Sarah is the lady boss behind the wonderfully colourful Bubblegum Sass. She has the most delightful “Love catchers” that catch any eye. Made not only with upcycled materials and bits and pieces from her own private yarn stash, Sarah pours her love into every single piece she makes.
Sarah – BUBBLEGUM SASS
WHAT DO YOU MAKE/SELL? TELL US ABOUT YO’ SELF:
I’ve focused much of my creative energy in the past year & a half on making Love Catchers, my unique twist on the traditional Dreamcatcher. They are made from upcycled materials from local thrift shops, lace trims which I hand dye and bits & pieces of yarn from my stash. I love playing around with all the beautiful colour combinations and the different textures of all the materials. The past several months, I’ve started to get a lot of custom requests for particular colours {to match nursery décor} and that has become the most enjoyable part of my business! Seeing one of my Love Catchers hanging above a little one’s crib, is an incredible feeling!
HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR BUSINESS?
I did my first craft show in 2010 and then opened up my Etsy shop in early 2011.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
I grew up in a very creative family and making stuff just became a part of life for me. I spent years daydreaming about starting a craft business, and then things finally began to fall in place and become more of a reality when I had to take two months off of work to recovery from surgery. Having that time to slow down and take stock of what was really important and allowed me to firmly commit to starting up Bubblegum Sass.
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOUR WORK?
These days, I seem to have two main inspirations. One being my love of quilt fabrics and vintage prints, and the other being my obsession with buttons. My mom was a quilter and she really influenced my colour sense with all of her beautiful quilt fabrics and the way she combined printed patterns. I discovered her stash of buttons as a child, and I’ve been playing with them ever since!
WHAT DO YOU DREAM FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN THE FUTURE?
Does it seem depressing that, for now, I’m just happy to be making? I “should” probably have some BIG dreams for the future of my business, but after surviving the past year, I’m open to however things are going to unfold in life. I have mini-goals for this year including, getting back to being a vendor at a few local markets and continuing to grow the custom order side of my business.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM AND WHY?
I adore Instagram! It forces me to take photos daily and in turn, create content that feeds my other social media {Facebook and blog}. I’ve been very surprised at how I can convert a new follower on Instagram into a purchasing customer. Compared to other social media that I use, I’ve found instagram to be the most efficient at actually growing sales. Plus, scrolling through everyone else’s photos is incredibly inspiring!
HOW DO YOU PICK YOURSELF UP WHEN THINGS GO WRONG?
I giggled when I read this question because I just finished going through literally, the worst year of my life. That doesn’t make me an expert on how to deal with bad things, but I’ve learned some lessons. 1. Be intentional about self-care 2. Be gentle with yourself {give yourself the time you need, don’t let others dictate that} 3. Treat yourself to something small {a little boost in a single moment, will get you to the next moment} 4. Unplug {from overstimulation and too much negativity} 5. Get rest when & where you can 6. Ask for help from friends & your community {or if you’re overwhelmed, practicing saying “no”}
* I have a whole blog post about self-care and the things I did to see me through this past year. You can check it out here.
WHAT’S ONE THING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT YOU? GIVE US AN INTERESTING FACT!
I’m a big Buffy the Vampire and Angel fan. Seriously. Also, my brother and I talk to each other in movie quotes (no one else gets it).
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPER POWER WHAT WOULD IT BE?
It probably sounds awful, but other mamas out there might be able to relate… I sometimes wish I had the power to mute my son’s constant babbling or at least turn it down a notch or two. Preschoolers have a whole lot to say about the world, and it wears this introvert out!
WHAT ARE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES?
Website/blog: www.bubblegumsass.ca
Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/BubblegumSass
Instagram: @bubblegumsassy
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BubblegumSass
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/BubblegumSass/
Twitter: @bubblegumsass
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOUR STUFF?
You can find Bubblegum Sass products for sale in my Etsy shop, through Crafted {at the Calgary Farmers Market}, and Heaven Boutique {in Fernie, BC}.