Darlene Mossman
July 22, 2027 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Lecture: My Quilting Journey & Trunk Show
Darlene began quilting in 2006 and quickly became fascinated by the many techniques and possibilities within the quilting world.
Over the years, she has taken numerous classes and workshops and enjoys continually learning and experimenting. She owns a Handi Quilter Infinity long-arm quilting machine, which she uses to quilt her own projects and, together with her husband, to quilt Quilts of Valor for veterans.
While serving as First Vice President of Speakers & Workshops for WSQ, she invited Laura Heine to present a lecture and workshop on collage quilting techniques. After taking the collage class, Darlene was inspired and enrolled in Laura’s certified instructor training at her shop in Billings, Montana. In April 2026, she attended an advanced workshop at Fiberworks to expand her skills, learn new techniques to share with future students & to recertify.
For the past several years, Darlene has taught a monthly collage class at Cuppa Tea Quilting, where she especially enjoys helping students discover and develop their own creativity. In addition to collage, Darlene teaches bag-making and Attic Windows classes at Cuppa Tea Quilting, where she also works one day a week. She has presented lectures and workshops in Arizona, Idaho, & Washington, with additional teaching opportunities on the horizon. Darlene looks forward to sharing her passion for collage quilting with your group.
About Darlene:
Darlene Mossman has followed a wonderfully varied path throughout her professional and personal life, combining careers in education and counseling with her passions for music, quilting, theater, community service, and lifelong learning.
Professional Career
Darlene began her professional career immediately after high school in the medical field. Over the next 15 years, she worked as a medical assistant and ultimately became the office manager for several medical practices. After leaving the medical field, Darlene pursued another passion—music. She sang and played bass guitar in a band and toured throughout the western United States. Eventually, her love of learning led her back to school. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science followed by a Master of Science in Educational Guidance and Counseling. She obtained California credentials in School Psychology, Special Education, and Administration. Darlene spent 16 years working with students from kindergarten through adulthood. She later became a middle school counselor and, after earning a second master’s degree in Transpersonal Studies and a Ph.D. in Psychology, became the principal of the same middle school, serving approximately 950 students in grades 7 and 8. She retired from education in 2018 and moved to Diamond Lake, Washington.
Music
Music has been an important part of Darlene’s life since the early 1990s. She has performed with a variety of bands over the years, including touring throughout the western United States. Today, she sings and plays bass guitar with Popeye Rose Social Club, a three-piece group featuring mandolin, slide guitar, and bass. The group performs at venues and community events throughout the region, including the Roxy in Newport, the Pend Oreille County Fair, PAWS for a Cause, CREATE, Usk Bar & Grill, and the Spokane Folk Festival.
Theater
After moving to Diamond Lake, Darlene discovered another creative outlet: theater. She auditioned for and was cast in Coming to America with Pend Oreille Players in 2019. Since then, she has appeared in numerous plays and musicals, including Nunsense, in which she played Mother Superior, as well as Jake’s Place, All Together Now, and Christmas Bells. Darlene was one of several local performers who came together to form Out of the Box Entertainment, a traveling performing troupe. She has served as the organization’s Board Secretary since its inception in 2023. With Out of the Box Entertainment, she has performed in Trouble at the Tropicabana, Polter Heist, No Laughing Matter, and Merry Christmas, Mr. Marconi!.
Quilts of Valor
When Darlene moved to Diamond Lake in 2018, she wanted to become involved with Quilts of Valor. When she discovered that there was no local group serving the area, she decided to create one. With the mentorship and encouragement of Diane Waters, Darlene founded Welcome
Home Veterans Quilts of Valor. The group has continued to grow and has now awarded 405 Quilts of Valor to veterans throughout the surrounding area. The group holds monthly awards presentations from March through November at Priest River Community Church, typically presenting approximately eight quilts at each ceremony. What began as an effort to bring Quilts of Valor to her local community has grown into a meaningful organization that brings together quilters, volunteers, families, and veterans.
Coast Guard Auxiliary
Darlene joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary in January 2025. The Auxiliary supports the U.S. Coast Guard through boating safety education, vessel examinations, assistance to boaters, search-and-rescue support, and other missions. She serves with the Pend Oreille Lake Flotilla as the Rescue and Survival Staff Officer and the Secretary/Records Staff Officer.
Pickleball
Darlene discovered pickleball about a year ago and quickly became hooked. She now plays several days a week and enjoys both the exercise and the opportunity to meet new people through the sport.
Family
Darlene is married and has an adult daughter and son, as well as an adult granddaughter. She also has two adult stepsons, who have families. She and her husband, Shannon, share their home with 4 dogs (down from 12…all rescues) and 2 cats. They also have 9 chickens
and three guinea hens.
Across her many careers, hobbies, and volunteer activities, Darlene has continued to embrace new challenges, learn new skills, and find ways to contribute to her community. Whether she is quilting for a veteran, teaching a class, performing on stage, playing music, supporting boaters, or enjoying a game of pickleball, she brings enthusiasm, creativity, and a strong commitment to helping others to everything she does.
