Member Spotlight-Donna Armstrong

DAM Girl Donna Armstrong is Vice President of the Detroit Area Modern Quilt Guild.

How long have you been quilting?

Just over 17 years

Who introduced you to quilting or how did you start quilting?

Gloria Armstrong – Mother-in-law – I took several classes up at Calico Corners in Petoskey, Michigan – that quilt shop is no longer around

Do you remember your first quilt? Describe it for us.

Log Cabin – Purples, teeny tiny strips – yikes

When or how did you first find modern quilting?

Guildcrafters Quilt Shop and my Thursday night stitch group

What is your favorite part of the quilting process?

That’s a tough question – Can I say I least enjoy the binding?????

Where do you find inspiration?

Books, Internet, Fabrics, Color, Quilt Shop

What is your most used or favorite quilting tool? 

Rotary cutter – the sharper the better

What brand/type of machine do you quilt on?

I have had several, but I love my new Janome

If you could take a class from anyone who would it be?

Susan Cleveland – again!! or Victoria Findlay Wolfe

What advice would you have given yourself as a newbie when you started quilting?

Beware!! This is addicting.

What is your favorite quilt pattern or design?

The Double wedding ring – am currently creating a quilt from Victoria Findlay Wolfe’s book:  Double Wedding Rings Quilts Traditions Made Modern

Do you quilt your own quilts?

I do. I have an APQS Millennium longarm and must admit that I have never and will never quilt a quilt on my domestic sewing machine!! I had lots of tops to quilt when I purchased my longarm. I can report they have all been quilted to date!!

Do you design your own quilts?

Not totally, but I do tweak patterns if I think I have a better idea.

What is your current obsession? (Fabric, tool, technique, etc.)

Small, embellished quilts!! I also am very intrigued by modern versions of old quilt blocks and patterns

Do you have a quilt related business?

I do some longarm quilting occasionally, but I find I have too much of my own stuff to do and I don’t have a lot of time. If someone catches me on a good day, I will say yes! Nothing real elaborate, but fun. I love putting secret messages into my personal quilts and my family and friends have come to expect them and search for them immediately when receiving a quilt from me.

Do you prefer to work on and complete a project before starting another or do you have multiple projects going at one time?

I probably would prefer working on one project at a time, but that is not how I operate or who I am, as you all well know. I was going to figure out how many UFOs I have, but that would be tooooo embarrassing to admit – probably well of 25….  But that’s all I’m saying.

Quick answer:

Pre-wash? Yes or No – Heck no

Pins or spray baste? Neither

Quilt in – silence, to music or TV? Music and/or TV

Steam or no steam?  Steamy