Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Alexis Lopez of Awahtukee

We recently had the chance to connect with Alexis Lopez and have shared our conversation below.

Alexis, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Last year, I became involved with a local rock and gem club. We go out when the weather allows and find local spots to find minerals and fossils. We go to local mines and learn about how they extract and process the materials they mine and local geology. It gives me a chance to have a community, have an understanding of the land around me, get fresh air and exercise and have a deeper connection to the earth and my art form.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Alexis Lopez and I am a silversmith and the owner of Heavy Metal Designs. I am a self taught artist that built my skills up by taking local silversmithing classes and gaining work experience and have been selling my jewelry since 2010.
Today, I hand make every piece of jewelry using high quality metals and gemstones in my studio in Arizona. My inspiration comes from the natural patterns in nature as well as the culture and style of the Southwest with a little rock and roll mixed in. I am constantly adding new one of a kind designs to my website and posting on instagram to keep everyone in the loop!

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I once had a friend who told me that I gave the best hugs. She said that she could always feel the love and comfort in them. I had never thought about how I hugged someone before but afterwards I knew that was exactly what I was trying to convey. Every time after that I gave more intention in every embrace I give hoping the person can truly feel my love.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
My biggest fear in learning how to grow a business was always just the fear of the unknown of taking the next step. It could be how to have the proper tax licenses to using a new tool that you aren’t super familiar with or tackling a new technique. Over the years I have come to find that 9 times out of 10, the next step isn’t nearly as scary as I made it out to be. Instead of building on the fear of failure, I look at it more as experimenting so I can really understand what does and doesn’t work for any given situation. Then fear starts to look more like an adventure.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes! Every nerdy, rock obsessed, metal crazy, jewelry loving part of it! Everything is fake on the internet. I find authenticity so much more interesting and I prefer to be a rebel in that aspect.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days. 
There are many times in my career that I have been excited! From the very first class I took to starting to build my tools and equipment to getting my first job and then my first sales and then first studio space and website. Every little step I take that puts me in a slightly better spot than I was the year before is a celebration. It motivates me more and more and then I begin to reap the benefits more and more, which excites me more! I don’t think there has ever been a day where I wasn’t excited to do what I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www. HeavyMetalDesigns.org
• Instagram: @heavymetalalo