Interview Video
Watch the Sarah Vanslette Faulkner Interview
Guest Information
Sarah Faulkner is an author, speaker, and the founder of the jewelry brand Milk Velvet Pearls. Her career and creative work are deeply rooted in a personal journey of radical transformation. After surviving a life-threatening stroke and a period of profound personal brokenness, Sarah experienced a spiritual awakening and a miraculous recovery that she attributes to the power of prayer and faith.
Inspired by a conversation with her daughter about how pearls are formed through struggle, Sarah adopted the pearl as a metaphor for her own life—the idea that beauty can be born from pain. Drawing on her professional background in construction and engineering combined with her artistic nature, she launched Milk Velvet Pearls on Mother’s Day in 2014. Her mission is to redesign the world’s oldest gem into a modern, luxurious symbol of faith.
In addition to her jewelry business, Sarah is the author of the memoir The Making of a Pearl, where she shares her story of healing and divine grace. Today, her message and her jewelry reach women across the globe, encouraging others to find strength, solace, and purpose through their own "storms."
Testimonial
Sarah Faulkner
Sarah Faulkner is the founder of Milk Velvet Pearls, a brand born from the belief that God creates beauty through brokenness. Her life was forever changed by a catastrophic brain hemorrhage and a second, subsequent aneurysm. Through 21 days in the ICU and a grueling recovery, Sarah’s story shifted from one of simple survival to a profound testimony of radical surrender and trust in God.
Rather than letting fear define her, Sarah used her experience to anchor her identity in faith rather than performance. She faced her second surgery with an unshakable peace, supported by a fierce prayer community and the love of her family. Her journey serves as a living reminder that our greatest struggles can often become our most significant gifts when we lean into our faith.
Today, six years after her recovery, Sarah is a bold speaker and author dedicated to helping others rise above adversity. Through her jewelry, writing, and speaking, she encourages women to recognize that their worth is not tied to their productivity, but to who they are. She stands as proof that what feels like breaking is often the exact place where something beautiful begins.
Question & Answer
You often say that "God creates beauty through brokenness." How did your experience in the ICU transform that from a business slogan into a personal reality?
For years, I used the pearl as a metaphor for others, but in the ICU, I became the oyster. When I had a catastrophic brain hemorrhage, my ability to "do" and "produce" vanished. I realized that my worth wasn't in my business or my performance, but in my identity as a daughter of God. The "breaking" wasn't the end; it was the grit necessary to form the pearl.
When you were told you had a second aneurysm, you described a feeling of "full surrender" rather than fear. How do you find that kind of peace in such a terrifying moment?
The first time, I was fighting for my life; the second time, I was resting in the One who gave it to me. I stopped bargaining with "what ifs" and realized that God was already in the outcome, whatever it might be. Peace doesn't come from knowing the future; it comes from knowing who holds it.
Many women feel their value is tied to how much they can get done in a day. What did your recovery teach you about the "hustle" culture?
My recovery was slow and forced me to be still. I learned that my worth is not a result of my productivity. We often act like servants trying to earn a place in the house, but we are actually daughters who already have a seat at the table. Once you understand you are radically loved while doing nothing, you lead from a place of overflow rather than emptiness.
You’ve mentioned a "two-minute ritual" that helped you overcome morning anxiety during your healing. Can you share how that works?
When I would wake up with a racing heart and "morning panic," I had to stop the spiral immediately. Before my feet hit the floor, I would spend two minutes simply grounding myself in truth—acknowledging God’s presence and reminding myself that I don't have to "scurry" to be seen. It’s about shifting from a state of panic to a state of peace before the day even begins.
You are now moving into more speaking and writing. What is the main message you want people to take away from your story?
I want people to know that their story isn't over just because it’s heavy right now. What feels like a tragedy is often a transformation. I’m living proof that you can come out of the deepest pain stronger, more hopeful, and more joyful than you were before the storm started. Don't waste your struggle—let it become your gift.
