Colleen’s sewing days started in fifth grade in 4-H in rural North Dakota. 4-H and music were a big part of her life. She graduated from North Dakota State University with a degree in Pharmacy and was licensed as a Registered Pharmacist in North Dakota and Minnesota. When Colleen needed professional-looking maternity clothes she sewed her maternity wardrobe. 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. Colleen has won Best of Show and over a hundred red, white, or blue ribbons. She has also won many special awards including Best Workmanship and multiple Best Use of Color and Viewer’s Choice awards as well as numerous Faculty Choice awards. 

In recent years, Colleen expanded her focus to original designs. She has had four original quilt designs in national shows including two quilts that were personally quilted by Colleen on a domestic sewing machine. 

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 judged the quilt division of the North Dakota State Fair in 2022 and 2023. She has also judged quilt shows, quilt challenges, and at county fairs. 4-H sewing holds a special joy and she returns to her sewing roots to help a new generation.

Colleen and her husband of 39 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 and culinary experiments on Instagram @rxquilt.