Hi, I’m Sarah!
I first caught the entrepreneurial spirit when I was in grade school making handmade friendship bracelets for friends, selling lemonade on the front lawn and shoveling driveways in the winter. I loved the possibility of working for myself and looked for opportunities to grow my network which later served me well when I sought a career performing music.
I began with piano at an early age but soon tired of it. I was given the opportunity to study classical cello in grade school and over the years have played in many orchestras and string ensembles all across New Jersey.
In high school I joined the marching band playing the baritone tuba and went on to study the euphonium that led to many years of enjoyment performing in bands up and down the US east coast. I also got involved with a living history group playing music from the Victorian era with the 28th Pennsylvania Civil War brass band.
After college, I picked up the Irish fiddle and played in NJ/NY/PA at lively Irish tune sessions in small pubs and also on big stages in large venues for Irish festivals with some of the top Irish rock bands in Philadelphia PA.
I met my now husband when I decided to learn the accordion in my early 20s and he and I were partnered in a duet for a contest piece at a large accordion festival. We also were part of a Philadelphia Mummers string band and performed in and around the Philadelphia area for many years.
My other lifelong passions are knitting, crochet and sewing. I first learned to crochet from my grandmother before I was 20 and then I quickly picked up how to knit from my mother a few years later.
Over the years I’ve developed my skills to the point where I’ve taken on commissions for knitted pieces like Christmas stockings, scarves, baby sets, hats, gloves, socks, shawls and knitted toys. My husband was my biggest supporter as I branched out with my crafts and always encouraged me to bring my knitted pieces to craft shows to enter for judging.
I gained so much experience over the years that I also taught knitting at our local craft store part time. It was really rewarding seeing new students fall in love with the craft as much as I did.
I currently live in southern New Jersey. My husband and I along with our four school-aged children live close to the Delaware Bay in one of the little towns that dots the area and was once part of the booming oyster industry one hundred years ago. Today, we operate several home businesses including a music publishing house for school band music and an online fiber arts store.
Nice to meet you, Sarah! Thanks for sharing your experience with such incredible crafts! I was a band mom for 8 years and loved it. I am self-taught on the piano (but no expert). My Grandma taught me to crochet — so many wonderful memories of that time together. Thank you for bringing them up for me.
Wow, Sarah, you are quite the celebrity. Your wonderful “About me” blog makes it clear how “lucky” #MKE is to have you. A favor #MKE is sure to compensate in greater measure! 🙂
Sarah, thanks for that beautiful biography. Keep up the great and amazing work that you are already doing.
So lovely to read about you Sarah! Thank you for sharing your story. And congrats for being one of the first doing that!