Episode 81 - Karen Nyberg – I did it…I’m Here!

(2:04) Karen brings us back up to speed on how she learned to sew. Her mom was the influencer on her – one of six children who learned to sew at the age of 6! Hear how this all began for Karen.

(4:03) Were any of her sewing skills applicable for her training and life as an astronaut? Yes, they were…she explains here.

(4:55) How did Karen get into the space program? As a kid she started to proclaim that she wanted to be an astronaut! She put it out there and made it happen!

(6:16) Karen sewed on the space station in 2013. Hear what she created and what it took to do this in her “free time”. She also explains why it was tough to get into her “creative space”. She talks about the Quilts Inc./NASA Quilt Block Challenge and the resulting quilt of 28 blocks.

(9:57) Where are these items now? She tells us!

(10:51) Is sewing in space different than sewing on earth? Yes, it is in many ways!

(14:07) So, since we last talked Karen put together an exhibit for the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, KY. www.quiltmuseum.org She tells us what she put together and what else will be displayed.

(16:35) What was her inspiration for curating this exhibit?

(17:37) How long does it take to put together an exhibit of this type? She takes us through the journey.

(18:44) Karen put together two portraits to celebrate women in space that was on exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center… Valentina Tereshkova and Sally Ride

Karen tells us about this exhibit and why it’s important.

(21:00) Karen has a partnership with Osom Brand www.osombrand.com a textile recycler who she met through Instagram! Hear this story and the Scrap Cycle Program 

(24:03) Anything else she’s been up to? Well, she had two fabric lines. Earth Views with Robert Kauffman and Orbital Sunrise!

(25:38) Karen now shares what it takes to be an astronaut and what it’s like to be in space. Today, there are more than 18,000 applications for the space program. She is also on the astronaut selection board, so she shares what they look for in candidates.

(29:10) She takes us inside the two-year training program!

(30:11) What’s it like to blast off and go into space? She shares this with us…launching on the shuttle and on Soyuz. In 8 minutes, she went from earth to travelling 17,500 miles per hour! 

(32:26) Karen’s husband Doug Hurley is an astronaut. Does their son Jack want to follow in their footsteps? And does he sew?

(34:38) What’s next for Karen? New fabrics and a new textile art piece.

(35:46) Is there anything we didn’t ask?

(35:59) How do you reach Karen? www.karennyberg.com, Insagram @astrokarenn and Facebook @Karennyberg

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.