We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Toles. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.
Sarah, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Nothing kills creativity faster than being hard on yourself and staring at an endless to-do list. For me, I have to take time for myself every month by learning new pottery techniques or making an item for fun rather than focusing on if it will sell or not. When I allow myself to get out of “business mode” and stop producing products, I am able to focus on fun and experiments. Every once in a while, I will see a video of a fun pottery technique and my brain doesn’t rest until I try it myself.
One example of a technique I saw and had to try for myself was adding glass to a small dish before firing it in the kiln. The results are never identical, but the glass melts onto the dish and creates beautiful crackles in various colors depending on the glaze and glass I choose.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Daisy Jack Studios is a Paint-your-own-pottery studio located in Hillsboro, NH and operated by a mom and daughter team. The studio is intimate and cozy, which means customers get a more one-on-one experience rather than feeling like they are being rushed out the door. Recently, we launched “Daisy Jack’s after dark” which is an adults-only paint night where they can let loose, have fun after hours with their friends, and use exclusive specialty glazes. The first event sold out quickly and now has a growing wait-list for the next one.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Having patience, not being afraid of taking risks, as well as willingness and a desire to learn all play a role in my journey. I am typically not a patient person and usually rush through projects, but pottery doesn’t allow for that. Clay needs time to dry out before they can be fired or it will explode, then you have to glaze it, followed by a second time in the kiln. A simple mug can take two weeks to make from start to finish and that’s if everything goes smoothly.
In business, there will always be risks involved. Whether it’s trying out a new event, spending money on an item that may not sell, or buying expensive equipment without knowing if it will pay off. If you don’t take risks, your business will become stagnant and it could fail. When I first started Daisy Jack Studios, I was focused on making my own pottery and selling them at craft shows. It wasn’t until I took a risk by turning half of my studio into a paint-your-own pottery studio open to the public, that my business skyrocketed.
Lastly, by having a high desire to learn as much as I could about business, marketing, and pottery has helped me stay on track with my goals and excited for the future. If you don’t take the time to really learn about business or if you don’t have the desire, then I would highly recommend getting someone on your team who does so they can help you when it gets tough.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I am feeling extremely overwhelmed, I like to make a list of all the things I need to do and rank them by importance. I then will go down the line and figure out which one can be held off on or what tasks can be bundled together. This way I can really visualize what really needs to be done. I will also shut down commissions if I am starting to feel overwhelmed or like I bit off more than I could chew.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.daisyjackstudios.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/daisyjackstudios
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/daisyjackstudios
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