She came into quilting in a very “familial” way. Her grandmother owned and operated Quakertown Quilts in Friendswood, Texas. It’s now closed, but Stuckey remembers spending many hours within its walls absorbing everything she could see and learn about quilting, fabric, patterns, and notions.

“I always appreciated the work of quilts, and one day I just started asking questions about it. The next weekend, she took me to a quilt store and then I made my first quilt. I was about seven years old,” Stuckey says.

“Quilting has always just brought me joy. From looking at them to picking out the fabric to designing them,” she continues. “It just makes me happy and they’re beautiful.”

As to if there is a particular style or technique that appeals to her most, she says “Modern Traditional.” And that’s obvious in the two quilts pinned up on a wall behind her during the interview. One is a Block Sampler with traditional leanings and the other a colorful take on a Jellyfish that is a finalist for the upcoming Cherrywood Challenge.

“Most of the time, my quilts just kind of come from visions in my head. I’ll listen to music and envision a quilt depending on the song. I’ve also gotten designs from book series and road trips,” she says, adding that she “kind of listens to everything,” but gets most of her ideas while listening to country music.

A big topic among quilters and the quilt industry today is this: How do they engage younger people and bring them into quilting to keep the art form and hobby alive and thriving? While it was very common in the past for younger quilters to pick it up from their mothers or grandmothers, today’s Millennials and Gen Zers are more apt to discover quilting online or through social media. (Stuckey being an exception).

And there’s a gazillion videos out there for the beginning quilters. Though trends are pointing to young sewists first dipping their proverbial needles into simpler crafts, clothes, or DIY home dec projects before moving into the more intense and involved art of quilting.

Stuckey is already well ahead of that game and admits that she’s learned a lot from videos. But she has some ideas on how to attract more adherents in her age range.

“I feel that you have to market quilting as something that does not have to be done just one certain way with one block or one style. You have to make it more versatile. Do what excites you, because that will make kids do it. They don’t have to fit into one box. Quilting can be whatever their dreams want it to be.”

Last fall, Stuckey served as a special intern in the Education Department of International Quilt Festival at the George R. Brown Convention Center. In addition to giving her a “behind-the-scenes” look at the show, it taught her how the nuts and bolts of such an event actually come together.

“I feel like I respected it more because I could see the amount of work that goes into it,” she says. “In the past, you just show up and everything’s already hung up and the teachers and classes are all set up. But when you know what goes into it, you have even more respect. And you see the beauty in little things, like a class starting on time! It makes you appreciate it and value it more.”

Currently, Stuckey is working on a number of projects. She’s also putting together her next show quilt and already has ideas for the next three after that. She also wants to start writing her own patterns that would be easy to understand for both the 30-year veteran quilter and the newbie.

To see more of Ellie’s work, visit her Facebook Page or Instagram Page.