Meet Laurie Okamoto | Nature Inspired Jewelry Artist

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

Hi Laurie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Initially, Chiisai Leaf started as a hobby while I was still in college. I used to make wire wrapped/beaded earrings, all of which would end up in an untouched pile on my desk. There was something wonderfully methodical and mindless about twisting the wire and combining different colors, and it was great stress relief from school. Eventually, I found resin and became hooked on the, “alchemy” of it. Mixing colors, finding different ways of making the resin cure in different shapes, adding finishes, changing textures, etc… It really appealed to me. It was both methodical, and magical. Something that was almost entirely in my control, but also very much outside of my control.
Eventually, after a lot of encouragement from friends, I started selling my jewelry. Partly because I needed to make enough money to pay for the supplies and feed my crafting addition, but also because they were starting to take up a lot of space and I needed some working room back ha.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It’s my hope that those who wear my jewelry are able to feel more in touch with nature. I live in a desert, and most foliage is very, very short lived. As Chiisai Leaf developed and I started to ask myself what was important to me, I realized that I wanted to preserve a moment in time. I love rich vegetation and delicate flowers, but they’re unable to grow in the desert, and cut plants make me feel too guilty to keep at home. With Chiisai Leaf, I try to translate the feelings I experience in nature and preserve fragile moments through wearable art. I feel that this ideal: the preservation of ephemeral moments, is what makes my work different from other jewelry.

I’ve gotten to where I am with a great deal of encouragement and patience from my friends and family! I struggle a lot with self confidence, but they’ve all been incredibly supportive and patient with nudging me to put myself out there more. It’s only because of their support that I was able to start Chiisai Leaf and share this part of myself with others. Since I make/design all of the jewelry, take all my own photos, packaging design, web design, shipping, marketing, etc… everything I do myself, when I make a post on social media, it’s 100% my own and absolutely terrifying. Sharing my work is more something that my friends pushed for rather than something I was naturally inclined towards, but I’m incredibly grateful to them for pushing me. Chiisai Leaf wouldn’t exist without their encouragement.

Sharing my work is still something I struggle with. I’m a very private person, so any time I post to Instagram or TikTok, it’s like a full blown internal war, even though the focus is my jewelry. I want people to love my work and feel like they can relate to it, but I’m petrified at the thought of showing myself. It’s a bit of a contradiction when you want people to feel connected to your work, but you’re unwilling to share of yourself… Although still a work in progress, I try to think positively and post with the thought that it’s about my work, and not me. Even if it’s not well received, I tried my best and pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and that’s important in and of itself.

I want the world to know that although I am a shy creature, I’m doing my best to share something that’s very precious to me. If my work can make somebody smile, pause, or remember something fondly, then the struggle is absolutely worth it.

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.
I’m admittedly a hermit and barely leave home, so I’m not too sure about Phoenix…. but for LA, I lead with my stomach! We’re definitely hitting a few museums, as well – the Norton Simon in Pasadena is particularly amazing. Sushi, boba, Malaysian food, Taiwanese food, dim sum, etc… It’s going to be a week of eating, interrupted by museums, window shopping, gentle walks (have to help digest the food, you know?), and cafe lounging. I think one of the most amazing things about LA is how much variety there is in the food, and how you can feel a bit of the culture in each restaurant/cafe.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Certainly my friends and parents – they’ve always supported me and have been my sounding boards. I wouldn’t have had the courage to put my work out there, were it not for their encouragement and faith in my products.

Website: https://www.chiisaileaf.com

Instagram: @chiisaileaf

Image Credits
Laurie Okamoto