Debra Quartermain

I have been sewing since I was five when with my little sewing machine beside my Mom I sewed scraps into doll clothes. Not alot of money but lots of creativity, my mom would make herself a dress, me and my doll from recycled fabrics like curtains. (Remember those big floral patterns!)

Jump ahead to university where the big plan was to be an English Professor while still sewing all the time. (Dating myself but purple hotpants and my bright yellow check palazzo pantsuit was fabulous!)
Get married, still sewing up a new home and start selling my sewing. Introduced to embroidery and stitch like a maniac, crewel work, french knot fever! Pick up any craft or sewing project, love getting together with friends to craft and sew. Married still sewing and crafting.

Delightful daughter arrives and I sew everything! from her soft shoes to snowsuit, matching mommy and me outfits of course. Halloween costumes, adorable Alice in Wonderland for her and White Rabbit costume for her Dad. I start doing craft shows with my sewn bears and other items.

Another delightful daughter arrives, still a sewing fool and a year later a single mom with two daughters I make my living from my sewing and crafting.

Jump ahead a couple more years, moved to share a house with studio space and close to a great school in a pretty little village. Encouraged by a very close friend to leap into pattern making and sell worldwide. Off I went to a huge tradeshow now CHA with my five cardboard boxes. Soon my pattern line Homespun Treasures was selling worldwide and Butterick approaches me to license some patterns with them.

For the last few years I have been a designer of sewing and craft projects for magazines and books. My favorite areas of design now are wearables and home decor. I love needle felting and am addicted to that at the moment as well.

Two years ago I partnered up with a friend who is a very talented illustrator and we now design fabric together based on toys from my books. We are at present working on our third line, a more adult fabric but still with fun and whimsy. It has to be fun and make you smile, it makes the journey worthwhile!

So I am a STITCH CHICK with a mission. "Inspiring the JOY of Creativity---1 Stitch at a Time!

My work I love and increasingly I look for more ways to incorporate my work into life to make a difference. I decorate a huge charity event each year as the decorating chair. Funds raised benefit the local Rotary Club and Hospital Foundation. It is also a wonderful event "Festival of Christmas Magic" for families to enjoy.

Recycling around our home has always been important and increasingly looking at ways to recylce and reclaim more items. Using craft and sewing supplies to reclaim items and give them new life is satisfying and a way to keep items out of the landfills.

Inspiring the JOY of Creativity---1 Stitch at a Time! Reclaiming---1 Throwaway at a Time!

Debra