About Karen

The subject manner of my work is far ranging, intended to provoke a smile or introspection. My designs are conceptualized through weeks of rumination and carried out with a good dose of improvisation and whimsy..

I attended the Beaver Island Quilt Retreat for many years and it was there that Gwen Marston learned of my work.

Gwen has been my mentor and has inspired me to be true to my own personal style.

See more images on Instagram-- @karenbduling

Newspapers

My quilt "Catnado" was featured in the Los Angeles Times.

Exhibits

"Catnado", toured the country with the Best of QuiltCon 2016 Traveling Exhibit. Catnado was also shown at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in Sisters, Oregon, 2016.

My work was exhibited at the "Art Quilt Invitational" exhibit at the Bonifas Art Center in Escanaba, Michigan-- Fiber Arts and Making the Cut, January- March 2014.

"Fish Squared" was included in an exhibit featuring medallion-style quilts shown at the American Quilter's Society show in Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2012.

Contests

"Save the Fishing Cats", "Dog Census", and "Celebrate Diversity" were named semi-finalists in the American Quilters Society contest in Grand Rapids, Michigan, August, 2017.

"Catnado" was a semi-finalist in the American Quilters Society contests in Paducah, September, 2017 and Des Moines, October, 2017.

"Kitty-cat Plaid" was a semi-finalist in the American Quilters Society contests in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jan. 2015 and the AQS Syracuse contest, July, 2015.

"Catnado" and "Gwenny's Woodpile" were accepted by a panel of jurors to be shown at the Modern Quilt Guild's QuiltCon 2016 in Pasadena, California. "Catnado" was awarded 2nd place in the EZ Quilting Triangle Challenge.

"Gwenny's Woodpile" was a semi-finalist in the American Quilters Society Show in Grand Rapids, 2016.

"Rockslide" was awarded 3rd place in the category "Wall Quilts- Home Machine Quilted" at the American Quilters Society Show in Chattanooga, September, 2016.

Magazines

The August 2012 issue of The Quilt Life Magazine features my early work and my "Quilting for the Paws" project in an article written by Darra Williamson.

Issue No. 5 of Simply Moderne features my quilt, "Catnado" in an article about the Modern Quilt Guild's QuiltCon 2016.

Books

Modern Quilts: Designs of the New Century- "Gwenny's Wood Pile" and "Catnado" are included in this collectible, hardcover book which honors the genre's past, present, and future. I am honored to have my work included in this book. The is book published by the Modern Quilt Guild and is available from the Modern Quilt Guild shop or on amazon.com

Liberated Medallion Quilts- My work is shown in Gwen Marston's book on medallion-style quilts, published by the American Quilter's Society. It's a fish quilt!

Free Range Triangle Quilts- Two of my quilts are shown in Gwen Marston's book featuring triangle shapes.

Quilting for the Paws- This book is full of my early work!

I wrote "Quilting for the Paws" to celebrate cats and dogs in quilts. The book includes patterns to make a variety of pet-themed quilts. The 32 page book is priced at $12.95 and can be ordered from amazon.com . The book was published by the American Quilters Society.

Our dog, Merle, was adopted from the Ingham County Animal Control Shelter. Merle is now somewhat famous, being the creator of "Merle's Tips" in my book "Quilting for the Paws". If you think dogs cannot give quilting tips, well, you are wrong. Merle offers helpful advice as quilters work their way through the projects in the 32 page book.

Shown here is Mocha Joe who just loves "Quilting for the Paws". Mocha Joe is owned by Pam Beal, a very talented artist, dog lover and teacher from Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Check out her blog- http://pambealartquilts.blogspot.com. She is teaching at the Madeline Island School of the Arts in October, 2018. I will be there- please join me!

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