Meet Sarah Brown | Artisan Crafter

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

Hi Sarah, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I was introduced to the lifestyle of an artist at a young age of 17. Once I knew the opportunities were out there, the possibility of being self-employed really appealed to me because of the peace and freedom I was seeking in my life at the time.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have learned many lessons along the way, now entering my 10th year of exhibiting craft full-time as my sole income. I was in a hard place when I took the chance to go full-time with my craft. I would encourage people to always follow their intuition and to trust in the experience and knowledge that leads them.
It took a few years to dial in where I would profit most with my style of craft. I experienced lows and highs, many times turning up empty-handed on a project I had worked on.Somehow through dedication and not giving up, the universe would always provide and things would come together and bills would be paid.
The most important thing in this industry, you have to be ready to go. You have to be ready to get out there and sell the work. Online sales have never been my forte. I learned that my money was made face-to-face. My craft together as a whole unit is a work of art. People needed to see that to respect and appreciate all the things.

My craft is a reflection of my experiences and a love for nature. Jewelry was where I first landed as a money making medium, and truly where a lot of people start. My jewelry styles are a spin off of things mom wore in the 70s, beaded mostly with shells and turquoise. My mother was a turquoise over diamonds girl and that style stands truly embedded with me today. Natural components like bones and shells, feathers, all led to crafting other unique things like hat and hair clips, keychains and wall art. Seven years ago, I had the desire to introduce hand sewn leather into my work field and that opened up a lot of doors of creativity and higher priced items as well. I don’t indulge in any fashion magazines or what is hip today, I generally flow on vintage styles and what comes to mind, what I think is cool. I make little things and big things, but what I’m most proud about is my work as a whole unit. It’s hard to show somebody how you feel with just one thing. I would say that my business has definitely become a brand, I have found my work is supported best in a Bluegrass and Americana music festival setting. I think when my work is received, folks can see my appreciation for nature, they see a slow craft where everything is made individually with respect. I have gained a small following and I have gained financial independence. I work every day, but it’s a love I wouldn’t trade.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I spent 11 years living in Colorado. It is where my craft began, it is where it all began. Yearly trips there are a must and bring so much inspiration to my soul. Leadville is one of my favorite spots. If I got to be a tour guide for the day, I would drive up to Leadville and over to Turquoise Lake for a hike, head over to the Treeline Kitchen followed by a beautiful drive to Buena Vista for a hang at Cottonwood Hot Springs.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When I really think back to the beginning, the very beginning, it would be the camaraderie of a group of people that followed the Grateful Dead. It would be in this realm that I would discover the respect and admiration of the arts in a unique way where everyone supported what each other was doing. I had friends who were making clothing, practicing batik on fabric and clothing, glass makers, silversmithing, wire wrapping, and mind expanding visual arts. It was all being supported within this community and real money was being made.

Website: https://www.stonedbeautiful.com

Instagram: @stoned_beautiful

Image Credits
all my pictures