It’s all About the Bees

How the universe conspired to lead me to make honey

My name is Debra

I’m not sure exactly how old I was when I learned the meaning of my name, but I believe it has brought me good fortune ever since.

‘A feminine name of Hebrew origin, Debra means ‘bee’ and is the short version of Deborah. This Biblical title can be found in the Old Testament Book of Judges. Deborah was a heroine and prophetess and the only female judge mentioned in the bible.’

Whether by coincidence or by design, an association with bees in some form or another has enriched my life in so many delightful ways. To begin with it has always steered me towards taking an interest in all living creatures small and mighty, and I am happiest when I am outdoors experiencing all that the natural world can offer.

The term ‘nature lover’ is one I have been associated with, but has always left me wondering why we aren’t all lovers of nature? Nature is a true wonder and we are all nature! Apart from a genuine admiration for the industrious bee, there are other associations that have come to mind over recent years.

I suppose the obvious one is the ‘busy bee’! And yes this is something that I can definitely relate to. I have always been lucky to have possessed a great deal of energy and a lust for living that has given me access to a full life of adventure and interesting experiences.

A poet and a leader

I have also come to think of myself more recently as something of a trailblazer, and even at times a leader. I’m not naturally predisposed to pushing myself forward to take charge of a situation or group, but this does appear to have happened at times, and in the most rewarding ways.

‘Deborah was a poet and a judge too, who led a revolt that helped the Israelites win their freedom from the Canaanites.’

I am inclined to think this all began after we moved into a rented house in Beeston with a postcode/zip code that ended in 2AB, so mail was indeed being sent ‘to a bee!’ It was a fabulous 1970s detached home, with all the original features, and it was just my vibe.

It was here that three important connections were made. The first was as a result of me rediscovering my creative talents. Driven by a lack of funds, having just returned from a year of travelling and having to start all over again, I dusted off my sewing machine and began making again.

It started with sewing up cushions and curtains for the new place, but then I had the idea to recyle a pair of my old favourite jeans into a shoulder bag rather than throw them away. I think the ethos of the the Thai people had really made an impression on me. Seeing plastic milk bottles artfully recycled into planters for orchids hanging in the eaves of restaurants was just one of the innovative ideas I can remember.

My sewing obsession soon led me to having enough recycled denim items to set up a stall, and out of the blue an opportunity arose via one of my eco-conscious friends. This was to be the second significant connection. I turned up at the pub function room, draped my greengrocer’s grass over the two tables of differing heights, and lay out my wares. To my surprise, I sold almost everything I took with me!

The Bees Make Honey business was born. I ran it for seven years when it eventually evolved into the Bee Creative Community that I still run today. What is quite special about this time though, is that the woman (Lauren) that organised that first ever market I attended, became a good friend and is now someone I am collaborating with on an exciting new Arts Council funded social project.

A hive of industry

Also during the 2AB years, I became well renowned for my vintage style and had inadvertantly built up an image around my love of the 70s. It was unsurprising then, when a local community magazine contacted me about a feature in their section about Beeston people. And this is where the third important link fell into place.

‘When Deborah seemed too formal in the laid-back sixties, Debra stepped in as a pared-down alternative, but the pendulum is about to swing back.’

I took a lot of inspiration from the make-do-and-mend 1970s, growing my own vegetables, cooking from scratch and making my own clothes. The sunshine yellow and turquoise of my Bee Creative logo was inspired by the bathroom suite at my 70s home.

I had also taken over the Creative Beeston Facebook page to publicise my own arts and crafts workshops but also to promote other creative opportunities in the town where I had chosen to make my home. Shortly after I was invited to write a creative column for the magazine I had been featured in — The Beestonian.

Over a decade since that first stall, I am now involved with three fantastically fulfilling community projects; Bee Creative, Thortify and The Beestonian Magazine. And as I took over as Editor in Chief of the magazine in January 2023, I feel there are more great things to come.

What’s in a name?

I’m not sure how much being given the name Debra has led to my life experiences, but it’s been interesting to reflect back on all of this.

What does your name mean? Do you feel it has had an influence on how you have lived your life..?

Definitions acquired by Google searching. Inspiration for this story came from reading a fascinating article on what we can learn from bees by Alex Rotar

Harmony Hive: Methods to Improve Teamwork | Medium

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Building Community. The Story so Far | by Debra Urbacz | Medium