I would have loved to have called myself an alternative bride, but no one was using that label when I got married in the year 2000.  What does an alternative bride mean? If you google the term you’ll find styles representing rock n roll, tattoos, rockabilly, goth, and same-sex unions.  These are more obvious expressions of alternative that you can see, and I salute all the women who embrace their true selves in a bold way, owning who they are regardless of whether people “get it”.  You are the women bravely forging the way for more understanding and acceptance in the world.

I wasn’t that kind of alternative bride.  I just wasn’t into all the bridal fanfare.  I didn’t want a traditional floor length dress.  I didn’t want a traditional church venue which, by the way, was a very difficult pill for my traditional Catholic family to swallow. When asked about flowers…didn’t matter. Cake….well, that mattered…it’s all about the icing. Basically, I wanted a few simple things.  I wanted to just show up, no stressing about the details. I wanted to get married outdoors, preferably on the water, and I wanted my friends and family to have a fun and relaxed evening.

I achieved my ideal wedding by doing it my way.  Back in the year 2000, when there were only 360K internet users in world and computers were still plugged into a modem with dial up internet service, I searched “short wedding dresses” and found an image of the perfect dress with a detachable tulle train.  There wasn’t an e-commerce store to buy it on, so my mom found a store carrying the brand and we ordered it in. I tried it on, it fit, and BOOM! that was it for my wedding dress shopping. It was perfect for the outdoor, on the water wedding I envisioned. I asked my bridesmaids to find their own red dress, the groomsmen to don a Hawaiian shirt, and the guests to dress vacation casual.  It was the best time and I wouldn’t change a thing. Describing it now, it’s interesting to see how the vibe of my wedding is similar to the vibe of my jewelry design. Both have a relaxed, natural, earthy energy to them.

On that note, I encourage you to express yourself through the jewelry you wear, both on your special day and everyday.  Let your ring reflect the essence of who you really are.

– Debra

I’d like to introduce you to a strong, modern, and independent woman named Esther Okeno.  I first met Esther in 2015 on my first trip to Kenya with Roger Dery. Back then I knew her as the wife of Gichuchu Okeno, the charismatic figure in the documentary Sharing the Rough, who along with Roger was my guide on this trip.  It seemed that Okeno knew everyone, knew the gem trade, and had an almost spiritual vision for how gemstones in East Africa could be a channel for education, growth, and change.

At the time, Esther was a stay at home mother of three young children.  She was sweet and rather quiet, as she knew little English at the time.  Her husband, Okeno passed away unexpectedly almost a year after that trip. I couldn’t fathom how Esther would care for herself and the kids.

The next time I saw her, a year later, a lot of things had changed.  I learned that she had to sell their home and was challenged to keep his daily mining operations alive. This proved to be impossible with a three hour distance between the mine and her new home.  In order to support her young family, Esther learned to be a gemstone dealer with the help of Okeno’s network of friends. In addition, she gathered some other women and formed a new mining company called Precious Women Mining outside Mwatate, Kenya. These four women work alongside the men with picks and shovel in a tsavorite garnet mine, also owned by a woman.

When you feel like the walls are closing in on you, it would be easy to give up.  Instead, Esther is rising to the new challenges of life with hope and determination.  I call this “polish and grit”….a theme I use throughout my designs. I have named one of my colored gemstone pendant designs in honor of my beautiful courageous friend and business colleague, Esther.  When you purchase any Esther pendant or piece from the Watu Collection, a donation is made to Gem Legacy to benefit people in the East African mining communities like Esther.

– Debra

I met a really great gal at the New York City Metal & Smith Show in August 2018.  Alice Finnerty is a jewelry blogger and founder of a website focusing on ethical and sustainable brands that have positive social and environmental impacts. She recently asked me what my favorite piece of jewelry was which sent me though a mental inventory of everything I’ve collected over the years and everything I’ve created since starting my business.  Aside from my wedding ring, which is special for many reasons, my mind kept coming back to a ring from my first jewelry collection, the Barefoot Collection.

The inspiration for every piece in the Barefoot Collection comes from a very personal place, symbolic of life and path we take. I love them all, but there is one ring I feel so connected to that I wear it almost daily.  I call it the Debra Ring.

In Hebrew, Debra means “bee”. When I think of bees I think of a strong work ethic, which I consider the greatest gift my parents have given me. My parents grew up in Texas farming communities and believe me, farmers know the value of grit and tenacity. There is also much wisdom to learn from bees concerning communication, teamwork, productivity and focus. They represent the connection between all living things as they move from plant to plant collecting nectar.

The elongated hexagon shape of all pieces in the Debra series is my nod to the efficient honeycomb structure of the hive. I love the way the ring is bold, large enough to have a strong presence, yet lays flush with my finger, becoming seamless with my movements.

Wearability is important! I believe that jewelry should be worn, not just for special occasions, but for everyday life. The Debra ring is a beautiful, earthy reminder to work hard, and smart, on the path to chasing your dreams.

– Debra