Sara Yael
Sara Yael is an interior designer, forager and avid fermenter aka a kitchen witch living her bliss in a big old 70’s house in Noosa’s hinterland. Sara’s inspiration comes from and is centered around the table and the good life. Her ferment and textile offerings are small batch, handcrafted and made width love. Delicious too! Sara came to our table and answered our questions about mother, colour and finding flow..
What does mother mean to you?
When I think of mother I think of my mama. She has big hair and a big personality. She’s always using her hands, always making something.. cakes, skin creams, chutneys, painting, sewing. A classic Jewish mama, prying me with lots of food and forever asking me “Whats new?” or “Any news?” even if I’ve just seen her an hour before!
As an interior designer, avid fermenter of foods aka a kitchen witch and multi-disciplinary artist.. what are the most important elements to a grounded, generous and nurturing home/space do you think?
I’m lucky enough to live in a big old timber house built in the 70’s in a little community surrounded by kangaroos and kookaburras. After moving around most of my life, I finally have a space for a music and art studio, a kitchen where I can ferment and cook, a home where I can host dinner parties and ferment workshops and an essential spare room for guests. It’s truly a blessing.
Key elements for me are:
Natural light, plenty of windows that open up
A view where one can gaze at the sky
A space where you can curl up with a book in the sun
A kitchen that can host multiple projects at once - fermenting, cheese making, and cooking meals at the same time.
A lounge room that can host impromptu dance parties
A fireplace to lay by
A piano
A big balcony
A studio space for art, music, concoctions!
How do you find flow in your life/multidimensional creative practice?
To be honest, it's a constant challenge for me to find the balance in all my projects. I have so many passions, interests and creative expressions that I unable to do just one thing… so my life is like some kind of creative merry-go-round. I go from making songs to making cheese to harvesting and fermenting to painting indigo textiles in the space of 24 hours. I guess creativity is like that for me, it's boundless and random. I channel ideas and run with it.
How is colour significant for your work?
I have a love of earth-bound colours… I am most drawn to natural pigments derived from the earth. Turmeric golds, indigo blues, beetroot pinks, oka reds, seaweed greens.
These pigments bring richness and depth to my work, whether that’s interior textiles or music.
Who were you inspired by growing up? Who and/or what inspires you now?
I was always inspired by adventurers, particularly women. From an early age, it was characters from Enid Blyton novels who went on intrepid expeditions. And then it was real-life adventurers like Robin Davidson (tracks) who crossed the Sahara Dessert with her camels and Vivienne Westwood with her punk ethos and incredible fashion design.
Nowadays the people that inspire me are people that are designing their own lives. People living out of the normal construct and carving out their unique creative niche in the world. The off-gridders, the makers, the nomads, the adventurers, the artisans, the troubadors, the designers, the free thinkers.
Listening to?
A bit of a mix currently.. ABC classic FM, Sierra Ferrel, Laura Marling, Odetta, Paul Simon for introspective moments. And Doja Cat and Labrinth for when I’m driving around getting it all done.
Food from the God & Goddesses?
Freshly shucked oysters!
Early bird or night owl?
I’ve been both…I am currently an early bird.
What is presenting itself/exciting you in your creative process currently?
Life is pretty damn exciting at the moment! I’m juggling multiple projects and they all fulfill me and excite me in different ways.. I’m milking cows at the local dairy and learning how to make cheddar cheese. I'm teaching ferment workshops and have just launched my ferment products online. I’ve just released a hip-hop song under my alter ego Queen Sabra which is super cool! I’m about to make a folk album and I’m very excited to be collaborating and launching my indigo collection at the Mothership for our Flow State Gathering!