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Meet
Debra Feece

the author of Folk Art Fun - Mini Quilts and More!

by Jack Braunstein

Sewing since she was five-years old, Debra taught herself to quilt when she was 17. Her first quilt was a Pineapple pattern that she saw in a magazine. "This was in the early 1970s, so I used templates and cut out all the pieces with scissors. Techniques sure have changed since then," she notes. A whiz in math, she began reading quilting books and needlecraft magazines from cover to cover, especially the directions. "By studying how a quilt was constructed, I used to feel I had made one," Debra says with a chuckle because she now realizes this was not a substitute for working with actual fabrics and ending up with a tangible product.

When Debra first got married in her mid-20s, she belonged to the Red Rose Guild in Lancaster County. There, she met Effie Eshelman, to whom she feels indebted for teaching her how to hand quilt. Debra visited an Amish farm in the area to learn a special knot for tying a quilt. When she got snowed in there and spent the entire day tying quilts in between meals, she felt as if she had stepped back in time.

Debra admires the Amish lifestyle because she has always been drawn to simplicity of all forms. This is why her home is adorned with primitive antique furniture, antique utility quilts, and folk art. Debra's tastes are reflected in her work. When she designed the folk art series in Issue 43-48 of Miniature Quilts, the response was so positive that she was inspired to write the book Folk Art Fun - Mini Quilts and More! (Chitra Publications, 2002). It, too, has been received exceptionally well.

But this profile wouldn't be complete without mentioning what Debra cherishes most: her family. She taught her daughters Marissa and Caitlin to sew when they were five. Now 18 and 16, both are showing signs of becoming avid quilters. Caitlin has made numerous doll quilts and several full-size ones. One of her quilts was featured in Miniature Quilts and another one is a project in her mom's book. Marissa, a talented painter, already is creating gorgeous quilts that reveal a distinct style. It's time we mentioned Dennis, the man of the house. Surrounded by such talented quilters (and fabric, of course!), he encourages all their quilting endeavors.

Debra's book Folk Art Fun - Mini Quilts and More! is available in our online Quilt Shop.  Click on the book title above or call us toll-free at (800)628-8244 to place your order.

To view the quilts found in this book, visit Debra's Folk Art Fun Gallery. 

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