Debbie Slangal has always loved all things Texas. Her grandparents on both sides were here in the Republic of Texas days! She grew up in the Lake Buchanan area, went to school in Llano, then on to UT and became an RN where she worked in surgery in San Antonio. She and her husband, Charlie, tend their cattle, garden and live on what she calls...Cow Patty Ranch!!

In 1998, Debbie's brother bought her a Christmas scroll saw ornament, and she was intrigued. She took a scroll saw class in 1999 and then practiced, practiced. Charlie bought her a scroll saw and she started working with Baltic birch wood, (had a mentor in Blanco, Texas, named Doris Phipps). Then she discovered the beauty of Texas mesquite wood and now that is all she uses and some even came from her own ranch. She even designs a lot of her ornaments. She absolutely loves the swirls, knots, colors of mesquite...no two mesquite woods are the same. She perfected her style of hand sanding every edge of the ornament and uses a special oil to bring out the true beauty of the mesquite.

Debbie won best of woodworking division at the Burnet Co Fair in 2014 and BEST of Theme, which was Texas, at the 2015 Fair. She is also known for her photography and worked for the local papers for 5 years as event photographer. She won Best of Photography division twice at the Fair in Burnet. Right now, she is busy putting in a spring garden and taking photos of all the beautiful wildflowers popping up everywhere!!

Her work is for sale at the Buchanan Arts & Crafts Gallery, Wednesday - Sunday. Also, she will have her ornaments on display at their booth during the Bluebonnet Festival on the square, the second weekend in April.

Come see all their members original works during the Festival!!