Connections: What A Woman!

Faithful friend and customer Debbie M. of Reno, Nevada has been a busy beader. I promised to tell this story way back when in our first Connections post, and finally, here it is. 

-Drea

When Debbie’s longtime friend told her some bad news, Debbie jumped to action. This friend's daughter had been diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumor, a very rare and aggressive form of cancer that’s usually found only in children under 5, though this daughter is actually a grown woman with a child of her own. The shocking news sent the family into a tailspin, and now they work together to cope with the news and fight the disease.

One thing that can be offered to support a friend in need is love. Debbie has taken her love to the next level with her latest beading project. To support her dear friends she wanted to create something with a symbol of strength. Drawing her inspiration for her beadwork from their adopted “mascot” through this struggle, Wonder Woman, Debbie got to work. The family couldn’t have picked a better icon. With the new films starring Gal Gadot portraying feminine strength and power, Debbie's friends can take their Wonder Woman bracelets and fight with all their might.

For the daughter, the fighter herself, Debbie’s made an Across Cultures based off Grace’s contemporary updates to our classic project. The classic Wonder Woman reds and blues are on full display with Czech Glass, 6/0 Seed Beads, and the delicious Pomegranate Czech Rollers. A mixed-metals selection of Tierra heishi, Shadows, Sliders, and River Shannon beads completes the second half of the bracelet. A large silver and gold Wonder woman charm hangs near the button loop, cohesively blending with the rest of the metals yet also standing out enough to make a statement. The Cobalt Daisy Czech Glass Button, a tassel, and a golden “lasso” of 3mm Czech Glass in 24K Gold Plate closes the piece. Filled with symbolism and strength, this bracelet is fit for a wonder of a woman. 

Fighting cancer takes strength and support, and family is oh-so important in that. For the younger sister, Debbie has created a Herringbone Ladder design. Using Picasso Opaque Blue SuperDuos and 1.5mm Blue Leather, the bracelet starts out strong. The Czech Rollers used in the Across Cultures are echoed in this bracelet as well, this time in Antique Silver and they separate sections boldly but gracefully. Laddered Marbled Gold Siam Ruby Czech Glass and Golden Hematite Rondelles come next. Finally, Czechmates Tiles in the last section complete the look, again echoing the traditional red and blue, with hints of metals thrown in. Debbie used Picasso Black Opaque Coral Red, Picasso Cobalt, Matte Metallic Flax, and Silver for this section. A Tattoo Button in Silver completes the piece.

For those loving parents, married over 40 years, a Strong Point (perfectly named!) and a version of Sumer Tahoe were created. Debbie and I hunted the internet for Wonder Woman components, since that’s not something we’d carry at beadshop.com. Together, we found a great selection and Debbie bought a bunch! The Summer Tahoe for Dad has a bold and gold “WW” symbol plaque as its centerpiece. Knotted to either side of it are bright red and blue 1.5mm leathers adorned with Wonder Woman beads traditionally used on a Pandora-style bracelet, but Debbie ingeniously used them to collect all her leather strands together. Adding flashes of the mixed metals, there are Happy Donuts, Czech Rollers, and Silver Metal 6/0s, and of course Silver Evolve Beads used to crimp the Round and Round Clasp on. 

Mom’s Strong Point has the 1-2-1-2 beading pattern. Debbie used the beautiful Peacock Hematite Rondelles along with Silver Shadows sprinkled throughout. A great point of added interest, we think. The Red Wine Star Czech Glass Button is so reminiscent of Wonder Woman’s shield, and resting upon the blue background of hematite and leather it looks fierce and strong. To hold the button, another golden lasso, this time using Bright Brass Shadows. A Royal Blue Tassel adds a touch of whimsy and matches with the Across Cultures. The two women have been friends since grammar school, and knowing her friend well, Debbie expertly created a piece that’s perfect in both style and personality.

Notice that in all of Debbie’s bracelets there’s not only the Wonder Woman theme, but also certain beads carried from piece to piece. Truly a matching set, the same beads and leathers can be found across all four pieces, the imagery of the shield represented in the button, the lasso in the button loops…I see it as just one more way this quartet is bound together.

Personally, I want to attest to Debbie’s caring nature. With a pharmaceutical background and a brain that’s just chock-full of knowledge, I have been blessed to get to know Debbie as more than just a customer. What started as a customer emailing in to ask a few design questions turned into a friendship I am so thankful for. She’s always looking out for me (and scolding me for my sweet tooth) and she’s been a great asset as I deal with my own journey with MG. Debbie inspired me to create my own Wonder Woman Across Cultures for myself. I had just seen the movie and loved the message and experience, and Debbie and I collaborated to create our jewelry. Cara and Grace helped us to select colors, and Debbie and I ordered our components and got started. I jumped the gun and started working on mine before Debbie had even gotten her beads! I just couldn’t wait. Our pieces ended up pretty similar although the differences that attest to our personal beading styles are still apparent. I added leather strands to my “metal side” of the bracelet, and used more charms. Big, chunky, bold…you can’t miss it on my wrist. I wore it to Johns Hopkins for my first round of testing…oddly enough, since my disease makes me very weak, I don’t feel like such a Wonder Woman as my neurologist tests my muscle strength (I don't ace these tests…) but I do love the fighting spirit it instills.

I shared the story of Debbie’s projects and this cancer fight with the beadshop.com team. All of us here at the office are rooting for you, girl. We know you’re going to kick some serious cancer butt, and you’ve got your very own fan club here.