ABOUT DEBBY WILLIAMS:
Background Work Experience/ Education:
-Two years in fashion consultation for an Upper-end department store in
Fort Worth, Texas. This job included coordinating wardrobes and
accessories for runway events.
- Studied university level commercial art for a year. Great grades, but
decided to keep my hobby/art and career separate. (the irony of this just kills me)
- Obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in 1987.
Teaching Experience:
- Taught Elementary Education before shifting to New Zealand.
- Developed curriculum and instructed teachers in Christian Education and
English as a second language
- Key speaker/teacher at marriage seminars, conferences etc.
- Began teaching quilting in ladies meetings 1997 in hand quilting, basic
quilt construction techniques etc
- Taught several different classes in quilt shops as well as classes for local clubs.
- Instructed multiple classes at several symposia, and retreats.
- Greatest teaching responsibility has been educating my four terrific kids!
Quilting Connections and Accomplishments:
- Previous member of Blenheim's Marlborough Quilt Club for many years and have served on committees, worked with the newsletter, preparing block-of-the-month.
- Have participated in many exhibitions and have been honoured with several awards for original quilts including first place for wall hangings, challenges, Innovative quilts and viewer’s choice.
- Have had quilts selected to hang in the National exhibitions, received a first place awards for a miniature quilts, Serenity, Starlight Sonatina Opus 8 (2009, 2011) Also won first in collaborative, and had a quilt accepted for the suitcase award in 2011. My quilts have toured the USA in the World Quilt Exhibition and New Zealand with NANZQ several have been featured in the New Zealand Quilter’s magazine. In 2012, 2016, and 2019 was honoured to win the NZ Hoffman challenge.
- Have invented and patented the STARWHIZ ™ tool which simplifies the drafting of Mariner’s Compass stars.
- Have been asked to judge different challenges for local quilt clubs and mini- symposium. I have taught as far afield as Texas, New York, Wisconsin, the island of Vanuatu and for a week in the Australian territory of Norfolk Island.
General:
Quilting is one of my greatest passions. Our home is filled with different creations and I have learned from each one. Teaching has also been a way of life for me. My lifestyle has given much experience teaching literally every age group, in classes ranging from three pupils to well over a hundred in my marriage seminars and lectures. Given my experience teaching and passion for quilting, tutoring quilting is an absolute delight!
Design and use of colour are also part of my portfolio. My previous art experiences have included paintings , stained glass work, design of Christmas cards, logos, political cartoons, brochure development, full sized stage sets, costume design, creating reborn dolls, etc. Writing quilting lesson and patterns has become a big part of my current events.
Quilting has become my primary art outlet as it affords so much variety and scope that the possibilities are limitless. Read: addicted. The only problem is finding time to create a good selection of the quilt designs running around in my head!
What can you find in this site?
Think of this website as visiting a friend. Pour yourself a nice cup of tea, relax and have a good look around. Several pages may be found in drop down menus- particularly within the classes section. The blog will be updated occasionally and resources added as they are found.
Class availability does change from time to time, so if you are planning classes it's a good idea to revisit this every six months or so. Classes can made to order for special customers.
The gallery contains a wide assortment of creations. My easy boredom threshold means that I embrace both extreme traditional and exuberant art quilts. Although truly passionate about hand work, practicality demands some quilts be made with the help of machine. More of my exhibited work is machine made and/or quilted.
Once upon a time I would have said it wasn't a 'real' quilt unless it was hand quilted. Now hand quilting is reserved for special projects. Most years I spend many hours hand quilting on either a miniature or some year after year project. I love the feel of handling a piece of textile and transforming it with tiny stitches.
Be sure to drop into the shop once it is up and running. On this page you will find the STARWHIZ. This is an simple but amazing tool that makes drafting Mariner's Compass Stars much less challenging. As you have a look through the gallery you'll come to understand why I'm 'known' for making Mariner's Compass Stars in New Zealand. Seriously addictive.
The last page is called 'contact me'. I love to read about other quilter's adventures and am happy to answer quilting questions. On the contact pages there will also be links and resources to help you in your search for great products and information.
Thank you for visiting!
Class availability does change from time to time, so if you are planning classes it's a good idea to revisit this every six months or so. Classes can made to order for special customers.
The gallery contains a wide assortment of creations. My easy boredom threshold means that I embrace both extreme traditional and exuberant art quilts. Although truly passionate about hand work, practicality demands some quilts be made with the help of machine. More of my exhibited work is machine made and/or quilted.
Once upon a time I would have said it wasn't a 'real' quilt unless it was hand quilted. Now hand quilting is reserved for special projects. Most years I spend many hours hand quilting on either a miniature or some year after year project. I love the feel of handling a piece of textile and transforming it with tiny stitches.
Be sure to drop into the shop once it is up and running. On this page you will find the STARWHIZ. This is an simple but amazing tool that makes drafting Mariner's Compass Stars much less challenging. As you have a look through the gallery you'll come to understand why I'm 'known' for making Mariner's Compass Stars in New Zealand. Seriously addictive.
The last page is called 'contact me'. I love to read about other quilter's adventures and am happy to answer quilting questions. On the contact pages there will also be links and resources to help you in your search for great products and information.
Thank you for visiting!