Debi Petriscak-Onken

I think I've always been drawn to creating things. I've always wished I had the ability to draw well. As a much younger person I wrote a lot of poetry. Not great poetry, but it was my main creative outlet for a long time. I've been attracted to many art forms that I've never really spent time with including pottery and even woodworking.

Back in the 80's my sister started tole painting and so I got into that.

Then a friend showed me this project using fabric, acrylic paints and creating your own stencils and I got an idea for a gift for my father which led me to my first quilt store experience. And there I met the gateway drug "fabric".

In the end it is all about working with color, shape and texture. Interestingly I have met a lot of other health care and other STEM type folks involved in quilting. I think it is a hobby that appeals to both sides of the brain. There is a certain amount of "math" or "engineering" and a certain precision that comes with quilting in addition to all the beautiful color and texture.

Quilting is my main passion. I've enjoyed tole painting and fused glass. Having recently returned from Barcelona, I'm very curious about trying my hand at trencadis, which is a type of mosaic work.