Hello, and thank you for stopping by! My name is Simge (pronounced sim-geh), and I’m the founder and owner of Papatya Designs, based in Fairfax County, Virginia right outside of Washington, D.C.

In case you’re wondering, Papatya is a Turkish word and means daisy. It is pronounced just like papaya with a t!

I re-invented myself a few times over before embarking on this adventure in sewing and quilting! In my former lives, I was an economics professor, a pollster, and a project manager craving for a more creative life. I asked for and received a sewing machine as a Christmas gift back in 2015. Within a few weeks of learning how to use the machine, I was hooked!

Here is my very first sewing project!!
I don’t do easy! 🙂

At first, I was intimidated by the size of the quilts I had seen, but my background and interest in math and geometry ultimately sucked me into the world of patchwork!

Today, I design my own blocks and quilts and am constantly learning to cut and piece fabric more accurately while improving my free-motion quilting skills. I have always been passionate about sharing what I know, and I created Papatya Designs as a productive outlet of my passion.

For business inquiries and collaboration, please contact me at simge@papatyadesigns.com. I look forward to hearing from you!