Let's Meet Sadie Arnold

Friends this month I’m excited to introduce the wonderful creative Sadie Arnold to you all. Sadie is a designer specializing in scarves, jewelry and key-chains. I own several pieces Sadie has handmade and I have my heart bracelet on as I type this!

Hi Sadie well my dear you’re finally here… welcome to the Chalet! Hi Meryl thank you for this sweet opportunity. I'm so grateful and excited to chat with you!

Please tell us a bit about yourself. Hi I’m Sadie Arnold I’ve been married for 20 years and I have two teen boys who happen to be (ballaholics) ha! and two rescue pups. I was born and raised through my early adolescents on the Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific North West and currently live in a suburb of Seattle. We spend a ton of time on baseball fields and basketball courts. Logging so many hours cheering all the live long days. I wouldn’t have it any other way! I love being a Mom, raising boys is crazy fun!

I see your family love of baseball can be found in some of your designs! Yes, I Iet myself be inspired by life! I’m very inspired by Nature, landscapes, the legacy for my kids.

So tell us about your youth. I’m the oldest of 3, my younger brother and I are exactly 10 years apart. I grew up in a very small town, Sequim, WA. My maternal grandparents owned and operated a 40 acre working dairy farm. Jakeaway Farm is still very much a part of our family. The original farmhouse, built in 1969 is a cozy slice of reprieve for our families, while operating as an AirBnB as well. Cattle still graze on the land and are raised for beef.

My mother has often said “I came out of the womb talking” - the other constant in my life is creating.

I was always crafting and creating from a very young age. I would create items tailored to my style. Anything from crafty home projects to clothing and accessories. A visionary need/want for myself or something I saw that I felt I could create for less and give my style a flare.

My earliest sewing memory was around 7 years old. I sewed a ‘dress’ for my 5 year old sister. My mom ‘may’ have fudged my age when registering me for local sewing classes when I was rather young.

Creating has always been my lane, I was the girl that much preferred to stay in at recess to color, create, etc. My affinity for Rainbow Brite was beyond as a child.

“Seattle Girl | Momma | Advocate”

— Sadie describing herself.

I love hearing about spaces inhabited by creatives in their childhoods. Well my bedroom had THE most magical rainbow wallpaper. I acquired quite the unicorn collection for several years, earning me 1st place at the Clallam County fair at 10 years old. Nevermind, I was likely the ONLY unicorn collection that year. ;)

What did you study in school? I was all over the map. Fashion design, interior design, architecture and business. I always dreamed of attending FIDM, but that was never in the cards for me.

While still in college I was asked to help launch a tech startup in Seattle. Although hesitant at first I’m forever thankful I said yes to a highly successful company. Shortly after my time there, I joined another incredibly successful tech startup working remotely with two toddlers at home. After 6 years there, I was so grateful to be home full time caring for my two boys. I’m beyond thankful to care for my family, while creating with my small business. It still blows me away that I am able to create items with my two hands that people love to wear. Wild! I’m so grateful!

Tell us how Sosadie Designs started. I’ve always loved to create. It is a meaningful and needed outlet for me. Many may recall the Martha Stewart crafting days in the early 2000’s. Friends would often reference my creativity as “So Martha” and then it became that’s “So Sadie” thus sosadie designs was born. I regret not taking the opportunity to capitalize on the punny name ‘sewsadie designs’ though. How did I miss that!? Ha!

Like I said I was always sewing items for myself and I created an infinity leather enclosure scarf with the intent to create a chic scarf that didn’t require me to tuck it back into my coat or re-tie the knot when sledding with my kids or out and about. I wanted function and style and I loved the idea of using leather remnants, that would otherwise go to waste as the enclosure.

You could say my business was really self-evolving - it initially built from me creating items I really wanted to wear and accessories I felt represented me. Then my family and friends started asking if I would create scarves for them because they really loved them. I was of course happy to do so, I love creating and gifting unique items. I love using sustainable items and repurposing.

Next came jewelry. I still had plenty of leather remnants leftover from the scarf enclosures and this was around the time I noticed HGTV and Interior Designer Joanna Gaines wearing leather earrings. I really loved the look and lightweight earrings are my jam. So it felt like a natural fit to create these pieces; first earrings and then it evolved into bracelets. Theses pieces feel both unique and organic which is definitely my style.

At first I was solely creating these pieces for personal use and gifts, along the way a dear friend wore one of my scarves into the salon she frequented. The salon owner loved the scarf and reached out to me asking if she could carry some of my creations in her salon. So in 2017 my business launched and my website was born.

Selling at the Bothell Main St. Outdoor market

This image is from an outdoor market I participated in a few years ago. I have been really lucky to live in a area that supports artisans.

How has Social Media assisted you with your business? Social Media has played a huge role, especially early on for small businesses. It may be an ever evolving race to keep up with their algorithms. Yet, it is still essentially a free marketing platform depending on how you choose to use it. I certainly don’t think my business would have grown as quickly as it has without social media.

What are your plans for the rest of 2023 for Sosadie Designs? I’m always seeking and building relationships with small boutiques. A dream would be to have my wares carried in small shops across the US.

I’m forever challenging myself to be ‘seen’ more on social media. I want to be relational driven with those I interact with on the platforms and not only driven my a business model.

Creating and gifting one of a kind handmade items gives me exceptional joy!

Sadie I own pieces you’ve created and I know the dedication you put into your work. The pieces are lovingly well-crafted. I especially love your support of others and I can’t close out this chat without mentioning that each month you give back through charitable giving. Thanks Meryl yes, it’s so important to me to give back. I am lucky I’m able to live the life I am as a woman, mother, creative and business owner. The Equal Justice Initiative is one charity that is really important to me and I’m grateful I can lend support.

Thanks so very much for taking the time to visit the Chalet Sadie!

Friends you can find Sadie on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and her Website.

Til next time be well!