'I started a craft business in Bearwood while pregnant and now I sell to customers around the world'

What started as a hobby soon became a passion and has since grown into a thriving business, Noah’s Art.

“It all started in 2014 when I was 11 days overdue with my eldest son and I was really bored,” explains Sarah, who lives in Bearwood with her husband Andrew and two children, Noah and Jacob.

“At the time, I had been going through a difficult pregnancy – at the 20 week scan we were given the option of a termination due to concerns that our baby could have a rare genetic disorder. We decided to carry on with the pregnancy. 

"I turned to crafting because I needed something to focus on to keep my mind busy.”

As she waited for her son Noah to arrive, Sarah made three box frames with buttons and posted pictures of her creations on Facebook.

“I wanted Noah’s bedroom to be all handmade by family so my aunt made the curtains and my mum made little toys, bedding, a lampshade. It was all handmade and personal to us all,” explains the 37-year-old.

After receiving numerous messages asking if she was selling the frames, the former nursery nurse decided to start Noah’s Art.

“I wanted Noah to be at the centre of the business,” says Sarah.

The couple were delighted and relieved when Noah arrived and was given a clean bill of health by doctors. Sarah went on to enroll on a Prince’s Trust business course and was awarded a grant.

Since then Noah’s Art has continued to grow and now Sarah has a dedicated home craft space where she creates personalised keepsakes, nursery décor, and wedding signs that are all designed to capture special moments and be treasured for a lifetime.

She sells her creations via Facebook and Instagram as well as markets, including the monthly Warley Woods Artisan Market, with Andrew’s help. 

Sarah’s keepsakes have been delivered to customers across the UK as well as abroad including Spain, Japan and Australia.

Her business has recently caught the eye of retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis of Dragon’s Den fame, who runs a weekly competition on social media every Sunday called Small Business Sunday. “I entered every Sunday for 82 weeks and it paid off,” says Sarah, who attended the annual winners’ event in Birmingham earlier this year. “It was an amazing day.”

Crafting continues to offer Sarah, who was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2021, a calming and creative outlet that benefits her mental health and wellbeing. “I live with chronic pain and a long-term illness, which has made traditional employment difficult,” she says. 

“Running my own business from home allows me to work around my health while still doing something I love.”

Sarah hopes her story will inspire others who may be facing similar struggles – whether they’re balancing parenthood, chronic illness, or just dreaming of starting their own small business.

“Being diagnosed with a chronic illness isn’t the end, it’s still possible to create something that you enjoy doing,” she says.

With every item she makes, Sarah takes great pride in bringing her customers’ visions to life. “I’ve brought a lot of happiness to people with my work and that’s a nice feeling,” she says.

Noah’s Art can be found at Warley Woods Artisan Market on the first Sunday of the month, from March to December, between 11am and 3pm. 

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/noahsart2014; www.instagram.com/noahsart_2014; or email noahsart_2014@hotmail.com