Today we’d like to introduce you to Becky Sagen
Hi Becky, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I, quite frankly, was a complete dreamer as a kid. Creating worlds in my head eventually morphed into creating worlds on paper and then dabbling in sculpture. I loved the practical application of building things, absolutely soaked up any and all carpentry knowledge and ended up volunteering to build and stage manage our high school theater productions. This lead me into the arts world and now I have a degree in technical theater with over 20 years in and out of that industry. I started as a Technical Director- that’s the person responsible for the engineering of the set as well as the construction, but along the line gravitated towards props. Personally, I’d say that’s the fun stuff but there’s plenty of fun in scenery as well. Working in props I was able to indulge my artistic side more- sculpting, painting, making furniture, building trees, puppets, giant nests of eggs that a dancer pops out of… whatever!
Along the way I spent quite a lot of time building custom furniture, working as a faux painter, renovating kitchens and bathrooms, etc. During this time I not only gained a very large skill set, but I also figured out where my true passion lies. Predictably, it’s with the fun stuff!
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?
Has it been a smooth road? Oh absolutely not. Life is full of learning curves and I’ve certainly been hit with many of them!. A lot of my work struggles, in retrospect, all stemmed from a problem of incorrect timing. You can have the best idea, a ton of talent and experience, but it also needs to be the right place, right time, and quite frankly there’s a decent amount of luck involved. I couldn’t run the business I wanted when I lived in NYC, I couldn’t afford the overhead of a big enough shop space. I couldn’t run the business I wanted to in my 20’s, I wasn’t in a position to commit to it and I didn’t have the network I needed. I still struggle with finding the right people to work with me and figuring out that elusive life balance of an entrepreneur, but I’ve really lucked out with connections I’ve made and the fact that I’m in a place to be able to commit enough time and resources to build this dream job for myself.
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?
I specialize in creating fantasy pieces that are also practical (a sculpture that is also a liquor cabinet, for example) or things that have a bit of magic to them. Hidden doors, climbable indoor trees, etc. I’m known for that and faux finishes, which frequently go hand in hand with the projects I do.
It would be hard to tell you what I’m most proud of. I’m very proud of any project where I’ve taken a client’s idea and brought it to life successfully. I have perhaps a little more pride in projects that I’ve designed and pitched from scratch… and there’s such a special place in my heart for projects involving kids. Watching their worlds light up when they discover a custom playroom or pirate ship bunk bed is so much fun. Right now I’m designing a reading nook that is a space rocket, and I’m pretty excited about that one.
I think what sets me apart from others is that I’m a one stop shop. I create the design, design the structure, do the fabrication, the finish work, the install…. literally every step start to finish is one shop with the same vision and understanding. As a bonus it makes communication very smooth.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Personally, I define success by being in a position to really specialize. In the beginning I had to take a lot of jobs that didn’t necessarily excite me… cabinetry work, built ins, etc. Building my business and reputation to the point where I can get and take fun projects that have a slightly theatrical flare to them feels 100% like success to me. I feel incredibly lucky to make a living cutting out dinosaurs, sculpting tree-bunk beds, or creating hidden rooms. It really is like playing most of the time! I’m excited to go to work and constantly inspired by my clients, it’s just so fun. .
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sagenworks.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sagenworks
Image Credits
First photo (me with table)- Abigail Thomsen