Karen has been with Frames Unlimited for 22 years and manages our Grand Rapids location on Plainfield Avenue - though her framing career didn't start here . . .  "I started picture framing in my home state of Texas in 1978 as a part-time job while working on my MFA in Art History.  Reading about Frames Unlimited in trade magazines I thought: sounds like a great place to work if I ever end up in Michigan.  Well . . . in 1985 I met my partner Carolyn, who just happened to be from Michigan.  In '87 we loaded up the cat, our stuff, and moved to Grand Rapids."

Karen was a welcome addition to our Kentwood store and was quickly promoted to assistant production manager - and later to manage the production facility at our highest volume store.  Seventeen years later, and after a brief hiatus in Chicago, Karen accepted the management position of our first and oldest store on Plainfield Avenue.  Karen adds, "Dorothy Zimdar (our dear "Ms. Z") likes to tell people I moved all the way from Texas to work for Frames Unlimited.  This is true."

In her 30+ years of picture framing and working with customers, Karen says, "Memorable things kind of blend together . . . or are better left unsaid.  But I will tell you that one story involves skunks."   hmmmm, apparently that one was better left unsaid!  "My favorite thing about working with Frames Unimited?  There is not just one "thing" about it.  There are the people that make up my "second family".  Just recently quite a few former and current associates have (re) connected on Facebook.  I cherish having worked with all of them.  There are our customers - especially those with whom we've established a lasting working relationship - the ones who drop by just to say hello.  I want everyone who visits our store to walk away with a pleasant shopping experience.  There is the creative aspect of the job.  Designing, framing, seeing the project emerge from start to finish and watching the customer's face light up when they see the results.  There is the love of art and seeing all kinds of things that are brought to us to be framed or displayed."

And when not at work, Karen shares this, "It seems the older I get, the more content I am to be a homebody, enjoying our chihuahua Linda and our six cats (Teddy, Sophie, Scarlet, Willy, Raymond and John).  All were rescued but the "baby" John.  Carolyn and I have a cabin in Ludington and in warmer weather we hang out there.  We walk the beaches and watch the sunset and sit and stare at all the nature and wildlife around us.  And I try to get to Texas as often as I can to see my parents.  I've also been accused of being an "internet gamer".  My Facebook friends can tell you about me and "Mafia Wars" and other online games I enjoy."

"I'm fortunate too that through Frames Unlimited I have the opportunity to show and sell my photography and hand-made photo frames. I love taking pictures of the older buildings around town. I appreciate all the details on them. Also the older signs, neon, etc - the things we drive by and don't really notice or we take for granted - and then one day they are gone. I like playing with the colors in my "digital darkroom" and printing my own photos."

"My photo frames started with recycling broken colored glass (usually from a "cat accident").  I tumble the pieces to soften the edges and give them the look of beach glass.  I also use marbles, rocks I have collected and polished, as well as actual beach glass.  I mix my own secret formula grout, and put lots of love and time into each one-of-a-kind frame."

"And if you were wondering . . . I was going for my masters to teach college level art history - but ended up a professional picture framer, which is fine by me!  (I hope to finish my degree in the near future.)"