Biography

 Click here for Karen's interview with Connecting Threads website

Karen is the author 9 different books, some of the titles include Optical Illusions for Quilters (AQS),  Combing Through Your Scraps (AQS), Floral Illusions (AQS) , 3 Quilters Celebrate the 4 Seasons (AQS) & 3-D Fun with Pandora’s Box, co-authored with Sharlene Jorgenson of Quilting from the Heartland, Celtic Pieced Illusions (AQS) and Lone Star Illusions. 

She has been a fabric designer for almost two decades, working with several different fabric companies.   She has created over 100 different collections; both batiks and quilting cottons.  Many of Karen's fabric designs have become classics. 

Nominated for Teacher of the year 3 times by Professional Quilter Journal,  Karen travels internationally to teach her techniques and methods.  In 2012, Karen was honored to judge the IQA Quilt show.

Since 2009, Karen works with Quilt Seminars at Sea, teaching her quilting techniques on quilting cruises around the globe. 

In addition to traveling to guilds and quilt shows, Karen's also has a online class with Craftsy - New Directions in Tumbling Blocks.

In 2020, Karen pivoted her teaching to virtual lectues and classes for quilt guilds around the world (information here), she has already lectured or taught classes virtually to more than 100 guilds in the past two years. 

Karen now lives in the rolling hills of middle Tennessee with her husband Rick,  and their sweet Shih Tzu,  Benji.  Their grown children, Angela and Josh visit when they can!