COLLABORATOR OF THE MONTH: Sarah from SUSPEND IT!
Suspend it: the inside look at Sarah’s process!
I found Sarah while I was focusing on my collaboration with Double Rainbow designs, and instantly fell in love with her work and spirit/ I believe Sarah has unlocked something so unique with her nail covers: They are a refreshing accessory to anything that can be hung. Sarah herself has become a friend of mine, helping me with new projects and always spreading encouragements on the worst days. I love her being, and I know you will too:
I'm Sarah Barrah and I'm a creative through and through. At 5 years old, I told my kindergarten teacher I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. For over 30 years, practicality and the seriousness of life won over and I held jobs that paid the bills but also intermixed with jobs that fed my entrepreneurial spirit. I'm a giver, a doer, a maker, a fixer. I'm an inventor.
I'm a wife and momma to two young boys and I love the constant activity that buzzes through our house. I love that when I do laundry, I find rocks and cars in the bottom of the washer drum. I like to think that while my husband and I are two entirely different people--he feels more comfortable in the water (surfing, swimming and fishing), while I can barely hold my breath or wear a snorkel–I'm a land-dweller through and through. But, our love for nature and creation bonds us. He grows and propagtes exotic passion vines and other butterfly host plants as a side-hustle and that has really brought so much joy and bonded us as a family.
What gave you the idea for suspend it, like how did this beautiful idea come to fruition?
Five years ago, I gave myself permission to be creative again during a time that probably made the least sense to dive into something new. Our marriage therapist told me to "take a risk and dream a little." That "homework" was both the hardest and most impactful thing for me to hear. It made me uncomfrtable to do stuff for myself. I was just so used to survival mode and being everything for everyone else and kind of forgot about myself. My husband and I were 6 years into our marriage–sleep deprived with a three year old, working two jobs and hit a really difficult patch–between parenting, mental health struggles, job loss, and another babe on the way. Our plates were full! I was the sole provider with my husband having just lost his job and was going back to school to start a new career. I was just giving and sacrificing forgetting to fill my own cup (as us moms tend to do) and I felt utterly stripped and drained. Then one night–probably in the shower where most ideas seem to come to mind–I dreamt up the concept of suspend.it as a solution to an annoying problem I had just experienced while hanging our beautiful family photos.
We paid to have professional family photos taken and had them printed on wood pieces that were suspended by twine and hung on a screw. While I loved the rustic look of the wood and twine, the screw was a little too industrial and unfinished of a look that detracted from our beautiful family photos. The screw was an eyesore. So immediately my wheels were spinning on how to hide it or cover the screw to give my family photos the finished look they deserved. And thus, suspend.it was born–interchangeable screw + nail covers.
Most of my creative ideas are born out of practicality and serve some sort of dual function, but I'm learning that art can be just that--standalone art to be appreciated simply for what it is without serving any other purpose than to make you feel something.
How long have you been working with Stainglass?
As part of my creative journey, I was really encoruaged by my husband to pour into myself and give myself an outlet for creativity. My husband used to blow glass during our dating years and I'd been enamored with glass in general. Glass blowing really gave me anxiety because I have weak wrists and heavy molten laval just kinda terrifies me. But stained glass is its close cousin and really could open up so many opportunities for me to make different styles of my wall hooks and 3-dimensional pieces. So, I signed up for a course with a local artist and devoted the following eight Saturdays to stained glass and creating. Best investment ever. I'm still a novice, but learning a lot as I continue my practice.
What is your biggest piece of advice for anyone wanting to make a living off of their creations?
If you treat it like a hobby, it will be just that–a hobby. But if you treat it like a business, it will have a chance to grow. Another important piece of advice for creatives looking to launch into their craft full time is to get debt-free so you have the financial freedom to explore your craft. I can't stress that enough! We drive old cars, live within our means, pay off our credit cards every month and it's given us the freedom to both explore our passions. Start it as a side hustle supported by your full time job until you're ready to fully launch into it full time. Come up with a plan--financial and business goals and make it crystal clear so that you can have accountability for yourself and a clear direction in place. But also be flexible--like gumby flexible and willing to adapt to the ever-changing climate that is our world.
What motivates you in your business?
I am inspired continually by nature, by shapes, by raw materials I often find in unlikely places like the hardware store. I am also motivated by customer feedback, by engagement, shares and accolades from my social media followers. When you all get just as excited as me about my projects, it just means so much to me. Collaborations have also been a major factor in stretching me and growing me as an artist. They have challenged me in the best of ways and to see art through a different lense.
What big projects are on the horizon for you?
Oh man this question is tough because by nature I am not a planner. I do not like to follow patterns or templates. I'm kind of a dreamer and gypsy soul and go with the flow. My goal is to continue partnering with other artists from different mediums in 2021--one of which will launch in Canada shortly :) I can't wait to share!
