We recently connected with Amy Sabatier and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

The origin of my jewelry business is rooted in my childhood. I grew up with Artistic parents, collectors and artisans in their own right. Day jobs were present but their highlight was always weekends searching for or making art. My mom and dad took me to many auctions, markets and antique shows. I started consistently pausing at the jewelry- wondering about the story behind the piece . I also paused at the vintage photos and again looking for that story of where they lived, what they did each day and I noticed their accessories. I still have my collection of these photos on hard cardboard or tin. This blossomed into my first mini jewelry business, at about the age of 10, of making clay beads, baking them in then oven and assembling my own pieces- which then developed into buying vintage pieces, breaking them down and playing with ways to use them in new pieces. Working with my hands quickly became my medicine and although it has had some pause in my life -I am glad to be back at it and fulfilling my artistic dream of working as a metalsmith.

Amy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I explained some of that in my previous response, please look back:)

The foundations of my business:

Creativity and the story, the inspiration. I am most proud of this constant in my work.
Healing and uplifting with the powerful energy of stones incorporated
Sustainability in terms of recycled metals and tools
Supporting and lifting up other artists and their crafts.
Collaboration over competition.

Additionally, for me the pull between creativity and commerce is a difficult one. I am constantly choosing to be aware of my passion to create new things, telling you the story of someplace I have adventured. This shines the most in my one of a kind or collector’s series pieces. For the commece side of things -I also am aware that I need to support this artistic lifestyle and so I do value and incorporate staple pieces that my customers have shown me they love and are what I consider entry pieces into my work. These everyday pieces need to have my voice still but provide some of that commerce as well. I choose to support other artists in my work by using many handmade artisanal tools, hand cut cabochons by lapidary artists, my logo has been handmade by a local watercolor artist ….and so much more. I enjoy collaboration and trying new things with my artistic tribe.

I think what sets me apart is I am extremely attentive to my customers. We take time to get to know each other and this really helps both of us as we choose pieces for their collections or a personal gift for someone special. We do get into some problem solving but mostly we take the process slow and build as they learn more about me and my work.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I am not sure this is a resource but I wish I knew that ART COMES IN MANY FORMS!

I didn’t pursue Art as a degree, I thought if I couldn’t draw or paint then I wasn’t a true artist. There was also that mishap of cookie jar that cracked in the kiln in art class in jr. high – my Mom always kept Swiss Miss packets in there instead (ha!). I think that although my parents had this love for art – they didn’t consider it a full time job or one that could potentially support you – and so I also didn’t consider it a path at that time.

Footnote: I double majored in Political Science and Russian with a concentration in International Relations. I married French and procreated in Germany where we lived for seven years in Dusseldorf, Germany, returning to the US in 2007 with a 5 year old! I have spent time working in the plastic compounding industry, tutoring English while in Germany, working in the creative teacher’s center for a school district in Pennsylvania, making and packing handmade chocolates locally (yes total bucket list and probably 10lbs of gain)- Fast forward 20 years or so and I arrived back at my passion for jewelry and the story that it follows.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

The Process. The creative process comes in so many forms! Look around you….so many people are creative and don’t even recognize it in their daily lives.

It usually starts with getting outside, reading, hitting a new art exhibit to get me thinking. I place so much value on adventuring, traveling, learning new techniques (taking classes- sneak peek: some goldsmithing is on the horizon).

I really enjoy switching it up in the studio – some days you will find me hammering out my feelings and other days gently molding clay metal to fire in my kiln. I love pouring over my vast stone collection and taking them to sketch paper, designing new pieces. A secret is that I don’t love my own drawing yet it is a practice that brings me so much joy and is process that holds so much intention and happiness and is integral to some of the work I am most proud of.

I listen to tons of Podcasts -solely on artistic process – always listening and learning

Oh and a few more things that contribute to the creative journey for me……hammers/tools. Lots of them. I have treasure hunted in so many places for some of the vintage tools that I use – including Paris. Yes, that was me that put a huge handful of vintage stamps, hammers and tools through the metal detector at the Eiffel tower and again at Versailles after a serious journey through a Parisian flea market. Heavy suitcases and pure joy. That is all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amysabatierdesigns.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amysabatierdesigns/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amysabatierdesigns

Image Credits
Madeline Elli Photography Madee Sabatier Photography