Jewelry Designer Sara Oehler's 20 Year Anniversary With Soft Flex Company

Happy Wednesday! It is a week of celebration around here. We are glad you have joined our jubilee. Sunday was a great day of reflecting and cherishing our mothers (and spoiling ourselves). Yesterday,  Nealay joined us for a  live video to make jewelry and have a design party with Sara. Today, we are honoring Sara for her twenty year anniversary with  Soft Flex Company. And Friday is Sara's 40 th birthday! 

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Today we are going to look at Sara’s accomplishments and some of her wonderful designs.

Sara Oehler

Sara was hired by  Soft Flex Company founders Mike Sherman and Scott Clark twenty years ago. She was an avid beader and working part time at a bead store in Phoenix, Arizona. A friend had suggested that she apply with Soft Flex. Sara was interviewed at an  ISGB show in Scottsdale. Scott and Mike decided she would be a great asset and she joined the company.

Sara Oehler Necklace Design on the Cover of BeadStyle September 2011
Sara Oehler Necklace Design on the Cover of BeadStyle September 2011

Sara had no idea what she was in for.  Soft Flex Company was touring the United States when she was hired. A couple of trade shows a year avalanched into thirty plus shows a year. Sara became the face of the company. She was active in teaching the public how to use our  beading wire and how to string and finish  jewelry designs. Soft Flex Company became focused on education as well as selling top of the line beading wire.

Sara Oehler Necklace Design in BeadStyle July 2012
Sara Oehler Necklace Design in BeadStyle July 2012

‘Ask Sara’ was one of Sara’s first responsibilities. Sara answered questions about jewelry and jewelry design through email. She wrote articles on the website. Sara wanted everybody to learn how to maximize their potential when creating  jewelry

Sara Oehler Bracelet Design in BeadStyle July 2012
Sara Oehler Bracelet Design in BeadStyle July 2012

As “Ask Sara” of Soft Flex Company, she has had her work featured in advertisements, signs, fliers, postcards, and more. She loves to share her passion for beading through teaching others how to create their own wearable art with quality materials!

Sara Oehler Necklace Design in Bead Trends April 2013
Sara Oehler Necklace Design in Bead Trends April 2013

Sara became our Sales and Marketing Manager. This enabled her to focus her attention to the task of getting our name out in the world. She networked at trade shows. She has been interviewed on radio and television. She has had a hand in every advertisement you have seen from  Soft Flex Company for the last two decades.

Sara Oehler Bracelet Design in BeadStyle July 2012
Sara Oehler Bracelet Design in BeadStyle July 2012

Sara Oehler Earrings Design in BeadStyle September 2014
Sara Oehler Earrings Design in BeadStyle September 2014

Sara is an Arizona State University Sun Devil with a Bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership.

Sara is a business woman. But her passion has always been creating lovely jewelry. She became an author when she co-authored the book  Show Your Colors, published by Kalmbach in January 2012 and Seed Bead Revolution, published August 2017. 

Sara Oehler Necklace Design in Beadwork December 2017 January 2018
Sara Oehler Necklace Design in Beadwork December 2017 January 2018

She has designed and written for numerous American publications including:  BeadStyleBead&Button, Bead Trends, StringingBeadwork and Step-by-Step Wire Jewelry as well as international beading publications in the United Kingdom and Australia. Her designs have been featured on the cover of two magazines: 2011 September issue of BeadStyle and 2012 June issue of Bead&Button.

Sara Oehler Bracelet Design in BeadStyle November 2015
Sara Oehler Bracelet Design in BeadStyle November 2015

Sara Oehler Bracelet Design in Bead Trends May 2012
Sara Oehler Bracelet Design in Bead Trends May 2012

Sara also loves to connect through  video. She has been a guest on Jewel School on  JTV numerous times and most recently taped segments for  Beads Baubles and Jewels airing on the Public Broadcasting Station in the spring of 2019. Sara films videos for  Soft Flex Company regularly. Her live videos can be found on our  Facebook page. Most other jewelry-making videos can be found on our  YouTube page. 

Sara Oehler Necklace Design in Jewelry Affaire Autumn 2017
Sara Oehler Necklace Design in Jewelry Affaire Autumn 2017

Sara is a whirlwind of energy. She is going to have a third child soon and is not slowing down. She is adding a son to her family. 

Sara Oehler Necklace Design in Jewelry Affaire Autumn 2017
Sara Oehler Necklace Design in Jewelry Affaire Autumn 2017

Sara Oehler Bracelet Design in Bead&Button June 2012
Sara Oehler Bracelet Design in Bead&Button June 2012

You can also find her designs in the following books and booklets:

Soft Flex Bracelet Projects Booklet
Published 2015

The Beader’s Guide To Jewelry Design by Margie Deeb
Published 2014
Pg. 79

Soft Flex Earring Projects BookletSoft Flex Earring Projects Booklet
Published 2013

Easy Beading Vol. 9
Published 2013

Creative Beading Vol. 8
Published 2013

Stringing Style 2
Published 2007

Sara Oehler Necklace Design in Kumihimo Fiber And Bead Jewelry May 2016
Sara Oehler Necklace Design in Kumihimo Fiber And Bead Jewelry May 2016

Pale Illusion Necklace by Sara Oehler in BeadStyle May 2013
Pale Illusion Necklace by Sara Oehler in BeadStyle May 2013

Sara Oehler Bracelet Design in Step By Step Wire Jewelry October November 2016
Sara Oehler Bracelet Design in Step By Step Wire Jewelry October November 2016

Sara Oehler Necklace Design in Quick Easy Beadwork 2018
Sara Oehler Necklace Design in Quick Easy Beadwork 2018

Sara Oehler Necklace and Earrings Design in Step By Step Wire Jewelry June July 2015
Sara Oehler Necklace and Earrings Design in Step By Step Wire Jewelry June July 2015

Sara Oehler Necklace Design in UK Bead Magazine Spring 2017
Sara Oehler Necklace Design in UK Bead Magazine Spring 2017

Sara Oehler Necklace Design in UK Bead Magazine Spring 2017
Sara Oehler Necklace Design in UK Bead Magazine Spring 2017

If you have any questions about jewelry or would just love to wish Sara a happy birthday, you can post your thoughts on our  Facebook group – VIB or email her.

Sara Oehler Bracelet Design in Bead Trends May 2012
Sara Oehler Bracelet Design in Bead Trends May 2012

Join our Facebook group – VIB. Stay in the know. Stay up to date. From our bead shows to our video shows and sales, you can stay in touch with us. The community is full of artistic and helpful beaders and crafty people. Inspire and be inspired. Share your pictures and get the beading bug from others!

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Thomas Soles

Blog contributor Thomas Soles loves Jazz Age writers and crunchy french fries. His favorite gemstones are Lapis and Pietersite. His favorite hobby is day dreaming. And his favorite mustache is Freddie Mercury's. As you can see, he has a healthy (or possibly unhealthy) sense of humor. You can write to him at Thomas@SoftFlexCompany.com