Meet Sarah Roberts | Hand Embroidery Artist and Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Roberts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
Through my hand embroidery work, I have learned to celebrate who I am and what brings me joy. It’s a cheesy answer, but I spent many years feeling like I had “failed” at having a “normal” career.
Before the pandemic, I worked in an administrative capacity in a small high school. One day, a group of 10th graders interviewed me and asked -When were you most proud of yourself?- or something to that effect. I told them I was most proud of my hand embroidery work because for me, it allows me to share who I am. I get to be creative, I get to teach, and I get to spend time quietly practicing a centuries old art.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My first thoughts to answer this question are most likely not the normal. I believe I “got to where I am today” because of all the women who came before me, working in their homes or textile mills to make income for their families. I am a hand embroiderer because women from decades and centuries ago perpetuated this gentle and complex textile art with needle and thread. It is from their work that I believe I too can create meaningful and beautiful art with the same tools and materials that they used.

In a day-to-day practical answer, “I got to where I am today” because I kept stitching. Hand craft requires numerous of hours of practice. And I don’t say that to sound special or elitist. I say that because our modern living moves so fast, we forget that it actually takes a long time to become truly good at a skill.

The greatest challenges in my work today would have to be living with a neurological condition and furthering my instructional learning. Ten years ago I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation , a neurological condition that lies where your brain meets your skull and brain stem. Anyone with a neurological condition can tell you that the onset of a “flare up” of symptoms is unpredictable. And anyone living with a chronic medical condition knows that your mental health and relationships can suffer just as much as your body. I am lucky to have had a successful decompression surgery that has helped my quality of living. And I am even luckier to have amazing family and friends that love and support me!
The other challenge is that formally studying traditional hand embroidery (and other textile crafts) is not as accessible as other art. I was accepted to a professional program that unfortunately didn’t continue so I am needing funds to study in other countries.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ooh! A week of my favorite places in Atlanta!
Monday – Breakfast/Brunch at Ria’s Bluebird and then a walk or tour in Oakland Cemetery! Dinner at Elmyr or the Euclid Avenue Yacht Club in Little 5 Points and of course poking in the shops too!
Tuesday – A walk around the Agnes Scott campus (my Alma mater) with a small independent bookstore crawl from Charis Books to Brave & Kind, and to Little Shop of Stories on the square. Followed by dinner at the Brickstore Pub!
Wednesday – Museum Day! A visit to The Atlanta History Center and lunch at Souper Jenny’s! Maybe sneak in some time at the High Museum or the Puppetry Arts Ctr. as well!
Thursday – A walk along the Chattahoochee River on the East Palisades Trail and coffee at Chattahoochee Coffee Co. on the river!
Thursday – Visit the William Root House on the Marietta Square and then a tough decision of where to eat! They have so many new choices on the square. Knowing me, I’d end up a at a pub! So, Johnnie MacCraken’s Celtic Firehouse Pub for a pint and some fried goodness!
Friday – Back in SE Atlanta and to end the week with my absolute favorite place, Little Tart Bake Shop for coffee and a chocolate pistachio croissant! Walk and lounge in Grant Park and then check out the murals in EAV and have dinner at Argosy!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband and my Mother are the two people that first come to mind when considering who (or what) have given me consistent support as I continue to build a career in hand embroidery. My husband because he is the one that feeds and is with our kids while I am working, but also because he is usually the sounding board for an idea or the first eyes on a design.
My Mother taught me how to sew and because she gave me the direct encouragement to follow my dreams. She always listened to me ramble about how proud I am to continue the line of women & mothers that did textile work to supplement their families income. My Mother was my go-to for talking about color or how to style a booth.
I want to take this opportunity to also mention Lucy Barter, my embroidery instructor. She has championed my work in the professional arena. And she also has told me to push forward with having confidence in my work.
Also, the women that taught me bobbin lace and the women of the Atlanta Chapter of the IOLI Lace Guild! These women have shown confidence in my learning and my work. They are all so talented and full of love for the traditional textile arts we share!

Website: https://Www.quiet-hours.com

Instagram: @quiet_hours

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inthequiethours/

Image Credits
One image is credited to Leigh Metcalf, Owner of Topstitch Sewing Studio & Lounge. The Topstitch Brand logo is on the image shared.
All other images are my own.