We recently had the chance to connect with Taylor Huggins and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Taylor, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
For the last few years I’ve been building a business that allows me the freedom to create on my own schedule and create art that creates joy and happiness. With this business, I am chasing my dreams to travel and see the world, including all of my favorite animals. I have started small and I’m growing at a pace that is sustainable for me. Since making this change – going from a job that drained me to a job that fuels me, I feel happier and like I have a purpose again. Seeing the smiles on the faces that wander to my booth at markets being caused by the art I create makes me realize I am right where I am supposed to be.
I think if I stopped chasing my dreams of traveling and living a life creating joy, I’d lose my love for creating and have to potentially find a job doing what pays the bills instead of what I love. That doesn’t sound like a happy and fulfilling life to me. Art and entrepreneurship give me both purpose and freedom, and I don’t want to imagine a life without that.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Taylor Huggins and I am a graphic designer and I run a small handmade art business called Sage & Oak. I am from Springfield, Ohio and I’ve been here most of my life.
Sage & Oak is a gift shop that focuses on empowerment, encouragement, joy, nature, and all the good stuff in between. I design waterproof stickers and art prints and I make polymer clay earrings, hair clips, magnets, trinket dishes, keychains, etc. Everything in my shop is handmade in small batches in my home with so much love so every gift is unique.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed I had to fit into a very narrow mold of what was considered ‘normal’ or ‘successful.’ I’ve always been artistically driven and I didn’t think I would ever have a job in art because I’ve never been confident enough to show off my art and also I knew how hard it would be to find a job I loved in art. I thought that a job had to be a career that you went to college to learn, or a 9-5 job that you went to every week day.
Now I believe success can look many different ways, including building something of my own that feels authentic and works best for myself and my family. I taught myself the skills I use in my business and I make on my own schedule. I might not be rich or make a lot of money, but I would still consider myself successful to still be here making earrings after so many years.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self… well, I don’t know if I could just say one kind thing.
I would tell her to not be afraid of the future and what people think about her. I would tell her to be brave and start pursuing the things she wants no matter how hard she has to work to get there. I would tell her to embrace herself just as she is and to never let that child-like wonder go away because it’s the most “you” you’ll ever feel. I would tell her to try, no matter how scary things are because life is so much better when you push past your comfort zone. I would tell her it’s never too late to start and to keep pushing through even when everything is so tough and uncertain. I would tell her that no matter how rough the seas get, there is always smooth sailing on the other side. I would remind her that the world is a better place with her in it.
There’s so much I would tell my younger self, but to sum it up: be brave and never give up.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One lie this industry tells is that you have to constantly overwork to prove you belong. I used to think success meant hustling non-stop, but I’ve learned that sustainability and balance matter more. When you slow down enough to create intentionally, the work is more fulfilling—and people feel that energy in your art. The truth is, burnout doesn’t make you a better artist or business owner—it takes away from your creativity. I’ve found that honoring my own pace actually leads to better connections and better work.
Another lie is that art is not real work, but just a hobby. In reality, creating art is a lot of work in itself, and small handmade businesses are legitimate businesses that take strategy, time, and hard work to grow.
We are so used to factory-made products all looking exactly the same that we expect handmade art to look just as good. Another lie – everything has to be perfect before you share it. In reality, people connect more with authenticity than perfection. I love when people point out how flaws show they’re human-made because it’s true.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
For me, I know when I’m out of my depth when I start feeling sensory and mental overload, like my brain is processing and juggling so much information at once that my body just slowly starts to shut down. I can hear what’s going on around me, but I don’t feel like I really process it. I have to rest or my body will force it.
If I don’t listen to my body and try to press on, I end up burning out for days at a time. I can’t work or do much of anything. Ideally, laying in bed and not worrying about work for an extended period of time is what I would enjoy. When I do listen and step back before I get to the point of burnout, I am way more productive even after taking time to rest. Creating art from a place of exhaustion and burn out doesn’t serve me or my small business so I am getting better at listening to when I need a break.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thesageandoak.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/thesageandoak
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/thesageandoak
- Other: Faire (Wholesale): https://thesageandoak.faire.com
