Old Fabric, New Life: How Quilts Heal Us

Family History

My Dad died in 2012. We didn't have a great relationship toward the end of his life. Those of you who have experience with addiction and/or toxic family members will probably know what I'm talking about.

My Dad experienced a lot of pain during his life. Some of it was buried so deep that he refused to talk about it. (And, if you knew him, you know that he was a talker.) At one time, his father sent him to military school. That's all I know: that my grandfather sent my dad to military school. No other details were forthcoming. But I have an interesting relic from that time: a laundry bag.

Dad's name was printed on the bag and the ink ran through it or something. I've held onto it for a number of years, and decided to finally use it.

SYNESTHESIA

I was invited to work with Factory Obscura to help launch their 2022-2023 installation SYNESTHESIA at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art in Norman, OK. (The town where I was born, as it happens.) Factory Obscura gave me the opportunity to make some items exclusively for the show's popup shop.

SYNESTHESIA is inspired by the work of Olinka Hrdy, a little-known Oklahoma artist who was way ahead of her time.

The artists were given a specific color palette for inspiration. I made some fabric choices, including the canvas laundry bag.

Make Something Beautiful

Quilting is a form of alchemy. Raw materials are combined and transformed, creating new meaning and new possibilities. I took a thing that hurt Dad so bad he couldn't talk about it, and turned it into something beautiful.

The Fuchsia table runner is available in the Store; click here to purchase.

Commissions Are Open!

Are you interested in ordering a custom-made quilt like the one above? Check out sarahatlee.com/commissions for more information. Table runners are, if you will, on the table. So are placemats!

Let’s connect.

You can also find me on my website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitch, Pinterest, and Linkedin.

Artist Talk: A Painter Who Quilts

Here is my slide presentation about pivoting from painting into quilting as a full-time creative practice.

Click here to download the PDF (about 5 MB).

Many thanks to the Mid-Del Art Guild for having me as their guest presenter!

Placemat Commission: Every Shade of Blue

Click here to learn more about Sarah Atlee’s custom-made quilts. Book your Customization Call today and we’ll get started!

It Starts With Your Story

As always, this commission started with a conversation. My client was looking for new placemats to brighten up their dinner table. They requested lots of different shades of blue, with little pops of lime green.

This was the perfect opportunity to use some mini charm squares* that I'd overdyed with indigo.

* for non-quilter people: "charm square" refers to a common size of pre-cut fabric. See also jelly roll, layer cake, charm pack, and quilters' candies. Yes, we're a wild and whimsical bunch. [eyeroll]

I'd also been contemplating a pre-loved work shirt in chambray blue. I like to think that placemats would be a sweet retirement gig for a hard-working garment.

We started out with an order for 8 placemats. However, my client made an unforeseen move to a much smaller house, so we revised that to 4. (Really, though, it's 4 fronts and 4 backs, so kinda like 8.)

I constructed these using quilt-as-you-go techniques. This basically means that I sewed each piece of fabric directly to the batting (that fluffy middle layer). I also use this method to make potholders.

And yes, these are improv quilts! I started with a general plan and a palette, but no specific designs or measurements. Each composition evolved during the process.

I just happened to put the finishing touches on these while hanging out at my favorite coffee shop. Since it wasn't crowded, I took the opportunity to photograph these among the convenient sunbeams and actual grownup furniture.

AND, my client (a fellow artist) was kind enough to take some pictures in situ.

More Than Just A Quilt

If you're thinking about commissioning a custom quilt, here's something you should know: As part of your package, I will include swatches of all the fabrics I use in your quilt, with notes about their origin.

You'll also get a pair of custom potholders made from the scraps. You're welcome to keep them for yourself, or pass them on as a gift!

Elevate Your Space

What extra-special touch is missing from your home? Bed covers, couch blankies, potholders, table runners, placemats, mug mats, coasters -- these are all right in my wheelhouse. Let's talk about bringing some magic into your space.

Quilt Commission: Remember Us

In 2022 I opened my quilting practice to take commissions, and since then, I've had nothing but rewarding experiences with my custom quilt clients. To get started with your custom-made quilt, head over to my Commissions page.

Remember Us

A custom quilt begins with a conversation. I want to get a good idea of what my client's needs and goals are. With this quilt, the client wanted something big enough to cover a teenager on the couch. The quilt needed to be washable. This client was already familiar with my work, and they pointed out specific pieces they particularly liked, such as this one:

Here's my conceptual sketch. I love doodling quilty images, but I'm not big on the sketch-to-finished-quilt pipeline. Thus the design is pretty spare:

For colors, they requested black, and I decided to fill out the palette with neutrals. I also included some hand-dyed pieces in the blue/purple range.

My client is an artist friend whose family recently moved to a new state. He's a poet and a typographic artist, so this was a great excuse to pull all of my fabrics that had text on them. Including:

• commercial quilting cottons featuring text

• fabric that I printed using a letterpress during my residency at the OxBow School of Art

• fabric that I screen printed during my residency at [Artspace] at Untitled

• fabric on which I used an oil stick to take a rubbing of a commemorative plaque

We're both a little sad that they moved away, so some of those fabrics are Oklahoma-specific. Here are some more typographic fabrics that I used on the back:

Oh, you wanted more juicy detail shots of the quilting? Here you go:

Here's a shot of me stitching on the facing. A facing on a quilt is like a binding. It goes all the way around the edge, but it only shows on the back.

When you order a custom-made quilt from me, you get a few extra bonuses. During the process, I save swatches of all the fabrics I use. At the end, I sew those onto a piece of paper, and add notes about where the fabrics came from. I also throw in a couple of Color Catchers:

While I make an effort to use fabrics that will not bleed in the wash, it can sometimes happen. Color Catchers are great for soaking up any loose dye in the wash. (They're reusable, too.) Look for them in the laundry aisle at the grocery store, or if you prefer Amazon, there are several brands available.

Your Quilt Tells Your Story.

Let's talk about your custom quilt! Check out my Commissions page and book your Quilt Customization Session today.

Have Quilt, Will Travel

I typically travel with a quilt.* Hotel blankets tend to be too lightweight for my taste. Snuggling up under the weight & comfort of my handmade quilt makes sleeping away from home easier, even in warm weather.

Usually I take this log cabin quilt I started in 2006 and finished ...later. (Remember, quilts have no statute of limitations.)

It’s rumpled because it normally lives folded up in my car. You know, in case of snowdrifts.

When I made this queen-size quilt, I didn’t yet have access to a longarm quilting machine, so I tied it.

Also, I didn’t know a lot about seam allowances. We live and learn.

What If...

What if I didn't have to bring my own quilt?

What if I booked a stay at a gorgeous getaway, and arrived to find beautiful, one-of-a-kind quilts already there?

On the bed.

Draped over the couch.

Placemats on the table.

Potholders in the kitchen.

I can make this happen for you.

Whether you operate a vacation property or just want to feel that level of luxury in your home sweet home, I'm here to help.

Start your custom quilt project by visiting the Commissions page and booking your Customization Session with me today!

* I know I'm not alone. Luke Haynes does this too. Do you travel with a quilt? Tell us about it! #HaveQuiltWillTravel