Back Porch Quilts & Designs LLC is morphing from a small website into a web store. It continues to be another step toward a dream that I share with my husband. My name is Vicki and my husband and biggest supporter is John. Together we maintain and run Back Porch Quilts & Designs. Our end goal is to own and operate a Brick and Mortar Quilt Shop in addition to the web store. Until that time, we will be bringing the finest quality in quilt fabrics, patterns, and quilt supplies directly to your door. We hope you enjoy your visit to our site and will return often to see what’s next in our quilt shop journey.

 

Like many others, my journey into the needle arts began at an early age. When I was five my Grandmother introduced me to embroidery. I cannot remember a time that she did not have a needle in hand. I dabbled in embroidery, cross stitch, knitting, crochet, garment making and other needle crafts and at the age of 14, I made my first quilt for my baby sister. It was a simple one patch made from gingham check, tied, and bound with a satin binding. I made several bed quilts as a young adult, and then set quilting aside to raise a family. In 1994 I made that same sister a wedding quilt. It was a very scrappy pieced star and block quilt that I hand quilted on a floor frame.

 

Shorty after that quilt, one of my friends introduced me to appliqué. It was love at first stitch. I love the feel of the fabric and the satisfactions of seeing something beautiful grow beneath your fingertips. I especially love appliqué because it is so portable. I have worked on many quilts as I ride the bus to and from work, or while John and I take road trips. My inspiration comes from nature, books, my grandchildren and other quilters.

 

My favorite teachers are Elly Sienkiewicz, Jane Townswick, and Mary Lou Weidman. By the late 1990’s I began designing my own quilts. My first design, Donovan’s World was quite successful. It won Grand Champion at Washington State Fair. That was all the encouragement I needed. After many more designs, successes and encouragement, I started designing appliqué and pieced quilt patterns for other quilters. It has been a fun process. And mid-year 2008 we added fabrics, notions and quilter’s gifts to our “web store”.

 

I believe that quilts can play an important role in the healing process. A few years ago, with the help of some friends, I organized a display of more than 40 quilts in the hospital where I worked. They were such a blessing for the patients, family members, as well as my coworkers. My local quilt guild, Busy Bee Quilter’s of Snohomish, has gifted near 50 quilts to the hospital. They are used in the Senior Behavioral Health Unit, Oncology, and Emergency Department as well as in the Medical units when there is a need. I have witnessed the calming effect quilts can have in difficult situations. They can touch the places that words cannot. Quilts are a gift, not only for the recipient, but also for the maker. As each loving stitch is put in, a prayer, song, or thought is stitched as well.