Debbie Dempsey
I inherited my love of fabric arts from generations of amazing makers… great-grandmother’s tatting and lace drapes our Christmas tree, grandfather’s upholstery, grandmother’s silk cutwork, and also my mother’s personally tailored apparel. Each of them saved scraps! I was a very eager apprentice, first by hand, and then was gifted my own machine at age 12, and have been a forever learner.
Chicago born and bred, I was employed by IBM to teach systems management. Married, built a new home, and I desired a quilt for the cold winter nights. The only “quilt shop” within 75 miles was incredibly stocked and hung a few quilt samples, but no books, no classes. I did buy fabric, and with my grandfather’s help, meticulously rip-stripped and sewed my first log cabin quilt from a picture in McCall’s magazine! So began my passion for quilting from traditional to whimsical, pieced to appliquéd.
A mother of four, I sewed during naps and late into the evening. I moved to Virginia and started an interior design business. Clients saw my quilts and soon quilt commissions paid for my fascination of fabric, threads and accoutrements. I joined guilds, took classes, and have a fabulous library devoted to my passion.
Elly Sienkiewicz was my mentor and encouraged me to teach. I taught at local shops, in my home, and also did trunk shows and workshops for guilds. My mother, a teacher for 42 yrs. added more wisdom: that I should teach sewing to middle-schoolers. I went on to earn 2 masters degrees and recently retired my 30 year career in Family and Consumer Sciences.
I truly enjoy teaching, learning and sharing tips, tools and techniques. Most of all, I delight in students’ “ah-ha” moments and helping them get inspired to create with new skill sets and design processes. My motto is “each one, reach one, teach one’.
My quilts have been published, exhibited in museums, local and international venues. I am a member of Studio Art Quilt Associates, Embroiderers’ Guild of America and my local quilt guild.
When not creating with fabric, I am creating memories with my husband, children and their spouses, 9 grand-darlings and 2 hounds in Oak Hill, Virginia.