Karen Flamme is enjoying a second career as a fiber artist and writer, combining two of her favorite creative passions. In an earlier career she wrote and produced award-winning corporate communications, but even then, sewing and making art were a big part of her life. She began sewing clothes for herself and her daughter, then embellished garments for others under the Thread Bear label.

Since retirement from corporate life seven years ago Karen has concentrated on making art quilts and writing and teaching about them. Her latest book, "Fast, Fun and Easy Fabric Flowers" was published by C&T Publishing in 2006. "Thinking Outside the Block" written in collaboration with Sandi Cummings was published two years earlier.

Her work is exhibited widely in juried shows nationally and internationally and hangs in numerous private collections. She teaches workshops in art quilting and always loves to learn from her students! Travels in and around her northern California home provide ideas and inspiration for her days in the studio.