The Year In Review - Looking Back at 2021 With Betsy Frost Design

First and foremost, we would like to thank everyone who supported us! 2021 was quite a year! Whether close or far— family, friends, local artists, vendors, businesses, you have all become a huge part of our community in Ipswich and in the shop. Here’s a fun recap of 2021.

Our 5th Year Anniversary Celebration of Our Shop!

“Betsy Scissorhands” with her team: Jenny, Jo-Ann, Kim, Pam and Ciara on our ceremonial Ribbon Cutting with The Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce

Photo on the left: Betsy with some of her team, husband Jeff, and Skye, Mischa and Scarlet.

The Betsy Frost Design Shop in Ipswich turned 5 (although Betsy has been designing, making and selling her jewelry for 25 years). The journey has taken her from her studio in Roxbury to her basement studio in Ipswich, a Pop Up Shop and finally her current shop at 4 Market Street! We would like to thank The Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and our social media guru Paula Sawyer from Lola Wesley Marketing for orchestrating and celebrating the ribbon cutting with us.

Betsy and Her Great Dane Scarlet

Betsy with Scarlet

In the winter 2021, Scarlet became very ill, and needed surgery. Due to the stellar care she received, she is doing so GREAT thanks to the outreach of love and support we received. A gracious THANK YOU to all who supported us. We truly appreciate the outpouring of love and generosity. And Scarlet is doing SO WELL!

Each Summer We Do Our Own “Christmas in July”

From left to right: Jenny, Jo-Ann, Kim, Paula, then Betsy and Ciara in front. We were sure missing Pam that night (not seen in photo)

“Work hard, play hard” is how we do it. As a team we try to get together and unwind as often as possible. Here’s a great staff photo at the Foxcreek Tavern. Good food and drink help us brainstorm for new fun ideas and events for the shop. We usually celebrate “Christmas in July” with a big sale in the shop, but also with a big outdoor meal to toast the Christmas past and another toast to Christmas future!~

Advertising became a collaborative effort!

After a 36 year break, Betsy was given the opportunity to ride a friend’s horse for the summer. She was able to fulfill her life-long dream of riding on the beach and competing again. We brought to her attention that some of the riding photos she had would make a great advertisement for her Equestrian Collection. With the help and support of Eric van den Brulle - her Creative Director and her Marketing Manager, Paula Sawyer, of LolaWesleyMarketing we created a series of comps and ideas for her final Ads for the 2021 Fall and Holidays season. We also collaborated with Kristen Muldoon of the Ipswich Local News closely to ensure the layouts would show in the highest of quality for newsprint. These ideas were then carried over to Betsy’s social media and website. It was fun to collaborate! Enjoy the series below here:

Dream of a Day! Betsy riding on Lincoln with her friend Jen on Sven at Crane Beach.

The Equestrian Collection. Inspired by Betsy’s love of riding.

Betsy visiting the Mariposa Showroom with Scarlet and Mischa. They have beautiful items that we carry in the shop and on our website HERE. MORE at the shop!

The dogs had fun choosing their favorite holiday!

One of our Holiday Favorites! The Vintage Ornament Collection

Scarlet enjoying a good snooze on Procrastinator’s Night!

Our Holiday Fundraiser and Ad with Doug Brendel. We donated 40% from all sales of ‘Outsidah’-designed coasters and ornaments to Kristina and Doug Brendel’s charity NewThing.net.

The Newest Addition to Our Castle Hill Collection. Our Castle Hill Ornament!

The “Castle Hill Christmas” ornament

The “Castle Hill Christmas” ornament is the newest addition to our Castle Hill Collection. It measures 3” Diameter and is made with Swarofsky Crystals and Stainless steel—perfect for adding sparkle to your tree! This ornament is a bigger version of Betsy’s Castle Hill Sunburst Medallion. See it HERE

Thank you for a wonderful year!

Sustainability is Always in Style

Earth Day Should Be Everyday.

We care about Mother Earth here at Betsy Frost Design. Many of the products, gifts and clothing we carry are all-natural, organic, or created from recycled or up-cycled materials—Even right down to our own gift wrap, packaging design, shopping bags and tissue paper. 

We are truly passionate about the ideals and beliefs of the brands that we choose carefully and carry in our shop and on our website. Our blog would be very long to cover all, but here are a few examples:

GOOD EARTH CANDLES
Poured by hand in small batches in their barn in the town of Rowley, Massachusetts, these 100% pure soy candles are all infused with essential oils. Having soy as a base is a good thing—because soy is a lot better for you and the world than paraffin wax, which comes from petroleum, coal or oil shale.

The Benefits of Burning Soy
Soy candles are affordable – Beeswax is also an alternative to paraffin wax, but it is very expensive. Soy wax is made from renewable resources, and they only use 100-percent pure soy wax from soybean crops grown on farms in the USA. Soy wax is all-natural – Soy wax is not made from petroleum, like paraffin candles. Burning soy candles does not increase the CO2 level in the atmosphere. Soy candles last longer – Soy candles can last up to 50% longer than paraffin candles. Soy candles produce about 90% less soot that paraffin candles. Soot from paraffin candles is very unhealthy and will eventually coat your walls and furniture.

It’s More Than Soy that Makes a Good Earth Candle Wholesome
Their soy is cultivated without the use of pesticides or herbicides. Also, their candles contain no added dyes, chemicals or preservatives. Right down to the wicks – Good Earth candles use hand-spun, paper-core natural cotton wicks that are free from lead and zinc. You can be assured that you are buying a quality, hand-made product.

HENRIETTE STEFFENSEN OF COPENHAGEN - The NO WASTE CARDIGAN

HENRIETTE STEFFENSEN OF COPENHAGEN - The NO WASTE CARDIGAN

HENRIETTE STEFFENSEN OF COPENHAGEN
Designer Henriette Steffensen is paying respect to resources, and re-uses and recycles everything possible, whether it is worn out clothes or leftovers from the dining table. The company has created clothing with a NO WASTE label where the design is limited to what leftover materials they have, making the creative process very interesting (and the clothing as well)! You truly end up with a true LIMITED EDITION! 

Blue Canoe Organic Clothing For Women - Eco-Conscious Fashion Made on the USA
A women-owned and run company, creating organic clothing that fits the way women really live.

100% Natural Organic and Cotton Fiber
Natural fibers, natural comfort, natural beauty. Organic cotton and organic bamboo are the hallmark of Blue Canoe—the heart of everything they do. Simply put, they’re good for the world. Their cotton and bamboo are grown without harmful pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Then, only the most gentle, nontoxic dyes are used, so plants, animals and people are protected. The result? Fabrics that are inherently soft, fluid and breathable, even in the warmest weather. All of their clothing is plant based. They don't use petroleum derived fabrics such as polyester or nylon that rely on oil and pollute the planet.

Sustainable Organic Bamboo
Bamboo is the ultimate sustainable crop. It’s very fast growing, and renewable. It requires no pesticides, fertilizers or irrigation. It causes no soil erosion and reduces runoff. Bamboo can yield 20 times more fiber than trees and regenerates without plowing or replanting. It can be grown on soil that is damaged by overgrazing. Bamboo produces 30% more oxygen than trees thereby reducing carbon dioxide that causes global warming.

Beeline Skincare Products on the shelf at Betsy Frost Design

Beeline Skincare Products on the shelf at Betsy Frost Design

BEELINE SKIN CARE
Susan Lanphear, the founder of Beeline created the line of hypoallergenic skin care products and eco-friendly containers after working as a chemist in research and development. She developed sensitivities from the chemicals she was using and couldn't find any body care products that didn't irritate her skin. So she began experimenting with creams and soaps using ingredients found mostly in nature. Honey and beeswax quickly became her materials of choice. Susan is now passionate about preserving the earth and its bounty.

Now a small, privately owned company located in New Hampshire, they create natural skin care products using local beeswax and honey. Being conscientious about preserving the earth and its bounty, all of their body care products are made using only the highest quality natural ingredients, free from genetically-modified ingredients, parabens, petro-chemicals, synthetic fragrances and dyes.Their products are also hypoallergenic and have marvelous healing and moisturizing properties thanks to the remarkable quality of pure honey. Beeline Skin Care packaging is simple yet elegant, appealing to both women and men. They are a proud member of the NH Bee Keepers Association which advocates for the protection of the honeybee. They donate a portion of our profits to the Honey Bee Research Fund.
Eco-Friendly Features: Paraben Free, GMO Free, Dye Free, Petro-chemical Free
See the products here that we carry online and in the shop.

See more of what we have in the shop here!

ALL GOOD FOR PLANET EARTH.

From The Bench…

Meet Kim of Betsy Frost Design

Some of you have had the pleasure of meeting Kim at the shop. If you have not, Kim has been with Betsy Frost Design for about 8 years. She’s always had an interest in creating things with her hands. In school, she even took wood shop and loved working with wood and stained glass. She eventually studied silversmithing, and joined our team to learn even more, working alongside Betsy at the Studio & Gallery in downtown Ipswich, MA.

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She can solder anything together and is the first assistant to help Betsy make her prototypes. Fearless, she accepts any challenge thrown her way! Kim can also get a perfect polish on our fine silver and quality jewelry. Kim even showed us her “secret” stash spot for candy at the work bench! Come by and visit the shop sometime and you will have the pleasure of meeting her in person.

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