Donna Iiams - Featured Quilter 2008

Donna Iiams has been a member of the guild since 2000.  She has a home in Fairview, Oregon as well as Lincoln City, and used to be a school teacher.  She started sewing in High school and minored in Home Economics at OSU.  Her interest in quilting began after visiting the Amish country in Pennsylvania with a friend.  The colors, designs and handwork sparked her interest.  Donna started quilting in 1986 with smaller hand quilted pieces and moved to a larger, machine pieced quilt as she gained confidence….but it discouraged her and it still isn’t quilted (her husband says this is the year).
      Donna likes most types of fabric, having used flannel, batiks, 30’s prints and landscape cottons in her quilts.  She also ahs a special stash of old silks used in crazy patch blocks.  Her favorite part of quilting used to be cutting cotton, but since joining the guild she has learned to enjoy developing ideas on her own.  Using decorative thread and the stitching designs have kept her busy trying new things.
      As a First Grade teacher with her granddaughter in her class years ago, the class decided to make a room quilt.  It was a Sunbonnet Sue and Sam quilt with each classmate decorating a square.  This quilt hung in her classroom for three years and the children would stop by often to visit their quilt.  The granddaughter, now 25, has the quilt.  (Maybe Donna will bring it to the quilt show?)  Donna has had fun sharing quilt experiences with her four granddaughters.  They have made small doll and pet quilts.  Donna has made each of them a special quilt and they have attended the quilt show where their quilt was displayed.  Two of the girls have had the opportunity to meet the machine quilters who quilted their quilt.  Donna feels that is an important part of the history of their quilts.
     Like a lot of us Donna finds it easy to start a new project, but challenging to finish.  She appreciates seeing the work done by members of the guild.  Viewing others work has inspired her to learn more and try new things.  She has had fun getting to know others that also enjoy a stitch or two.