Today we’d like to introduce you to Karis Ens.
Hi Karis, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2027, I will celebrate ten years of my two core businesses. I officially established Karis Ens Piano Studio and Sewin’ in 2017. I’m also celebrating my ten year anniversary of being a published author at the end of 2026.
I started my Karis Ens Piano Studio soon after I graduated from Friends University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. My first student was my dad. I wanted to make sure that I could help my dad understand a few piano basics before showcasing myself as a professional. I soon acquired my first official students from posting about my studio services on various websites and leaving fliers on doors in the neighborhood.
While I was a student at Friends University, I started my first job simply because my speech teacher wanted all of his students to introduce themselves. I listed off my hobbies in my introduction – listening to music, walking, sewing… He happened to be the one in charge of the theater department. I scored a job in the costume shop without trying and learned basic alteration techniques while working there. After graduation, I decided to offer alteration services under the business title Sewin’.
For my author and illustration work, in 2016 I felt led by God to share my testimony about why I surrendered my life to Christ in the previous year of 2015. I was working at Camp Quaker Haven over the summer of 2016, and there I wrote the original version of my book, “God is Real (so is the Devil),” and later published it in December on my birthday. In 2023, I revisited the book for a second edition. I made a few minor edits to the original text and added a new chapter entitled “Celebration of Life” for eight more years of living.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Over the past ten years, due to unexpected bills or loss in students, I’ve had to work side jobs alongside my personal businesses to have enough money. I worked as a para at an elementary school, an accompanist at a church, and worked in a bridal shop as an alteration specialist. I’m my only employee and I’ve had to push myself to keep my businesses going when all I wanted to do was quit.
I’ve had days in which a client talked down to me and told me all that I did wrong, leaving without paying me, then later in the same day, another client would say nothing but praise for my work and give me a generous tip.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My Karis Ens Piano Studio offers lessons in piano, violin, and classical guitar.
My Sewin’ business offers clothing alterations, clothing repairs and mending, zipper replacements, wedding alterations, embroidery, custom clothing, upholstery, hair scrunchies, sleeve scrunchies, headbands, pet toys, sewing lessons, and anything that has to do with fabric.
As author and illustrator I have self-published:
God is Real (so is the Devil)
A Girl and Her Cat
A Girl and Her Cat Together
A Girl and Her Cat Embrace
Happy as Gold
For published illustration work with a co-author:
Sam’s Journey to the Sea
I have a “Piano Boy” series that has been revised and is currently being illustrated by a new illustrator. The original versions are still available on Amazon; however, they will be pulled off once the new version of the first book is completed. Those titles are:
Piano Boy: Neighborhood Hero
Piano Boy: Teacher’s Hero
Piano Boy: Sidetrack Mission
What does success mean to you?
Success normally is raising enough money to pay the bills each month.
However, success is also when tears swell in my eyes while sitting in the back row at a recital and listening to a student perform the piece they worked so hard on for months. It can be the moment when a client says a genuine thank you for altering his or her clothes. Or when a person tells me that he or she has read one of my books.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://facebook.com/KarisEnsPianoStudio
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/gracenote783
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/SewinKE
- Other: https://facebook.com/KarisEnsWrites
