Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley.
Hi Ashley, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 2020, my older sister got her own ipad and started teaching herself procreate which intrigued me to go and purchase my own ipad. It didn’t take much time for us to fall in love with this new hobby and turn it into a business. In Aug of 2020 we launched our first etsy shop and sold primarily stickers and large cold cups.
A year passed and my sister decided to step away and i took the business on my own full time so i could be able to stay home and provide for my husband and two kids. I continued to slowly branch out into other handmade products which i still make and sell so much of years later.
Amarieacreates became an outlet for me as i was navigating the new adjustment to 2 under 2 at the time, choosing my business instead of returning to cosmetology school, healing from trauma and becoming my Lola’s (grandma) caregiver after her stroke. She raised my siblings and I and made such an impact that my first big collection, Fil-Am, is an honor of her and all the things she taught us about the culture, foods & language (even the bad, lol.)
Before she passed in Aug of 2022, I looked forward to telling her all about my designs, orders and where they were headed to. Especially once i started wholesaling on Faire that it completely changed my life and business. From 2022 to now in 2025, i’ve done over 5,200 on Etsy, hundreds on my website and over 350 wholesale orders in my first year of selling to retailers all over the world.
Through wholesale, i met one of my closest friends Jasmin, owner of Local Gem Collective, who ended up opening her own shop space in Feb. 2024 that I joined and am still apart of today. I am not only one of her best selling vendors but i now work with her at her storefront, Local Gem Collective in Orange, CA.
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?
No ones journey is every a smooth road. There were and still are so many times I want to give up because of xyz but the followers, supports, friends and family that i have in my small circle really keep me going to keep sharing my story and keep using this small business as my outlet.
Some struggles were dealing with days that my mental health won, thinking some small business friends were actually your friends but they werent or getting designs stolen from small and big creators/businesses.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in stationery, drinkware, apparel & accessories.
I take pride in saying that the designs i sell and share are either made by myself or another small business owner or those who truly support small businesses.
I think im most known for my stickers, glassware and sunday graphics on instagram. All stickers are printed and cut by me in my own lil office in my living room along with the glassware. Sunday graphics are something that ive been doing for the past year or so as a new outlet and really try to force myself to sit down, slow down and create on my own based off what im going through or feeling at the time.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Im a 50/50 believer of luck in life and/or business.
I believe that if you are willing to dedicate and sacrifice the time, energy and soo much more into your business or passion that others may think you’re lucky but you know what it took to get it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amarieacreates.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amarieacreates/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amarieacreates
- Other: amarieacreates.faire.com, https://bulletin.co/brands/amarieacreates
