Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Miller.
Sarah, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve always loved creating. When I moved to Austin several years ago, I lived in a house with my best friends and would buy old furniture pieces from salvage stores, give them makeovers with a fresh, funky coat of paint and then sell them. But once I moved into an apartment by myself, I realized that without the space to buy, paint and sell pieces of furniture, my creativity would need to take another form. The biggest lesson I’ve learned since I’ve been in Austin is that if I’m not creating something with my hands, I’m not happy. I started thinking about the things I needed for my new home and figured out that I should start focusing on things I like to have. Growing up, my dad always had lots of plants, so I came up with the idea: Why not make planters? I decided that at the minimum, I could make planters for myself and then make them for friends and family for special occasions, like birthdays, baby showers and housewarming parties.
So I bought a silicone mold, mixed up some cement and started pouring.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
While a smooth road may be what everyone wants, it’s not what anyone needs. The bumps are what make us stronger. They make us grow.
I literally started working with a medium I’d never used before, so everything was trial and error when I first started. I had to start paying more attention: What’s the difference between leaving wet cement in the mold for 8 hours vs. 12? Why are my pieces cracking? How long should I let the finished cement product sit before I pour candle wax in it? Will ordering materials in bulk save me money in the long run? How can I make more product in less time?
With this business, I’ve learned how important it is to listen. Listen to what your work is telling you. Listen to what your body and spirit are telling you. Get a mentor or two and listen to what they have to say. My advice to young women starting their journey: Get yourself a mentor. Find people whose work you respect and start asking questions. Most of us want to help! (Everything isn’t as cutthroat as you’d expect, especially when it comes to the maker community.)
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Awkward Auntie’s story. Tell us more about the business.
I specialize in home decor, hand-making cement pieces — planters, trays, decorative pieces, candles. I use coconut soy blend wax and pour all of my candles by hand. One thing I truly love about my pieces is that, aside from the candles, their function is whatever you want or need it to be. Sure, you can put succulents in pieces, but one of my favorite things is seeing how people think outside of the box. So far, I’ve seen my vessels hold jewelry, pens and pencils, clementines, guitar picks, and even Hatchimals!
I am most proud when I’m approached to do a market or for a wholesale order because it means someone saw my work and loved it enough to reach out. I feel so grateful when people at my markets feel compelled to connect me with someone they know for collaboration or other sales opportunities. I remember a year or so ago speaking with someone about Awkward Auntie before my first market and saying, “I just need to see if anyone besides my family and friends likes my pieces!” Turns out they do.
Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
I am blessed that I grew up having parents who gave me the freedom to be me. I’m the baby in my family and the only girl. So when I ended up sassy, strongwilled and creative, my parents embraced it all and didn’t stifle me.
Speaking of my parents, they’re incredible and they really made sure my childhood was a good one. But when I think of an experience that set me up and helped define who I am today, I think more about the outstanding example my parents set. They are hard workers who, when dealt blows, learned how to pivot and keep it moving for the sake of their family. My dad has always been scrappy in the best way; he’s a hard worker and doesn’t let anything keep him down. My mom taught me how to be tough. As a black woman in an executive role, she wasn’t always taken as seriously as she should’ve been. She worked twice as hard to prove she had every right to be at the table. I don’t know if either of them knows I was watching. But I was. And I still am.
Pricing:
- Depending on the size, my pieces are priced between $7 and $40
Contact Info:
- Website: www.awkwardauntie.com
- Email: sarah@awkwardauntie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awkwardauntie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awkwardauntie/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/awkward_auntie
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