Meet Sara Zagar | Metalsmith

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sara Zagar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sara, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
What makes me happiest in my jewelry work is seeing the finished pieces I’ve created from raw materials. Sometimes I choose a stone with a design in mind; other times, I create as I go. Regardless, seeing the final piece with the stone set is always the best feeling.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I hope the craftsmanship in my work sets me apart. While it’s easy to grab a piece of fast fashion jewelry at a store, it means so much when someone chooses to invest in something handmade. I want every piece from Woodleaf Studios to last a lifetime—and hopefully be passed down to the next generation.

One thing I love about the metalsmithing community is how supportive it is. When you run into a challenge, chances are another maker has faced something similar and is willing to share advice. This community has shown me that there’s room for everyone—and always something new to learn.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As a Charlotte local, I’ve grown pretty set in my favorite spots around town. My weekly musts include: a Higher Ground at Birdsong Brewing, a walk through the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, a burger and tots from Ace No. 3, and a concert at the Visulite. If my bestie is still hanging in there, we’ll catch River Jam and some people watching at the U.S. National Whitewater Center.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents, Mark and Linda, definitely deserve a shoutout—I wouldn’t be who I am today or on this creative path without their constant encouragement. I want to thank my mom for sharing her love of jewelry and stones, and my dad for inspiring my curiosity about a little building we often passed by.

That building always caught my eye. With its colorful mural, goats roaming the yard, and an unmistakable artsy vibe, it stood out. After graduating from Appalachian State with a BFA and returning home to figure out what was next, my dad suggested I look into metalsmithing classes in the Charlotte area.

And guess what popped up? That little building turned out to be Art in the Dairy, a shared studio and workshop space housed in a former dairy processing facility. It’s where I met my mentor, Dan Haga. Thanks to Dan, I was able to take classes, deepen my skills, and slowly build up tools for my own home studio.

Website: https://woodleafstudios.square.site/s/shop

Instagram: @woodleafstudios

Image Credits
Photos are by Alex Myers (3), Sara Zagar (3), and Liza Fortenberry (1)