bench (keep in mind, as you read this, that Will had never even built a table before).  Even though I have a lot of faith in him, I was skeptical on how usable this workbench would turn out to be.  Man did he prove me wrong!!  He used two old doors for the top and reclaimed lumber for the support of the MOST AMAZING WORKBENCH I could have ever dreamed up.

betsy cross and her awesome workbench

When he was preparing the doors to be used for the top of the bench, he removed the old door numbers.  We both looked at each other, had a clever moment of pause and he said, “you should hang onto these”.  I did.  Two months later these necklaces were born and with the addition of my curtain rod holder hoops, a new betsy & iya line is born:  Old Turns New.

the number 7 necklace

I would link these to my shop, but I sold both of them almost immediately after I presented them to the world.  Luckily, I have returned to the Rebuilding Center to dig and dig and find more old, lonesome doorless door numbers.  Stay tuned for some awesome new one-of-a-kind necklaces and earrings from reclaimed material.

***Song of the Moment: Last Nite, by The Strokes***

]]> http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/one-thing-dies-a-new-thing-arrives/feed/ 3 http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/the-truth-behind-the-name/ http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/the-truth-behind-the-name/#comments Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:38:00 +0000 betsy http://www.betsyandiya.com/blog/?p=27 Quite often I am asked the question: Who is this “iya” (pronounced “eye-yah”)?

There is a perfect truth to this answer. She is NOT a figment of my joyously creative imagination (though she does feed it). She is NOT my alter-ego. She is actually not even a co-owner or creator in the business (though she does give me very sound advice on all issues that involve, well…everything). She is not my boss, though pointed out by my dear friend, sometimes it helps to pretend that she is my boss–waiting for me to show up to work on time, to take a chance with my wild ideas that I might be feeling insecure about, to implement a solid business infrastructure so that I might continue on for years, to encourage me to put one more foot forward, to fire me on a design job where I’m not pulling my weight and send me in the direction where I truly excel, to tell me to not give up when I feel like throwing in the towel…basically, the COOLEST boss ever.

The truth is that she is nothing short of one of the most amazing women I’ve ever known. When I was toiling over the best possible name I could offer my business and the work it highlights, she is one of the first names that came to mind.

When I was a child there was one person who showed me the ropes like no one else, the one person who had my back no matter how insane the situation, the one person who believed in me maybe more than anyone else. To this day she has honored those ideas I always had of her, just by being herself through and through. She handles herself with grace and poise, love and passion. She has the most keen (yet subtle) fashion sense of anyone I’ve ever known. She has always been who she always was. When I was a mere pup, I couldn’t pronounce her amazing name: Ashlyn. So I improvised by calling her, “Iya.” When speech proved less challenging for me, I held onto that name, secretly and strongly, in my little heart. She continues to be a major source of inspiration for me. We have grown into our own women selves, both very different and both very beautiful. We have both supported and loved each other on our own paths, without condition. I am eternally grateful for this woman.

I named the business after both of us. I wanted it to be personal. I wanted it to be a reflection of me and my work. I can think of no better way than: betsy & iya.

Betsy is classic, like a part of my designs. Iya is more exotic, like a part of my designs. Betsy is old; Iya is new. Together they are a perfect match. Together they make me feel bigger than I am. Together, I am stronger.

This name is a dedication to my beautiful sister, without whom, I would be less of who I am.

I love you, Iya.

(betsy on the left, cousin jenny in the middle, iya on the right.)

(This picture taken from my mac that flips the images. yes, I wrote those words backwards. yes, I made a mistake and was too lazy to start over, so I FIXED it…geez)

I’ve recently discovered the power of lipstick. I never fully understood before. In fact, I have never really liked lipstick. Sure, I felt pretty when I’d paint my lips in the past, but it was almost a nuisance. Anyhow, we’re going way beyond pretty here, folks. This is about strength and survival; this is about saving, well…face.

(Who actually makes this face in real time? I think it’s my default picture face, but usually funnier.)

When you’re super busy and have little time for yourself and need to be presentable, you might try your little rouge friend. Find your BEST rouge friend and keep her close by your side. I’m telling you, when you’ve not even had a chance to prepare yourself properly for the day (slash: shower), don’t panic. Just reach in your purse, fanny pack, pocket, market bag, bra, etc, and pull out your rouge, carefully apply and with a quick fluff of your hair, bizam!, you’ll look like a million bucks. It’s subtle, but intentional. What’s more: you’ll feel like a hot sweet homemade Dutch pancake (with REAL maple syrup) and really that’s the most important thing. I’ve used this factor many times in the past few weeks. It has saved me.

(Please take note of the lipstick factor poking through there in the back. Thank you).

Also also!! Check out my new ring experiment. This one reminds me of the thrifty art finds at the weekend mercados in Mexico City. I’ll soon be drawing a bead at the top and sides for a more finished style. Look out for these after the holidays. I’m so busy right now that I can’t throw too much newness out there, but I do want to tease you as much as I can so you’ll be ready for the real thing.

***Song of the Moment: Heartbeats by The Knife***