ABOUT
Marie Lorraine Harrison
When Marie Lorraine Harrison opens the box that contains a quilt given to her by her grandmother, the scent of lavender takes her back to childhood. Her abuela used lavender on quilts as a calming comfort, and perhaps there, Marie's love of quilts and sewing began.
She remembers, as a little girl, helping her grandmother to cut quilt squares or cuadros, and this is what got her started. Through the years, creating quilts made of shirts, pants, and other things became like living history and tradition to Marie, and she carries on that tradition, today.
Marie's views on her quilting, her art and on life itself were influenced by those who knew the value of hard work, and the importance of family. Her mother and father labored and saved for years. Because of this, Marie feels strongly about stewarding the legacy they left her, and doing so in a savvy and loving way. She found her own career-niche in management, and is a self-described "systems" person. As a manager, she will tell you that she always took pride in bringing out creative ideals in others, rather than having them just copy her advice.
Marie truly understands that if someone helps spark original ideas in another, then those ideas mean more, and they are stronger for the bonds that created them. "It takes a lot of growing as a person to find your niche . . . and you have to practice and practice it." This transfers over into her classes on quilting. She loves to see people feel great about their own work, and truly engage in her classes, using their own as well as her ideas.
Smiling, Marie says "my quilts will out-live me." And that's quite alright with her. She treasures photos of her family with quilts she has made. Whether they are of her son with his treasured offering from his mom, or another family member, Mariana, sitting on the ground at the New Mexico Balloon Fiesta, with hers. Humbly, Marie has no qualms about how someone uses a quilt. She tells a story about someone who was afraid to tell her they used one of her quilts to warm their pet. But, she insists, "When I gift a quilt to someone, I give it. Use it however you want. I'm okay with that.”
Marie is a self-described "bridge artist" and quilting expert. Hers is a tradition deeply rooted in love, family, and comforting others -- elements that grow more and more precious as time goes on. One of her mottos is, "don't hesitate to smile at someone, because that person could change your life in an instant." Through her artistry, Marie places smiles on every blanket and project, whether big or small. And hopes that her work will bring smiles to others for years to come.
"Traditions. History. Family Treasures
Quilting is an art passed on to each new generation and the art form commerates the stages of our lives.
- Marie Lorraine Harrison, with husband Pat Harrison
Studio Owner and Quilt Artist
Other Family Quilts on Pinterest
Commemorate the Stages of Our Lives
Quilt making is much more than stitches, batting, and pieces of cloth. It is an art in its truest form that brings together skill to rival any artist, tradition, family, and love that flows from the hands of the maker.
Quilts not only keep us warm, they are a tangible record of our lives, present at birth to keep a baby snuggled, there during our adulthood to keep us cozy and comforted, and they wrap us in old age keeping away the chill of winter, a soothing friend that enfolds us in joy. They go with us regardless of how far we roam from the place of our birth, and join families together through marriage and commitment.
Quilting is a living embodiment of love. One of our most basic needs -- that of warmth -- is woven into every stitch, every piece of cloth, every movement of the artist's hands. Whether traditional or modern in the creation; whether completely hand-sewn, or created with the aid of technology, quilts carry knowledge, wisdom, pride, and the very years of our lives. Every time we wrap ourselves up to sleep, or pull them over us to relax, we are soothed. Something in us, something instinctual and very old, is touched. This touch originates with the artist's hand. And those energies flowing through, reach us in our most basic of moments -- those of love and home.
My son, Roman Barham and his girlfriend, Kristin Melton, displaying the latest quilted blanket created and gifted to them by his loving mother!