Member Spotlight | Debbie Myers

We love encouraging our members' creativity and while kits are a fantastic and relaxing way to produce a beautiful finished piece, what we really want is for you to feel comfortable creating your own designs.

To help encourage this, we decided to create the Member Spotlight series, to give our members a chance to talk through their creative practice, including their process, tools, and how they build up the confidence to push through any blocks.

Hopefully the answers and photos shared in this section will help you feel inspired to persevere with your own work, and maybe one day to be featured in our Studio Dispatch to help encourage other members!

A little about Debbie...​Debbie Myers is one of our Explorer members. She loves to create and try new things (embroidery is her latest passion). She creates just for herself rather than for work, so we wanted to feature her to encourage you to play and try to create for the simple joy of it. ​

Here's a little introduction from Debbie in her own words:​

"I am at the age where I can’t remember why I opened the fridge or walked into a room.

"​I have two creative settings - Procrastination and All Consuming. The only time I'm not overthinking (aside from binge watching a good detective series) is when I’m using my hands to make something.​

"I enjoy the challenge of learning a new craft - I’m not a master of any but I am getting to be quite good at a few."

What are you working on at the moment?

I’ve just finished my first embroidery that I designed myself and I’m tickled pink with it!​

Do you tend to work on one project at a time or have multiple things on the go?

I have ideas for different projects always buzzing around my head, but I’ve found through bitter experience that I can only really commit to one thing at a time. Too often I’d end up falling out of love with one of the items and it would meet its end consigned to a sad carrier bag in the cupboard of shame.​​

What would you like to make next?​

I have my next project lined up – I bought two sweet, recycled, decorative plates a few months ago that make me smile. I received some ceramic paints for my birthday (big hints were made) and I’ve purchased a few vintage plates from charity shops. The second I have a lightning bolt of inspiration as to what to paint on them, I’ll be ready to go.​

How do you fit creativity and crafting into your life? Do you find it hard to find the time to make things?​

I have a day job, which I do often use as an excuse not to create. But in truth once I’m immersed in something I will find the time. Weirdly my house is often tidier if I am engaged in a creative pursuit. I’ll just get on with the chores and then I reward myself with some guilt free time to stitch or paint.​

Do you keep a sketchbook? If not, do you have other means of practicing, storing and refining ideas?​

I do own a few sketchbooks but rarely use them for sketches. I find blank pages intimidating; I think it is the need to create something that looks beautiful that holds me back from making the first tentative marks.​

Instead, I start with “the Inspiration” which may be a photograph, post card, piece of fabric, whatever. Then I might add a painting or drawing - I do these on scraps of paper, sometimes patterned, sometimes newsprint. I collage the pages with my ideas. I can then happily fill the spaces between until I have a page full of images that I can reference in the future. At this stage I usually have absolutely no idea what I will use them for but that’s ok. I enjoy the childlike process of cutting, sticking and doodling just for the joy of doing it.

What advice would you offer to others who are worried about sharing their work?

Often my projects are solitary pursuits and that can be the beauty of them! But there are times when I’ve been unsure or indecisive or just lacked confidence, in those moments, having a support group can be invaluable.​

Many years ago, in the early days of social media I belonged to a Facebook Group that had only 3 members (I have 2 sisters who shared my love of all things handmade). This was our safe space to share our ideas, work-in-progress, our “Tada” moments and anything that caught our eye. Although we rarely worked with the same medium at the same time, we were always ready with a word of encouragement or an opinion (kindly given) I genuinely loved to share my work as much as I loved seeing theirs.

Social media doesn’t have to be about the number of “likes” that are to be obsessed over. It can just be an aid to finding your people to share your passion with.

Where do you tend to look for inspiration? And how do you keep track of it - physically, digitally, or just in your head?

I think I’m quite fortunate in that I see everything around me, not so fortunate for anyone travelling with me! I am a chronic dawdler, stopping to photograph odd locks, carved doors, interesting tiles…. in fact, interesting anything and everything. I’m drawn to colour and pattern combinations wherever I go. The photo library on my phone is full of the most random images with the occasional happy snap of my holidays.

Do you tend to plan out a piece in detail beforehand, or do you prefer to make it up as you go?

Once I have an idea, I quickly fall into planning mode (I rarely start anything without full knowledge of what it’s going to look like finished) for two reasons.​

Firstly - the experimentation phase where I can try out different designs. I really love this part of the process. Practicing new skills is always time well spent even if it’s challenging. I keep little workbooks for this and often make small mock ups. For my embroidery I tried out different stitches and colour combinations. For the frame I cut up cardboard in strips the same width as the frame to try out each idea and see how each worked with the embroidery before I committed to the final design.​

Secondly - I really DON’T enjoy correcting “mistakes”. I loathe sanding, unpicking or unsticking. I have no patience for any of these things. So, knowing my limitations, I take care not to risk it!

Do you have a favourite medium (e.g. embroidery, quilting, painting, printing, inks, oils, clay...) and what is it about that medium that you like?​

Usually, my favourite medium is whatever I am using at the time. But I do return to mosaics/ stained glass because the materials are just inherently beautiful. I would love to make a table for the garden. It’s at the top of my things I’m going to do in retirement list.​

Is there a piece you have made that you feel particularly proud of?​

I decided to paint my bedroom furniture because the suite was tired and unfashionable, but I liked the shape, and it was still very serviceable. I told myself, “I could always paint over it”, which meant I had nothing to lose.​

It took hours but I loved every minute of the process. I am proud of the finished wardrobes and thankfully no sanding was necessary. (I know they don’t match – they are in different rooms.)

Do you have any activities which you turn to when feeling creatively blocked or stuck in a rut?

When I am stuck in a rut, I actively seek out something I’ve never tried before or sign up for a workshop. Learning a new skill from someone who is enthusiastic/knowledgeable about their craft, can be a fantastic experience.​

At the very least this can be an absorbing activity to while away a few hours in the company of other people and at best may ignite a newfound passion for me!