She was born in Chicago in 1890[1] and she studied at the School of The Art Inst

itute of Chicago.[2] Her early work included illustrating children's books for P
. F. Volland Company of Chicago. Between 1913 and 1921, she created several exam
ples including Short Stories of Musical Melodies. She was sent to Japan to study
oriental art and she used this experience when she published Little Pictures of
Japan in 1925.[3]
Sturges married Clayton Knight, who was a World War One pilot that went on to be
come an illustrator and writer. They occasionally worked together as they did on
fabric designs and on two "We Were There" books. Sturges illustrated a range of
books, but she also created fashion drawings for Harper's Bazaar.[1] In 1929, s
he was amongst a group of artists and designers like her husband, Ralph Barton a
nd Helen Dryden who were offering "message prints" on silk for "flappers" to wea
r at Palm Beach.[4] She took on a range of work that included advertising artwor
k for McCullum hosiery and silver designs by Oneida Limited. Sturges also create
d fabric and jewelery designs that were inspired by Peruvian culture after she w
as sent by the department store, Macy's, to South America.[1]
The British ceramic company Spode employed Sturges to create designs. One of the
more unusual commissions was a toile decorated with pictures from the career of
President Eisenhower which is used at the US Presidents guest residence Blair H
ouse.