We had the good fortune of connecting with Katy Goggins and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Katy, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Making jewelry was something I used to do with my mom from the time I was about 11. The bead shopping, learning new techniques, and making things I loved to wear brought us closer. In the 7th grade, a friend asked me to make her a blue bracelet and offered to pay $5. Throughout college I worked on learning new skills from my mom and soon I had enough work to try my hand at farmer’s markets, rodeos, and craft fairs. I was always flattered when someone wanted to wear what I made. Since then, the materials and techniques I lean toward have shifted with my age, but the idea is still the same: make things I’d wear in hopes that others want to wear them too!
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My brand is for people like me, who can’t make up their minds about what they love because there’s too much out there to choose from.
My love for art has always been a sidekick to my love for science and human body. Making jewelry helped pay for nursing school. After working as a nurse for 7 years, I finished my masters and am now a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Jewelry now serves as a way to find balance between a 9-5 job talking with others, to quiet time in my own head, creating. Pouring heart and time into Sage Silverworks has kept my mental health much sturdier as I help others with theirs.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love this question! Hosting is one of my favorite things. We’d start the day with an early hike around Garden of the Gods to beat the crowds and end it with a delicious fancy coffee and breakfast at Switchbacks. We’d make our way into Manitou Springs for arcade games and shopping. Then we’d have a delicious beer at Manitou Brewing. After a post beer nap, we’d head downtown to spend too much money at Poor Richard’s and Good Eye. We’d also have to snag some chocolate at Cocoa Chemistry. We’d end the night with a yummy dinner and drink or two at the Rabbit Hole.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mom gets 100% of the credit. She was putting different crafts and styles of art in front of me to explore with since I can remember. Her love of beadwork and metal smithing is what drove me to make jewelry. Years ago she had to move on from jewelry to pottery due to her arthritis and she gave me everything she had; her bench, tools, supplies, and knowledge. She cheers me on every time my business has a good day. She wears a necklace I made every day. She’s my biggest fan and deserves all the credit.
Instagram: @sage.silverworks
Image Credits
Just my husband Robert, son Charlie, and some jewelry photos!