About

Hi, I'm Debi, wearer of all hats--cowgirl and otherwise--here at Thread West.
The “otherwise” is my new venture into designing quilt patterns! My first pattern release is now in my etsy shop.

More quilt and table runner patterns are in development, so stay tuned. No worries, though—I’m not abandoning handbag design. 2022 will find me revisiting my earlier handbag patterns (both western and non-western), finishing prototypes that haven’t yet been revealed, and adding more quilting patterns.

I grew up on a ranch in Oklahoma, and at fifteen, landed a job in the first fabric shop to open in my small hometown. It was a dream job for someone who loves finding the perfect combination of color and pattern to create a distinctive piece. 

While still in high school, I was sewing wedding gowns and men's sports coats (as well as pantsuits, prom gowns, Easter dress and coat ensembles...you get the idea). Often, I would combine and alter up to three patterns to achieve the precise look I was striving for.

I’m a published writer in both the western and mystery genres (and, some scrap of the west usually finds its way into my mysteries). It’s no surprise, then, that after making a western handbag to donate to the Western Writers of America Homestead Auction, and from that, getting a commission to design an original, I was hooked. Much like writing, you grab the ideas when they hit you, and write them down before they escape your grasp.

I spend many hours on design and pattern making, so that you receive something original, different from the herd. I’m fine-tuning prototypes now, but I'm particular, so it takes awhile. In the works are a couple of crossbody bags, as well as elegant evening bags with western flair.