Let's start with some Gratitude.

I wrote this week's draft from the public library in Midwest City, OK. (That's next door to OKC if you're not from 'round here.) I was there to give a presentation to the Midwest City / Del City Art Guild. The interesting thing is, this group had me as a guest speaker circa 2008. That was 15 years ago, which absolutely blows my mind. I was working in completely different styles and media back then. In my talk I discussed how I pivoted from painting into quilting. If you'd like to take a look at my slide presentation (without notes, but the pictures tell a story), that's available on my blog.

Graphic showing a patchwork quilt on the right side against an off-white background. The text reads: Sarah Atlee A Painter Who Quilts followed by Sarah's social media links.

Click here to download the slide presentation (PDF file, about 5 MB)

First, a big thank you to the Mid-Del Art Guild for having me to speak for your group. And an extra thank you for the folks there who signed up for The Fold! As promised, after the workshop on Saturday 7/15, I will enlist a random number chooser to tell me who won the two pairs of potholders.

Also, huge thanks to everyone who supported me during my Summer Sale. If you bought work, shared my social media posts, or just opened up The Fold, you've helped me out.

Animated image of actress Maya Rudolph blowing kisses and making a heart shape with her hands.

What's Saving My Life This Season

Summer and I are not great friends. We were BFFs when I was a kid, but we've since taken different paths. Summer has gotten hotter. I've gotten grumpier.

I know that in order to function well, I need to surround myself with things that bring me comfort. Here's what that means lately:

Fans (the kind that move air around). Ceiling fans run all the time. Portable fans come with me into every room.

Naps. When my body says it's nap time, it's nap time.

Electrolyte tea. This recipe comes from the Summer Solstice zine by Dani Burlison and Heidi Iverson:

Dani's World Famous Electrolyte Potion
4 Bags Tulsi Rose Tea (I just used dried rose petals)
2 lemons
2 limes
1/2 cup local honey
Fancy pink mineral salt
Boil 3 cups of warer, add tea bags and steep for at least 10 minutes. Add honey and salt, stir until dissolved.Mix in fresh citrus juice and add to ice cube tray. Cubes won't freeze because of the salt, but I love to pop these suckers in my water all summer long to keep hydrated.

WARNING: the first time I made this, I added WAY too much salt. You'll see in the recipe there's no amount specified. So start with, like, a quarter teaspoon, taste it, and go from there. Instead of putting the tea in the freezer, I keep it in a refrigerated jug and add a little to my water bottle throughout the day.

Photo of a human hand feeding a piece of watermelon to a dog. They are on a wooden deck and there are grasses and trees in the background. The text on the human hand reads "summer." The text on the dog's ear reads "me."

Cut up fruits & veggies. Each week I've been taking apples, oranges, carrots, celery, cucumbers, jicama, and bell peppers, and cutting them all into snackable sizes. I stuff a tupperware container (one for each day) with a little of everything and graze. Special shout out to nature's all-time greatest hit, watermelon. Refreshing, hydrating, nourishing. #MealPrepLife

Friends. If I have a challenge I don't know how to work through, I ask my friends. This is how I just found a clean, affordable place to live. I'm moving to a new place around the first of September.

Little scrap quilts. I'm going to be in several shows over the coming months. I'll be sharing all the details soon. I'm experimenting with these small improvised pieces.