We recently connected with Bethany Diaz and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Bethany, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
Taking risks wasn’t always natural for me. For years, I put my passion for art on the back burner in exchange for stable, predictable income. But when I lost my 9 to 5 last year, I realized that life had handed me a unique opportunity to start fresh. I could either let fear hold me back, or I could embrace this moment to take a chance on myself.
The biggest shift in my mindset came from recognizing that the worst-case scenario of taking a risk wasn’t as frightening as I had once thought. I had already experienced a major setback—being let go—so in many ways, the only way to go was up. I started seeing risks as opportunities to grow, learn, and really pursue something that had always been a part of me but was buried under the weight of routine.
What helped me take that leap was realizing that there’s no “perfect time.” It’s easy to wait for the stars to align, but in reality, you have to start where you are with what you have. I leaned into the support of my community, tapped into my creativity, and chose to trust that my art was something people could connect with. Every step, even the uncertain ones, became part of my journey. And each risk, no matter how big or small, has been a reminder that growth comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a polymer clay artist, and I create colorful, whimsical, cartoon-style food-themed magnets that bring joy and smiles to everyone who sees them. Each magnet is hand sculpted by me, making every piece unique, which I think is what really connects with my customers. Many of them are quirky, fun individuals who enjoy surrounding themselves with things that make them feel happy and lighthearted, and I’m so honored to be a part of that.
The best part of my business is seeing the joy my creations bring to people’s lives. I love the idea that my magnets are little pieces of joy in someone’s home, whether they’re a fun addition to a fridge or a quirky gift for a friend. It’s always amazing to hear that my art has made someone smile or brighten their day, and I know I’ve created something special when I see someone proudly displaying my pieces.
Lately, I’ve been diving into teaching workshops, and it’s been such an exciting new chapter for me! There’s an incredible sense of joy in the air when my community comes together to create their own personalized polymer clay pieces. Watching people discover their creativity and have fun in the process is beyond rewarding—it’s truly magical to see everyone smiling and connecting over something so lighthearted.
To share this experience with my non-local followers, I’m launching Polymer Clay DIY Kits! The first set, launching just in time for Valentine’s Day, will feature chocolate-covered strawberry and chocolate bon bon clay magnets. Each kit comes with everything needed to create your own pieces, plus a QR code that links to a tutorial I’ve made, guiding you through the process step-by-step. It’s my way of bringing a little bit of that workshop magic to anyone, anywhere!
My business is all about spreading happiness through creativity, and I’m so grateful to be building this community of people who love to embrace the quirky, the fun, and the whimsical side of life. I can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes me and to continue creating pieces that make people smile.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
When I look back on my journey, there are three qualities that stand out as key drivers of my growth: the ability to take risks, the courage to start before I felt “ready,” and the importance of listening to my community.
First, risk-taking was a huge factor. At the start, I was uncertain about how my art would be received, but I knew that if I didn’t take a leap, I would never know. I had to embrace the unknown, which can be incredibly daunting, especially when facing a shift in careers or life direction. But I’ve learned that risk is really about making the most of uncertain situations and trusting that even if things don’t turn out exactly as planned, there’s always something to learn. My advice to anyone starting out is to not wait for everything to be perfect. Jump in, take that first step, and trust that you’ll figure things out as you go. There’s power in starting when you’re unsure, and that’s often when the magic happens.
Second, it’s so important to start before you’re ready. When I first began working with polymer clay in 2018, I wasn’t an expert. I was still learning the craft, and there were plenty of imperfections. But my early customers saw something in my work—they loved how quirky the magnets were and that I had the courage to put myself out there. If I’d waited until I felt like I was “good enough,” I might never have started at all. My advice here is simple: Don’t let fear of not being perfect hold you back. You don’t have to wait for the stars to align. The best way to grow is to start where you are and keep moving forward.
Lastly, as I’ve grown my business, I’ve learned just how crucial it is to listen to what your community wants. For the longest time, I was fixated on sculpting fruit and vegetable magnets because that’s what I personally wanted to create. While they’re still some of my best-selling pieces, it wasn’t until I listened to my customers and introduced new food-themed designs that my sales skyrocketed. My community craved new, fun designs, and once I started creating what they were asking for, my creativity really began to flourish. My advice here is to stay open and adaptable. Your community is one of your greatest resources, and when you listen to their feedback, you can create even more meaningful, successful products.
In the end, the journey isn’t about perfection—it’s about growth, learning, and connecting with others. Embrace uncertainty, trust yourself enough to start before you feel ready, and always be open to feedback. Your path will unfold in ways you never expected, and that’s the beauty of it.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
The past year has truly thrown me out of my comfort zone in ways I never anticipated. Losing my job was a big shock, and on top of that, I lost my health insurance and had to move since I was renting my house from my employer. As someone with epilepsy who’s been on an extremely expensive medication for the past decade, this was especially scary. The medication I had been using was crucial for managing my seizures, and without insurance, I was forced to switch to a much cheaper alternative.
The entire process—navigating new medication, adjusting to the physical and emotional toll it took, and handling the stress of moving—felt overwhelming at times. But through all of it, the biggest area of growth for me has been my ability to stay grounded and keep pushing forward with my art business, even when life felt completely out of control.
I was fortunate to have the unwavering support of my husband and my parents during this time, which made it possible for me to focus on my business and find stability in the midst of uncertainty. This period of transition, as difficult as it was, gave me the space to focus even more on what truly mattered to me—my creativity and building my art business. It helped me realize that, while life is often unpredictable, I have the strength to keep going no matter what comes my way. The challenges have only deepened my resilience, and in many ways, I think they’ve made me more focused on my art than ever before.
It’s been a year of learning how to embrace the unknown and finding strength even in moments of vulnerability. If anything, this experience has reminded me that we are more capable of handling adversity than we often give ourselves credit for. And even when everything around you feels uncertain, there’s always room for growth, creativity, and new possibilities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wayoutsidestudios.com
- Instagram: @wayoutsidestudios
- Facebook: @wayoutsidestudios
- Youtube: @wayoutsidestudios
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