Article | Front Porch Beads

Frances Peters – Porch Lady

by Dickie Anderson

Originally published in Islander Magazine, April 2020

Frances Peters and her husband Dan make their home in Amelia Park. The world travelers treasure the small-town feel with its friendly porches.

Peters, originally from England, is a former IT trouble-shooter for IBM. Her first move was to Canada and then to California. She jokes that she traveled so much during her career she needed Marriott sheets to feel at home. Her life changed dramatically when a chance meeting on an airplane turned into a romance and marriage. Frances and her now-husband Dan had properties in Nevada, Ohio and even a boat in the San Francisco Bay. They now spend most of their time on Amelia Island when not pursuing their love of travel.

After her busy career, Peters threw her abundant energy and talent into volunteer efforts such as Kenya Partners (www.kenyapartners.com). When able the couple plan to volunteer at the non-profits schools in Kenya. She has a special place in her heart for Cuba and has delivered donations and hopes to return when she can.

On a local level, Peters has organized Front Porch Beads, a group of women who gather on the wrap around porch that hugs her Amelia Park house. When she began to gather ladies who wanted to learn more about stringing beads her porch was the perfect place. Long a collector of stretchy bracelets as souvenirs she decided to fix some of them up. She bought some beads and then more beads. She had such fun stringing beads she shared her passion with family while on vacation. She soon had them stringing beads and “decompressing”. Returning to Amelia she invited some friends to see if they too would enjoy the creative process of creating jewelry from a wide assortment of colorful and unique beads.

Peters' groups have met at Story and Song, Council On Aging, but their favorite place to meet is on the porch. Incredibly organized, she has everything ready when her 20 or so volunteers show up. An incredible collection of beads and all the supplies needed to create wonderful jewelry or even wine glass markers. The group sells their creations through a partnership with Story and Song Bookstore and Bistro, the Micah's Place Resale Store and special events. When $1000 is reached the group votes on which needy local cause will benefit. Micah's Place, Take Stock In Children, Starting Point, Arts Alive and Council On Aging have benefited from the efforts of the beading ladies of Amelia. Volunteers are always needed for all aspects of Front Porch Beaders – creating jewelry, designing, sorting, and eventually managing inventory and shipping. Donations of beads are welcome.

Peters looks forward to more travel and always returning to her beloved porch and her group of talented beaders. Creativity, friendship, and contributing to the community – a perfect combination.