Darlene Garner O'Steen grew up in the small central North Carolina town if Asheboro. She attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Fne Arts. Darlene married her high school sweetheart, Christian; and they have one son, Patrick.

Darlene began her needleowrk training with her grandmother at the age of six and continued formal instruction following her college years. From 1983 to 2000, Darlene taught at seminars across the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom while managing her company, The Needle's Prayse. During those same years, she found the time to research numerous sampler reserves in England and Norway. Several seminars were for the Embroider's Guild of America and Darlene was always very present when all the Cross-Stitch festivals were at the height of their pre-911 popularity.

Today, Darlene lives in Apex, North Carolina, with husband Chris.