Threadwinder.info - Short Bio

Karen C.K. Ballard has been interested in textile arts since early childhood when her 
aunt taught her to crochet.  Since then she has taken numerous classes in textile arts, 
beading, color theory, art, glass, textile history, textile preservation, and instructor 
training.  She has been fortunate to learn from Chinese, German, Irish, Australian, and 
Cherokee teachers, as well as many notable/published bead and textile artists.  Karen is 
a professional member of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA), earned CGOA's Master's of 
Advanced Crochet Stitches and Techniques, and served as a reviewer of CGOA Master's 
applications.  She has designed/created beaded crochet jewelry for commission to Caron 
International yarn trade show; created historically accurate textile items (including 
clothing, tents, and flags) for living history programs; designed/sewn theatrical  
costumes; taught crochet classes (using her own designs and developing her own classroom 
materials); sold designs to magazines; participated in freeform crochet exhibitions; 
and won first prize in the Small Wonders category of CGOA's 2012 Crochet Design Contest 
for her "NC Necklace".  Additionally, she collects textile production/embellishment tools, 
books, ephemera, and notions; has exhibited her textile tools; has researched and 
presented talks on WWI and WWII Workbasket Campaigns; and has been publishing articles on 
textile history and tools for various publications.