Tricia learned to sew at her mother’s knee. She remembers sewing a three-piece plaid outfit in Home Economics while everyone else was making pillows and aprons. She didn’t earn many brownie points with her teacher every time she said, “My mom showed me it’s easier to do it this way…”

Tricia has been teaching in the Portland, Oregon area for more than 40 years. In 2015, she retired after 15 years of teaching in The Art Institute of Portland’s Apparel Design Program, where she taught all levels of sewing construction, tailoring, and patternmaking.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Clothing and Textiles from the University of Montana and a Master’s in Education from Argosy University. Before joining The Art Institute of Portland, Tricia operated a successful custom clothing business, creating tailored garments for her clients.

After retiring from the Art Institute, she realized she no longer needed professional garments to wear every day, so she turned her attention to quilting—and hasn’t looked back since.

In 2022, she borrowed time on a friend’s Handi Quilter Sixteen® machine, and it wasn’t long before she and two friends invested in a Pro-Stitcher®. By 2024, tired of driving to her friend’s house, she purchased an Amara 20® with Pro-Stitcher® and now spends much of her time working through her ever-growing TBQ (To Be Quilted) pile while quilting for others. Tricia delights in collaborating with her clients to transform their quilts into works of art.

Tricia enjoys teaching every step of the quilting process, from piecing through finishing. She especially loves helping others learn to navigate Pro-Stitcher®, building their confidence and skills as they grow in their quilting journey.

When she’s not quilting, you’ll find Tricia gardening, kayaking, or traveling.