A [ReDeemed] Giveaway

Hello Friends! Welcome Noel from [ReDeemed] to the Buzz. She has generously offered to giveaway a $25 gift card to her online store with FREE Shipping! Let me tell you something, I won a gift card from a giveaway on her website and I was blown away. She had so many great things to choose from and I took some time narrowing it down. I chose a necklace and I absolutely love it! It is so cute and I get nothing but compliments all the time, so believe me—this is THE giveaway you want to enter. First, lets get to know Noel a bit better

1. What gave you the inspiration to start [ReDeemed]?

I owned my own event planning business for 10 years. During that time I always most enjoyed the creative process, capturing the essence of the event. I spent a lot of time with my clients (primarily engaged couples) getting to know about them, the event we were planning, the “feel” that they wanted to create. I shopped with them, paying close attention to their likes and dislikes and along with the pictures and ideas that they brought to me, we created a them unique to their event.

In 2006 I faced the darkest time of my life. My 3rd child passed away due to SIDS (www.fisrtcandle.org). Devastated, I closed my event planning business, feeling that I could never again create or even live again. During the following few years, I listened to a lot of music, did a lot of praying (even though most days it was “I believe help my unbelief!”) and just continually asked God to somehow Redeem the death of my son. I continued to hear stories of how my son’s life and death had touched people, how he had turned their hearts toward their homes and families. There is nothing that anyone could say that would ever make me smack my head and say “Oh, NOW I get it!” but each of these things were small comforts to a deeply grieving mother.

At the beginning of 2009, I had made jewelry and artwork for myself, my family and friends (as I have for a long time) and other people started asking if I had ever thought about pursuing it professionally. That encouragement was all I needed to jump back into the world of the living again and start a business. My experience, coupled with my passion for repurposing, “making do” and thrift shopping led me to name the business [ReDeemed]. When I look at something (often someone else’s trash) I can see beyond the obvious, appreciate the scars and see the potential. I think that’s what God does with each of us, no wonder he is called “the Redeemer”!

2. What is your favorite part about what you do?

Definitely the “hunt”! I rediscovered my passion for “garage sailing”, junkin’, thrifting and curb cruising. It took a bit of time to find a clear focus on what I would do (after all there are SO MANY possibilities!), but now that I have the hunt is even more fun. My husband and I recently [ReDeemed] the kids playroom (LOL) and turned it into a studio. Wow! That unleashed a new wave of creativity!

3. What has been your favorite piece to make?

Now that’s a tough question! My favorite piece of jewelry is “Faith Hope and Love”. I found each of the elements at different times, but all along I knew what I was looking for: a cross to represent Faith, and angel to represent Hope and a heart to represent Love. Once I found those I stamped the hymnal pages with the words and put it all together. I think subconsciously I don’t even want to sell it!

My favorite piece of artwork is a large custom commission. I was contacted by a man in TN who wanted a larger version of my “soul tattoo” design. I created this on a 19” x 52” cabinet door, including a whole slew of his favorite hymns. I found out later it was a gift for his wife who was fighting breast cancer. It turned out that designs similar to mine had been her inspiration, doodling it on everything, buying every article of clothing she saw with it. What a great honor to be a part of such a meaningful gift!

Thanks Noel for providing this awesome giveaway. Now, on to how to win this fabulous prize!

First, you must enter each into a new comment. There will be four ways to enter. Please make sure that there is a way for me to contact you.

1. Read the above about Noel and [ReDeemed] and leave a comment on this post
2. Follow my Blog
3. Follow Noel’s blog [ReDeemed]
4. Post on your blog about this giveaway (and provide a link to your post)

This giveaway will end on Monday December 7, 2009.  Good Luck!