Why “Story Quilters”?

The name Story Quilters reflects how we understand people, places, and communities.

Upon hearing the name of my company, often people ask “are you a quilter?” I laugh (given my general sewing ineptitude), and instead share some of the following to help folks understand where the inspiration for the name came from.

First, I believe each of us is shaped by a patchwork of experiences—personal, cultural, and historical—that influence how we see the world. No single story or experience tells our whole truth. Instead, meaning emerges where experiences overlap, contrast, and are stitched together creating who we are.

Communities work the same way. Their strength lies not in uniformity, but in the richness of different voices, perspectives, and ideas. In fact, the diversity of thoughts, values and opinions is one of my favorite things about living in Ellensburg, WA. I have been to events where ranchers (literally wearing spurs) were seated right next to college professors. We are a ranching/hay farming county and a university town serving as the county’s seat. It is in that duality of being both rural and urban, that I believe the magic lies in living here. Additionally, I have participated in across the aisle conversations most of my life, sometimes passionately arguing for a point of view I believed in, while moments later being humbled and quieted by a point or brilliant idea someone on the opposite side had just offered (when literally minutes ago I thought their ideas were crazy!). The opportunity for shared moments like these attracted me to Braver Angels, an organization seeking to depolarize America. I believe when those differences are acknowledged, listened to and engaged—rather than disregarded or ridiculed—they create places and stories that are more resilient, more honest, and more alive. Whether in interpretation or facilitation, this belief is foundational.

Story quilts offer a powerful metaphor for this work. Unlike traditional quilts made primarily for warmth or utility, story quilts are created to communicate. Each patch carries meaning. Each stitch connects memory, identity, and history into a larger narrative that can be seen, shared, and understood. They preserve what matters, honor where we’ve been, and invite reflection about where we’re going.

At Story Quilters, we approach interpretation, engagement, and facilitation with the same intention. We help communities and organizations explore their individual stories, understand how those stories shape perspective, and bring them together into shared understanding—without erasing difference. This process builds respect, deepens connection, and creates interpretive work that people can stand behind and believe in.

The name also connects us to a place. We are rooted in Kittitas County, home to Washington state’s first barn quilt trail—where stories quite literally appear stitched across the rural landscape, linking neighbors, history, and place. It’s a reminder that storytelling doesn’t just live in words; it lives in land, relationships, and the everyday choices we make about what to honor and share.

Story Quilters exists to help communities do that work thoughtfully—stitch by stitch.