Debbie Nelson

Debbie Nelson
The Karakul bag Debbie is carrying in her picture was the bag made at the Fiberfest '98. It has two pockets inside and one outside, the outside one is trimmed with Mohair Curl fringe. The wooden rings for the strap were felted in. The strap is a belt blank. While Debbie was felting this bag, she was fielding questions from the many people who visited Fiberfest '98.		Debbie Nelson was first introduced to the fiber arts at an early age, when her Aunt taught her to knit on pencils. She has worked in crochet, knitting, beadwork, pieced clothing and most aspects of wearable art. She is a hand Spinner and Weaver. Debbie is a member of The Greater Los Angeles Weaving Guild, Designing Weavers, Santa Barbara Fiber Arts, Ventura Guild and the Wearable Art Connection. She is a member of the The North American Felter’s Network and the Felter’s List. Her formal education was obtained at Brigham Young University, where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising and Public Relations. Feeling constrained by the linear structure of weaving and intrigued by the "watercolor" images created by felt, she became enthralled with the art of feltmaking, along with the physical exertions involved in the process. Debbie has studied with several of the country’s most advanced felters, Beth Beede and Pat Spark. She has recently studied with the "Celtic Felters" from Scotland and Ireland and Polly Stirling Australia. Debbie attended the 1st Annual North American Felter’s Extravaganza last year in Oregon. Currently, she is studying watercolor and photography to enhance her felted designs. She is excited to share the wonders of creating cloth from raw materials and the Weavers’ Cottage feels very lucky to have her teach for us