Cathy was taught how to sew on a Singer Treadle sewing machine by her grandmother, Agnes. As an adult she sewed everything from wedding dresses to three piece men’s suits. In 1977 after moving to renovate a farm house with her husband and two small children she joined a quilt group. As a perfectionist Cathy was ready to give up quilting in lieu of something else. A fateful meeting in 1990 changed that when she attended a quilt retreat on a remote island in Lake Michigan. Here she met Gwen Marston who would become her dear friend and mentor. In the ensuing years Cathy’s love of quilting exploded. Many of her quilts are now held in private collections.