Hello there! I’m Sara, the heart and hands behind Sage & Sonder Studio, nestled in the serene landscape of Steep Falls, Maine.

My world has always been colored by art. Growing up surrounded by painters, sculptors, and fiber enthusiasts—including my father, the locally beloved "Perry the Painter"—I instinctively gravitated toward the magic of creation. He taught me to appreciate the small wonders, like sharing his excitement in explaining the Fibonacci sequence on the pinecones I collected. His intense curiosity meant we were often late to events because he had to pull over to watch a sunset or examine something interesting in more detail. But more importantly, he instilled the grit and patience required to see a creative vision to completion—from painstakingly recalibrating a design when something went wrong to the pure joy of the final brushstroke that brought it to life.

I first caught the "clay bug" in high school, but it took me almost a decade to return to pottery. That return was passionately championed by my father, and we spent countless hours on the phone together across 3,000 miles, designing a makeshift mini-pottery wheel and discussing the minutiae of what I was learning in my introductory ceramics class. A year later, I abruptly lost him. Pottery became a technical distraction that kept my mind and hands busy, while also fulfilling a deep need to feel connected to him. Upon moving back to Maine, I found the old pottery wheel and kiln he had stored for me for almost a decade. Collecting these pieces of his enduring love and certainty that I would love pottery has helped fill the hole that grief left. His basement is now my studio.

The name Sage & Sonder Studio reflects the energy and intention behind my work. Sage is a nod to the ritual of smudging he practiced in his studio, bringing with it a moment of reflection and creative rejuvenation. Sonder is the realization that every person and, I believe, every handmade item, holds a rich and complex story. As someone passionate about the meaning of handmade in a rapidly digital age, I believe our items should carry their own history and meaning.

I focus on creating functional ceramics because I hope that as you use them, you'll form a unique, lasting relationship with each one. Every piece is crafted by hand, infused with intention and care. The organic speckles, slight color shifts, and subtle changes in form are not flaws; they are the fingerprints of a slow, intentional process that makes your piece truly one-of-a-kind. It arrives with its own history, ready to become a part of your daily routine.

Beyond the wheel, my creative curiosity leads me down paths like weaving and felting, which organically inspired my DIY Craft Kits. Like my ceramics, each kit is meticulously hand-designed and thoughtfully assembled—an invitation to slow down, explore your own innate creativity, and experience the pure, grounding satisfaction of creating something beautiful.

Thank you for stepping into the world of Sage & Sonder Studio and for embracing handmade art. I hope my creations serve as gentle reminders to pause, savor each moment, and find that special spark of sonder woven into the fabric of your everyday life.