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Adria Friedman grew up in a household that was bursting with creativity. Surrounded by a mother who sewed outfits for her children, an aunt who was active in the fashion business and two grandmothers that practiced needlepoint, the young girl was almost destined to develop her own creative flair. So it was only natural for the Rossville resident to take up some unconventional hobbies during her childhood. But there was no telling that her quirky nature would someday lead to the operation of her own jewelry business.

While other children practiced hopscotch and jump rope, she chose to stay in and hook rugs. When most of the kids her age were tackling shoelace tying, she was learning how to crochet. And after skillfully mastering the art of stitchery, her fast fingers went to work at the piano. Then there were the beads. Silver and gold, metal and plastic - the shiny jewels held a strange attraction for young Adria, who admired their luster but was unsure how to blend them into her crafts. It wasn't long before she figured out just what to do.

"I would make earrings out of a little bit of bead and wire," Ms. Friedman said while recently stringing a bracelet in her mock workshop, which doubles as the family room of her modest home. "And then I'd sell them for 50 cents when my parents held backyard flea markets. It was just my way of being creative, and it was fun."

Fingering one of her own creations, a thick pearl choker that was resting at the base of her neck, the eccentric 31 year old noted that she always maintained an interest in working with her hands. Ms. Friedman explained how she gradually started to make pieces of jewelry just to express her creativity - now she takes orders from all over the world.

Ms. Friedman launched A & M Design, fine handmade jewelry, in January 1999. Originally selling her wares at street fairs in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and at church functions, the artist claims that she has finally found a release for her creative energy.

"I was surrounded by artsy people all of my life," she said before measuring a section of wire and clipping the ends. "I guess it just had an effect on me."

The bead-maker, who know has expanded her business to fill orders via the Internet at www.AandMDesign.com, selects interesting beads and then matches them together to make her designs. She is aided by her business partner, Michael DeLuca.

"I mirror my jewelry against the clothes that are out in the stores," she explained, matching small pieces of jewelry against her own periwinkle one-piece frock. "I judge from the trends that are selling and make necklaces, rings and bracelets that will compliment them."

Together, DeLuca and Ms. Friedman design bracelets, earrings, necklaces, anklets, barrettes, chokers and beaded rings from a variety of materials. The artist's beaded chains of sterling silver, cast's eye necklaces and carved 'bone' bracelets rival the latest styles sold in department stores or featured in magazines.

The creations are first laid out on a 'bead board' before being strung on a thin sturdy wire by hand and then clasped at the ends. Pieces are then formed from an assortment of colors and textiles. "I work with freshwater pearls, semi-precious stones, minerals, Czechoslovakian glass and crystal," the designer said. She hand picks materials that she feels are unique and then blends them to form her designs.

Ms. Friedman travels to bead shows to spot rends, but also designs classic jewelry and caters to special orders. "I get a lot of requests for bridal party orders and restringing," she said. "If someone has a broken necklace or is tired of an old piece of jewelry, I can either fix it for them or redesign a whole new piece. And now that I'm featured on the Internet, I get orders from all over the world."

And in the operation of her new business, Ms. Friedman still relies on the skills she learned as a child. "I've always had a creative drive," she said, "I guess it runs in my family."