Megan Harris has always loved folk art, particularly hand-crafted clothing.

The fabrics were woven of hand-spun yarns on back-strap looms, crafted into simple shapes, rich with bright colored embroidery in traditional designs. They became identified with specific villages and were repeated for generations before being replaced by industrial methods and uniform styles.

Selections from her collection will be in the lobby of Orcas Center during February. The Madrona room features an exhibit of textiles created, or collected by Orcas residents. A public reception will be on Friday, Feb. 1, from 5.30 to 7.pm.

Harris worked in two folk art stores and enjoyed trips as a buyer in Mexico and Central America.

Megan and her husband Bob traveled widely, living in Greece for two years with their sons, and on a 1890 sailboat in the Mediterranean area for several years – always collecting interesting textiles.  In 1987 Bob published a book describing their travels, “Gypsying After.”