Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Sakai-Hart.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Sakai Harts & Crafts is a fairly new adventure for me! I have always been into crafting but had always viewed crafting as merely a hobby. I am actually a biology teacher by trade! I studied marine biology at UC Santa Barbara where I found a passion and love of teaching. I have taught all age ranges in a variety of settings, both in the classroom and in outdoor education. My favorite teaching position was as a marine science instructor on Catalina Island where I spent every day in the ocean snorkeling with students.
While I was student teaching for my graduate program at Loyola Marymount University, I felt I needed something to help me de-stress and take some time for myself each week. My partner, Andrew, encouraged me to take up pottery. (I must have been talking about taking a class for a while!) I took a few classes and was hooked. Pottery soon became a hobby I could not get enough of. Upon graduating from LMU, in May 2019, I had difficulty finding science teaching positions. I also found that I was becoming increasingly stressed out about the idea of working full-time in the classroom and was not excited about the job search. That was a huge red flag for me. As an educator, I feel it is incredibly important to show up with enthusiasm and passion each day. Students feed off that energy and I felt that I was not in a place to give 100% to my students. As the start of the 2019 school year crept alarmingly close, I was offered a teaching position at a pottery studio. I took this as a sign and decided to try my hand at pursuing art. It has been one of the best decisions that I have made. I love that I am able to teach kids while sharing something I feel truly passionate about.
Being in a creative field helped me get back in touch with my own creativity. With encouragement and support from my family and friends, I officially set up Sakai Harts & Crafts in December 2019 to sell my ceramics and paper goods!
Has it been a smooth road?
There have definitely been obstacles along the way. One of the biggest hurdles has been me! It took me a while to realize I needed to overcome my own preconceived notions of what an artist is. I have always been creative and crafty but did not self-identify as an artist as I mostly saw art and crafting as a hobby growing up. I did not take art seriously or allow myself to view it as something I could do as a profession. Up until this past year, I felt like I wasn’t truly an artist, which is ridiculous because being an artist can look and feel different depending on the individual! It wasn’t until I started to build Sakai Harts & Crafts that I realized that there is not a specific mold I needed to fit into to be considered an artist. I have at times felt like an imposter and occasionally still battle those feelings since I am human after all, but I have gained a lot of confidence in myself this year. I feel proud to call myself an artist.
The pandemic also threw a wrench in my plans, like so many individuals. I had been planning on buying an existing pottery studio business, so Sakai Harts & Crafts had started as a side project. Most of my time and effort was going into obtaining the studio and I had not spent too much of my energy on my website. When the pandemic first hit, I knew I had to figure out how to better market my website and shop, especially being newly unemployed. With the help of my mom, Julie, I decided to start sewing face masks as an additional product to add to my website. Since April, we have seen over 500 face masks and donated over 200 to The Venice Family Clinic, The People Concern, and to various friends and family! This has not been easy, as I do not particularly love sewing. The silver lining has been that it pushed me to think out of the box and has definitely helped me to improve my sewing abilities! I no longer get super sweaty and nervous working the sewing machine so that’s a plus! Working on this project with my mom has also been special for the two of us.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Sakai Harts & Crafts – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Sakai Harts & Crafts is truly a passion project for me. What I offer in my shop reflects what I love to make. I feel it is important for me to try out new products and ideas but ultimately, I have to enjoy the process. I never want to feel that I am forcing myself to make something for the sake of making it. I also want my art to be functional. This is why my online shop offers bright handcrafted goods for everyday use. Whether it is providing a journal to start a new self-care routine or a beautiful piece of pottery to gift to a friend, my hope is that the joy I had while creating each piece of art always shines through.
I currently offer reusable cotton face masks for kids and adults, ceramics, and paper goods, such as cards and journals. I also take on custom work. Right now, I am excited because I am finally back to pottery (yay!) and in the process of making custom ceramic pieces again. I have a potter’s wheel set up in our small garden at our apartment. I’ve enjoyed throwing outside and enjoying the sunshine while I am creating new pieces. I think I am best known for making colorful, bright, and bold pieces, especially when it comes to pottery. I get a lot of inspiration for my artwork from the ocean and definitely gravitate towards blues. My style is definitely playful and not too serious. One of my favorite things to paint on my pottery is the “fruit friends” I created. They’re little fruits with quirky faces. The original is based on a stuffed watermelon I have named Pod!
I am most proud of the fact that I took a leap of faith and believed in myself to start this business. I don’t come from a family of business owners, so everything that I have created I have learned on my own. Everything from building a website to figuring out how to ship my products has been an experiment. It can be daunting knowing I have so much to learn, but it also makes the process challenging and fun. When I get overwhelmed, which definitely happens, I try to remember that I chose this path and enjoy being in a creative career. If I lose sight of what I feel is important, I always try to circle back to what I find most fulfilling about making art, giving back to others. This is why I asked my mom to help me sew face masks to donate in addition to offering them in my shop. It is also why I started my Art for a Cause campaign where I have created artwork that specifically helps raise funds for local and national organizations, such as Black Girls Surf and The Human Rights Campaign. Giving back is an integral part of my business and it is important to me that I share and give back to my community when I can. It keeps me motivated to create and share my passion.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love that I am able to live close to the beach even though I am living in such a large city. We’re lucky to live in a place that offers such a wide variety of experiences. There’s almost always a sporting event, concert, art show, or food festival to check out. I’ve lived here for almost five years now and feel like I’ve barely made a dent in exploring LA!
I would have to say I am just now finally feeling more at home in LA. I still don’t love how busy it is all the time. Moving to LA straight from Catalina Island was a bit of a culture shock. I was used to a sleepy slow-paced island and was thrown directly into the fast lane. People often be in a rush, which can make the city feel quite lonely. Despite how many people are here, it can be so tough to meet new people! It was initially difficult to feel I was part of the community but was lucky that I already had some good friends living in LA when I moved here.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sakaihart.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sakaihartsandcrafts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sakaihartsandcrafts
Image Credit:
Andy Putnam
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