Ami's Workshops &Lectures
E-mail: AmiSimms@aol.com
Snail mail:
Ami SimmsPhone: 1-800 A-STITCH
Mallery Press
4206 Sheraton Drive
Flint, MI 48532
Fax: (810) 230-1516
Lectures
"Don't Make The Same Mistakes I Did"
This is a humorous presentation chronicling my growth as a quiltmaker. Through the years I have made some horrible mistakes. Hopefully I can pass on some tips to the beginning and advanced quilter alike on what NOT to do! I'll bring an assortment of full- and small-sized quilts, from the very first to the most recent, and pick them apart before your very eyes! Topics covered include cutting and marking techniques, batting options, color and design, grain line, fabric preparation, and the proper way to bind a quilt. Runs about two hours, depending on audience participation. (Also available as a slide presentation. About 90 minutes.) My book, How Not To Make A Prize-Winning Quilt, was based on this presentation."The Old Order Amish"
This is a two-hour presentation about my experiences staying with an Old Order Amish family in northern Indiana. (It was while writing my thesis that I put my first stitches into a quilt.) I will come dressed in Amish clothes and show slides which include scenes from daily life in and around Middlebury, Indiana. This is NOT a lecture on antique Amish quilts, but should be of interest to quilters who wish to gain more of an insight into Amish life and the background from which these quilts come."The World's Worst Quilts"
Enjoy slides of the winners, losers, runners-up, and also-rans from The WORST Quilt In The World Contest®. If you ever needed an excuse to feel better about the quilts you make, seeing photographs of these mangled, botched, and messed-up quilts should do the trick. You'll feel more talented and creative with every slide."Humorous Quilts And Their Makers"
A slide survey of quilts that are sure to induce smiles, "giggles," and maybe a guffaw or two. Quilt artists out to tickle your funny bone include: Barbara Brackman, Helen Kelley, Jean Ray Laury, and Ami Simms. (Who?) Runs about an hour, depending on audience participation."Photo-Quilting"
Explore one-of-a-kind quilts made with photographs and other images that have been transferred to fabric in this one-hour slide presentation. Two styles of quilts are presented: scrapbook quilts which can accommodate any number of photo-transfers in just about any size, and quilts made with traditional blocks featuring one photo-transfer per block. Discussions include how to select photographs, copyright considerations, how to make transfers with transfer paper, and construction hints. Quilts featured are from Creating Scrapbook Quilts and Fun Photo-Quilts & Crafts, both by Ami Simms. A demonstration of Photos-To-Fabric™ transfer paper is included if time and space permits. (For a more detailed treatment with a hands-on approach see the seminar of the same name.)Workshops
"How To Improve Your Quilting Stitch"
If the only advice on how to get your stitches smaller has been, "Just make 'em smaller!" then this half-day workshop is for you. There are certain variables that you can control in order to get smaller, more even stitches. I'll tell you what they are and we'll practice together.Bring: hoop (at least 12" diameter), pre-washed 100% cotton muslin to fit your hoop (top and back), batting, contrasting quilting thread, needle, and lamp if available. Thimbles available in class for a small fee, or bring your own. How To Improve Your Quilting Stitch, by Ami Simms, available to workshop participants.
Limit: 17 students. Available in full-day format for 22 students.
"Invisible Applique"
Learn a new way to applique where the thread is nearly invisible. This half-day workshop is devoted to hands-on practice with straight sides, convex and concave curves, points and V-shapes. You'll love applique!Bring: favorite template material, marking devices, scissors (paper and cloth), pins, needle, a 12" square of pre-washed 100% cotton muslin, a handful of pre-washed 100% cotton scraps, and NON-coordinating thread.
Limit: 25. Invisible Applique, by Ami Simms, available to workshop participants.
"A New Way To Piece: Applique"
A terrific new way to join fabric pieces by hand for quilters interested in precision work. Forget the constant flipping to make sure you're "on the line," pin pricks in your thighs, and thoughts of growing a third hand to hold on to your work! There's a better way and when you're done it looks just like traditional hand piecing. (Students enrolling in "Invisible Applique" should NOT enroll in this full-day workshop as the first half of this workshop is the "Invisible Applique" workshop.)Bring: supplies listed above plus enough coordinated pre-washed 100% cotton fabric for a 12" block, and matching thread. Invisible Applique, by Ami Simms, available to workshop participants.
Limit: 25.
"Picture Play Quilts"
If there is a young child in your life (or in your future) these interactive quilts should be too. Made from various sizes of conversational novelty prints in lights and darks, "Picture Play" quilts are fun to make and fun to play with. This is a new workshop and is not available until I work out all the bugs. Stay tuned.Bring: sewing machine, neutral thread, 6" x 12" Omnigrid ruler, mat, rotary cutter, your collection of conversational novelty fabric washed and dried. Do not cut fabric before class. "Set" fabric will be available in class, or bring your own. Full day split into two sessions with at least 12 hours in between.
Limit: 25. (Fabric requirements may change.)
"Feathers That Fit"
Tired of making do with commercial quilting templates? This half-day workshop will teach you to make your own feather circles and other feather designs to compliment any block area.Bring: several big, unwaxed pieces of white paper (as big as you want your quilting motif to be) compass, paper scissors, sharp pencils, ruler, small (feather sized) piece of template material, thin black felt tip marker, and a LARGE eraser.
Limit: 25.
"String Quilting"
Experiment with a technique quilters used years ago to make good use of every scrap they had on hand. You won't work quite as hard as they did and you'll come up with a terrific quilt top in a fraction of the time thanks to speed cutting and piecing techniques. Working with traditional block patterns, your quilt top will blend patches made from "stringed" fabric (narrow strips of fabric sewn together to make "new" fabric) with solid patches of either muslin or black. This is a great workshop for fabric you've already got on hand, no mater what color. Muslin and/or black cotton will be available in class. Bring quarter- or third- or half- yard pieces of pre-washed 100% cotton quilting weight fabric from your stash, color coordinated only if you wish. Variety is more important than quantity.Students can work with one of three patterns:
Indian Hatchet
Sunshine & Shadow
Square Within A Square
Limit: 25.
"Geometric Patchwork Pattern Drafting"
This half-day workshop offers students hands-on practice drafting patterns using Jinny Beyer's method of paper folding to create basic geometric shapes. Students will learn to recognize the basic grid structure into which a particular block falls, and thereby learn to construct the block in ANY size. This is a class for the beginner who needs the basics or the intermediate quilter who desires the freedom of creating patterns in any size. Don't be frightened; the teacher is not mathematically inclined.Bring: ruler, colored pencil or pen, pencils, eraser, one sheet of tracing paper, paper scissors, template material, glue stick, compass (if available), Patchwork Pattern Drafting, by Jinny Beyer (optional).
Limit: 25.
"Photo-Quilting Seminar"
This is not a hands-on workshop. It is a presentation very similar to the lecture outlined above, but more tailored to smaller groups. The discussion is expanded to include photograph evaluation (students can bring their photographs to class), strategies for making the transfers, ironing strategies, and securing permission for copyrighted material. Each students will have an opportunity to iron transfers if they wish. (A slide projector and screen is required.) Creating Scrapbook Quilts, and Fun Photo-Quilts & Crafts by Ami Simms, available to workshop participants.Limit: 25. Overlaps lecture - don't pick both.
Other Workshops Currently in Development
Pizza Quilt. Students learn how to make a string pieced pizza block adorned with pepperoni and/or other toppings. Full day. Must include pizza for lunch.Twisted Sister. Students bring strips of lights and darks which are "sistered" together to make block patches which twist around a central square of contrasting fabric. Fabric is shared as participants work in pairs. (Trying to figure out how to avoid fist fights resulting from sibling rivalry.)
Please email Ami for the most current update on the presentations for the fees and other requirements. AmiSimms@aol.com