I began quilting many years ago to do something for myself. I had 4 kids, two of whom had special needs. I loved it, but never finished my quilts – all I had were tops! So I began trying different forms of finishing, from tieing quilts, to hand quilting, and finally found the method I liked the best – long arm quilting. I began quilting for others and teaching classes in my home until one day I decided I should just open up a shop. So in May of 2003, we opened Going Batty Quilt Shop on Victorian Avenue in Sparks in the old Gazin’s building. We were located there for 2 years before moving to our current location. In the meantime, I have won awards for my long arm quilting. Recently I also fell in love with heirloom sewing and became licensed as a Martha Pullen instructor for heirloom sewing, heirloom teaching, heirloom serging, and teaching beginning sewing. We became the local Bernina dealer in 2005, a company I fell in love with. They are the last family owned sewing machine maker, and have many of the same ideals as we have – selling the highest quality products with great service and education. I was a Rookie of the Year candidate with Bernina of America in 2006, District Dealer of the Year in 2007, Century Award Winner in 2007, and one of five featured shops by Bernina in 2009. I love to teach others this craft that I fell in love with myself. I saw a need to teach basic techniques, not only to beginners but to those that never learned some of the fundamentals. So I developed a curriculum that has been used around the area in other stores for Quilting 101 and a series of classes for long arm quilters, from beginning to advanced classes, including how to turn your long arm quilting into a business. I also write my own patterns for quilting and garment sewing under the private label “Simply Adorable”. Some fun facts about me are that I was a ballroom dancer in college, and have taught groups and individuals ballroom and country western dancing. I love animals. When I was a little girl I nursed a baby bird that had fallen out of its nest back to health. I have two birds now, a conure and a cockatiel. I also have a Maltese named Rosie. I’ve been in sales since at least the third grade, raising money for girl scouts and even to save the whales. We have been Foster Parents and took care of special needs children.

Sewing and art is my passion.  I have been sewing since I was little, helping my mom make quilts and presents for friends and family. I have always been known as the crafty one growing up.  People always said, "Ask Jami how to make that, she'll find a way!". I do all sorts of crafts, anything from knitting to painting to even scrap booking. I do a lot of sewing, I sew apparel garments, crafts projects, and home decor. One great talent I have is creating garments by draping, I've worked extremely hard to obtain this skill and I love end result. I also do a lot of painting and drawing, I've been creating my artwork since I was 13. I love getting dirty in paint creating abstract images. My drawings include a lot of landscapes and clothing designs. I've been designing my own clothes for several years and its my true passion, ask me next time you see me to show you some of my work, I'd be happy to.   Here's something you may not know about me, my boyfriend and I are expecting our first child! We are so happy and blessed with the support everyone around us has given us. I’m sure he or she will grow up with as much creativity and inspiration that John and I have. I am also your shop kitter! I cut and package all of those cute projects for you! I love packaging them in fun and special ways! I have many interests and talents to share, come by the shop and say hi!  I can't wait to see you.

I have lived in the Reno area for close to 30 years. I have been married for 35 years and have two children and two grandchildren. I also have one dog and two cats that I recently rescued from the shelter. I have been quilting for as long as I can remember having been taught at the age of eight by a great aunt. I enjoy every aspect of quilting, the choosing of colors, even the touch and feel of the fabric. The cutting out and piecing and watching it all come together, whether it is how you planned or something better can be an amazing process. I also enjoy quilting the quilt, choosing the design and thread and just sitting down and doing it. I also very much enjoy teaching others what I have learned whether it be through research, an “aha” moment or from the many mistakes I have made along the way. I look forward to seeing you in the shop and teaching you in a class.

I enjoy being creative. The best way for me to express my creativity and share it with others is through art and crafting. These things have been a part of my life since I can remember. I love everything from designing Christmas wreaths and painting the walls in my house to embellishing clothing and making award-winning banners for my kids’ sports teams and everything in between. I like to try new craft ideas so I can always find some kind of project to keep me busy. Besides crafting, I love to read and listen to music. I also have two great children that have the creative gene. My son loves to write stories and my daughter loves to draw. My husband is a carpenter, so he builds things. I guess you could say that imagination is a must in our household. I have three very cute animals: Zoey-mini dachshund, Tucker-yellow lab and Pepper-cat. I enjoy them all. I work in the back office at Going Batty! Sometimes I help out on the sales floor. I can fix a loose button or pulled hem, but I’m not a quilter or even someone who really sews (yet). I figure that I have such talented people around me something is going to rub off sooner or later. I’m looking forward to it!