Colleen’s sewing days started in fifth grade in 4-H in rural North Dakota. She graduated from North Dakota State University with a degree in Pharmacy and was licensed as a Registered Pharmacist in North Dakota and Minnesota. In 1999, a girlfriend insisted that they go to a quilt shop. Colleen remembers saying, “No, thanks” but found herself inside the shop. She saw a wonky, paper-pieced log cabin and made her first quilt.

Colleen has quilted ferociously since that log cabin quilt. She’s made quilts of many styles and adapts commercial patterns to meet her needs. In recent years she has been creating her own original designs. Colleen has won Best of Show and over a hundred red, white, or blue ribbons. She has shown quilts nationally since 2014 and internationally in 2024. She has also won many special awards including Best Workmanship and Viewer’s Choice, and multiple Best Use of Color.

Colleen has also recently completed four art courses at the University of North Dakota.

Classes completed classes beginning Fall 2020:

• Two & Three Dimensional Design Art 112

• Art History I Art 210

• Art History II Art 211

• History of Graphic Design Art 410

Colleen and her husband of 40 years live in Grand Forks, ND, and have two grown kids.

After long days in her career, Colleen found quilting to be the best treatment after hectic work days. Follow her quilting adventures, travels, and culinary experiments on Instagram @rxquilt.