Debbie Avati

When I was 3 years old I loved exploring fields and flowers and drawing pictures. My father would bring home huge piles of computer paper for me to draw on.  At age 11, my family moved to Pearl River New York.  An older girl next door liked to oil paint and gave me my first painting lessons. In high school I had a great art teacher, Mr. Tinurelli.  He taught me sound art theories and gave me opportunities to explore my interests in painting and sculpture.

I went to Ricks College in Idaho for my first year, studying figure drawing, painting and sculpture.  My second year I attended BYU where I studied sculpture. On Dec. 13, 1973 halfway through my third year my mother and sister were killed in a car crash. I went home immediately and stayed to help my dad and little sisters until the next fall when I enrolled in an art courses at Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts.  The next year I returned to BYU for one more year. The following year I moved to New York City to study art at the Art Student's League. In 1977 I went to the U of U for the studio art program. I left school again in 1978 to get married to James Avati, a very talented sculptor.  In 1989 I returned to the U of U and finished my Bachelor's Degree which I received in 1993.

I began illustrating in 1993 for The Story Teller, now Story Time Felts, Inc. and have enjoyed it very much.  I also love to paint landscapes in oil.  I've sold a couple of paintings and have won several awards. James and Debbie reside in Salt Lake City, UT and have four children.

Jenni & Heber
Sheffield

Heber and Jennifer (Jenni) Sheffield work together to create a variety of Illustrations for Story Time Felts.  They are easily recognized for their intense colors and their zany bug characters found in the Hostess Specials for 2008.    

Jenni was first recognized as an artist by her second grade teacher that wrote on Jenni's report card that she needed to spend more time working on her school work and less time doodling.  Jenni  began taking private art lessons in the 6th grade and has been creating art ever since.  She tells her family and friends, I love to create anything with my hands.  It is addicting.  

 Mrs. Sheffield received her Associate Degree in Arts and Sciences at Ricks College in August 2001.  She also went on to earn her Bachelor of Fine Art Degree at Brigham Young University in December 2007.  Jenni loves a multitude of mediums to work in, but she primarily uses ink, watercolor and prisma pencil in her illustrations at Story Time Felts.  She loves bright colors and interesting shapes. Jenni has even experimented with miniature sculpture work and has created a variety of original Ellee statues that can be seen at her blog: elephantshrunkart.blogspot.com.

Heber studied Computer Science at Brigham Young University and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in August 2008.  He loves drawing cartoons and designing crazy characters.  Many of the character ideas in the Hostess Specials for 2008 were inspired by Heber.

Heber and Jenni Sheffield live in Lindon, Utah. They are excited and honored to have the opportunity of working at Story Time Felts. They would love to hear your feedback at jennirsheffield@gmail.com