Selina Adams discovered quilting in 2020 at a moment when comfort, connection, and care were deeply needed. Her first quilt was a t-shirt quilt created for her mother as she began treatment for metastatic breast cancer. What began as a practical project quickly became something deeper, a way to wrap love, hope, and presence into fabric and thread. Soon after, Selina created t-shirt quilts for the family of a young woman who passed away at the age of 21, further revealing the quiet power quilts have to preserve memory and offer healing during life’s most difficult moments.
Drawn in by this emotional resonance, Selina moved into traditional quilting and became fully immersed in the craft. She focuses on creating quilts meant to be used and lived with, not set aside or displayed untouched. From healing lap quilts to expansive bed quilts, many of them king-sized, each piece is made with the intention of becoming part of someone’s daily life. Her goal is for every quilt to speak to its recipient, allowing the love, care, and intention stitched into each creation to be powerfully felt.
Her work is deeply rooted in service and storytelling. Over the years, Selina has made quilts for several breast cancer survivors as well as Quilts of Valor recipients, honoring resilience, sacrifice, and healing through fabric and stitch. As her artistic voice continues to evolve, Selina has begun incorporating fabrics from the great Continent of Africa, inspired by their bold colors, rich symbolism, and storytelling traditions. She also enjoys integrating machine embroidery into her quilts, adding texture, detail, and another layer of personal expression.
In 2024, Selina’s work was recognized at the NC State Fair, where she received both Best of Show and First Place Quilt honors. That same year, she was invited to present a trunk show, which led to her joining the African American Quilt Circle of Durham in December 2024. While these milestones have been deeply affirming, it is the connection her quilts create—offering warmth, comfort, and belonging—that continues to guide her work.
Salina’s website, www.elleasesquiltsembroideryandmore.com, serves as an online gallery and shop where I share my quilts, embroidery, and creative process.