We were lucky to catch up with Debra Weiss recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Debra thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I always made things but when I saw my eldest daughters art talent I wanted to show them by example how to follow your passion.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I have been making things all my life or at least for greater than 50 years now. I started a business designing wearables in 2000 partly to show my daughters as a single parent you can still go after your passion. In 2019 I decided to shift from designing clothes to releasing my designs as home sewing patterns. I collaborated with sew liberated for the first 3 in 2020 and 2021. I know have 3 more on my site, specksandkeepings.com and hopefully will have at least 20 designs eventually released for folks to make. I also set my goal to work on my art, showing with Ca.Fibers and teaching with Vawaa and on my own along with others. It is a journey living alone and supporting yourself on your art but how much greater a joy can one have them being able to daily dive into your passion.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I have had to make several changes in the last 2 decades but one that was an extreme impact was 2008. I had moved away from my day job doing ultrasound to focus on my clothing business. 2008 recession effected the many boutiques I sold to and impacted my business. I eventually had to suck up my pride, so a bankruptcy and redirect my business model. There are no regrets because it landed me in a place to allow my art to flourish.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Mostly I want to touch folks. My work is based on my personal experiences and I often have others share they relate. I believe in our lifetime the goal is to impact others. To give them courage to face everyday by setting an example and speaking up that we are not alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: Specksandkeepings.com
- Instagram: @specksandkeepings