Debbie Maddy

Debbie’s first love has always been fiber of all sorts. She has been and still is an avid garment seamstress as well as quilter. She has enjoyed most of the crafts using a needle and thread of some sort to include embroidery, appliqué, needlepoint, pulled thread and drawn thread work. Debbie has been quilting over 35 years, pattern designing for 15 years and teaching/lecturing for 20 years. She has been featured on national television as well as online classes.

Debbie’s most recent endeavors have been in the world of fabric and fiber dyeing of all kinds but most specifically Shibori and Indigo dyeing. In order to learn to try and master the shibori and indigo dyeing techniques to the best of her abilities, she has studied under some of the most prestigious artists in Japan, England and the US. She will never be a master shibori artist or indigo dyer but loves the entire process. In order to learn from the original masters, Debbie has traveled to Japan for two extended trips for study. She has been taught how to pleat, fold and stitch for Katano shibori. On her last trip she was very fortunate to see the art by Mokohiko Katano. Debbie has studied with a master katazome dyer. While in Japan she was taught all methods of shibori except itajimi. At home in her studio Debbie does all the necessary and very time-consuming stitching, folding and wrapping of the fabrics. She then dyes the fabrics in natural indigo vats. After the fabric is finished, it is sent to Japan to a mill owned by Japanese people and is reproduced to the highest standards. In 2019 Debbie visited the mill owner in Kyoto. Debbie is very impressed with the kindness and gift of sharing that she has experienced from the Japanese people. Japan is a beautiful county with inspiration everywhere and thoughtful and caring people. She hopes to return to study more. We all hope you will enjoy the fabrics.

Debbie loves traveling to teach and speak for guilds and shops around the country. She dyes and sells items to wear and decorate with and is thrilled and honored to be a part of the Dakota Textiles designer family. Debbie also loves the art of jewelry making, especially working with sterling silver and vintage elements. She searches for vintage elements wherever she travels. She hopes to meet you on her journey.