Paulette Karlin discovered her love for art during her youth. As a child, Karlin was diagnosed with polio and spent many months at St. Anthony's Hospital (now merged with Hadley Regional Medical Center to become Hays Medical Center). During her early struggles with health issues, Karlin took up the arts as a means to pass the time during her treatments. She was able to translate her creative pursuits into teachable skills, as she later taught art classes in her spare time. She eventually discovered her love for quilting and fiber arts after joining a class in 2000. Her work hangs today in the halls she once occupied as a patient, acting as a testament to her perseverance both in her personal life and in her artistic career.