Stitch Spot today In addition to long-arm quilting, I design and create my own quilts and accept Quilt-to-Order projects. Working from the first cut of fabric to the final stitch keeps me connected to the craft as a whole — and shapes how I approach every quilt that comes into my hands. Whether I’m finishing a quilt top or creating one from start to binding, the approach is the same: steady hands, clear communication, and respect for every quilt.

A community that changed everything In 2022, my family and I came to Colorado Springs and began rebuilding our life here. The quilting community welcomed me in ways I still think about. People shared tools, answered questions, and invited me to sit in on classes. They encouraged me to keep going. I didn’t know if quilting would become a business. I only knew it was what I loved. Those classes showed me how strong and meaningful American quilting traditions are. I remember seeing vintage quilt blocks from the 1930s with names embroidered into them. That detail stayed with me.

As I continued growing professionally, support came from beyond the local circle as well. I’m especially grateful to Handi Quilter and to Kelly, whose belief in my skills helped me take the next step into professional long-arm quilting. Little by little, stitch by stitch, Stitch Spot took shape.

Where it all started I grew up in Derhachi, near Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine. In Ukraine, textile art has a long and respected tradition — especially embroidery. It’s part of the country’s history and traditional clothing, like the vyshyvanka — embroidered shirts many families still wear for holidays and special occasions.

Quilting was different in Ukraine. We called it patchwork, and it wasn’t widespread. I came to it later, in 2005. It wasn’t something I grew up doing. I chose it. What drew me in wasn’t only working with fabric. Patchwork allowed me to build something from separate pieces — to think about design, structure, color, and balance. It became my way of expressing myself — my feelings and ideas — through fabric.

At that time, long-arm machines didn’t exist in Ukraine. Quilts were stitched the traditional way — slowly and carefully. That’s where I learned patience, precision, and respect for the work behind every quilt.