About

Sjoukje (pronounced Shel-kia) was born in The Netherlands and first came to this country as a foreign exchange student.

She was a senior at Watkins Glen Central High, where she met her future husband Peter Argetsinger, who is today a well-known race car driver.

Together they lived and traveled throughout Europe, but eventually moved to the US and now live in Sebring, Florida. Summers are spent in Watkins Glen, New York, where they are the happy owners of an 1830’s farmhouse they call “The Cobean House”, after the cartoonist Sam Cobean, who once owned the house.

Sjoukje uses the name “Cobean House Quilts” to honor the artist, but also because few people can remember or pronounce her name!

Sjoukje has earned numerous awards with her quilts, which tend to be in an updated traditional style, often using a new or surprising technique.

She considers teaching a way to share her love of quilting and to make it available to many. She has taught quilting at Adult Education classes and at guilds and in quilt shops throughout the country.

Sjoukje's quilts were featured at the Cayuga Museum of History and Art.

She is often commissioned to create one-of-a-kind quilts.

Sjoukje is currently working on a Christmas quilt from one of her original designs.