A native of California, Karen now spends her time in her studio in DeLand, Florida.  While working as a teacher of the deaf, Karen launched her jewelry business in the 1980s with a collection that featured American Sign Language hands signing "love" and "friendship".  Working full time as a designer and goldsmith for the past 20 years, Karen's work incorporates precious metals and gemstones, and non-traditional materials as well.

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Recently, Karen joined forces with a group of dynamic and forward thinking artists and opened a co-operative gallery in her town, ArtWorks DeLand.  Consisting of the work of 30 local artists, she is one of the gallery managers and her work is available in the gallery.  It is located at 111 W. Indiana Avenue in the oldest commercial building in DeLand's historic downtown.

 

Unlike many jewelry designers, Karen is a metalsmith who forges each of her pieces herself from design through to the final polish and stone setting.  "I am fascinated by ancient architecture and jewelry and those shapes become woven into my own designs and link me to centuries of metalworking traditions."  The spiral shape occurs often in her pieces.  This ancient symbol of eternity has been evident in jewelry for thousands of years but has a contemporary feeling still today.

  

Karen uses pearls in many of her jewelry collections. Pearls are selected by hand for their color, shape, and luminescence.  Holding the degree of Pearls Graduate from GIA, the Gemological Institute of America, Karen creates pearl jewelry for any occasion.

 

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