Meet Amy Davidson

Goodrich, Michigan

All photos courtesy of Amy Davidson (You might recognize them from the fronts of her patterns!).  Click on quilt photos to enlarge.

 
I first heard about Amy Davidson from one of our Quilty Girls, Janet Howse.  Janet describes Amy as “ a terrific quilter and teacher AND one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet!”  I couldn’t agree more. I hope you’ll sit back and enjoy getting to know more about Amy Davidson of Humble Bee Quilt Works.


Amy, when did you start quilting? 

I have been quilting for 11 years.  I started working in a quilt shop a year after I started quilting – I guess I had more nerve than knowledge back then.  I learned so much working with other quilters and quilt teachers. It has been a great experience.

 

Why did you start quilting?

I think it was all about color and texture.  I have always been a very creative person and the medium really appealed to me.

 

Who taught you how to quilt? 

I am self taught but I am always learning from other artists.

Do other people in your family quilt?  Who?

Yes, my mother has been converted to quilting. She owned a needlepoint shop for 15 years when I was a kid, but I have since got her into quilting.  I had a great grandmother who quilted. We have some of her quilts, but I never knew her.

Tell me about your family.  What do they think about your quilting? 

My husband thinks it’s great and he can’t believe how far the business has come in such a short time.  My kids are so used to mom’s quilting that it is “old hat” to them. But they never turn down a new quilt for their room!

Are you retired?  Or do you currently work outside the home?  What kind of work do you do? 

No, not retired. I still teach quilting and work one day a week in a quilt shop besides the quilt design business.

I really like the name of your business (Humble Bee Quilt Works).  Does the name have any special meaning?

As you probably know, bumblebees are aerodynamically built so they should never be able to get off the ground, yet they do.  You see, their back sides are too big for their wings. When I began talking about designing, lots of people said things like "Well, there are already too many designers" etc.  They thought I would never get "off the ground."  Well, I would never be so bold to tell them I could do it.  Therefore, instead of Bumble Bee it became Humble Bee.  I knew I could do it…I just wasn't brave enough to say it!  I think it fits well.  I may not be so humble now, but my back side is still way too big for my wings!

 

Where in your home do you quilt?

I have taken over the entire living room to make into my studio.  It’s very nice to be out of the basement and on the main floor with the family.

 

What kind of sewing machine do you use?

I use a Bernina 153.  I used to have the Bernina 180, but I find that the 153 is a perfect machine for what I do.  I am looking into the new Bernina Aurora with the stitch regulator.

 

What other hobbies do you have besides quilting?  How do these interests affect your quilting?

Are there other hobbies?  Is there an outside world?!?  Just kidding. Yes, I do enjoy gardening and I think that it does find its way into my designs.

 

Do you have any pets?  Do they try to “quilt” with you?

I have two little Yorkies who think any quilt that hits the floor is theirs to sleep on.  All of my quilts come “pre-Yorkied”.

 

What inspires you creatively?  (Art? Nature? Old quilts? Quilt books? Fabric…) 

All of the above, but sometimes designs come to me at the oddest times…I was once at the chiropractor and I had to jump up, run out to the car and sketch a new design on a fast food napkin.  You never know when an idea is going to pop into your head.

 

Please tell me your favorite quilting books and authors. 

I like Gwen Marston’s Liberated Quilt Making and Jan Mullen’s Stargazey patterns.  I also love Jan Patek’s designs. I admire many of the antique quilts I have seen in museums and books.  I think the idea that women took scraps and made art just speaks to the creativity of women even under the harshest circumstances.

 

What is your favorite part of the quilting process?

Designing and sewing out the designs.

 

How many quilt projects do you have in progress right now? 

Probably 15 or more.

 

What about UFO’s (unfinished obects)?  Have you ever abandoned a one?  What did you do with it? 

I have sold some of my quilt tops and hidden some that I would like to forget about.

 

Tell me about a project that you are working on right now.

Well, I am working on a couple of repro quilts, one in pink and brown and one in indigos.

 

Has quilting ever helped you through a time of struggle or heartache?

All the time. Quilting is my refuge.

 

Do you have a favorite quote or motto?

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade – and then find someone whose life gives them Vodka and have a party.” –Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again.

 

Do you quilt your own projects?  By hand or machine? 

I do a lot of my own quilting.  I do it all by machine.  I hope to be able to have most of it done for me in the future.

 

Do you enjoy machine quilting?

Not so much.

 

Do you belong to a guild or quilting group? 

I belong to the local quilt guild.  I enjoy it very much.  They are all so supportive of each other.  It’s nice to just be one of the girls and not a “designer” when I’m there.

 

Do you work from patterns? Do you innovate your own designs?  Or both?

I still use other patterns but most of my time is spent developing my own designs. I like to explore other quilters’ techniques.

 

Do you plan out your whole quilt before you begin or do you start with an idea and let it develop on its own? 

It really varies – about half and half.

 

What is your favorite color?

Red.

 

What’s your favorite color scheme in a quilt? 

As my friends will tell you, I tend toward red.  I do work with brights occasionally, but I tend toward red, gold, green and deep blues.

 

Do you work in a series with your quilts? 

I would say more like “ruts”.  I tend to get on one thing and exhaust it.

 

Do you collect certain types of fabrics, quilting tools, gadgets, or supplies?

No, I am an equal opportunity addict.

 

Please tell me about your favorite quilt shop.  What makes it special? 

My Favorite quilt shop is Mabelena Quilting Supplies and Comforts in Ortonville, Michigan.  I love the selection of fabric and the wonderful comforting feeling you get there. 

 

Do you daydream about quilts while you are doing other things?  Are there certain activities that seem to lend themselves to this daydreaming?   

I live, breathe, and sleep quilting.

 

Do you make quilts to satisfy a creative need or are your quilts always made for a specific purpose or person? 

It’s all about the creative drive.

 

Have you developed any special quilting techniques
or products?

Well, I have seven published patterns and I have designed quilts for South Sea Imports and P & B Textiles.

 

Do you ever teach classes?  What is your favorite class to teach?

My favorite classes to teach are any of my designs and beginning quilting.

 

Do you have any tips or advice for beginners?  What do you wish you would have known when you started quilting?

I would tell beginners to take the time to learn the basic techniques and to enjoy the process of perfecting those techniques.  No one is going to get everything perfect the first time.  Also, to trust their instincts about color and design.  Some of the best ideas I have heard have come from beginners who don’t know all the “rules” about color and design yet.

 

Do you have any suggestions for quilters who are trying to fit more quilting time into their day?  Are there activities that you skip so that you can quilt more?

I would suggest gutting your kitchen, teaching your kids to clean house and putting a big lock on your studio door!  Otherwise, it’s always a struggle to find time.

 

(ed.  Doesn't gutting your kitchen sound like a wonderful idea?!! Makes me want to call the demolition team!  Or maybe we could gut it and rebuild it as a quilting studio...do you think our families would forget about meals if our houses weren't equipped with kitchens?!  hmmm....Thanks for the great idea, Amy!! )

 

You can learn more about Amy, her teaching schedule, and her patterns by visiting her website.

 
www.humblebeequiltworks.com

 


So whom do you want for the next Real Women Quilt Featured Quilter?!!  I'm always open to your suggestions.  and let me know.


We are working on loading all the past Featured Quilters into our Featured Quilter Archive....sort of like our own little Hall of Fame!! 

Featured Quilter Achives!!