Colleen Connolly has traversed the wilds of North America since early childhood, from under the canopy of a champion oak tree in Detroit to the swampy glades of South Florida to the ancient ridges of the Appalachian Mountains. 

While raising two children, numerous pets, and an equally intrepid husband, she somehow still found time to volunteer in State Parks, become a land steward, study many forms of craft and encourage each small plot of land she touched to grow ever more wild and native. 

Living in Spruce Pine for the last 13 years, Colleen has enjoyed immersing herself in the myriad forms of fiber art, including eco printing, basketry, paper, and cloth, as a way to bring the outdoors in.  Her dog, Tilly, also assists in bringing the outside in, though mainly in the form of mud and interesting smells.