Meet Carly Waters | Jewelry Designer + Creative Director

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

Hi Carly, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I must say as a busy person, work life balance is huge. We all have things we are striving for- and work is necessary for progress. Yet too much work results in burnout, and that’s not productive at all. How does one find time for things they enjoy while staying on track otherwise? With all of my irons in the fire, work, businesses, trip planning, etc etc I pride myself on setting time to chill, and get a change of scenery. Regardless of the work needed for my business, I’m going to get that morning beach walk in. Regardless of the errands I need to do, if I’m tired I will take a nap. And because of this- maybe some things take a little longer, but I don’t think that really matters. I like to set aside a day or two in my week to relax. Nature really provides the ultimate reset for me, so I usually like to disappear for a day in the mountains, or at the beach or river. Because of this- I am able to sustain myself professionally. What I can say overall is that we all have things we are striving for, but life isn’t a race- so go ahead and have a BBQ with your neighbors, make time to visit the Farmer’s market- with life in balance it will feel so much sweeter 😉

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I have to admit that starting your own business is not for the faint of heart. There is no amount of education or training that can prepare one for the rollercoaster that is entrepreneurship. I feel proud of how my business is growing organically. I am making genuine connections with my clients. I love to showcase some gems & minerals that I feel do not have a “main stage”in the jewelry world. For this reason- it is sometimes difficult to source materials, due to the obscurity and rarity of the stones. Some lessons that I have had to learn is that- not everyone is going to love your product! And that is okay- it’s not meant for everyone. If there is something that I would like the world to know- it’s that jewelry and beautiful stones can enhance your life and make it more beautiful.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There is so much to do and see in the greater Los Angeles area. If a friend were to visit me here, I would probably do some of the tourist stuff mixed with some of the other gems of the city. Some museums that I love in LA are: The Getty, LACMA, the broad, and I highly recommend the museum of Natural History which has an amazing gem exhibit! So many rare and beautiful specimens in there! For food there are many great spots, some of my favorites are: Elephante, Polo Lounge at Beverly Hills Hotel, La Brea Bakery, there are lots of cute spaces. I love going down to the beach in Malibu. So much to do and the weather is prime!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
You know there are a lot of people who have aided in my prospective success. First and foremost- I would like to thank my parents for nurturing my creativity from a young age. My Mom was always my biggest fan and even encouraged me to ditch my academic studies to pursue my art full time while in college. My Grandparents were the first to provide me with travel opportunities abroad- this really helped to broaden my horizons and view of the world. And lastly – I am so grateful for small yet genuine rolodex of clients I have built up so far. It means that absolute world to me to have people wear my designs and support my small business.

Website: www.carlywatersdesigns.com

Instagram: @CarlyWatersDesigns

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlywatersdesigns/

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/carlywatersdesigns/