Online and Hand Made: Etsy Gives Local Arizona Artist a Platform for Unique Pieces

With a crumbling economy, artists and designers are finding it even more difficult to successfully share their creations. In this business, it is already extremely difficult to make a name for oneself, but even more so with the extra circumstances working against any success.


However, recently, other companies have piggy-backed off the online shopping craze created by sites like eBay and Amazon which has, in turn, given huge opportunities to fashionistas everywhere.


One online shop in particular has begun to flourish above all others: Etsy. Etsy encourages handmade and unique products that are exposed to shoppers world-wide. Anyone has the ability to create a profile to shop the unique creations, or set up a shop of their own!


Ellie Craze, an Arizona high school senior, decided to try it out six months ago. Her shop is named "The Floral Press". She now has 108 sales and has sent products to every continent but Antarctica.

Turquoise Wire Wrapped Post Earrings

“A few of my favorite [places] I’ve shipped to are Singapore, Brazil, and Germany," Craze stated.


When asked what her favorite part of having her own shop was, Craze said, “[It’s] really nice to be able to have a business by myself because I don't have someone yelling at me to get things done, I get things done at my own pace, and I don't have to feel stressed about it.”


Craze actually began selling just a few of her paintings and drawings in hopes of getting more experience as an artist. But now she has combined her love of art with her fashion talent.


“When I first opened my shop, I wanted to sell my art and get some extra cash. I never intended on putting jewelry or buttons or anything like that in my shop,” Craze said.

Feather and Quartz Necklaces

Just this week, Craze posted her newest collection of earrings and necklaces, including the Turquoise Wire Wrapped Post Earrings and her Feather and Quartz necklaces.


But it’s not all easy running a shop entirely on your own. On top of schoolwork and without much training, it can be rough.


Craze said “The hardest part about it would definitely be trying to ship things and buy supplies when you have no money. And PayPal. I hate PayPal.”


Although these factors may make things more difficult, the benefits far outweigh the costs. Now Craze has huge opportunities she would not have without the help of Etsy. She just recently received the opportunity to set up a stand at Arizona’s “First Fridays", a day when they shut down streets in downtown Phoenix for artists to set up stands selling and exposing their work. Not only that, but she has experience that will make her stand out to the various art schools she will be applying to this fall.


If you would like to visit and support Ellie Craze’s shop, go to her site on Etsy.


Ashley Swazey