Karen Rae Beck of Karen’s Kozy Window Shop 🧶
We’re excited to welcome Karen Rae Beck, the maker behind Karen’s Kozy Window Shop, to The 815 Artisan Collective!
Karen brings with her a lifetime of creativity and care. After retiring from an incredible 40-year career in nursing, she now spends her days creating cozy, handcrafted pieces that keep families warm and connected. Her creative journey actually began when she was just six years old, knitting tiny clothes for Barbie dolls. Over the years she continued knitting and crocheting for family and friends, and before long coworkers began requesting custom pieces—turning her lifelong hobby into a small business.
When she’s not creating, Karen enjoys reading, gardening, walking, camping, and bird watching, and during football season you’ll likely find her knitting while cheering on the Chicago Cubs and Bears.
Karen joined The 815 Artisan Collective to help support the crafting community while gaining exposure for her business—and we’re so glad she did.
Her specialty is beautiful knit and crocheted accessories, including cozy wearables and adorable baby bootie sets. Lately, fingerless gloves have been flying off her needles, but her creations often shift with the seasons and her mood, keeping her work fresh and varied.
A typical day starts early with plenty of coffee, knitting time, walks throughout the day, and a little bit of cleaning mixed in. Karen especially loves working with luxury yarns like merino wool, alpaca blends, mohair, and hand-dyed fibers, creating pieces that feel as good as they look.
What she hopes customers feel when they see or wear her work is simple: excitement—whether they’re treating themselves or gifting something special. She loves sharing the comfort and quality that only handmade items can provide.
Karen’s favorite part of being a maker is meeting people at craft shows and hearing their stories, proving that handmade items often carry connections beyond the stitches themselves.
You can also find Karen and her work:
📱 On Facebook & Instagram
🌐 Online at: Karenskozywindowshop.myshopify.com
🛍 At local fall craft shows
