Welcome to Early Times Workshop

Marty began quilting with her first quilting classes in 1979-80 after sewing her own clothes for years and attempting to teach herself to quilt by reading Marguerite Ickis’s book, The Standard Book of Quiltmaking.

In 1984, Marty decided to open a quilt business called Early Times Workshop envisioning production work—making quilts, quilting tops for people, teaching, etc.

This effort evolved into the retail store in 1987 in Charlottesville, where Early Times Workshop was operated through 1997.  In 1998 ETW and Marty moved to Culpeper with Marty continuing to vend at quilt shows and teach and limited time in the retail location.

When the VA Consortium of Quilters was formed in 1985, Marty joined and has held several positions in the organization over the years.  She served as President from 2005-2008.

Marty is also a charter member and was the first president of the VA Star Quilters Guild in Fredericksburg, is an active member of the Culpeper Quilt Group, which she organized in 2004, and is fairly active in the Monticello Needlearts Chapter EGA.

Marty enjoys teaching and vending  periodically at the VCQ quarterly meetings, teaches at her own business and the local community college, and teaches and lectures at quilt guilds around the state and country,  as time permits as well as teaching occasionally at other shops.

In 1998, Marty accepted the opportunity to make a quilt as part of a project interpreting Japanese manhole covers.  There are about 42 quilts in the group that traveled together around the world for two years being exhibited in museums and at quilt shows.  This project culminated in the publication of a book, Quilting With Manhole Covers by Shirley MacGregor.

Marty contributes small quilted wall art, as she is able, to local non-profit organizations for fundraising events.  She tries to keep something going so when the need arises she is at least partly ready.

Marty is a process person—not a production person—something she learned about herself after hearing a lecture many years ago by Jean Ray Laury.  This means parts of things get done or ideas conceptualized to a point but not necessarily finished.  And, THAT’S OKAY!!

Marty holds a B.A. and an M.Ed. from UNC-G.  In real life, she is married to Butch Davies and is a retired Sales Rep for Kraft Foods, Inc.  Marty believes strongly in her community and giving back as much as possible to that community.  She serves on the Culpeper County Library board, the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation board, the Tourism Advisory Committee, the Parking Authority for the Town of Culpeper and the Services to Abused Families (S.A.F.E.) board.  She is also a lay reader at St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Culpeper.

In her ‘spare’ time, she runs Early Times Workshop, teaches quilting, attends quilt show, vends at quilt shows and other consumer shows, takes classes, and occasionally has the opportunity to sit and quilt or do other stitching.  She participates in as many activities in the various groups to which she belongs as time and energy allow.