Wilsonville Spokesman Online

Beads provide solace, healing

Elizabeth Weller would like to share her beaded creations

• By: Michelle Te  
• Published: 12/9/2009 8:00:00 AM

Photo By: Michelle TeBeads of hope
Elizabeth Weller has made more than 500 bracelets and necklaces in the past two years. She has given them as gifts to residents and staff at Marquis Care, but would like to donate the rest.

When Elizabeth Weller’s husband of 67 years died, she thought there would be no more reason to go on.

Then her daughter, Wendy Thompson, introduced her to glass beads.

“I thought I would be so grief-stricken, I felt I wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything at first,” said Weller. “But Wendy kept encouraging me. Without Wendy, I would be no good.”

Since that time two years ago, Weller, 93, has made nearly 500 multi-colored beaded bracelets and necklaces. She’s given them to all her family members and all the staff and residents at Marquis Care, where she lives.

Now, her daughter would like to find a home for the colorful creations. She’s hoping to donate them to an organization that might be able to use them as gifts.

The elderly woman has two boxes and a basket full of bracelets and necklaces, taken from beads that Thompson bought at a local craft store.

“I think my mom is keeping that store in business,” said Thompson. “But mom says beading is her salvation.”

Creating beaded bracelets has given Weller a new purpose. Elizabeth and Walt Weller moved from Corvallis two years ago to be nearer to their daughter as both parents were having health problems. Within two weeks, Walt died.

“He welcomed death, he had a strong faith and he wasn’t afraid of dying,” said Elizabeth.

But, said Thompson, Elizabeth and Walt were soulmates. Moving from her home and losing her husband in such a short amount of time was a devastating change.

She wanted to find something for her mother to do. They tried paint-by-number and yarn work. Neither idea seemed appropriate. Then Thompson saw the beads in a craft store. Together, mother and daughter made bookmarks, keychains and zipper pulls.

Finally, they settled on bracelets. Weller makes them whenever she feels like keeping her hands busy, sometimes that’s the middle of the night when she can’t sleep.

“I do feel it has helped me accept what has happened with my husband,” Weller said.

“I just tell her, ‘Keep on beadin’, Mom,’” said Thompson. “We’ve made lemonade out of lemons.”

But with so many extra bracelets, this mother-daughter duo would like to find the jewelry a good home. Thompson said there are styles that would be appropriate for both male and female, of all ages.

Contact: Wendy Thompson, 503-682-6766.

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