LOCAL ARTISAN SPOTLIGHT: Modern Shades of Grey

Where others may see worn t-shirts, old buttons and scraps of useless fabric, Middletown native Sarah Quick sees inspiration. “I’ve always been crafty and putting together little things,” says the self-described “up-cycler.” As her crafting developed, a line was born. Today, Modern Shades of Grey boasts extraordinarily-fashioned handmade bracelets, necklaces, scarves, hair accessories and more all made from diverse and sometimes unorthodox fabrics and accoutrements. Her signature multi-strand necklaces, made of 100% cotton cords, usually made out of re-purposed t-shirts in everything from vibrant hues to muted shades, are striking and unique, garnering the artist a lot of attention. She sources textiles and accessories for her pieces everywhere from local tag sales to thrift shops to the recycling center in Providence, ensuring each piece is one-of-a-kind. “I came up with the name ‘Modern Shades of Grey,’ because although we design chic, stylish accessories for the modern fashionista, there are shades of grey because many of our items incorporate vintage materials as well, such as fabrics, zippers, buttons, etc.,” explains Sarah. When not working on commissioned pieces, Sarah’s Modern Shades of Grey can be found at Green Envy Eco-Boutique in Newport’s Brick Market Place, Rummage in Tiverton Four Corners, The Gift Emporium at URI Kingston Campus, Peafunk Designs in East Greenwich, River’s Edge in Pawtuxet Village, Oak on Boston’s fashionable Newbury Street  and at the Indie Arts Festival in Providence in July 31st and online at on Modern Shades of Grey’s Esty site.