Karen Biscopink
I’m a 26 year old poet, crafter, and administrative assistant living in San Francisco’s Mission District. I just finished my Master’s Degree in Writing at the University of San Francisco, which was an amazing experience. I started sewing after I finished my thesis, and now I can’t stop… It’s become quite an addiction 🙂 My blog (Conceptual Reception) is a combo look into my loves of literature/writing and of creating things with my hands. From book reviews to patterns to adventures in San Francisco, I basically work to encapsulate how my creative life has been fostered in the four years I’ve lived in this amazing city. This place is super inspiring, and I’m excited to share it with my readers.
What motivated you to start your blog? I first started my blog when I left my acting career for a corporate job. While I feared the stigma of “selling out,” I knew this choice would be better for me, a woman who needs lots of free time (or alone time) and room to pursue multiple creative interests simultaneously. Working as a receptionist, I found myself really excited to discover that I was learning lots of new things about my life and about my city, as I was no longer on tour and had evenings and weekends to get in touch with myself. I’ve since moved on from that job, but have kept the valuable things I learned close at hand and continue my explorations at every turn.
Favorite thing about San Francisco: If you’ve never been to San Francisco, I cannot recommend a visit enough. (And if you DO stop by, let me know! I’ll take you to my favorite cafe.) My favorite thing about this city would have to be the enormously supportive creative community, something which I first discovered when I started my MFA in poetry. There are a multitude of people here who will get excited about your art and help you get involved in the artistic community. People here are very generous with their time and their love of creativity. It’s an absolute gift.
How long have you been playing violin? I’ve played violin since I was in the first grade, so it’s the creative outlet and passion that has been with me the longest.
If you could go back in time to meet any famous poet, who would it be and why? I’d love to meet Emily Dickinson…although I’m not sure she’d love to have to meet me, being the rather reclusive woman that she’s known to have been. I’m really into contemporary feminist poetry, and she is the inspiration for so much of what women have gone on to do with the written word. Her control, her vision, and her absolutely intense individuality are all things I adore about Emily and her poetry.
Name 5 things in your immediate vicinity. Be specific:
- A photo CD my mom recently sent me with pictures from her visit to San Francisco. She came with my dad to see me graduate from grad school and we went on tons of lovely adventures.
- A wall of my Instax pictures. I take a quick snapshot on this Polaroid-esque camera of each of my friends when they come to visit and post them next to my desk. It always makes me smile to remember these moments.
- My stack of notebooks. I’m very particular about keeping my writing projects separate, so one is for my poetry, one has my reading journal, one is a more general daily journal… There are a lot of notebooks around here.
- My latest sewing project, which is a 1950’s inspired purple gingham dress. It’s been slow-going but I’m really excited with how everything is turning out!
- A miniature quilt my big sister made me which is pinned on my wall. Kelly is a really inspiring woman and is one of the most creative people I know. Getting handmade surprises from her is SO exciting.
What is your favorite flower? Gardenias. The smell reminds me of my grandmother, Maxine, who passed away a few years ago. Smelling them is this beautiful, instant nostalgia and makes me feel close to her again.
Current book you are reading: “The Narrows” by M. Craig. Oh my stars, it is delightful!
Describe your favorite dress: This is the best question ever 🙂 My mom wore an amazing dress to her little brother’s high school graduation. She was in her early twenties and had just married my dad, so it was the early 1970s. When I was little, I remember loving that dress and dreaming of the day when I could wear it, and now it fits me perfectly. I wear it on warm summer days in San Francisco and people are always asking me where I got it. It’s one of my most prized possessions.
