We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Walling a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sarah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

As an indecisive person, choosing names is something that takes me forever! In 2022, with the help of an Artist Entrepreneur class at SDSU, I wanted to create a jewelry brand that really stood out and allowed the wearer to channel a bold, unique energy. So, finding the right name was crucial. I’ve always been drawn to uncommon words, and “boisterous” caught my eye. I kept coming back to it. I received good feedback from my class with this name but was still encouraged to keep exploring. Eventually, it got to a point where I couldn’t stop thinking about the word boisterous so I committed. I decided to tweak it a bit, dropping the ‘e’ and ‘o’ to make it shorter, more distinctive, and punchy.

In the end, “boistrus” turned out to be the ideal name for my business, and I don’t regret it to this day. It captures the boldness of my jewelry pieces while still feeling fresh and contemporary.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hello! I’m Sarah Wall, and I am the creator of boistrus. Boistrus is a handmade jewelry brand that focuses on bold and unique designs, exploring the intricacies of the human experience.

By blending jewelry making and metalsmithing with other creative techniques, I aim to create pieces that resonate on a deeper level. This involves mixing natural materials like freshwater pearls and abalone with metal materials, forming the metal to complement and juxtapose these elements.

My journey in founding boistrus has been an evolution of my passions. I love being able to mix my education and experience with graphic design and brand creation with my lifelong interest in photography and jewelry. What I’m most proud of is the opportunity to merge my love for jewelry into something truly unique.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

There have been numerous instances in my life where circumstances demanded resilience. Ultimately, all paths have led to where I am today, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful.

One of the most significant lessons in resilience came during my high school years. I went from being deeply involved in sports and academics to being diagnosed with a fainting disorder at 15. I entered an isolating period of recovery which intensified my depression. After receiving the correct treatment, life started to look up again. Throughout this time, I found solace in creating jewelry, which provided a sense of control and focus during this time of uncertainty.

Fast forward to 2023, navigating post graduate life and corporate life, I found myself again struggling with depression. Returning to the practice of creating jewelry, reclaiming that sense of control has been a form of resilience in challenging times. I know that no matter what is going on, I can come back to this practice and walk away with something beautiful.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

This story may seem familiar to many, but during my undergraduate years, I definitely took some unexpected paths. Initially, I enrolled as a Biology major with aspirations of becoming a doctor. However, a challenging first semester left me feeling disheartened and directionless. Looking back, I realize I may not have been fully prepared for the rigors of college at that time.

As I continued to explore different courses, none seemed to resonate. It wasn’t until I decided to take art classes which nurtured a passion I’ve always had. Thankfully, the field of art offers a multitude of avenues to explore. I dabbled in interior architecture, tried my hand at photography, and eventually found my niche in graphic design.

If I hadn’t made the decision to pivot away from Biology, I wouldn’t be where I am today. While I sometimes wonder what my life would have been like, I know that my journey would lack the vibrancy, creativity, and passion that defines it now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.splashanddashfordogs.com/sugarland
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/splashanddashsugarland
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/splashanddashsugarland

Image Credits
Kait McCarthy @kaitvisuals