About Quilts by Marjie Cahn
The fabric of our lives help define us even in today’s world of universal blue jeans. Our history comes to life as we recall the clothing of our parents and grandparents. For me, it was the silks of Grandpa Ben that defined my early years and that continue to embrace my life.
Quilts by Marjie Cahn has its origins on 7th Avenue in New York City in the back room of Highlight Fashions, where Grandpa Ben manufactured “better women’s dresses”. Scraps from the cutting room were my toys and the beginning of my love of fabric. Highlight Fashions was the first dress manufacturer to put the name of the designer on the label. The dresses were magnificent, and workers were held to a high standard. As a child sitting on the floor playing with scraps, interesting design, good work ethic, and innovation were part of the air that I breathed.
During my children’s early years, I made some of their clothing, but not all of my productions were received warmly. I admit to some pretty funny looking trousers for both of my children, but the dresses made of Liberty of London fabric were well received. Patchwork quilts, though, were easier! I had only myself to please and could use whatever fun, funky, or strange combinations that fell into place as I scattered my scraps. In 1972, secretly, I made a quilt for a future grandchild who would be born some three decades later.
Some quilts are inspired by social issues, some by special events and some, especially whole cloth quilts, just seem to design themselves as the piece of cloth speaks to me.
I am self-taught as an artist, and I continue to learn from family and friends. My formal education includes: Bard College, AB; Bank Street School of Education, MS; Boston University School of Social Work, MSW; and University of Massachusetts, EdD.
Collaboration with others is an inspiration and a joy and it is especially rewarding to share with my young granddaughters my love of creating with fabric.
It has been my great fortune to be able to collaborate with Georgette Gagne of Black Wolf Quilting Studio (www.blackwolfquilting.com). She has worked with me and my granddaughter, Sophie Grace, for a number of years. The collaboration, both inspiring and instructive, has produced many colorful pieces.Quilts have a way of healing and can be magical for they carry a strong message especially if they have been made as a healing quilt or a group project. There are quilts that unite as in collaborative quilts and quilts that hold our memories as in quilts made of scraps from loved ones’ clothing. Quilts also are functional and keep us warm as they surround us with color, texture and history.
Of my work the following has been written:
“These quilts have plenty of hand stitching, but they are Ultimately illustrations using fabric as a medium and they are intensively effective Cahn tells a story of a fictional family with an all too real-life secret. If each fabric could be said to have its own distinctive voice, Cahn has woven them into a chorus.”
Christina L. Pappas, Worcester Magazine, October 1996