Piecing Together a Modern Quilter’s Journey
In today’s dispatch, writer Amber Davis talks with Laura Preston, founder of Vacilando Studios, about finding quilting, community, and inspiration on the road.
The Good Sort is a digital magazine from SearchBar that publishes style stories from your favorite writers, along with compelling interviews and insanely good shopping roundups you won’t want to miss.
By Amber Davis for The Good Sort
Where would you go if you let yourself wander? Truly soaking in each moment, without anticipation of the destination. Laura Preston has done just that. Her brand’s name, Vacilando, speaks to celebrating the journey — one where you may not know the ending, but have direction nonetheless.
Preston studied art history and painting before a road trip that changed everything. She and her partner packed their lives into an airstream that was both home and studio and brought her to the practice of quilting. Without formal training, she was able to reimagine a world that held both a rich history and an openness to something new. Her brand of instant heirlooms reflects a dedication to craftsmanship and community — the all-woman team works across the country to bring vision and values to life. The Good Sort spoke with Preston on pivoting, transparent business and a new take on tradition.
THE GOOD SORT: Tell me about how your brand came to be.
LAURA PRESTON: That’s a story. In 2013, I started traveling around the United States in an airstream trailer with my then-boyfriend and now husband. He proposed the idea to travel around the country for a year in his mom’s airstream. And this was before #vanlife. I’ve always wanted to do cross-country road trips and have that kind of adventure, so in February 2013 we sold all of our stuff and moved out of New York. What was going to be a year-long road trip, turned into six. Vacilando was born on the road. I was making everything at my tiny little desk in my airstream. I was basting quilts in parking lots and at picnic tables — being scrappy and creative — making things however I could. I officially started my business in February 2015 and in 2018 I hired my first quilter to help with production. I was traveling at the time, so I didn't need her to be in any particular place. She's based in Ohio and reached out to me through Instagram, and we started this remote working arrangement. I'd write the patterns and send her the fabric and we’d work from wherever we were. It was the two of us for two years and then when the pandemic hit, I was ready to slow down and pivot, but the business exploded. Everyone wanted quilts for the homes that they were stuck in and so, in 2020, we grew from three people to eight. Now we're a team of seven and everyone works out of their home studios. We have some really talented quilters and seamstresses and it’s been cool to bring more people into the fold and collaborate.
THE GOOD SORT: What inspired you to move from art history and painting into textiles?
LAURA PRESTON: When we first started traveling, I brought all my painting supplies with me. I had this idea of painting outdoors and having time and inspiration for creativity. I quickly realized that oil paints and large-scale oil painting don't work in a tiny tube of a house that travels down the road every two to three days. So, I started thinking about a creative outlet I could do in small spaces and use later. I spent a couple of months searching for a new medium to work in and came across a handful of modern quilters. I didn’t realize that people were making art and these graphic, modern compositions out of fabric. I loved the process of designing and figuring out dimensions and fabric requirements. Seeing an idea come to fruition. I was hooked.
THE GOOD SORT: Where does the name Vacilando come from?
LAURA PRESTON: Before I embarked on this airstream adventure in 2013, I bought the John Steinbeck book, Travels with Charley for my then-boyfriend (now husband), John. I stole it and read it soon after and loved it. In the book, Steinbeck built a camper and spent eight months driving around the country with his dog Charley, and he talks about the word “Vacilando” he came across during his travels. He described it as someone who’s going somewhere and they don’t know exactly where or how they’re going to get there, but they have direction. I don’t know if it was being in my mid-20s in New York, about to embark on this adventure and feeling the wanderlust and excitement, but that sentiment stuck with me. It was the only thing that made sense.
THE GOOD SORT: You’ve mentioned travel as a source of inspiration. Where are some of your favorite places to go and why?
LAURA PRESTON: The easiest answer for me is always Big Sur in California. We went during our first year of travel, and it was one of those places that I couldn’t believe existed in the world — just miles and miles of untouched, beautiful land. Succulent-covered cliffs ending in the ocean, the mist, and the sunset — it was one of the most magical places I’ve ever seen. The Olympic Peninsula in Washington has also been a very inspirational place. The giant driftwood logs are so moody and dramatic. It’s still the west coast, but has a different feel from places further south. I went to Greece last year. It’d never been on my radar, even though I traveled through Europe a handful of times, and I was so blown away by the people and the food and the landscape. It felt very familiar and exotic at the same time. It was a really special place. A lot of my favorite places tend to revolve around water.
THE GOOD SORT: Quilting is typically seen as pretty traditional. How do you keep your designs feeling fresh and modern?
LAURA PRESTON: I’m a self-taught quilter. I don’t have family members who quilted, so I don’t have any preconceived notions about how a quilt should look. There were no rules, and that lets me be freer when it comes to thinking about what a quilt can look like. There’s so much skill that goes into traditional quilts, but I think you can apply the techniques of quilting to a more modern and minimalist design aesthetic and have it be just as impactful and interesting, while still being true to the art and history of quilting.
THE GOOD SORT: How long does it typically take to make a piece?
LAURA PRESTON: Wall quilts can take anywhere from three to four hours. Our more complex designs, like a queen-size quilt, can take from 20-30 hours and coats are around the same. Twenty to thirty hours may not sound like a lot, but most quilters can only quilt for about six hours a day, so that’s like a week to make a large quilt or a coat.
THE GOOD SORT: Do you still live and work in the airstream-turned-quilting studio?
LAURA PRESTON: No, my husband and I bought a house in April 2019. We kind of got burnt out from traveling. Our careers were picking up and we were spending more time working than enjoying the places where we were, so we decided to settle down. We bought a mid-century modern house in San Marcus, Texas, kind of sight unseen. We’ve spent the past three years renovating. It’s allowed for more expansion and growth and it’s been really good.
THE GOOD SORT: What do you think informs your design POV?
LAURA PRESTON: Travel, definitely, and colors found in nature. I think all the years of having to live minimally in a small space informed a minimalist aesthetic. Minimalism is very inspiring to me — taking an idea or photo or landscape and distilling it down to the most essential form and making it impactful is what I’m always going for.
THE GOOD SORT: You wrote a book all about quilting. What are some tips you’d offer to beginners?
LAURA PRESTON: Don't be intimidated by it. A lot of people are intimidated by quilting and their sewing machine. Take it one step at a time. I wrote with beginners in mind, walking through every step. I wanted to make the process as straightforward and clear and approachable as possible.
THE GOOD SORT: How does your style show up in the brand?
LAURA PRESTON: A lot of the time I end up matching my quilts. I'll be working on something and then realize I'm wearing the same colors. With branching into quilt coats, I’m always thinking about what I would want to wear, or what the stylish people in my life would want to wear. I also like to think about if I'd have a piece I'm making in my home. If I can't picture something in a space, I don’t make it.
THE GOOD SORT: What role do textiles play in your own home and personal spaces?
LAURA PRESTON: I love color. Furnishing this house has been the first time I've been able to explore textiles and larger pieces of furniture. In an airstream, you can’t buy furniture or a lot of decoration because, if it doesn’t serve a purpose, it doesn’t need to be in that space. It's been nice to be less utilitarian and more whimsical. I’ve incorporated a lot of the textiles I've found from my travels. It's fun to figure out how to combine color and pattern to create a cohesive space. There’s no beige room in my home.
THE GOOD SORT: Compared to most designers and makers who keep so much of their business, production process, and material sourcing under wraps, you believe in openness and sharing. We find it refreshing. Why is this important to you?
LAURA PRESTON: Honesty and openness and transparency have always been brand values. If you’re doing things right, you don’t have anything to hide. You should be doing things the best way you can and be open to sharing that with the people that support you. As a consumer, I love to know how things are made and where and by who. I always look at a brand's about page to see where they’re based and who’s behind it. Being an informed consumer is a powerful thing — you’re putting your dollars into brands that practice what you care about.
THE GOOD SORT: What does modernizing the cottage industry mean to you?
LAURA PRESTON: I find it to be really powerful and empowering for women to be able to do something that they love while having a flexible schedule and being able to work from home. I think that’s where work is headed. Being able to provide that feels good.
The Sort Six
What do you collect?
Rocks and tiny treasures like shells or sea glass that I find during my travels. I have little collections of rocks from around the world all over my house. I also (not surprisingly) have a thing for textiles, especially vintage or handmade.
What’s the object that’s been with you the longest?
My parents gave me an Elsa Peretti ring when I graduated from high school. I don't think I've taken it off once since 2006.
What brand is totally underrated?
For Days, for basics — what they're doing with sustainability and their closed loop model is the future of clothing. Miranda Bennett for special pieces — everything is made at their studio in Austin. They dye their fabrics with natural plant-based dyes and their clothing is comfortable, elegant, and timeless.
What’s one store you can’t visit without buying something?
Any specialty grocery store! I'm endlessly enamored with food and cooking.
What’s your greatest extravagance?
Travel. Not that I travel extravagantly, but I would rather spend a few thousand dollars to go on a trip somewhere amazing than on anything material.
We’re always interested in talking to cool people doing interesting things. Who should we talk to next?
Miranda Bennett of Miranda Bennett Studio [which makes plant dyed, perennial apparel] and April Nemeth of Little Korboose [a conscious home object and textile studio].
Shop online at vacilandostudios.com and follow Laura on Instagram @vacilandostudios.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Amber Davis is an Atlanta native based in Brooklyn. She loves nothing more than discovering new brands and the people behind them. When she’s not writing, she can be found taking or teaching a movement class, volunteering or exploring new restaurants. Follow Amber on Instagram @amber_l_davis.