Ever since the day she rescued a brightly colored piece of plaid
wool from her mother’s scrap bin, stitched on a bit of fringe and happily
called it a poncho, Karen has loved sewing and has chosen fabric as her medium
of choice. It’s fair to say that she had a creative head start coming from
a family of artists and teachers who always encouraged her to make things. In
a household full of paints and markers, fabric, yarn and buttons the creative
options were endless. Soon, art as enterprise became a theme in her life as she
began selling her creations. First, as a way to earn money to buy more fabric
and yarn supplies and then to find a home for all the bracelets, purses, autograph
books and stuffed animals she was making!
In 5th grade, friends bought the embroidered purses and chokers Karen made
out of dime store felt. In 8th grade, she earned $110 for an oversized crocheted
dog, commissioned by one of her father’s friends. While babysitting, she
crocheted cute little stuffed animals after the kids went to bed and was delighted
when moms would see them and want to buy them. After college, she exchanged a
handmade quilt for one month’s rent in a shared flat in Barcelona.
Even when it came to sewing her own clothes as a teen, she pushed herself to
create pieces that could pass for store bought, like button-down oxford cloth
shirts and terry jogging shorts. “I’m not sure if anyone was totally
fooled, but I learned a lot trying to avoid that homemade look!”
Karen earned a BFA in Textile Design from Indiana University and spent some
time living abroad. But it wasn’t until after marrying and having her first
son that she realized that sewing offered career options that would let her spend
time with her family and still contribute financially. So for two decades, Karen
has been working continuously for one designer or another. For the past 15 years,
she’s been a sample maker for Janice Paradies, whose classically inspired,
custom tailored pieces are sold directly to a loyal following of Atlanta women.
Now, as her kids prepare to leave the nest, Karen is concentrating once again
on her personal goals as an artist, while benefiting from what she’s learned
working for others. Karen’s purses and accessories deftly mix polish with
frivolity by using a wide range of materials, like recycled sweaters, vintage
serapes, needlepoint and antique lace. Inspiration comes from her large fabric
and trims collection, much of which has been acquired on her annual trips to Spain.
Yet even among the unexpected combination of textures and colors, it’s easy
to spot her meticulous construction choices.
“Handbags are functional sculptures,” Karen says, “with unlimited
variations and design challenges. I feel most creative when my sewing room is
strewn with fabric, buttons, and trim and I am faced with many, many choices.”
Ultimately, she’s found a perfect medium for both her designer’s eye
and her technical skills. But when you ask her, it’s a lot simpler than
that: “I sew because I’m very happy when I’m doing it!”