Karen's brilliance as an illustrator and graphic designer – as well as her all-around warmth and proclivity for puns – leads us to involve her in just about very project we can.

Sure, she's got the credibility of having done work for Microsoft, Intel, and boatloads of other (yawn) corporate clients. Her real appeal is that she is one of the most fun creative minds we've ever met.

She cavorts off to Crete to paint watercolors for Robert Fulghum's books. She does twisted, improvisational fortune telling at parties (as her alter ego, Madame Lasagna). She drives a painted VW van, tends a beautiful garden, and speaks fluent Russian. (And that's just before breakfast!)

Invite this woman over to your house for dinner.