SnuggleUp in Style
Stay warm and cozy this fall with striking, original art-inspired blankets.
Autumn
is a great time to enjoy warm, cozy comfort, whether you’re indoors or outside. Looking to stay snug and toasty in beauty and style this season? Try these stunning, unique fine-art blankets from Hillery Sproatt.
Hillery is a fine artist whose process begins with making paintings on paper, which she then translates into textiles. Her organic shapes, whimsical landscapes and childlike creatures make evocative connections between home and nature. Her intuitive painting process lends itself to the discovery of beautiful patches of densely knit pattern and abstract marks, and the resulting art-inspired blankets are designed to inspire sweet dreams.
ALWAYS AN ARTIST
“I always made little drawings, dolls and books,” she says. “Making things never felt like a choice as much as it felt like something I was called to do, even when I was a small girl.”
Her mother, fiber artist and clothing designer Debra Weiss, fueled her love for pattern and textiles early on. “A career in art always felt natural. My mom is an artist, so I grew up with a sense of pride in using my hands. My creative efforts were met with encouragement, and I was taught there was value in handmade objects at a very young age.” She explains that her mother’s “home studio is full of hand-pieced quilts, stitched blankets and cutting room scraps. I often swoon over the Japanese fabrics she sources when designing for her clothing line Rebe by Debra Weiss.”
Hillery says her artistic process is very intuitive. “When painting, drawing or working in the ceramics studio, I value being able to play without limitations. I experience great joy when allowing myself the spaciousness to simply respond to marks, colors and shapes without knowing exactly what they are.”
INSPIRATION EVERYWHERE
“I draw inspiration from nearly everything I take in, places I’ve visited, conversations I’ve had, books I’m reading or a flower by the side of the road,” Hillery says. “All these things find their way into my work. At the moment, I find myself inspired by countless self-taught artists, children’s drawings, Paul Klee, Picasso, Matisse, as well as Scandinavian, Japanese and Eastern European design.”
In addition, she loves found and collected vintage objects, furniture and textiles, finding they are rich with history and charm. Hillery likes a mix of new and old things. She also loves cottages and dreams of having her own one day: a place that would be “peaceful, relaxed, cozy, full of vintage charm and built-in character … a place to collect your thoughts and gather with your family … where you can reconnect with nature and find inspiration and joy.” The perfect place to enjoy Hillery’s art and wrap up comfortably in one of her charming blankets.
BEAUTIFUL BLANKETS
Some customers frame Hillery’s original paintings and live with them on the wall, while others purchase her knit blankets to snuggle up with. “The blankets are a more affordable way to live with the artwork,” she says. They are beautiful draped on a bed or sofa, and can be machine washed and dried, making them completely functional for everyday use. “We have countless blankets around our home,” Hillery adds, “and each is well used and loved. Even our dog, Mali, has her own blanket.”
Her advice about adding art to your home décor? “A home should serve us in our daily lives,” Hillery believes. “Listen to yourself when decorating your home. Be patient, visit flea markets and antiques stores, keep your eyes peeled when you travel, and remain passionate and focused on purchasing things that bring you joy. Think about how functionality informs beauty. I believe this is a recipe for beautiful living.”