Cuyahoga Falls Artist Founded Dogwood Design

“When I was little, I was always making jewelry,” said Sara Candle, owner of Dogwood Design, an online jewelry business. She began around six or seven years old with large plastic beads, and then moved to seed beads.

At 12, Candle took a glass bead making class. Sixteen years was the minimum age requirement, so Candle’s mother signed a permission form and sat with her daughter during the session.

“My parents have always been really supportive,” Sara Candle said.

The Cuyahoga Falls resident started Dogwood Design in 2008 when diagnosed with chicken pox for the second time in her life, a rare occurrence. 

“I was home by myself from work for three days straight because you can’t go out in public,” Candle said. She listed a stockpile of jewelry on Etsy, and it sold.

Candle’s jewelry also sells at , owned by graduate Lauren Ward.

Dogwood Design was one of the arts and crafts booths featured at the 9th annual at this past June. Candle also takes custom jewelry orders.

Candle named her business after her great-grandparents. “They were always big into dogwoods, and they would give them out on Earth Day, so it was kind of like falling back to my roots,” Candle said.

Candle’s talents do not end with making jewelry. She works full time as a graphic artist at Kiwi Promotional Apparel and Printing Company. She’s a part time freelancer for Jo-Ann Fabrics in Hudson, crafting for ads and how-to sheets, along with writing the curriculum for craft classes. She’s also a freelance photographer, and enjoys painting in her spare time.

“I’ve always been into art,” Candle said. “I dabble in stuff. You can carry a lot of art from field to field. A technique I learn in pottery might give me an idea for painting.”