Meet fiber artist/designer Debbie Jones!
Debbie Jones is the featured artist for January 2018’s ARTSCrawl reception and exhibit at Hip Stitch from 5pm-8 pm on Friday, Jan. 5. Her Fabric Decollage is an original technique that’s a cross between collage and decoupage. Each decollage is one-of-a-kind. Once the fabrics are glued in layers, the finished artwork is then placed in a large press that applies high pressure and heat to flatten and bond it to a sturdy, acid-free surface. She’ll also be showing other works, including silk printing, ice dyeing, quilting and her latest experiments in silk fusion.
Because each artist is as interesting as their art, we asked Debbie to pull the creative curtain back a bit and tell us about how she works, what inspires her and even if she’s a messy or tidy artist. We think you’ll find you have a lot in common with her.
Some of her techniques developed as part of her healing from a life-changing auto accident many years ago, but it seems to have been a detour that opened up a rich path for her development as an artist and designer. And can we just say she’s right on track with Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2018? Read on!
Who taught you to sew/how old were you? Do you remember your first project?
My mother taught me to hand-sew clothes for my Barbie when I was 6. It was a pair of pants with an elastic waist, and I still remember how hard it was to put in the elastic into that tiny waistband. Then I took sewing classes in school and became hooked.
What's your favorite color to work with? And least favorite color?
My favorite color has always been purple, and I have to exercise restraint or all my quilts and collages would be purple! Quilting has
taught me to love all colors, even the ones I used to hate: green and orange. Now, copper is one of my favorite colors, so go figure! Purple, turquoise and copper are my favorites now.
Do you listen to music or books/movies while working? If so, share a few titles.
Books and movies are a distraction while working, but I love listening to music. My free motion quilting is a lot better when music is playing, especially songs like Chain of Fools by Aretha Franklin or Shape of You by Ed Sheeran. Other favorites are One Republic, Pink Floyd and Imagine Dragons. For peaceful and focused creativity, I put on the Inner Voices album by R. Carlos Nakai or Morning Phase by Beck.
Do you keep a messy or tidy studio? Or some of both, as the projects ebb and flow?
I'm very organized by nature but juggling different projects in one space leads to a very messy studio. Twice a year (or more), I tidy up my studio and then, of course, can't find anything I'm looking for!
What's your best time to work, when is the creativity really flowing?My mother taught me to hand-sew clothes for my Barbie when I was 6. It was a pair of pants with an elastic waist, and I still remember how hard it was to put in the elastic into that tiny waistband. Then I took sewing classes in school and became hooked.
What's your favorite color to work with? And least favorite color?
My favorite color has always been purple, and I have to exercise restraint or all my quilts and collages would be purple! Quilting has
taught me to love all colors, even the ones I used to hate: green and orange. Now, copper is one of my favorite colors, so go figure! Purple, turquoise and copper are my favorites now.
Do you listen to music or books/movies while working? If so, share a few titles.
Books and movies are a distraction while working, but I love listening to music. My free motion quilting is a lot better when music is playing, especially songs like Chain of Fools by Aretha Franklin or Shape of You by Ed Sheeran. Other favorites are One Republic, Pink Floyd and Imagine Dragons. For peaceful and focused creativity, I put on the Inner Voices album by R. Carlos Nakai or Morning Phase by Beck.
Do you keep a messy or tidy studio? Or some of both, as the projects ebb and flow?
I'm very organized by nature but juggling different projects in one space leads to a very messy studio. Twice a year (or more), I tidy up my studio and then, of course, can't find anything I'm looking for!
Late at night, when most of the world is asleep, is my favorite time to work in the studio. Everything seems so still and quiet, and it's just me and the cats ... no phones ringing, no emails, just fabric and fun.
Where do you find inspiration?
Fabric! Sure, nature is awesomely inspiring and I also love to turn beautiful photos into quilts and collages, but fabric and fiber inspire me more than just about anything. I've heard quilters say that fabric speaks to them, and I agree. It speaks and sometimes even sings to us when we're on the right track creatively.
How do you break through a creativity block?
If I'm having trouble getting started with a project, I go through my best fabric and play with it. I pull them out, open up the coolest ones, pet them and then put them back until one fabric jumps out at me and sparks an idea. But if I'm in the middle of a project and get stuck, just don't know what to do next, I put it away, completely out of sight for at least a few hours preferably overnight. Then I can see it with "fresh eyes" and come up with new ideas. If I'm still stuck that means I haven't put it away long enough. :) Unblocking creativity is just like looking for something I lost -- I'll only find it when looking for something else.
How has creativity been a part of your healing from the car accident…did the physical constraints from that time push you into new paths? Is there a new technique you plan to pursue in the New Year?
Injuries from the car accident in 1992 ended my corporate career and also kept me from machine quilting for seven years. So I started experimenting with fusible web and fabric scraps to make landscape scenes, needing to find something to do with the fabric I kept compulsively buying. Those quick creative projects eased my mind during the long physical recovery, gave me something to do with my hands when I couldn't do much else, and kept depression at bay. Now I am so glad to be quilting again and also have this fun fusing technique that can be applied to many kinds of projects.
In 2018, I want to experiment with making quilts that light up, and will play with more ways to use silk fusion in quilts, collages and vessels.
If I'm having trouble getting started with a project, I go through my best fabric and play with it. I pull them out, open up the coolest ones, pet them and then put them back until one fabric jumps out at me and sparks an idea. But if I'm in the middle of a project and get stuck, just don't know what to do next, I put it away, completely out of sight for at least a few hours preferably overnight. Then I can see it with "fresh eyes" and come up with new ideas. If I'm still stuck that means I haven't put it away long enough. :) Unblocking creativity is just like looking for something I lost -- I'll only find it when looking for something else.
How has creativity been a part of your healing from the car accident…did the physical constraints from that time push you into new paths? Is there a new technique you plan to pursue in the New Year?
Injuries from the car accident in 1992 ended my corporate career and also kept me from machine quilting for seven years. So I started experimenting with fusible web and fabric scraps to make landscape scenes, needing to find something to do with the fabric I kept compulsively buying. Those quick creative projects eased my mind during the long physical recovery, gave me something to do with my hands when I couldn't do much else, and kept depression at bay. Now I am so glad to be quilting again and also have this fun fusing technique that can be applied to many kinds of projects.
In 2018, I want to experiment with making quilts that light up, and will play with more ways to use silk fusion in quilts, collages and vessels.
Stop by on Jan.5, from 5 pm to 8 pm and get acquainted with Debbie and her artistry!
