Threadwinder.info -
Karen C.K. Ballard's Classes & Experiences in Arts & Crafts, Textile History, Instruction, & Publishing
Classes & Activities:
1950s Learned basics of crochet from Great Aunt Lorraine Knickerbocker
1950s-60s Took art classes from my mother, Cecille Payne Kuhnke, a Parson’s Art School illustration graduate
1964-67 Took advanced art classes at Berlin (Germany) American and McLean, VA High Schools
1966 My artwork selected to represent Berlin American HS at the Pentagon
1967 National Scholastic Honorable Mention in art and “sponsored” a first prize art winner
February 1970 Designed & made my wedding dress & headdress
1970s Taught self to read crochet patterns and crocheted baby items & toys for son & for sale
1973 Taught crochet during lunch hours @ Center for Naval Analyses, Rosslyn, VA
~1975 Altered crochet patterns & exhibited lion & elephant puppets at CIA employee craft show; sold one
July 1976 Sewed & appliquéd 5’x7’ historically accurate silk flag for First VA Regiment of the Continental Line Revolutionary War reenactment group
June 30 - July 15, 1978 Displayed my thimbles @ Fairfax Library, Fairfax, VA
1979 Taught self to knit, creating Fair Isle Christmas ornaments
1980 Earned 3 GMU English 101 college credits via test by writing (text only) How to Crochet.
1980s Made historically accurate Revolutionary War style tent
1981 Took Instructor Workshop @ CIA
January 31, 1982 Took Collecting Antique Quilts & Lace @ Law’s Auction, Manassas, VA -- Arlene Brown (prof. weaver)
June 1982 Wrote Readings on Hawaiian Quilt Books -published in Center for History of American Needlework Newsletter
~1982 Took Glass Etching class @ Annandale Crafts, Annandale, VA
1983 Took Instructor Systems Design Workshop @ CIA
1983 Took Instructor Training Class @ CIA
1983 Took Public Speaking Course @ UVA (talked on thimble holders, fiber-art as art, & hands-on crochet instruction)
Nov 1, 1983 Took Needle Lace Class, Intern’l Old Lacers @ Dulin Methodist Ch., FallsChurch VA - Aurelia L. Loveman
1983-84 Developed lesson plans, illustrated courses, & taught computer information technology subjects @ CIA
1984 Took Briefing Techniques class @ CIA
1984 Took Creative Thinking class @ CIA
Oct 13, 1984 Took Conservation of Historic Textiles @ Ft. Ward Park, Alexandria, VA - Jean Martin (Registrar, DAR)
1985 Took Case Studies in Persuasion communications course @ GMU
1985-86 Edited CIA Computer information technology Organization newsletter
1986 Took Interpersonal Communication Skills class @ CIA
June18, 1987 Took Image & Self Projection class --part of Women‘s Leadership Class @ Arlington, VA Marriott
Sept 25 ,1987 Took Enhancing Creativity in the Workplace class @ McLean, VA Hilton
March 20, 1988 (date?) Took Civil War Era Portrayal @ Ft. Ward Park, Alexandria, VA - Juanita Leisch (author)
May 6, 1988 Took Desk Top Publishing class @ CIA
April 17, 1989 Took Chinese Bead Knotting @ China Paradise Bead & Gift Shop - Lily Lang (Chinese-American)
January 1990 Took Weaving class @ River Farm, Fulks Run, VA - Maretta Crider
1990 Designed & created quilted/beaded/crocheted wedding tiara for sister
1990 Took Human Factors Engineering @ GMU (researched/presented Color Theory Applied -Computer Display Design)
July 20-28, 1991 Displayed my textile tools supporting Jinny Beyer Challenge @ Belle Grove Plantation, Middletown, VA
August 16-21, 1992 Took Weaving class @ Mannings, East Berlin, PA - Marianne Geldmeier (German-American)
August 3, 1993 Took Textile Preservation & Overshot Coverlets @ Highlands Festival Abingdon,VA -Kathleen Harman
August 4, 1993 Took Harriet Powers’ Quilts @ Highlands Festival Abingdon, VA -Mary E. Lyons (author)
~1994 Took Peyote Stitch Beading @ Two Feathers, Springfield, VA - Patti Kate (Cherokee Bead Artist)
July 23, 1994 Took Porcupine Quillwork @ Two Feathers, Springfield, VA - Patti Kate (Cherokee Bead Artist)
Oct 29, 1994 Took Loom Beading @ Two Feathers, Springfield, VA - Patti Kate (Cherokee Bead Artist)
Fall 1994 Took Weaving on Primitive Style Looms @ NOVA Extended Learning, Manassas, VA - Carolyn Wysocki
~1995 Took Textile Conservation Caring & Display @ Ft. Ward Park, Alexandria, VA(?) - Julia B. Swetzoff (Textile Conservator)
1996 Made “Chinese” costume (using picture in a book) for The Butler Did It, Prince William (VA) Community Theater
April 19-20, 1997 Took Beads & Threads @ Beadazzled, McLean, VA - Helen Banes (bead artist/author)
1997 Costumer, "Twelfth Night", Tapestry Theatre of Alexandria, VA, repaired/altered clothing & designed/created quilted/beaded headdress
Nov 2 & 9, 1997 Took Gourd Stitch Treasure Bags @ Two Feathers, Dumfries, VA - Patti Kate (Cherokee Bead Artist)
February 28, 1998 Took Lampwork Glass Bead Making @ Beadazzled, McLean, VA - Lisa St. Martin (St. Martin Studios)
August 8, 1998 Took Brick Stitch Beading (Ginkgo Leaf Necklace) @ Star’s Beads - Diane Fitzgerald (bead artist/author)
February 6, 1999 Took Drop Spindle Spinning Workshop @ Springwater, Alexandria, VA - Sylvia DeMar
May 2, 1999 Took Free-form Peyote Beading @ Star’s Beads, Vienna, VA - Paulette Baron (bead artist)
July 7-11, 1999 Attended MAFA Weaving Conference @ Bucknell University, PA
Attended Past 50 Years lecture -Nell Znamierowski (author)
Attended Future of Textiles lecture - Madelyn Van der Hoogt (founder/instructor: Weaver’s School, Coupeville, WA)
Took Twist & Shout (Twisted Bead Techniques) - Bead Cats: Virginia Blakelock & Carol Perrenoud (bead artists/authors)
Took Flower, Leaves, & Vines (Beading) - Cynthia Rutledge (bead artist/teacher)
Took Silk I (history, processing, spinning, dying, manipulation) - Nancy Morey (sericulture expert)
Took Old Wheels for Modern Spinners - Bill Ralph (spinning wheel restorer)
Enjoyed Sheep Songs Sing-a-long - Fiona Siobhan Powel (folklorist)
January 12 - April 5, 2000 Took 8-week Quilting Class @ Quilt Patch, Fairfax, VA - Leslie Pfeifer (store proprietor)
July 8, 2000 Took Color in Quilting class @ Quilt Patch, Fairfax, VA - Lesly-Claire Greenberg (quilt artist/author)
August 26 - September 30, 2000 Displayed my figural needlework tools supporting Embroiderers’ Guild Competition @ Loudoun Museum (arranged w/ Betty Fleming)
2003-2005 Taught Acquisition Risk Analysis in Contract Management Classes @ CIA (Retired Government - June 2005)
October 11-12, 2003 Took Glass Fusing @ Star’s Beads, Vienna,VA -Diane Tansey-Cairns (Stained glass store proprietor)
April 17, 2004 Took Glass Fusing @ Star’s Beads, Vienna, VA - Diane Tansey-Cairns (Stained glass store proprietor)
September 2005 - January 2007 Demonstrated & Taught crochet @ A.C. Moore, Manassas, VA
Developed & Illustrated how-to class materials using my original designs
June 2005 - March 2007 Designed & Taught Beginning Crochet Snap Scarf Class
September 2005 - December 2006 Designed & Taught Intermediate Crochet Purse Class
March 2006 - December 2006 Designed & Taught Intermediate (+pattern reading) Crocheted Sampler Scarf Class
January/February 2006 Designed & Sold bead-crocheted Save the Reef Necklace to Caron International yarn company
June 8, 2006 Took Knitting refresher course @ A.C. Moore, Manassas, VA - Ginny ___________
March 14, 2007 Took Quilting Made Easier @ Hancock Fabrics, Manassas - Sally Hile
May 10, 2008 Took Glass Fusing @ Manassas Pottery, Manassas, VA -Twila Johnson
July 1-31, 2008 Displayed my WW I & WW II Workbasket Campaign (home front needlework for military, wounded, & refugees) @ Bull Run Regional Library, Manassas, VA
July 25, 2008 Spoke on WW I & WW II Workbasket Campaign @ Bull Run Regional Library
October 3&17, 2008 Took Beaded Cabochon Bezel @Star’s Beads, Vienna, VA - Beth Eltinge (bead artist)
November 11, 2008 - April 2010 Displayed my WWII Workbasket Campaign items @ Historic Freeman Store, Vienna, VA (arranged w/ Rose Mulville)
January 4, 2009 Took Beginning and Advanced Wire @ Beadazzled, Tyson’s Corner, VA - Jeni Rico (jewelry artist)
February 13, 2009 Took Russian Leaves @ Star’s Beads, Vienna, VA - Lisa Norris (bead artist)
March 28-29, 2009 Took Kumihimo @ Mannings, East Berlin, PA- Rodrick Owens (braiding expert/author)
April 4, 2009 Took PMC with Paula @ Star’s Beads - Paula Coupe (jewelry artist)
April 2009 Became Professional Member of Crochet Guild of America (CGOA)
May 23, 2009 Took No Two Alike Wire Wrapping - Level 1 @ Star’s Beads, Vienna, VA - Susan Lindsey (wire work artist)
May 30, 2009 Took Embellished (1-needle) Right-Angle Weave (RAW) Bracelet @ Star’s Beads, Vienna, VA - Lisa Norris (bead artist)
June 1, 2009 Took Findings & Finishes (wire wrapping, crimping) @ Star’s Beads, Vienna, VA - Mary Catherine “MC” Willard (jewelry artist)
June 20, 2009 Took Bead Embroidered Cuff @ Star’s Beads, Vienna, VA - Diane Dennis (jewelry artist)
August 15, 2009 Took V-Shaped Collar (2-needle RAW) @ Star’s Beads, Vienna, VA - Linda Spiegel (jewelry artist)
January 9, 2010 Published Figural Crochet Hooks & Information on Identifying Ivory & Bone With Overview of US Trade Laws Related to Worked Elephant Ivory blog on iantiqueonline.com
May/June 2010 Published Figural Crochet Hooks filler in CGOA's Chain Link newsletter
July/Aug 2010 Published Patriotic Children's Crochet filler in CGOA's Chain Link newsletter
Sept/Oct 2010 Published Tension Devices filler in CGOA's Chain Link newsletter
Nov/Dec 2010 Published Sliding Crochet Hooks filler in CGOA's Chain Link newsletter
January 2010 Published Remember Embroidered Trade Cards? article in Paper & Advertising Collectors' Marketplace magazine
Jan/Feb 2011 Published Crochet Samplers filler in CGOA's Chain Link newsletter (not enough space in Mar/April 2011 newsletter)
May/June 2011 Published Flora Klickmann: Author, Editor, Needleworker & my rendition of her butterfly in Piecework magazine (butterfly made the cover)
May/June 2011 Published Collecting Old Crochet Books filler in CGOA's Chain Link newsletter
July/Aug 2011 Published Figural Non-inflammable Crochet Hooks filler in CGOA's Chain Link newsletter
Fall 2011 Publishing xxx filler in CGOA's Chain Link newsletter
Sep/Oct 2011 Under contract to publish xxx in Piecework Magazine
Related Activities:
1970 - Present Collect textile tools, books, & notions with particular emphasis on WWI&II Workbasket Campaign items, sewing/darning/knitting
aprons, antique books on all textile techniques, sewing machine advertising items, and crochet items (including: crochet publications,
crochet hooks, crochet hook-holders, spool knaves, yarn holders, gauges, crochet samplers & yarn/thread tension devices)
1970s - 1980s Designed & created historically accurate clothing, tents, flags, & accessories for Revolutionary & Civil War Reenactment groups
1990s - Present Occasionally designed & created costumes/props for local community theaters
1970 - Present Rock-hounding field trips
1970 - Present Frequent attendee of:
West Friendship, MD Wool Festival
DC Area Bead Festival
Mannings, East Berlin, PA Annual Spinning Seminar
Smithsonian Festival of American Folk Life
Northern Virginia Bead Society Bead Show
Montpelier, Orange, VA, Fiber Fest
Rock Shows, Commercial Gem Mines, & Fossil Sites
2010-present Wrote filler pieces for CGOA Chain Link Newsletter on crochet history topics
2010-present Created threadwinder.blogspot.com journal and threadwinder.info website
Memberships:
1970s (at least 1974-1979) Thimbletter
1970-1980s (at least 1977-1983) Center for History of American Needlework (CHAN)
1970-1980s (at least 1978-1882) International Old Lacers (IOL)
~1980 - 1985 National Textiles Resource & Research Center, Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA
-1984- Thimble Collectors International
1987 National Button Society
1990s NC, WV Fossil clubs
1990s Northern Virginia Gem & Mineral Hunter’s Club
2007-present Rockhounds Yahoo Group
2009 Centreville Jewelry Crafting Meetup, EZ Bead Shop, Centreville, VA, this group disbanded
2009-present Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) Member ID # 31135 professional membership
2009-present Iantiqueonline.com as threadwinder@aol.com
2009-present Ravelry.com as threadwinder