Conversations with Sara Cramer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Cramer.

Hi Sara, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began working with square glass beads after graduating from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2010. I quickly fell in love with the process of sewing these beads together, one by one. Over time, I started combining them with wire-wrapped crystals, glass beads, and gemstones to create bold, modern pieces that truly make a statement. One of my proudest moments was showing my signature square glass beaded jewelry collection at KC Fashion Week during the Fall/Winter show in September.

In May 2024, I expanded my business to include permanent jewelry, using high-quality materials like sterling silver and 14k gold-filled chains and charms. It’s been such a joy designing delicate, meaningful pieces for hundreds of clients over the past year. What I love most about permanent jewelry is the shared experience — it’s a beautiful way for friends and family to come together and create lasting memories.

Today, I sell my handmade jewelry at several local shops, including Made in KC Plaza & Lenexa, Local Foundry in Lee’s Summit, Shop Local KC Crown Center & Brookside, and Queen Bee Boutiques in Blue Springs. I have a dedicated booth for permanent jewelry at Queen Bee and host pop-ups at my other retail locations for special events. You can also find me at shows like the Strawberry Swing Craft Fair and Art Garden KC in the River Market on Sundays. I’m especially excited to offer custom laser-engraved jewelry at the Just For Her Event on June 20th & 21st at the Overland Park Convention Center.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Over the past 15 years, selling in stores and at pop-ups, it’s become clear that the jewelry market is incredibly saturated. The competition for sales is tough, but one of the bright spots has been the supportive handmade community — I’ve made some wonderful friends along the way.

In response to the competitive market, I decided to pivot and diversify my offerings. I started introducing other fashion accessories like sunglasses, stadium bags, mugs, tumblers, and jewelry made from materials beyond my signature square glass beads.

I also saw an opportunity and growing demand for permanent jewelry. It was a significant financial investment and took a lot of time and effort to get everything up and running. Now, I’m proud to be celebrating my one-year anniversary by attending the Permanent Jewelry Expo in San Antonio, Texas. I’m excited to expand my skills through industry expert classes and shop for new chains and charms at the vendor market.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m proud that my signature square beaded jewelry collection is completely handmade, designed, and produced by me. It’s important to me to share my story and connect with customers — whether it’s in-store, online, or at events. The process of working with square beads is incredibly therapeutic, and no matter where my business grows, I’ll always continue creating with this material. My customers often tell me they see their jewelry as wearable art, which means so much to me.

Recently, I’ve also become well-known and in high demand for my permanent jewelry. What sets my work apart is the personal, customized experience I offer. I create handmade charms and curate a large, thoughtfully sourced selection of chains. I especially love incorporating gemstone beads, like birthstones, and wire-wrapping them into charms to give my customers a wide variety of meaningful, one-of-a-kind options.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
For me, one of the most important qualities contributing to my success has been the ability to find balance. Running a creative business requires wearing many hats — from spending quiet, focused time in my studio producing handmade jewelry, to handling business administration, marketing, and event planning, to being out in the community, connecting with customers at in-person events and offering permanent jewelry as a service.

Each part of my business feeds a different part of who I am. The studio time allows me to recharge creatively and stay connected to the hands-on process that first drew me to jewelry-making. The administrative and planning side helps me stay organized, set goals, and keep the business moving forward. And the events are where the magic happens — getting to meet customers face-to-face, hear their stories, and be part of meaningful moments through jewelry.

Learning how to balance those three areas has been crucial. It’s not always easy, and I’ve had to be intentional about setting boundaries, managing my time, and staying adaptable. But that balance is what allows me to continue growing while staying true to the heart of my work. It keeps me inspired, grounded, and connected to both my craft and my community — and I believe that’s been key to my success so far.

Pricing:

• Beaded Jewelry $16-125
• Permanent Bracelet $45-75
• Permanent Anklet $55-85
• Permanent Necklace $65-150
• Rings $25-50

Contact Info:

• Website: https://saracramerjewelry.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saracramer
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saramcramer
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ccccramer
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/saracramer