Karen Roark

One of the first things I remember making was an apron when I was 5 years old. My Mother sat me in front of her Kenmore sewing machine (which I still love and use today) read the sewing instructions to me, explained what they meant and left the room. I’d finish a step and yell “Maaaaaaaumm!” and she’d come back into the room and patiently explain the next step. Over and over until my apron was done.

That pretty much laid the foundation for my desire to make things. After I tackled sewing, I wanted to learn how to crochet. Then I moved on to jewelry making, embroidery, knitting and the list just goes on.

After graduating from college, I practiced Interior Architecture for 12 years. The desire to fuse my love of arts + crafts with my interiors background led me to open Urban Arts + Crafts in 2002. I've recently started blogging about what I love to make and love to do, because I just couldn't fit it all into the store.