We were lucky to catch up with Sara Stokking recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I have always loved doing crafts and other hobbies. I have ADHD so I like to keep my mind and hands busy when I can. I’ve done so many things through the years from crocheting to hyper-realistic art, soap making, and more. There was something different about seeing what people could do with polymer clay though. When I find something I enjoy doing, I throw myself into it as much as I can. When I saw what could be done with clay I wanted to learn how I could bring my ideas to life. I bought some starter tools and clay and began playing. Then, when I got the feel for it, I started watching videos online and looking at tutorials to learn more. It took a lot of practice, but I could see a drastic difference in my creations from when I first started.
Looking back, I wish that I had practiced the basics more before moving on to the next fun technique. Learning the foundation is always the best bet, even if you do get excited to move on. It would have helped me to improve much faster.
As far as obstacles, I am a wife, mother, and have a full-time job. I also am in the last course for my MBA which takes up quite a lot of my time and focus.

Sara, 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 have always enjoyed making things and becoming a polymer clay artist just seemed to make sense. As soon as I saw what could be done with some skills, clay, and an oven, I knew I was in. I fell in love with polymer clay jewelry and knew I wanted to make all kinds of earrings. That is what I mostly specialize in, but I also love making whatever makes me smile or laugh. One of my favorite things I’ve ever made is a little ghostie Bob Ross! I love to take commissions and see how they will challenge my creativity. I once had someone ask me for hot dog earrings for her group of friends for when they went to a sausage festival in Germany! It was so much fun trying to figure out how to make them look real and fun at the same time.
I have a nine-year-old daughter and she loves creating things out of clay with me. One of her favorite things is to come to vendor events and be my assistant. She makes more sales than I do most of the time!
I enjoy making things inspired by nerd culture and also bright and colorful pieces. I wouldn’t say that I have a specific style, I just make things that I hope will be enjoyed!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I am currently in a hiatus with my business. I was struggling to manage my family life, my career, my education, and my business and realized that only one of those things could really be put on hold. However, I am in my final course for my MBA and will be done in a couple of months! I can’t wait to get back to creating fun pieces, but I knew that I needed to do what was best for myself and my future and finish up school.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative for me is seeing people enjoy the pieces I make. I love when people are looking through my products and I hear laughter and they say how much they love something. I enjoy sharing what makes me happy and bringing a smile to peoples’ faces. The first time I ever saw someone wearing my earrings “in the wild” I almost squealed with joy! As a creative and small business owner, I also very much enjoy the community I have around me. I have met some amazing people in my local small business community that have supported me and guided me along the way. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sareetsclayporium

Image Credits
My business logo is by Jamie Grippo with The Art of Jamie Grippo.