We have a winner!! Congrats Rebecca!!! {Winner # selected on random.org. I’m throwing a Funky Fish Giveaway today- 1.5 day only to win this stunning bracelet. I will randomly select the winner tomorrow morning (since I was late posting) and announce your name here on the post. Dawn Patterson is the founder of Funky Fish and ALL the cool kids on the block are wearing them! She travels Friday to Africa and continues her mission to train women how to make Funky Fish jewelry. I’m so proud to call Dawn my friend and fellow advocator for women in crisis all over the world.
Charm bracelets are Funky Fish newest addition to her Tesfa jewelry collection. The profits from Tesfa jewelry collection benefit the orphans in Zeway, Ethiopia as part of the Hope in Ethiopia partnership. One bracelet will feed a child for one month. One necklace will feed, clothe, house & educate a child for one month. Our new charm bracelets will do all of that plus provide medical care for one month.
How do I win?
It’s easy, just leave me a comment on my blog and let me know why you want this Funky Fish bracelet. Also- pick 1 of the following:
- Go to Funky Fish Blog and be a new follower. (don’t forget to say hi to Dawn)
- Add the new Funky Fish button on your blog.
- Shout out about Funky Fish on your blog or Facebook.
In 2003, as a brand new Christian, Funky Fish was born. I knew two things…I loved making jewelry and I loved my God. I had no idea the adventures that would be in store for my little business. Many times I thought it was time to hang up the beading pliers but God always said “No”.
It wasn’t until May of 2009 that I really began to see what God would have me do with the gift He had given me. He wanted me to give back. It started with making jewelry for causes…cancer awareness, autism awareness, etc. Then I found out about a village in Zeway, Ethiopia. I asked God if there was anything I could do with the hands he had given me to help the sweet orphans in Zeway. Shortly thereafter, I was introduced to paper beads by my dear friends mom. The wheels started to spin. I envisioned a necklace with paper beads and a pendant with Africa on it.
People talk about humble beginnings. It’s safe to say that we started on our knees. Literally. We crawled around on the floor and picked up scraps of sterling silver from my jewelry business (yes, I am that messy) to sell on Ebay to get supplies. In November 2009, I sat down with my dear friend Cathy and we played with these beads. We priced the items to meet “needs”…one bracelet would feed a child for a month, a necklace would feed, clothe, house & educate a child for a month. We sold our first necklace on December 31st, 2009 and were beyond thrilled. We scheduled beading days. We joked and said we would “bead till we bleed” for these orphans. We fantasized about how if we made and sold 50 bracelets a week, we could raise $25,000. We were dreaming big.
As of last week, we have sold $23,685 worth of “The Hope in Ethiopia” jewelry. I believe God will take us past $25,000. There are no words to describe this journey God has allowed us to be on.
There are few joys in this life greater than giving. He gave me these hands and as long as He will allow me to use them, I will continue to give. Some of my favorite ministries are Project Hopeful & Because Every Mother Matters. I’ve been blessed to be able to make jewelry for them to help raise money & awareness.
To God be the Glory….always!
LOVE what Dawn is doing at Funky Fish!! Love this bracelet!!!!! 🙂
i LOVE Dawn's work and would love to win the bracelet as it'd be a great conversation starter! It'll open the door for me to share about so many things ~ the orphan crisis, Hope in Ethiopia, our adoption….
I would love to have this bracelet so I can convince myself that I can still dress cool, cause the jeans and Tshirts are reminding me too much I am a mom 🙂
Funky Fish jewelry is beautiful and what an incredible idea! I have a heart for orphans around the world, what an awesome way to bring awareness to those around you!
Everything at Funkey Fish is just beautiful! I have been eyeing those braclets for a while now and would LOVE to win one 🙂 I'm going to share on facebook too.
I became a follower, left Dawn a comment, added her button to my blog and shared on FB! I LOVE the heart of this jewelry business and purchased my first bracelet as a gift from the TRUTH PANDEMIC collection last month!
I LOVE Purpose Driven Jewelry- I wear my Ugandan beads every day and each of them has a slightly different story of support.
My fav. thing to do is to wear my Hope+ tee shirt from Project HOPEFUL and some Ugandan earrings and necklaces twisted together…that's enough to keep me talking for awhile 🙂 I have had so many compliments on my jewelry and it is always an open door to share about what people are doing to bring HOPE to the ends of the world!!
Shine on sisters!!
Holly
These are all so beautiful Love the Truth Pandemic bracelets, too, and especially the faith,hope,love charms. Would LOVE to win one! I signed up as a follower over at Funky Fish. Thanks for introducing us, Kari.
I already posted once, but since it isn't showing up I figured I would try again! I became a follower at Funky Fish, left a little comment, and I would LOVE to win a bracelet because there is such a beautiful story behind them. Thank you!!
Love it! I love anything that helps orphans!!! Amazing!
Love that bracelet and the ministry sounds awesome. You'll see a shout out on my FB page!
I love this bracelet. I would give the bracelet to my daughter. She has a passion for orphans in Ethiopia and is currently working to pay off student loans so that she can hopefully serve/teach there someday. I would like to encourage her with something that would help her cause. Thanks for all you do. Love the site and what it stands for.
Oh my – this bracelet is beautiful. I would love to have one so I could give it away – so many people I know struggling and could use some encouragement… I can only imagine how something so beautiful would pull them back.
Thank you for being Jesus' hands and feet… 🙂
Very cool story! I will deffinately spread the word about this ministry!
I would love to win the bracelet-one: its beautiful and my favorite colors, and two: I love to wear my african jewlery so that I can tell people who comment about the needs of Africa and how they should get involved!
What an awesome ministry! Love it, I'm a new follower on her blog and I can't wait to shop!!
I'm now a follower at her blog. Very cool! This bracelet is soo pretty! I'd love this bracelet to help raise awareness.
Ha! I guess I get bonus points because I "accidently" did all three! What a great story about God moving and someone answering the call to make a difference in the lives of others. Thanks for making me aware of another awesome organization. I would love the bracelet for a conversation starter, because it's beautiful, and it will remind me of the Africans I have been called to!
Wow, I really love the color and sassy look of your jewelry! Are any two pieces alike? SO chunky and pretty!
Would love to sport a funky fish bracelet!
Dawn, I am so happy for you and this great ministry that you are involved in. You have such a big heart and it shows! I pray that you exceed your expectations, the sky is the limit!
I love all your jewelry and would love to have another to tell of all you are doing, I will spread the word.
Beverly
Just became a follower, posted on facebook, and added a button. Love Funky Fish!
Ok. I'm a FF follower and said "hi!" Love this. I'm currently wearing a V.O. Uganda necklace. I am shopping with a purpose these days!
I was an orphan myself, grew up in foster homes. This bracelet would remind me of the importance of hope.
Love this bracelet and all they stand for–I'd love to wear it and be able to tell people who ask about it about the company and their amazing efforts! I just became a follower on their blog too!
My wife would love to win it!
Thank you for posting about Funky Fish! I would love to win the bracelet and use it as a tool to share what Dawn is doing. As a former beader (don't know if that is a word :)) I appreciate her God given talent and that she is using it to change lives! 🙂
I am signing up to become her follower!
After returning from a mission trip to Kenya, my 13 year old daughter started making paper bead jewelry to sell to support a 2 year old boy she sponsors in Kenya and other orphancare ministries. She wanted to "do something" about the needs of so many orphans. I will be showing her Dawn's story & her beautifully creative pieces. I know she will be inspired!
I am happily following Funky Fish, left Dawn a note, and shared on Facebook!!
Blessings!!
I love to wear a purpose! When someone compliments me on an item that I'm wearing it is a great opportunity to discuss the ministry that it supports as well as my passion for all things Africa!
Kari! I love that you do things like this! I did number 3–shared it on my FB page. I would love to give this bracelet to my oldest daughter. Her heart is always thinking of ways she can help people around her. She has faced some big challenges recently and I am so proud of the way she is handling them, and SHE would be so proud to wear a bracelet with beads made by the women in Uganda!
Love Dawn. Love Funky Fish. Commented. I'm a FF fan too. 🙂
Very cool! When I have more time, I want to read the whole story. (The in-laws are on their way!) I shared on FB.
Kari,
These are soooooooo gorgeous!!! I went to her web site and LOVE the necklaces too. You just never stop and I love and miss you dearly, my adoption bff. Please enter me for this bracelet. I will post on my FB page and be a fan……for sure.
Andrea
I'd love this bracelet for my stepdaughter who is turning 13 in a couple of months.
I love Dawn's jewelry but I love her heart more!!! I love that each piece is unique and is an automatic conversation starter. This piece is just that- an opportunity to start a conversation that would bring awareness to a part of another that my small town has NO idea about. That's what has happened with several of the pieces I have bought and given away as gifts or I wear myself!! It's such a fun way to share.
I follow Dawn and I added her button to my blog.
I would love to win. What a great conversation piece. Also will try to put on FB. I am on my phone 🙂
Love her ministry and the braclet. Adding her button to my blog
love, love LOVE the funky fish!! Shared on my FB page. I would love to wear it to the adoption conference in FEB!!!
Beautiful bracelet! Congratulations to the winner!
Thank you, Kari! You are AMAZING! This bracelet will be a symbol of something very special for my daughter (and me, too!)! Thank you for allowing all of us to be a part of what you are doing for others! I see so many of the above names on your FB page, in your pix, and on your blog! It is a wonderful feeling to be united in Christ to so many people that I have never met, but have a connection with through you! 🙂 Thank you, again, dear friend!