Kindly Woven Artist Feature: Melissa McKeagney

Some stories begin in childhood, stitched into the soft folds of memory. For New Hampshire-based artist Melissa McKeagney, creativity ran through the family, expressed in color, pattern, and the way a home was thoughtfully made. It showed up in trips to the fabric store with her mom and afternoons watching her spread out sewing patterns at the dining table. There, in the warmth of family hands and a kaleidoscope of color, a love for textiles quietly took root.

Melissa’s debut blanket design for Kindly Woven is more than a beautiful object—it’s an heirloom of feeling. A tribute to the past, a comfort in the present, and a celebration of color, texture, and connection.

Meet the Artist

Melissa came to art later in life, through what she calls “the back door of sewing.” When she couldn’t find the right clothes for her daughter—especially ones in her favorite color—she started making them herself. That spark grew into a successful children’s clothing line and eventually evolved into her surface design studio, Buue (pronounced “B-yoo”) Studio.

Her style is joyful, textured, and contemporary, deeply influenced by her Gram’s painterly eye, the elegance of vintage textiles, and the color stories collected from both global travels and her own backyard. “The natural world is beautiful, of course,” Melissa says, “but I’m equally inspired by the tiny details in any given cityscape.”

Why Woven?

Textiles are Melissa’s first language—one spoken in hues and hands. “I loved picking out my fabrics and colors as a kid and watching them magically become pants,” she recalls of those early days. Woven fabrics, especially, carry a tactile significance for her. “I’ve loved the feel of high-quality textiles since I was a little girl.”

Translating her artwork into a woven blanket, then, felt like a full-circle moment. “It becomes another thing entirely,” she says of the final piece. “The texture of the weave transforms and elevates the pattern—it’s magical. I love the idea of the textile designer’s creative brain meshing with mine to create something greater than the sum of its parts.”

Design Inspiration

At the center of Melissa’s design is the peony—a flower that blooms with meaning. Her Gram loved them, and every June, they’d watch the first one open, placing it delicately in a pink glass bowl found at an antique store. That same bowl lives with Melissa now, filled each summer with fresh blooms and whispered memories.

Her peony print leans abstract, allowing room for interpretation. It’s not just a flower; it’s a story. “I hope looking at the pattern might trigger a memory from the past,” she says, “but also help create new ones.”

The Creative Process

The collaboration came together faster than Melissa expected—but with a sense of calm clarity. One surprise was the blanket’s reversible design, echoing the double-sided pieces she lovingly creates in her children’s clothing line. “It felt so personal and meaningful,” she says. “It’s like a visual echo of how I’ve always worked—thoughtful, with intention.”

Final Thoughts

Melissa hopes the blanket feels like a bridge—between old and new, art and home, memory and daily ritual. “I want people to feel a sense of contemporary nostalgia,” she says. “To be wrapped in something that reminds them of the past but feels just as alive in the present.”

As for who it’s for? “Anyone building a warm, inviting home. A newlywed couple. A child moving out for the first time. A new baby in the family. Adding color and pattern adds joy.”

In her own life, there’s a blanket on every chair, ready for morning coffee or evening quiet. Because, as she puts it, “the textiles in our homes are what give our rooms life.”

Explore the Collection

Melissa’s peony-inspired blanket, named Addy, is part of our debut Kindly Woven collection—featuring eight remarkable artists and a wide range of patterns, palettes, and perspectives. Whether you're drawn to sentiment, symbolism, or simply seeking a beautiful way to warm a space, this limited-edition series is a heartfelt place to begin.

See the blanket + browse the collection →

Follow Melissa’s journey at buuestudio.com or on Instagram @buuestudio.