We were lucky to catch up with Christie Daly recently and have shared our conversation below.

Christie, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Hi! Some of my earliest memories of childhood are the hours I spent playing in my mother’s jewelry box. The intricate details of the designs and the shine of the silver, gold, and diamonds captivated me. I loved the smoothness of the metals and the way each piece was unique when compared to another. Years later when I was traveling through South America, I came across a small jewelry shop that had its lapidary artist working in the front of the store. He was grinding the tiniest little stones to fit perfectly into a stunning, intricate inlay bracelet. Seeing his precision, attention to detail, and the finished product had me absolutely hooked! I purchased one of his amazing creations and decided that it was finally time to take the leap into jewelry making. When I returned home to Maui, I signed up for the next Metalsmithing 101 class at the island’s art school, the Hui No’eau, and absolutely fell in love with the craft! I learned the basics of working with metal, studio safety, and I was introduced to so many talented and inspiring artists. The school offered an “Open Studio” night every week that would allow students to come in and work on projects with access to all of the school’s amazing tools. Veteran metalsmith JB was a phenomenal teacher and taught me more than I could ever explain! I created my first ring using a small, multi-colored rock that I found on the beach in South America and cherish the reminder of where my journey began. Looking back, I definitely could have sped up my learning by dedicating more time to online tutorials. While I took full advantage of the classes and Open Studio time at the Hui, there’s so much information available if you look for it! The Metalsmith Society has been a game changer for me! From the amazing book to the jewelry tip search page, I’ve found tons of great info from them. At different times in my creative career I’ve definitely been my own obstacle. However, with patience and persistence, any obstacle can be overcome.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Absolutely! I’ve been metalsmithing and designing jewelry for 4 years now and have an amazing in home jewelry studio. My creations are inspired by the beauty of the earth, sky, and the cycles of life. Wai translates to water in several different languages. The peaceful feeling of being near the ocean, the sound of its waves, and the beauty of its depth are what led me to my business name, Wai Side Blues. The 12 years I spent living on Maui, walking the shores of Waipuilani Beach Park, shaped who I’ve become both as a person and as an artist. I create a lot of custom pieces and it’s important to me that my client feels that their piece was truly crafted just for them. I allow my client to browse my collection of stones and choose any that call to them. We’ll discuss the style and “vibe” that they’d like for their piece, and from there I craft the design incorporating the details that make the piece unique to my client. There’s a truly special feeling in wearing something that was handcrafted just for you! All of my work is created with love, intention, and precision.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The joy people feel when they receive their piece of jewelry. Whether it’s a piece that I’ve offered in a collection or something that the client and I have designed together, I love the happiness that my creations bring! The idea of working hard to create something so delicate yet strong, and it later becoming an heirloom that would be passed through the generations is just beautiful to me. Many of my pieces are purchased as custom made gifts and hearing from my client about the reception of the piece makes my heart feel so good. There are so many artists to choose from and jewelry isn’t cheap. Any time someone chooses to support my small business, I feel truly honored.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Absolutely! Corkie Bolton of the Metalsmith Society has been a phenomenal source of information in so many aspects of my business. She has an Instagram page that offers tips and tricks as well as troubleshooting ideas from other metalsmiths. Her website is amazing and shares info on book recommendations, where to take classes, and tips for running a small business. There’s also a jewelry tip search page that has helped me immensely when obstacles have come up in my projects. Last year, Corkie released her book, Metalsmith Society’s Guide to Jewelry Making, and it has been the best jewelry instruction guide I’ve purchased so far. She even has a Youtube page with more tips and tricks. The info she provides has had a hugely positive impact for the artists in our community!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WaiSideBlues
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wai.side.blues/