About Heather Karlsson (that's me!):

I began my repair career back in 2001 as an apprentice in a now-defunct Dallas music store.  The original reason was simple: my plan upon graduating from the University of North Texas was to get a job with the Chicago Symphony, but alas, they never called.  (Let it be noted that I also have a gnat-like attention span when it comes to rehearsals, so this is probably for the best.)  As it turned out, I discovered that I enjoyed repairing instruments more than I did playing them.   After leaving my apprenticeship in 2004, I became a quality control consultant for an instrument factory in Beijing, as well as operations manager/quality control manager for a musical instrument import company based in Dallas, Texas.  In 2007, I had the opportunity to open my own repair shop in Carrollton, Texas, and the rest is history!  

I specialize in repairing ornery clarinets and bass clarinets, and also taming unruly oboes, obstinate English horns, and rowdy bassoons.   When I am not doing instrument repair, I am creating unique art jewelry and exhibiting my work at art shows around the state of Texas and elsewhere.  I also exhibit colored pencil drawings and watercolor illustrations featuring my original characters, Norman the Hedgehog and Shark.  I live and work in Carrollton, Texas with my computer programmer husband and my elderly, deranged house cat.  

To keep up with what's going on in the shop, you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram!  You can also message me or do things the old-fashioned way and drop me an e-mail!

If you want to check out my jewelry and art, click the link below:
www.hkarlssonjewelrydesign.com/collections