Meet Beth Hay | Owner & Metalsmith of Basecamp Jewelry

We had the good fortune of connecting with Beth Hay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Beth, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
The way I think about risk is that if your dreams don’t scare you, then they are not big enough. I’m a dreamer, and I DREAM BIG!

I’ve carried this motto throughout my whole life. From going to college for an art degree instead of the “safe” choice, to living on the road for two years doing “vanlife”, to leaving a job with a steady paycheck to follow my passion of being a full time Metalsmith and Mama.

I know it’s cliche, but I’ve always had an inner knowing that life is short, and sadly, I experienced a lot of loss that made this ring even more true. So, for me, risk is the only way to truly live.

I’ve made it my mission in life to take lots of risks, so that I can live the fullest life possible without any regrets. Becoming an entrepreneur is always a risk, but in my opinion, it’s a risk worth taking, because the reward of working for myself and knowing that I’m doing what I’m meant to do, which is create art, is worth it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The thing I’ve become most well-known for is my Full Moon Series.
Each full moon, I release ONE piece of jewelry to celebrate the lunar cycle. These pieces feature moonstones and draw inspiration from the traditional names of the moons according to the Farmer’s Almanac. For example, May’s full moon is called the “Flower Moon” since flowers bloom all across North America during this time of year. Using the name as inspiration, I’ll create a floral-inspired piece paired with hand-selected moonstones.

My Full Moon pieces are exclusive and truly one-of-a-kind because they are uniquely different each month and each year. I like to stretch my skillset when I make these pieces and try a new technique or something different that challenges me in the studio. It’s a fun way for me to keep things fresh and keep my followers engaged.

I came up with this concept when I first made Basecamp Jewelry official in 2021, and it’s been a hit since the start!

Before this, when I was first learning to metalsmith in 2018, I really struggled with finding “my style”.
I have a BFA in Illustration from Savannah College & Design (SCAD), and like painting, I already knew it would take time to hone this craft and find my own voice. It also took a lot of melting metal and figuring out the right tools for the job before I felt confident enough to take my business from a hobby to a full-blown career.

At first, I arguably spent more hours on YouTube researching ‘how to solder’ or ‘how to (fill in the blank)’, trying to figure out how certain aspects of metalsmithing were accomplished, than I spent actually metalsmithing. In hindsight, I wish I had taken an in-person class just to get started vs. the self-taught approach. Needless to say, I dedicated a lot of time learning from other Metalsmiths online and doing rigorous research, and to this day, I still do. One of the things I love most about Metalsmithing is that I’ll forever be a student.

The biggest challenge I had to overcome in this field is learning that there’s no “right way” to do it. There is a basic process, but once you learn that, you can really fly with the rest. There are a million different techniques and methods. It’s what makes this line of work so fun for me.

I’ve spent many years molding how I want Basecamp Jewelry to be represented out in the world, and so far, what I’ve come up with is that I want people to really feel at home in my jewelry. The name itself, “Basecamp” came from the idea of 1) I love camping & the outdoors, 2) It’s something that you can go back to over and over again, 3) It makes you feel at home.

My goal is to create ethical, organic, nature-inspired jewelry that uniquely stands out and is worn as your baselayers and armor to protect your wild soul.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So funny you ask, because this literally just happened!
Since I used to be in the Food & Beverage industry (and my husband currently still is), I have lots of recommendations on the best spots to hit up while visiting Denver.

Food & Drinks:
+ Improper City – great for the whole family! Kiddos & Dogs included! They have the largest outdoor patio space in Denver, seasonal cocktail and beer menu, and rotating food trucks.
+ Yatch Club – industry neighborhood bar with amazing cocktails and hot dogs if you get hungry
+ Levan – the best Reuben I’ve ever had! Ask to add their house-made mustard. Plus, it’s a must to take home a loaf of fresh rye bread
+ Uncle Ramen – hands down the best ramen in the city! And their sister restaurant +Hop Alle,y is also incredible!
+ Gold Point – great for a beer or a manhattan, plus they have in-house handmade crunch wraps!
+ Safta – best Mediterranean food. Ever.
+ Duo Mio – handmade pasta that slaps every time!
+RiNo Country Club – amazing smash burger, dive bar, with putt-putt!

Activities:
+ Red Rocks – I think this is an obvious one, but it’s iconic and worth it!
+ Garden of the Gods – outside of the city, but stunning and worth the drive
+ Clear Creek Canyon Park, in Golden – this is the greatest trail by the river and perfect if you have a kiddo like me
+ Nature & Science Museum – perfect indoor adventure day with littles and the family
+ Lookout Mountain – nice mountain drive near the city with scenic views.
+ Mount Falcon Park – views for days and historic sites. Easy hike for the whole fam and close to the city.

These are some of my go-tos, but even though I love to go out, we honestly love cooking at home even more! Typically when friends and family are in town, we take them out a couple places, but most days especially now that we have a toddler, we pop into the Local Butcher and grill out at home!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to make a shoutout to my husband Austin.
He believed in me and my skills so much that HE was the one who truly encouraged me to quit bartending and start metalsmithing full-time. He supported me both emotionally and financially while my business went through the growing pains of getting off the ground. He reminded me of my dreams when I felt like I was failing, and lovingly told me to keep pushing forward when I wasn’t making sales or felt like I wasn’t good enough.

Even when we became parents, and life became extremely challenging to juggle it all, he still was my rock in telling me to not stray from the path of my dreams. To this day, he watches our son, so that I can get my studio hours in.

My sweet, dearest Cowboy, Austin, this shoutout is to you!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for always believing in me and my creativity.

Website: https://www.basecampjewelry.com

Instagram: @basecampjewelry

Image Credits
Beth Hay