Debi's mother put her in private art lessons when she was in fourth grade, and she was instantly hooked. Because her mother was always trying a new art hobby Debi was too. When she was 23, she and her mother started pottery lessons. Her mother stuck with pottery until she was 86, while Debi just dabbled at pottery trying other mediums until 2003. That’s when she discovered silver smithing. She was working full time yet would go to Jackson Wyoming to the Art Association every weekend to take lessons. When she retired, Debi went to Portland Oregon to Multnomah Parks and Recreation to immerse in metal smithing and jewelry making for three months taking seven classes and two workshops from wonderful instructors. Next she went to Ghost Ranch in New Mexico to learn how to do inlay work and went back seven times to improve her skills and learn from other jewelers. Before returning to Wyoming, she went to Florence Italy to learn to work with gold with a retired gold smith. Debi teaches beginning and intermediate metal smithing at BOCES to share what she has learned and see what direction others go with their work. She still takes classes and workshops herself to improve and learn new skills. She also takes commission work from time to time to give herself new challenges. Debi doesn’t do production work and only uses higher quality material.