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

Hi Haley, we’d love to hear about your parent’s parenting philosophy and the role it played in your development.
I grew up in rural, small-town Texas. My parents moved out to the country after meeting, falling in love and marrying in Houston, Texas. They struck out for a different lifestyle, which set the tone for their eventual parenting style. My folks had two children, of which I am the youngest. They had a laissez faire approach to parenting. When I was a child out in the country, I was allowed to roam and play in the woods, even though this was quite different from how they were raised. This instilled a great sense of independence and curiosity in me from a young age. As I grew older, they continued to trust me and let me make my own decisions with their guidance, of course. Because of this I had a lot of self confidence as a child and young adult, which helped immensely as I left to discover the wider world for myself. I never needed to censor myself around my family, and therefore never really had a rebellious streak. My parents were loving to each other and their children. They also made space for themselves to go on adventures without us kids. I’ve always admired that about them and how they approach life with such curiosity and joy.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a jeweler by trade. I started in by taking a jewelry class on a whim and fell in love. I’ve worked in many different aspects of the jewelry business and started my company in 2011. Starting out took a lot of hard work and perseverance. I worked several part time jobs, so that I could put my early profits from my business right back into it and allow it to grow. Not depending on my business in the early stages allowed me a lot of creative freedom, too. I’ve developed a style that is minimalist with impact. I sometimes jokingly refer to this as Texas minimalism. The jewelry focuses on clean lines and a restrained feminine aesthetic. During different seasons of life, my business has grown and shrank depending on the economy or my personal life. There is always doubt and fear, even after nine years of business. Saving, trusting your gut and letting go of outcomes are all principles that have served me well. I’m immensely grateful for the people I’ve met along this journey. You never know what’s right around the corner. Life and running an art-based business is full of great opportunity and joy. The May 2020 issue of Austin Monthly Magazine named my jewelry “Best of ATX.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love Austin! I miss being out in this city so much. Fantasy day one with visiting friend would start with by taking a stroll down South Congress and visiting all the local shops, especially Limbo Jewelry and Triple Z Threadz. Dinner at Elizabeth Street Cafe. The next day we’d grab some tacos to-go and spend the entire day hanging at the greenbelt or Barton Springs depending on how hot it is. I’d take them to grab coffee at Epoch and search for gems at Breakaway Records and Big Bertha’s Paradise. We’d hang in the neighborhood and grab a slice of pizza at Home Slice or sushi at Kome, then an after dinner cocktail at Drink Well. before heading out to see some music or a comedy show. I wouldn’t let a friend leave without dinner at Licha’s Cantina and then heading to the White Horse to two-step the night away.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Lately I’ve been focusing on mindfulness. I’ve been listening to the “Unf*ck Your Brain” podcast. It is smart, straightforward and so very helpful.

Website: haleylebeuf.com
Instagram: instagram.com/haleylebeuf
Linkedin: linkedin.com/haleylebeuf
Facebook: facebook.com/haleylebeuf

Image Credits
Lucero Archuleta