Debra Weiss has followed a lifelong pull to make with her hands. In this interview, she shares how confidence, curiosity, and a deep love of process have shaped her quiet, soulful work and the evolution of Specks & Keepings.
What’s your earliest memory of making something with your hands?
I started making things probably around 8 or 9. My mom sewed Barbie clothes with me. I then learned how to crochet and macrame a few years later.
When did you first realize that creating things was part of who you are?
I always enjoyed the process. I started selling my macrame near Venice Beach, to friends and family. I would make quilts, clothes, and afghans.
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Before Specks & Keepings, what kinds of creative things were you exploring?
I was working and raising 3 kids alone, so most of my creativity was in cooking because we had to eat. Specks and Keepings started as Rebe in 2000. I gave up my day job in 2007 and had to make lots of changes in 2008 after the recession.
How would you describe the heart of your work to someone who has never seen it?
I would describe it as storytelling with textiles. My theme is home and garden, reflecting on personal experiences and life trials.
Your pieces feel so personal and soulful. How did you learn to trust your own style?
In 2012, I did a workshop at Haystack in Maine. We had to bring samples of our work, and I realized that you could tell mine. I had a voice, and from that point on, I became more comfortable calling myself an artist rather than a maker.
What elements of your aesthetic have stayed the same over the years? What has changed or evolved the most?
I think confidence has allowed me to trust myself. My work has become freer. I do not plan but respond to color, pattern, and texture.
Your work often feels quiet and thoughtful. What helps you slow down enough to notice small details?
It’s just responding to what is happening. I take breaks to walk and think. I take lots of photos to look at the shapes differently and allow my subconscious to take over.
How does nature show up in your ideas or materials?
The chaos of nature, the jumbled leaves on the ground, the tree barks are stored in my head, but it’s more the grit of urban life, the geometry of buildings, and the cracked sidewalks.
Describe your creative space.
I work in my apartment, home studio on my dining room table that my dad built. I often like to just play with different materials and techniques that are often used in other works later on. (See the video below with a tour of Debby’s home)
Walk us through a normal day in your studio. What does it feel like when you step inside?
I wake up early, often with my coffee at my table by 5:30 am, and start working for a few hours before actually “starting my day.” I will then take breaks to walk or meet friends and family. Then come back excited to work again.
You work across multiple media. How do you decide what types of projects or techniques you’ll work on in a given day?
I usually start playing with different techniques and materials, and will do several pieces to tell a story or maybe just improve on the method. Then, I am done with the series, and I move on to something else.
I am often inspired to try something when I have acquired new, often gifted materials.
How do you stay organized while letting ideas develop naturally?
I need a clean space to work so I try to put away my things when I complete a piece.
What usually sparks a new piece—an idea, a material, a sketch, or a feeling?
I just jump in with the materials. It’s just the excitement to make.
When a project gets challenging, how do you find your way forward?
I set it aside. I’ve learned it’s okay to step away.
Do you plan things out carefully, or discover the work as you go?
Definitely discover.
How do you know when something is truly “finished”?
I trust my gut. But I’ll hang it, I’ll photograph it, and I’ll let go.
How do you balance the quiet, reflective time needed for making with running a creative business?
I had a clothing business and when I closed it I started making art. Now I divide my time making art and making pieces that are easier to sell. Such as my bracelets or scarves.
What guidance would you give someone who wants to live a more handmade, creative life?
Just trust yourself. There are no mistakes in making, and don’t go into trying to make and complete a project. Enjoying and relaxing into the process is the greatest gift.
Where can people see your work?
I will be showing a piece at Able Artwork in Long Beach, and in a show at College of the Desert in Palm Desert.
I do offer home studio visits when people reach out, and I post regularly on Instagram my daily work. Of course, my website too, specksandkeepings.com