Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Selinger.
Hi Lindsay, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I feel like this sounds cliche but my love of jewelry started when I was a kid. In second grade, I was diagnosed with dyslexia and really struggled with school all the way through college. It was so embarrassing but looking back, I see now that my brain just worked differently. Getting horrible grades doesn’t make anyone feel good but when I would make things, I felt like I had control of something. The best thing that happened to me was wondering into the metals studio when I move to Nacogdochges for college and learned you make a career in metal. I switched my major from Biology to Metalsmithing my first week of college.
And at some point in 3rd grade, my middle sister (who is two years older than me) thought we should sell what I make. So I started making my “jewelry line” out of beads and Shrinky-dink from Michaels Craft store and getting to school 45 minutes early every day to sell my merchandise. I can’t remember how long that lasted. But I do remember when the principal shut down the shop. My display tray was a Lisa Frank trapper keeper with baseball bard plastic sheets holding the jewelry. How classic 80’s is that?!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I can’t imagine any business having a smooth road. For me, I think my biggest struggle was confidence. I never planned on starting my own business. I was happy making other designer’s collections. Fall of 2019 I decided to change things up and I started working for a small store learning old school goldsmithing techniques and repairs. I loved it and loved the challenges it brought. But when lockdown hit I moved my bench to my home. I knew I needed to make improvements to my new setup since I would be doing repairs remotely till things calmed down.
So with nowhere to go and no work, I gutted our garage, installed an AC / heater unit, insulation, painted, etc… I started sharing on my personal Insta page what I had been doing to stay busy. Then at swim practice in Oct 2020, my coach asked if I could make his now wife’s engagement ring. Still in the pool and winded that’s when I decided to do my own thing. And in my mind, I started thinking, “omg. Now what?”
I’ve been in the jewelry industry for 15 years. I felt confident with that knowledge under my belt. But the business end of running things was terrifying. Being so scared to start this and just celebrating one year in business reminds me that I made the right choice on going out on my own.
When I started Sababa Goldsmiths my main goal was my clients to have a good experience and learn more about the jewelry industry so they have confidence in buying more (from me or elsewhere) in the future. Hence the name Sababa which means “chill” or “laid back” in Hebrew. Buying fine jewelry can be stressful and intimidating. I don’t want my clients to feel that way. That’s why I am fully transparent on all my practices and where my materials come from. I do see some designers use terms incorrectly and that can be misleading to your shoppers.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Everything I make is a combo of wax carving or forging. I love the rough texture you get from a hand-carved piece. When you look close, you can see tiny imperfections that bring the piece to life. You know it was made by an individual and not from a production line casting machine. I then have that wax carving cast in gold. I then clean it up and set any stones.
Most of what I do is up-cycle. People will come to me with old jewelry or broken pieces and we create something new.
One other element I am proud of is I do my own stone setting. Stone setting takes years to master and this is why so many designers outsource stones to be set or higher only stone setters in their shop. I still will sit at the bench and practice pave setting (what you see on grills) for hours. During lockdown, I would do this for about 4 – 5 hours every day because I knew things would open up and I couldn’t get rusty on any techniques.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I grew up in the country just outside of Amarillo, Texas. I have so many memories that I would say are my favorite. They all consist of riding bikes, being around horses, and Texas night sky. Your classic ’80s latchkey childhood.
Contact Info:
- Email: sababagoldsmiths@gmail.com
- Website: www.sababagoldsmiths.com
- Instagram: @sababagoldsmiths
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sababagoldsmiths
