October, 2006

Ami Simms

Ami Simms is a well known international quilt teacher and author of eight books on quilting.  She has been leading workshops and giving lectures on quilting throughout the United States since 1982.  Ami was named 2005 Teacher of the Year by Professional Quilter Magazine.  Ami was gracious enough to answer a few questions for our website.  Check out her website at www.amisimms.com .  Don’t miss her latest venture in raising money for Alzheimer research.  She also sends out a monthly newsletter which makes me chuckle each month.  Sign up for her newsletter through the website.

1.      How did you get started in quilting?

I studied the Old Order Amish when I was a college junior for an undergraduate degree in anthropology. My first contact with the family I eventually stayed with was at a barn raising. The second was at a quilting bee. I bled all over their quilt.

2.     What accomplishments are you most proud of?

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative, a grassroots effort I founded this year to raise awareness and fund research. We've raised over $12,000 since January and just began touring a 52-quilt exhibit around the country. It will be seen (hopefully) by half a million people during the next 3 years. See www.AlzQuilts.org to see what it's all about.

3.     Have you ever put one of your quilted pieces in a quilt show?

Yes, many times.

4.     Finish these sentences.

I still can’t get the hang of . . . 24 hours in a day. I'd like double, please. Everything I do seems to take longer than I think it will.

 The biggest enemy of creativity is . . . fear of making a "mistake."

5.     What was your worst quilting disaster? Hard to narrow it down to just one…

Early on I was using bed sheets for backing, so I didn't have to piece the backs of my quilts. Except I was too cheap to buy a king sized sheet so I seamed to twins together, and often had to add a third twin sheet. Brilliant

Years after the quilt was finished, I realized I had hand quilted through one of the sheet labels. I didn't even know it at the time. 

Then there was the time I put TWO layers of Super Fluff batting in a quilt. It was like quilting through a sanitary napkin.

6.     Which quilter’s work do you most admire and why?

I love Diane Gaudynsky's machine quilting, Sue Nickel's applique, Marsha McCloskey's precision piecing, Becky Goldsmith's design and color, Sharyn Craig's "what if" attitude, Paula Nadelstern's dramatic flair, Ricky Tims' showmanship, Bethany Reynold's energy, John Flynn's dry humor, Charlotte War Anderson's pictorial magic….so many more…

7.     What creative endeavor do you plan to learn next?

I want to keep experimenting with small scale pieces. The Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts give me a perfect "canvas" to try new techniques with less risk and they make me feel terrific knowing that I'm helping others. I'm about to get a new Bernina sewing machine. I can't wait to see what that baby can do!

8.     What advice would you give to someone starting out in quilting?

Have fun!

Please invite your readers to visit my web site and sign up for my free monthly newsletter.

Thanks,

Ami