Quilting has been a part of Marlene Sapa’s life for as long as she can remember.

“My mom and grandmother were quilters. The whole family would gather, and they would quilt while the kids would play under the quilting frames,” recalls Marlene. “It was a social time for my family.”

Marlene learned to sew at a young age, and when she went to college, she took her sewing machine along. Marlene continued to sew while raising her daughters and working as a registered nurse and Family Nurse Practitioner but didn’t start quilting until her youngest daughter left for college.

“I always wanted to quilt, but I didn’t think I knew how,” says Marlene. “I wanted to continue the tradition of my family by making quilts. I am a self-taught quilter, and I just keep trying things until I finally master them.”

Marlene’s home is filled with quilts; she  also frequently donates her quilts to different charities. Marlene is a member of Missouri Valley Quilt Guild and Capital Quilters Guild. She has exhibited her work at many regional shows and is honored to be the featured quilter for Capital Quiltfest 2018.

Marlene’s work will be on display at Quiltfest 2018, which will be held November 2-4 at the Ramada by Wyndham in Bismarck. Click here to learn more.