Meet Saury Armenta | Designer & Maker

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

Hi Saury, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
– “You’ll never feel 100% ready. Do it anyway.”

When I came across this quote, it truly spoke to me. It’s simple but I love how straightforward it is.

Given my introvert personality, this quote has often been that little push I needed to take a leap forward into the unknown; a world that can be intimidating at first but beautiful and thrilling once you step inside with boldness and faith.

These words have encouraged me to take risks and step outside my comfort zone and chase after things I’d held back from attempting due to past fears or insecurities.

I can now proudly say that my brand: Everglow is a living example of that step of faith I took even when I felt nowhere near ready to start something fully on my own.

I have this quote displayed on my phone as a daily reminder, for whenever I feel held back by fear and insecurities, I have this daily dose of encouragement to keep going with my journey, no matter what obstacles I may face daily.

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.
My name is Saury, owner and maker at Everglow. I was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, and have been living in LA for the past 7 years. I’m an Early Childhood teacher by trade, currently in hiatus by choice since the end of 2019. On the side, I also freelance in film and commercial production.

I officially launched my creative project Everglow by the end of 2020 after many months of lockdowns and quarantines. Having had to slow down and becoming more present at home, I began to notice the simple, little things around me; like the sudden rainbow reflections bouncing from a crystal flower that sits by our living room window. Every sunny LA afternoon, these little specks of light would scatter and glimmer across the room, bringing a smile during those uncertain times.

I felt inspired to create handmade light catchers with high quality polymer clay that would bring joyful light refractions every time the sun bounced through the window, while at the same time creating a minimalist and aesthetically pleasing hanging accent.

I’ve never done something like this before, to venture out on my own and try something new, but I decided to give it a shot.

My “Everglows” are part of a one-of-a-kind, small batch and slow made collection. Every piece is individually designed, sculpted, and detailed by hand.

I find deep appreciation in minimalism and the organic and imperfect shapes that surround us, which are reflected in my designs and my evolving journey as a maker. I also find inspiration in nature’s hues and textures as well as places that dwell in my heart, like in my recent “Cobblestone” collection, which was inspired by the streets of Barichara, a beautiful colonial town in Colombia.

I love incorporating elements of my upbringing into my art and a primary mission is to use my brand as a platform to collaborate and celebrate inspiring independent Colombian artists as we move into the future. This is something I am most excited about.

Everglow is the awakening of my childhood passion: creating with my hands. I remember when I was in middle and high school, I used to make and sell fun handmade necklaces and bracelets to my friends. I felt so much joy creating and I never imagined that my adult self would end up having a business with my own creations!

I never thought of myself as a creative, although my family and friends around me would say so – I never truly believed it. Growing up, my older siblings were very creative musicians (and still are!) and I always admired them. I never had that type of creative confidence back then. I’m proud of how I was able to overcome by giving myself the time to just play with my art and have fun with it, letting go of all expectations and through it find my own way of self-expression. Everglow has been both an answered prayer and a creative outlet that has given me the confidence to believe in my own vision more than ever.

I am grateful for the opportunity I now have to share my work with the world, but above all, I hope my products are able to bring joy and a smile to everyone who sees them, while reminding them to let the light in and let hope and joy fill their rooms, even amid uncertainty.

I still have a long way to go in my creative journey, but what I have built today is the fruit of lots of dedication, persistence, and countless of long hours of hard work.

The journey hasn’t been easy, and I’ve made tons of mistakes and mishaps along the way. Sometimes frustration sets in, but I’ve learned to stay humble through the process and now understand that every failure is a lesson to grow and stretch myself to keep improving.

Every day comes with new challenges; from learning about and testing new materials to facing technical issues with equipment that delayed entire product launches, to feeling physically drained from all the sanding done by hand (phew!). Then having to keep up with social media marketing, to not finding motivation when needed. But hey! what’s a creation process without obstacles?

They have taught me to problem solve, to pause and to breath, to trust the process and to always move forward despite any insecurities or self-doubt. I’ve also learned the value of surrounding myself with people who truly believe in my art and vision and inspire and encourage me daily along the way.

Lessons you’ve learned along the way:

– TRYING is always worth a shot, even when you don’t feel ready.
– The creative journey of building a brand from scratch is a slow process.
– You will not always feel motivated and that’s totally OK. Give yourself time and grace and you’ll get back to it.
– Always aim to pave your own path, never imitate, or go after what is expected or “trendy”
– Make your own rules and follow your instincts.
– Support other business owners and share experiences. Community building is key. This path can be a lonely one, but it doesn’t have to be.
– Always be willing to ask for help when needed, knock on doors, and reach out.
– Invest in self-care – recharging physically, mentally, and spiritually are key for a balanced life.
– Take time off from your business whenever possible. It will bring renewed inspiration and ideas.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Arts District is perfect for a Saturday hang. I’d take them out for some sushi at KOMBU, or tacos at the Traction Ave taco truck. Followed by a chill walk down the stores on 3rd Street and a stop for ice cream at Salt and Straw (my favorite!). Or maybe some Mexican Chocolate Pie at Piehole just down the street!

For a stunning sunset we’d walk up to the 4th Street Bridge overlooking DTLA.

For Sunday we would stop by the Museums in DTLA. I love the Mirrored Room by Yayoi Kusama at The Broad. Then stop by The Grand Central Market for lunch.

Followed by a chill bike ride down the Culver City Ballona Creek all the way west past Marina del Rey to catch a hazy sunset down by Dockweiler Beach.

On the way back we’d stop by Abbot Kinney for dinner at Erewhon Market and hopefully sneak in a chocolate buttermilk donut from Blue Star Donuts for dessert.

We’d take the rest of the week to make a sunset drive down the PCH, spend an afternoon taking archery lessons at the Palos Verdes Terranea Resort, and take a short trip to the mysterious and magical Joshua Tree to fully disconnect and recharge.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my husband Diego! He is a film director with unmeasurable creativity and a big & wonderful heart. He’s been my cheerleader since day one. He’s been a true inspiration and motivation to pursue my creative path. From day one he’s encouraged me to share my art with the world and believed in my potential to start and develop a small business.

He continually inspires me to dream, to try out new things, and to believe that anything is possible if I pour my whole heart and love into it and truly believe in my own vision.

Website: www.everglowla.com

Instagram: @everglowla