Ashley DelaBarre grew up behind a sewing machine.

“My grandma and mom taught me to sew when I was six years old. By high school I was making quilts. I loved sewing the pieces together, but the problem came when it was time to quilt the layers together.”

But when Ashley got to use someone else’s long arm quilting machine, she was hooked. She bought her first quilting machine in college and starting finishing quilts for other people. In 2003, while still in college, she started her business, Sew Addicted Quilting. Fifteen years later, business is booming.

“Most of my clients make their quilt tops and then have me quilt the designs into the quilt and do the finishing. This is my full-time job. I do three or four quilts a week, and my schedule is booked out a couple of months.”

Ashley has taken classes from nationally-known teachers, and says she enjoys finding new designs and techniques. She has won national awards for her quilts and has clients from as far away as Iowa, Seattle, and California. Now, she’s teaching the next generation of quilters.

“I love teaching my daughters to quilt. I think quilting is becoming something more young people are interested in. I seem to have more and more clients who are in their 30s, which is fun.”

Check out Ashley’s work on her Facebook and Instagram pages; search Sew Addicted Quilting, or click here to visit her website.You can contact her there or at 701-202-9084 for quilting projects.