Where are you from and tell us a little about yourself?
I live in Frederick, Maryland which is halfway between Baltimore and Washington, DC. Frederick is historic and a great city for the arts. My husband of thirteen years and I have five children and five grandchildren. Our baby is our beagle, Buster, who often appears in my blog.
I am a movement therapist and work one on one with children at a school for the deaf here in Maryland. I teach yoga and movement exercises. I am a former dancer, choreographer, performer and dance teacher. I created movement/dance programs for adults with disabilities and deaf children I have a private practice as a therapist. I still take dance classes and my favorite, Zumba.
Why did you start your Etsy shop?
I had successfully sold my felted pieces at a shop here in Frederick. The owner told me about Etsy and never having sold anything on line, I took up the task of setting up my Etsy shop. With the help of others on Etsy, I opened on Halloween of 2009.
How did you come up with your Etsy shop name?
“Sensory” is because my pieces appeal to all the senses – the feel, smell and colors of the wool. “Felteds” is a generic word for all my pieces.
What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
My current favorite item is my Dahlia Felted Art Collectible. It was one of the first I created in this collection. I love the richness of the color, the dimension of the petals and it has just the right amount of stitching.
Do any of your pieces have a memorable story behind them?
Yes, the Dahlia mentioned above. On a blog, a young woman showed my a photograph she had taken of these flowers on her front stairs and told me they were Dahlias. I never heard of that flower before but was enchanted by them. I did some research and soon fashioned Charlotte’s Dahlia, named after her.
What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?
That we are all unique and colorful. I like to draw people into looking at details and texture. Most of my pieces are sculpted and dimensional with eye popping colors. They are whimsical and a bit off beat and I think that’s a wonderful way to be.
How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?
I love softness, textures, bold colors and bold statements. I also love fashion. I adore goats and sheep, too. I discovered felting at a sheep and wool festival – a women was making beautiful and unusual jewelry. I bought her book and started felting. I have painted and sculpted. I can now paint with fiber and watch, say a vessel, grow with my hands!
If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your “creativity”, what would that be, and why?
That would be weaving. I dabbled a bit this summer when I bought a little loom at the Howard County, Md. Sheep and Wool Festival. I love mixed media and I can use yarn, wool, string, branches, and beads and include pieces of felt.
Why should people buy handmade?
Handmade, by the virtue of it’s name, means that the artist made the piece themselves. In most cases, the pieces are not mass produced. Many pieces are one of a kind. You can also request a custom order. Getting to know the artist is one of the joys of buying handmade. By buying handmade you can also support local vendors. Care is taken to create items that you will not find in stores and you certainly will not get the same customer satisfaction.
Any advice on selling things handmade?
Be unique. Don’t be afraid to create something new. Above all, enjoy what you are doing. It takes alot of hard work producing and promoting and if you don’t love what you create, it can be wearing. Take pride in what you do and never forget your original inspiration.
Do you have plans for expansion?
Only to create new collections.
Any other sites you can be found on?
Blog: sensoryfelteds.blogspot.com/
Fibert Arts/Mixed Media: www.fibermixedmedia.com/profile/ConnieBerlin
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/sensoryfelteds/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SensoryFelteds?ref=ts
Stichinfingers: stitchinfingers.ning.com/profile/ConnieBerlin
Twitter: twitter.com/#!/SensoryFelteds
Anything else you would like us to know?
I love making, what I call, “something out of nothing”. Taking beautifull colored, soft, sweet smelling wool and using warm water, soap and my hands and fashioning “something” is always a wonder to me. Also, I encourage you to find a vehicle for self expression. Everyone has that place of joy inside and expressing it is not only healthy but a must for a fulfilled life.
