Rising Stars: Meet Beth Hay of Denver

Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Hay.

Hi Beth, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started making jewelry when I was a little kid…
Cliché, I know, but it’s true. When I was about 8 years old, I used to roll out a big blanket in my front yard, lay out my assortments of beads & charms, and create custom anklets for the neighborhood kids. As the years went by, my skill level and passion for creating jewelry grew.

Alongside jewelry, I also heavily pursued my other creative side, drawing & painting. In 2011, I graduated from SCAD, the Savannah College of Art & Design, with a BFA in Illustration. And for a long time, I attempted to make fine art my career. I curated art shows at the brewery I used to serve beer at in Asheville, NC. I attended local markets and sold my paintings everywhere I could. I even took my love for painting & jewelry making on the road, when I did “van life” for 2 years. I created feather jewelry and I painted on found wood. I was even hired as published Illustrator for OutdoorX4 Magazine for an extended period of time. Alongside my creative endeavors, I had many other jobs: Server, Bartender, Farmhand, Operations Admin, Office Admin, Accounts Receivable, and so on and so forth. I’ve done it all.

By 2018, I began teaching myself how to Metalsmith by watching YouTube videos and getting helpful tips from other Metalsmiths who kindly shared their knowledge with me. After a few years honing in on my craft and finally creating roots in Colorado, I officially established Basecamp Jewelry in 2021.

I’ve been smithing for 8 years now, and I’m very confident in my skill set. However, one of the things I love best about making jewelry is that there are sooo many techniques and tools to learn, I’ll be a forever student.

As of today, I am create all my pieces from my little studio in my backyard in Denver, CO. Basecamp Studio is actually a cargo trailer that my husband and I converted into a full blown metalsmitihing studio. It’s small, but mighty! 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not!
Since I’m basically self-taught, it took me a loooonnnggg time to figure out how to solder properly and what tools to use for specific jobs. Blood, sweat, & tears, as they say. In hindsight, I wish I would have taken a class when I was starting out…simply to have someone right next to me, guiding me on how to use my torch.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I create handmade, ethical, nature-inspired, .925 Sterling Silver jewelry featuring precious stones such as turquoise, fire opals, jaspers, and moonstones.

I’m best known for my “Full Moon” pieces. Each month, on the night of the full moon, I release ONE piece to honor the lunar cycle. Each piece is inspired by what’s happening in the natural world, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, and always features hand-selected moonstones. For example, the Full “Flower” Moon is in May, so for that piece, I would forge flowers out of metal and incorporate them into my design for that month.

I started this project in 2022, and I am still going strong. These are super exclusive and truly one-of-a-kind. I typically try a new technique and let my creativity really fly with all of my Full Moon pieces.

Be sure to check out the lunar calendar or my Instagram and save the date for my next Full Moon release! Pieces always launch on the night of the Full Moon at 6 pm MT.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Well, with silver prices breaking record highs, this is a really tough question to answer.

In 2025, silver increased by 145% in the last 6 months alone, and from what I’m hearing, it’s only going to keep increasing. It’s heartbreaking from a business standpoint, but from a collector’s point of view, it also makes your jewelry more valuable.

I know many Jewelers have had to make a serious pivot. I’ve been offering more affordable materials besides silver, such as brass and beads. I’m also gearing up to build local wholesale relationships with shops & boutiques here in Colorado.

At the end of the day, I’m not going anywhere.
I will not sacrifice quality over quantity. So I may make less, or simply try to offer my work more in person, so my community can attach a face to the art and know exactly what they are buying and who they are supporting.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.basecampjewelry.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basecampjewelry/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/basecampjewelry

Image Credits
All images were photographed and modeled by me, Beth Hay.