It's all about me...me...me
My name is Ashley and I'm an airframe design engineer who loves to quilt. I live in sunny Palm Bay, FL with my fiance Ryan, my dog Willow, and my cat KC (none of whom are allowed in my sewing studio, heehee).
I moved to Florida to attend Florida Institute of Technology and complete a degree in Aerospace Engineering. Once I got my degree I loved it so much I wanted to stay here. Living in Florida, most of my hobbies are outdoors, such as rock climbing, wakeboarding, running and triathlons. But I felt like something was missing...I had always been interested in more artistic hobbies but I'm not good at drawing, painting or anything of the sort.
In 2007, I asked Ryan what he wanted for Christmas. His response: A Volkswagen bedspread. I searched high and I searched low and couldn't find a VW blanket anywhere. After a few weeks of searching, my stubbornness kicked in...I thought "if I can't buy one, I'll make one. Sewing doesn't seem very hard" (keep in mind I had never sewn more than a button before and did not own a sewing machine). I went to work carefully drawing up the specifications for my original design (here's where the engineering comes in handy), calculating the required fabric and making a tools list. I carefully documented every step of the way, even my mistakes and 250hrs later I was rewarded with a beautiful hand pieced, hand quilted Volkswagen bedspread. I learned a lot about quilting and sewing during this project and made some important realizations:
Now, I have a bedroom devoted to my sewing (I call it the "Quilting Haven") and I am constantly making quilted gifts for friends and family. I've made everything from a re-usable coffee sleeve to a monogrammed bed quilt - I love a challenge. I never seem to have much listed in my Etsy shop because I keep filling up my calendar with projects for friends and friends-of-friends. But 2012 is a new year and I hope to focus more effort on filling my shop and exposing more people to my fun and wonderful creations. Feel free to contact me with any special requests. You can reach me via facebook or an Etsy message. Now it's time to get back to sewing!
~~Ash
I moved to Florida to attend Florida Institute of Technology and complete a degree in Aerospace Engineering. Once I got my degree I loved it so much I wanted to stay here. Living in Florida, most of my hobbies are outdoors, such as rock climbing, wakeboarding, running and triathlons. But I felt like something was missing...I had always been interested in more artistic hobbies but I'm not good at drawing, painting or anything of the sort.
In 2007, I asked Ryan what he wanted for Christmas. His response: A Volkswagen bedspread. I searched high and I searched low and couldn't find a VW blanket anywhere. After a few weeks of searching, my stubbornness kicked in...I thought "if I can't buy one, I'll make one. Sewing doesn't seem very hard" (keep in mind I had never sewn more than a button before and did not own a sewing machine). I went to work carefully drawing up the specifications for my original design (here's where the engineering comes in handy), calculating the required fabric and making a tools list. I carefully documented every step of the way, even my mistakes and 250hrs later I was rewarded with a beautiful hand pieced, hand quilted Volkswagen bedspread. I learned a lot about quilting and sewing during this project and made some important realizations:
- I needed a sewing machine
- When making a quilt, you don't have to follow the rules, you can make up the rules as you go along
- Any fabrics can look good together when arranged properly in a quilt
- I wanted to spend every free moment learning new techniques
Now, I have a bedroom devoted to my sewing (I call it the "Quilting Haven") and I am constantly making quilted gifts for friends and family. I've made everything from a re-usable coffee sleeve to a monogrammed bed quilt - I love a challenge. I never seem to have much listed in my Etsy shop because I keep filling up my calendar with projects for friends and friends-of-friends. But 2012 is a new year and I hope to focus more effort on filling my shop and exposing more people to my fun and wonderful creations. Feel free to contact me with any special requests. You can reach me via facebook or an Etsy message. Now it's time to get back to sewing!
~~Ash
