By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, July 30, 2009
Sarah Jorgenson has been creative all her life. As a student, she designed graphs for sports statistics. When decoupage was popular, she enjoyed that. She remembers doing chalk talks.
The 1956 graduate of Decatur High School decided several years ago to use those creative juices to start a business, Etc. by Sarah. She designs and creates custom jewelry.
The designs come naturally for her and she said they are guided by a higher power.
"I ask the Holy Spirt to give me creative ideas. I never make two alike," she said.
She designs necklaces, earrings and bracelets in what she calls "chunky" jewelry. She is drawn to larger stones because that's what she likes to wear.
"I find that what I like is what everybody else likes," she said. "I am very fashion conscious. Nothing puts you together like accessories."
She keeps up with fashion trends and colors and creates jewelry to go along with those trends. She checks catalogues and magazines for trends but the ideas just seem to flow once she starts the design process.
She is very particular about the beads she uses. They must be perfect to make it into one of her creations.
For many years, she sold her jewelry at Mada's in Bridgeport. Owner Mary Helen Findley often called on her to design accessories to complement particular outfits for individual customers.
"Mary Helen knew her customers," Jorgenson said.
Today, her jewelry is available at Fleur de Lis on the square in Decatur. It will also be available at The Gift Shop in Prada Shops in Decatur during the Christmas shopping season.
Jorgenson is proud of the fact that television personality Gloria Campos owns one of her necklaces and that Debra Ferguson of Channel 5 owns several.
She also has jewelry in the Funky Monkey in Keller and at Ooh-La-La in Grapevine.
The designer keeps her creations affordable, especially in these tough economic times.
In addition to creating custom pieces, she also repairs costume jewelry.
"I don't work with metal but I can re-string costume jewelry, re-do a necklace, change out earrings...and I charge very little for it," she said.
Because clip earrings are hard to find, she is often asked to re-fit pierced earrings into clips.
Etc. by Sarah is located in a small building at 300 W. Walnut in Decatur, next to Lori Reeves' law office. Jorgenson can be reached at (940) 577-1084.
