Women's Health Associates is proud to display the work of area artists throughout its offices. Our current "show" features several select Marquette area quilters, as led by Janice Simpson. You need not make an appointment to see the show; just stop in during our regular office hours. The quilts on display as shown on the Web site are but a very small sampling of the show, and most of the quilts are also for sale.

Herewith is a story about how our most prominently displayed quilter, Janice Simpson, came to discover the finery of her art. Feel free to contact her as you wish.

My first connection to quilting was playing under Grandmas quilt frame. Grandma told me I quilted on one of her quilts as a young child. And the seed was planted for another quilter.

Many years passed before I started quilting. I grew up in Lower Michigan and raised my family there and we moved to Marquette in 1976. I worked in the Fabric Department of a local store and met friends interested in quilting.

I had always sewn clothing for myself and family but now I had the opportunity to learn to quilt. I had all the sewing skills but quilting was new for me.

Over the years I've taken many quilt classes and work shops. And still do as there are always new techniques and quilting tools to learn about. And it's fun to work with a group of quilters much like our Grandmothers Quilting Bee!! I've taught quilting and doll classes at Needle Works Quilt Shop in Marquette.

I'm a charter member of the Marquette County Quilters Association and a past President. We meet the first Wednesday of every month at the Marquette Township Building at 7:00 p.m. A few of the community projects we work on every year are making quilts for Harbor House, Angel Quilts for stillborn babies at the hospitals, Teddy Bear quilts at Christmas for needy families. We have many work shops throughout the year for our members. We have a Quilt Show, Autumn Comforts, in the fall every other year.

MCQA recently had a block exchange with a group of quilters from Istanbul, Turkey. I was the chairperson for our group. I had met Selma Agar from Istanbul, Turkey on a trip to the International Quilt Show in Houston, Texas.

We also have many friendship groups within the MCQA Guild. The friendship group I belong to has 13 members. We meet every three weeks at members homes. The host gives her block pattern fabric and colors and we make and return her block at the next meeting. At the end of the round we will all have enough quilt blocks for a quilt or the start of one.

I'm a member of the American Quilt society in Paducah, Kentucky and have been to many of their quilt shows. I'm a charter member of the Michigan Quilt Network and they have a Showcase in different Michigan cities, last September it was in Sault Ste. Marie and this year it will be in Holland. I also belong to the National Quilt Association and they have a show in a different state every year. All of these quilt groups do much to promote and preserve the art of quilting.

I like to work on Challenge Quilts and am currently working on the Hoffman Challenge. I've had wall quilts and a doll travel in the Hoffman Challenge Collections. Once your quilt has been chosen it travels for a year to quilt shows all over the U.S.

I'm also working on my "Quilt for a Cure" wall hanging -- a portion of the money collected for the purchase of the fabric is used for Breast Cancer Research.

I have a bed quilt on my quilt frame I'm quilting for my son. We quilters always have several projects in the works -- and many more ideas moving around in our minds waiting to get out!!

Yes, I've been bitten by the quilting bug!! And I make cloth dolls, too. I belong to the Yooper Doll Group. Between my quilts, dolls, and family I do keep busy. Janice Simpson
231 Kawbawgam
Marquette, MI 49855
906-249-3502