Meet Natalie Saar | Author and artist

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

Hi Natalie, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
I recently heard a quote that three or four generations from now, no one will remember you the way you are today. All that will be left are a handful of stories that have been passed down. “She was nice” or “She was creative.” And that’s if any stories about you make it at all.

Instead of finding that depressing, it inspired me to live more for today. I like making things for people and writing stories that will endure because one day, all that will be left of my legacy is what people choose to pass down from it. All control over our legacies lies in the minds of people who haven’t even been born yet. But with art and writing, there’s a tangible product that can be passed down. And the best part is that even if nothing physical makes it to future generations, I know I brought joy and happiness to people right now. Who doesn’t want a little more joy and happiness in their life?

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is all over the place. I love creating for the sake of it, because as human beings we were meant to create! But what I’m most known for is my embroideries.

I started my business, Embroider Everywhere, because I think having an artistic hobby is super important to our overall mental health and wellbeing so I wanted to show people how cheap and portable this hobby is to start. Lots of artistic styles require pricey materials and can be messy. That’s not the case with embroidery. You can get a hoop, cloth, thread (floss), and a needle for under $5, which is helpful when money is tight, and the news seems to love to tout a recession. I often showcase my pared-down travel kit when I’m on planes, in airports, and even once at MGM’s lazy river in Las Vegas.

To make embroidery even more accessible, I created what is to my knowledge the most robust embroidery sampler for the lowest price on Etsy. It has nearly 50 pages of stitch guides and sample patterns to practice. It’s only $0.99 and I’ll never charge more than that for it because I want to contribute to making this classic artform even more accessible to people. Did it take over 200 hours to make? Yes. And that’s why I’m so proud of it. I really felt like I was giving back by creating it and pricing it the way I did.

I’m still learning lessons, like the frustrating fact that artists and business owners have to be effective social media content creators in addition to making their art, but that is the way it is. It’s better to learn how to make social media work for you than to fight it.

When it comes to my story and what I want people to know most is that no one knows what they’re doing until they do it. And it’s okay to mess up! I did a whole 100 Day Challenge where I created things for 100 days and showed lots of examples of me making mistakes in addition to my successes. Society makes us think we have to be perfect and great all of the time, but the lessons are in the mistakes. You can’t learn and grow if you don’t try! So be gentle and kind to yourself and try something new!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a beach girl so I’d probably recommend spending a lot of time on the Westside. There’s so much to see and do, and so many hikes!

I’ve found that when people visit me, we end up exploring and discovering a ton of things by choosing a hike and structuring our day around it. I find that people are often shocked at how outdoorsy Los Angeles actually is (and how many hills we have!).

Runyon offers a great Hollywood hike with varying levels of difficulty, and then you can get brunch at République. If your guest is looking to spot some celebs, Runyon is great for that, too.

The Culver City Stairs, or Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, has some of the best views in the entire city. You can also see some oil pumpjacks on the backside, which is another feature not many people think of when they picture L.A. but oil drilling — both on and offshore — is very much part of the local economy. Then hop over to Jackson Market for sandwiches at this truly hidden gem.

There’s Los Leones trail in the Pacific Palisades which is close enough to visit the Santa Monica Pier and Venice boardwalk, making a pitstop for dive bar and local icon Chez Jay, of course.

Malibu has no shortage of hikes, and many with water features if you go when it’s just rained. Afterward, go to Duke’s for a killer view. The same is true for Pasadena and it’s surrounding areas, then you can hop over to Old Town Pasadena for some shopping and a bite to eat.

But before leaving L.A., stopping at any Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles is a must!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My friends fuel me by letting me bounce endless ideas off them and giving me critically helpful feedback. I know my endless pursuits can be exhausting at times, but I couldn’t be who I am without their love and support.

Website: https://nataliesaar.com

Instagram: @nataliesaar

Image Credits
These are all mine 🙂