The start of a lifetime passion...
Ashley started sewing when her mother took her to multiple Summer camps from the age of 6. The Summer camps were at Loder's Sewing Center, now Stonybrook Sew and Vac on Route 202 in Wilmington, DE. She started making clothing, purses, pincushions and pillows. At age 8, she began taking quilting camps. At the first camp she finished the wall hanging two days early, forcing the teacher to come up with a second quilt. The second camp she rotary cut an entire full size log cabin quilt. She was hooked, no doubt about that. Ashley also took various classes from the Quilter's Hive, and one at the Lil' Country Shoppe.
Ever since the age of 11, Ashley has been entering her quilts in the Delaware State Fair. From ages 11-16, she won 1st place for all her quilts in the children's department. At age 17, she moved up into the teen department, and at age 18 was in both the teen and the adult departments for quilting. She continues to win 1st place blue ribbons, and hopes to continue the tradition.
Ever since the age of 11, Ashley has been entering her quilts in the Delaware State Fair. From ages 11-16, she won 1st place for all her quilts in the children's department. At age 17, she moved up into the teen department, and at age 18 was in both the teen and the adult departments for quilting. She continues to win 1st place blue ribbons, and hopes to continue the tradition.
Ashley got bit by the Longarming Bug...
Tired of always stitching in the ditch for her Delaware State Fair quilts, she found a longarm quilting machine rental program. There was a rental program in both Aberdeen, Maryland at a shop called Sew n' Save, now Hoppin' Bobbin and one in Lewes, Delaware. She took the manual rental classes from both. The machine at Sew n' Save was a Handi Quilter, and in Lewes, Delaware was a Gammill. After about a year had passed, Sew n' Save had a computerized longarm quilting machine class and without a doubt, Ashley signed up right away for it. Once she completed the computerized class she rented time down at Sew n' Save to quilt quilts. Thrilled with the way the computerized longarm quilting machine performed, she was proud of the way her quilts turned out. The learning curve of not having your own machine to be able to practice free motion on was concerning to Ashley, but with the computerized system, the learning curve was eliminated. At that point, she dreamed of having her own, only not to realize that a few years later she would!
MQX Senior Year
After having developed a rental program for the Lil' Country Shoppe in Middletown, Delaware in the Summer of 2009 and working with renters to quilt their quilts, she knew longarming was for her if there ever was a doubt before. Around Christmas time in 2009, her parents had told her she could go to MQX, the longarm quilting show in Rhode Island if she wanted. January 1st, 2010, the longarm classes were booked and Ashley could not have been more excited. In April of 2010, the show finally rolled around. Ashley debated the entire trip about purchasing a longarm. She knew that she wanted a Handi Quilter, but it was an expensive item. She was unsure if she started her own business, if she could pay off the machine. Finally, at 5 p.m. on Saturday, the close of the show and after multiple calls to her parents, she bought the machine with her savings. A Handi Quilter Avante, with a pro-stitcher.
After MQX
Well, the basement where the machine was going, was never measured....OOPS!!!!!!!! On the first phone call after the purchase, her father said "Hope it fits".
April and May 2010 involved the construction of the machine with help from both of her parents. Ashley didn't use the machine until June because she had to graduate from High School. She graduated with top honors, and the next debate was what to name her business.
She decided on Midnight Quilter. This name was very appropriate since she quilts at Midnight. Since June 2010, she has been quilting up a storm, and has no plans of stopping anytime soon!
April and May 2010 involved the construction of the machine with help from both of her parents. Ashley didn't use the machine until June because she had to graduate from High School. She graduated with top honors, and the next debate was what to name her business.
She decided on Midnight Quilter. This name was very appropriate since she quilts at Midnight. Since June 2010, she has been quilting up a storm, and has no plans of stopping anytime soon!
Full Time
Since September 2014, Ashley has decided to longarm quilt full time since graduating college. She graduated with honors from Wilmington University (Class of 2014) with a bachelor's degree in Accounting and Finance.
In December of 2017, Ashley became a National Educator for Handi Quilter - the brand of her longarm quilting machines. She now gets to incorporate her love of travel with the passion of quilting and teaching. Look for her at a local Handi Quilter Dealer.
August 2019 - Ashley started a blog on her website, and is looking forward to being more active with social media.
Since September 2014, Ashley has decided to longarm quilt full time since graduating college. She graduated with honors from Wilmington University (Class of 2014) with a bachelor's degree in Accounting and Finance.
In December of 2017, Ashley became a National Educator for Handi Quilter - the brand of her longarm quilting machines. She now gets to incorporate her love of travel with the passion of quilting and teaching. Look for her at a local Handi Quilter Dealer.
August 2019 - Ashley started a blog on her website, and is looking forward to being more active with social media.
Other Quilting Involvements
***Enters in the Delaware State Fair Needlework Department, and has previously won 1st place in the Children's Department for various crafts and quilts since the age of 12.
***At the Schoolhouse Quilt Guild in Cecilton, Maryland, Ashley was the Librarian from 2006-2007.
***Ashley has designed three of her own quilts, writing them up into patterns; It's Snowing Snowmen, Midnight Flight and Pumpkin Patch.
***Worked at various local quilting shops.
***Teaches Quilting classes at various local quilt shops.
***May 2009-April 2010, Ashley created from scratch a club called "Dessert Club". She ran it at the Lil' Country Shoppe in Middletown, Delaware, attracting up to 50 people per meeting.
***Teaches private longarm quilting lessons to longarm quilting machine owners.
***Ashley has run a collection for Con Kerr Cancer Pillowcases, as well as a sewing event for children and members of the Upper Bay Quilt Guild. She still is a drop off location for the pillowcases today.
***From July 2011-June 2013, Ashley was the Vice President/Program-Chair for Ladybug Quilt Guild in Newark, Delaware.
***From 2012-June 2013, Ashley has been sending out the Newsletter for the Ladybug Quilt Guild in Newark, Delaware.
***From January 2013-Present, Ashley created and maintains the Ladybug Quilt Guild Website.
***From July 2013-June 2015, Ashley was the Vice President for Ladybug Quilt Guild in Newark, Delaware.
***From January 2015-June 2015, Ashley was involved with Creative Quilts That Heal. An organization with the A.I. DuPont Children's hospital in Wilmington, DE, helping parents make a quilt from their child's clothing that had passed away.
***From May 2013-Present, Ashley is the Delaware Chapter Coordinator for Ryan's Case for Smiles (Formally Con Kerr Cancer)
***From July 2016-June 2017, Ashley was the President-Elect for Ladybug Quilt Guild in Newark, Delaware.
***From July 2017-June 2018, Ashley was the President of Ladybug Quilt Guild in Newark, Delaware.
***From December 2017-Present - Ashley is a National Educator for Handi Quilter.
***At the Schoolhouse Quilt Guild in Cecilton, Maryland, Ashley was the Librarian from 2006-2007.
***Ashley has designed three of her own quilts, writing them up into patterns; It's Snowing Snowmen, Midnight Flight and Pumpkin Patch.
***Worked at various local quilting shops.
***Teaches Quilting classes at various local quilt shops.
***May 2009-April 2010, Ashley created from scratch a club called "Dessert Club". She ran it at the Lil' Country Shoppe in Middletown, Delaware, attracting up to 50 people per meeting.
***Teaches private longarm quilting lessons to longarm quilting machine owners.
***Ashley has run a collection for Con Kerr Cancer Pillowcases, as well as a sewing event for children and members of the Upper Bay Quilt Guild. She still is a drop off location for the pillowcases today.
***From July 2011-June 2013, Ashley was the Vice President/Program-Chair for Ladybug Quilt Guild in Newark, Delaware.
***From 2012-June 2013, Ashley has been sending out the Newsletter for the Ladybug Quilt Guild in Newark, Delaware.
***From January 2013-Present, Ashley created and maintains the Ladybug Quilt Guild Website.
***From July 2013-June 2015, Ashley was the Vice President for Ladybug Quilt Guild in Newark, Delaware.
***From January 2015-June 2015, Ashley was involved with Creative Quilts That Heal. An organization with the A.I. DuPont Children's hospital in Wilmington, DE, helping parents make a quilt from their child's clothing that had passed away.
***From May 2013-Present, Ashley is the Delaware Chapter Coordinator for Ryan's Case for Smiles (Formally Con Kerr Cancer)
***From July 2016-June 2017, Ashley was the President-Elect for Ladybug Quilt Guild in Newark, Delaware.
***From July 2017-June 2018, Ashley was the President of Ladybug Quilt Guild in Newark, Delaware.
***From December 2017-Present - Ashley is a National Educator for Handi Quilter.