About Me
I am a fiber artist who cherishes creating, nature, & connections.
Heritage Connection
I find it amazing that a tiny thread can hold much larger pieces of fabric together. In a similar way, the thread of creativity runs through my family heritage. As a fiber artist, I love that analogy. My grandmother crocheted and made intricate tatting (not tattoos but delicate lace) to decorate their home. Although my mother claimed to hate sewing, she made hand-quilted bed covers for me and my two siblings when we were 18 and leaving for college. My father and uncle were woodworkers, and another uncle made his living as a full-time working artist. Like my ancestors, I find joy in creating and cherish that thread of connection.
After 30 years of teaching & administration in the field of early intervention, I treasure having more time to create. My life paths converged with my son and first granddaughter, who brought together my love of children, creativity and nature. My granddaughter loves being outside as much as she loves drawing and painting… at age 2!
Creativity Connection
I experimented for years with stained glass, embossed metal, crochet and pottery. I made my first quilt for my son when he was a child, about 25 years ago. As soon as I finished the quilt I discovered art quilts. I was excited about creating art quilts because they offered mixed media opportunities, wide-open with possibilities. The subject of my fiber art quilts was always nature, especially mountains, trees, and the sun & stars. After years of making art quilts, I learned the complex process of enhanced botanical contact prints, also known as ecoprints. I fell in love with fiber art even more! I’ve taken many classes from teachers around the world to learn unique techniques regarding the ecoprinting process. As a life-long learner, I took additional classes and discovered that adding rust and natural dyes elevates the ecoprints , especially when paired with fine materials such as silk, linen or gold leaf.
Nature Connection
My parents found joy spending time with family and friends in nature. They worked in the garden and went on frequent camping trips to the beach or mountains. Because of the large amount of time that I spent outside, trees became my canopy and the subject of my fiber art. I love walking outside & collecting leaves, then bringing them back inside to my amazing art studio to make botanical contact prints. My art loft has huge windows… it’s like living in a treehouse overlooking a mountain full of life. My love of nature has a compelling influence on my fiber art. One of my favorite things to do is to sit on my front porch and hand sew while watching wildlife, the breeze moving leaves and the sun filtering through the trees. I also enjoy gardening and I’m experimenting with growing plants and learning about invasive species for botanical contact prints.
I’m always learning and developing new processes, so subscribe to my list for updates!
Debbie Gebbie, Fiber Artist; MS, Child & Family Studies
Heritage Connection
I find it amazing that a tiny thread can hold much larger pieces of fabric together. In a similar way, the thread of creativity runs through my family heritage. As a fiber artist, I love that analogy. My grandmother crocheted and made intricate tatting (not tattoos but delicate lace) to decorate their home. Although my mother claimed to hate sewing, she made hand-quilted bed covers for me and my two siblings when we were 18 and leaving for college. My father and uncle were woodworkers, and another uncle made his living as a full-time working artist. Like my ancestors, I find joy in creating and cherish that thread of connection.
After 30 years of teaching & administration in the field of early intervention, I treasure having more time to create. My life paths converged with my son and first granddaughter, who brought together my love of children, creativity and nature. My granddaughter loves being outside as much as she loves drawing and painting… at age 2!
Creativity Connection
I experimented for years with stained glass, embossed metal, crochet and pottery. I made my first quilt for my son when he was a child, about 25 years ago. As soon as I finished the quilt I discovered art quilts. I was excited about creating art quilts because they offered mixed media opportunities, wide-open with possibilities. The subject of my fiber art quilts was always nature, especially mountains, trees, and the sun & stars. After years of making art quilts, I learned the complex process of enhanced botanical contact prints, also known as ecoprints. I fell in love with fiber art even more! I’ve taken many classes from teachers around the world to learn unique techniques regarding the ecoprinting process. As a life-long learner, I took additional classes and discovered that adding rust and natural dyes elevates the ecoprints , especially when paired with fine materials such as silk, linen or gold leaf.
Nature Connection
My parents found joy spending time with family and friends in nature. They worked in the garden and went on frequent camping trips to the beach or mountains. Because of the large amount of time that I spent outside, trees became my canopy and the subject of my fiber art. I love walking outside & collecting leaves, then bringing them back inside to my amazing art studio to make botanical contact prints. My art loft has huge windows… it’s like living in a treehouse overlooking a mountain full of life. My love of nature has a compelling influence on my fiber art. One of my favorite things to do is to sit on my front porch and hand sew while watching wildlife, the breeze moving leaves and the sun filtering through the trees. I also enjoy gardening and I’m experimenting with growing plants and learning about invasive species for botanical contact prints.
I’m always learning and developing new processes, so subscribe to my list for updates!
Debbie Gebbie, Fiber Artist; MS, Child & Family Studies
Artist Resume
Debbie Gebbie, Fiber Artist, Asheville, North Carolina
DebbbieGebbie.com; DebbieGebbieArt@gmail.com
EDUCATION
Creative Strength Training by Jane Dunnewold (2021); Created to Thrive Mentoring by Matt Tommey (2019-Present); Ecoprinting classes by Jane Dunnewold, India Flint, Irit Dulman, Caroline Nixon, Bridget Benton, Nicola Brown; Embroidery classes by Mirjam Gielem, Hanny Newton and Sue Spargo; Maiwa School of Textiles; John Campbell Folk School and Numerous Additional Art Trainings.
University of North Carolina, Charlotte M.Ed., Child & Family StudiesAppalachian State University, B.S., Special Education.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 “Slow Down & See”, Threefold: The Art of the Triptych by Mountain Art Quilters Group, Virtual Exhibit: https://mountainartquilters.wordpress.com/
2021 “Ridge Rest”, Let the Sun Shine In, by Studio Art Quilt Associates: SAQA, Curated by Robin L. Haller, Associate Professor, Textile Design, East Carolina University; Virtual Exhibit: https://www.saqa.com/regions/virginia-north-carolina
October 25 - December 24, 2022 at the Virginia Quilt Museum; February 23 – 26, 2023 at the Mancuso Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival.
2019 “Blessings”, Seasons of Green, by Mountain Art Quilters Group at Church Street Gallery, Central UMC, Asheville NC.
2018 “I Know the Plans” and “Radical Joy”, by Mountain Art Quilters Group at Church Street Gallery, Central UMC, Asheville, NC.
AWARDS
2019 “Be Still”, Asheville Quilt Show, Honorable Mention in Member Category, Theme: Star Struck.
2018 “Radical Joy“, Asheville Quilt Show, 2nd Place in Member Category, Theme: Me, Myself & I.
2017 “I Lift Up My Eyes”, Asheville Quilt Show, 3rd Place in Member Category, Theme: All Things Bright & Beautiful.
PUBLICATIONS
2021 Selected work, “Slow Down & See” Tryptic, featured in “Collaborate with Mother Nature: Botanical Printing with a Heat Press” by Jane Dunnewold.
2019 Selected works featured in “Best of Both Worlds: Enhanced Botanical Printing” by Jane Dunnewold.
MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
Asheville Quilt Guild; Studio Art Quilt Associates: SAQA; Mountain Art Quilters; Local Cloth, Inc.; Creative Strength Training, Topical Group: Playing with Ideation and Abstractions.
DebbbieGebbie.com; DebbieGebbieArt@gmail.com
EDUCATION
Creative Strength Training by Jane Dunnewold (2021); Created to Thrive Mentoring by Matt Tommey (2019-Present); Ecoprinting classes by Jane Dunnewold, India Flint, Irit Dulman, Caroline Nixon, Bridget Benton, Nicola Brown; Embroidery classes by Mirjam Gielem, Hanny Newton and Sue Spargo; Maiwa School of Textiles; John Campbell Folk School and Numerous Additional Art Trainings.
University of North Carolina, Charlotte M.Ed., Child & Family StudiesAppalachian State University, B.S., Special Education.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 “Slow Down & See”, Threefold: The Art of the Triptych by Mountain Art Quilters Group, Virtual Exhibit: https://mountainartquilters.wordpress.com/
2021 “Ridge Rest”, Let the Sun Shine In, by Studio Art Quilt Associates: SAQA, Curated by Robin L. Haller, Associate Professor, Textile Design, East Carolina University; Virtual Exhibit: https://www.saqa.com/regions/virginia-north-carolina
October 25 - December 24, 2022 at the Virginia Quilt Museum; February 23 – 26, 2023 at the Mancuso Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival.
2019 “Blessings”, Seasons of Green, by Mountain Art Quilters Group at Church Street Gallery, Central UMC, Asheville NC.
2018 “I Know the Plans” and “Radical Joy”, by Mountain Art Quilters Group at Church Street Gallery, Central UMC, Asheville, NC.
AWARDS
2019 “Be Still”, Asheville Quilt Show, Honorable Mention in Member Category, Theme: Star Struck.
2018 “Radical Joy“, Asheville Quilt Show, 2nd Place in Member Category, Theme: Me, Myself & I.
2017 “I Lift Up My Eyes”, Asheville Quilt Show, 3rd Place in Member Category, Theme: All Things Bright & Beautiful.
PUBLICATIONS
2021 Selected work, “Slow Down & See” Tryptic, featured in “Collaborate with Mother Nature: Botanical Printing with a Heat Press” by Jane Dunnewold.
2019 Selected works featured in “Best of Both Worlds: Enhanced Botanical Printing” by Jane Dunnewold.
MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
Asheville Quilt Guild; Studio Art Quilt Associates: SAQA; Mountain Art Quilters; Local Cloth, Inc.; Creative Strength Training, Topical Group: Playing with Ideation and Abstractions.