Modern Makers No. 01 introduces Megan, the founder of Motel Bodega, whose bold, graphic textile artworks bring together salvaged fabrics, contemporary quilting and a playful approach to colour.
Meet Megan, founder of Motel Bodega
What began in an attic studio with a birthday sewing machine and a collection of fabric scraps evolved into a distinctive creative practice. During the pandemic, sewing became an escape; gradually, Megan began transforming leftover textiles into striking compositions that feel somewhere between a quilt, a graphic artwork and a keepsake.
For the first edition of BOTARI's Modern Makers series, we explore her creative process, her relationship with materials and why making things by hand still matters.
How did Motel Bodega begin?
Motel Bodega grew from experimenting with textiles and learning to quilt. Working with scraps gave Megan a material-led way to explore shape, pattern and colour. The result is a series of graphic pieces where the fabric itself is as important as the image it creates.
Why craftsmanship matters
“My grandmother made quilts. My father made furniture. Making by hand feels like home.”
That family connection to craftsmanship runs through Megan's approach. Rather than treating a finished piece as something disposable, she thinks of her textile artworks as future heirlooms: objects to live with, cherish and eventually pass on.
How a textile artwork comes to life
A journey, a photograph, a sketch or a collected book can spark the beginnings of a design. From there, Megan assembles a palette of fabrics before cutting, stitching and stretching the composition. A wooden frame completes the piece, turning the sewn surface into an artwork for the wall.
Each fabric behaves differently. Some need stabilising, while others need steam and patience. Megan embraces the resulting irregularities; the small imperfections become part of her signature.
Choosing colours with instinct
Colour is never entirely fixed at the start. Working with salvaged textiles means responding to what is available, placing one fabric against another and noticing how the combinations shift. Megan describes it as a puzzle, balancing instinct with the materials at hand.
Her palettes are personal, carrying traces of places, experiences and memories. Rich reds, graphic blues, warm neutrals and unexpected contrasts give Motel Bodega's work its unmistakable character.
Modern Makers: celebrating the beauty of making
At BOTARI, we believe thoughtful design and the sensory qualities of an object can make the everyday feel special. Our Modern Makers series spotlights creative people who share a curiosity for material, craft, colour and the joy of making.
Discover more of our world at BOTARI, and explore our collection of design-led hand care and accessories.
Photography © Emanuele Piarulli and Anouk Moerman. Image rights remain with the respective photographers.
