Figuring out what you want to do with your life isn’t always the easiest decision. Some lucky people know right away, others take some time to figure it out, and others, like 31 year old Sarah Karst, find it right in front of their face when they least expect it. Creator of the one-of-a-kind jewelry line Sweet Harriet, Karst has always had a fascination with jewelry, it wasn’t till she made a life altering decision to leave school that she realized her dream and went after it.

1. What inspired you to get into jewelry design?

I have always been in love with jewelry. I’ve been making jewelry since I was a kid. A lot of my childhood memories are connected with jewelry. I can’t remember many of my Mom’s outfits growing up but I remember a lot of her jewelry. I used to obsess over my older cousins jewelry and draw conclusions from it like: when you are 16 you get to wear silver rings and when you are 18 you should wear a lot of amber and you definitely need a thumb ring.

2. When did you decide to take your love of jewelry design to the next level start Sweet Harriet?

I had dropped out of University for the second time because I felt certain that it was not the path for me and during one of the discussions with my Mom about which direction to take my life I found myself trying to convince her that you didn’t need a degree to have a jewelry business and I was getting all heated and worked up about it that I realized it was an obvious answer to my big career question. And Sweet Harriet was born that night!

3. Did you always know that this is what you wanted to do with your life? If not, what inspired you?

No, I did not always know, but looking back it seems quite obvious now. Oh hindsight! Growing up I thought I would be an optometrist, ha!

4. What challenges, if any, did you face while starting Sweet Harriet?

I worked as a waitress part time for the first two years, to keep the financial pressure off myself as I learned the ins and outs of having my own business. Time management was and still is a challenge. I had no social life when I was working nights and selling at markets on weekends. The whole work/life balance thing is tricky one!

5. Did you take any kind of schooling/internships in order to help you start up Sweet Harriet?

I had studied silversmithing through night classes just for the fun of it, a couple of years prior to realizing I could make it my full time career. I was constantly collecting info on other gals in Vancouver that were making a living off their jewelry, mostly out of envy as well as for proof that it was possible! My obsession worked out to my advantage as I’d followed their businesses progress for a few years before I started mine so I had an idea of where to start my business and how to grow it.

6. Where can we buy your jewelry?

Online I have an Etsy shop & a Big Cartel shop and in sweet boutiques across Western Canada… go to www.sweetharriet.ca for more info or follow me on fb or twitter to see any markets I’ll be selling at.

7. What advice do you have for any aspiring entrepreneurs?

Only do it if you LOVE it and are willing to let it go & grow beyond just you and your talents. Do not start your own business because you think you’ll get rich quicker than working for someone else; if that is your motive you will burn yourself out and/or drive yourself crazy. Read The E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber!

By: Layan Barakat, Toronto

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