Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Arielle Sarria. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Arielle, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I have always been a creative person and enjoyed expressing myself through all sorts of mediums, but I never took that passion seriously until the pandemic. My 9-5 job shifted to a fully remote position and I found myself with lots of free-time on my hands. To fill the time, I focused a lot on creating. It was a way for me to process the stress of the pandemic and find an outlet to relieve some of that stress. Soon, my tiny one bedroom apartment was overflowing with creative projects and pieces I made by hand and I didn’t know what to do with all of it. The process was always the best part for me, but once the piece was finished, it would be stuffed into a closet or given away to a friend or family member. Eventually I decided to create my small business and start selling the pieces I was making. It made me feel weird and vulnerable at first charging people for something that was an outlet for me, not originally planned to be sold. But as I started putting myself out there, I was overwhelmed with how many people loved the products I was making and were willing to spend their hard-earned dollars on. I still have my 9-5, but I’m working everyday towards the goal of pursing this crafting dream full-time.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Arielle and I’m 26 years old. I got into my craft in 2020 and self-taught myself the art, from watching YouTube videos and reading books. My small business focuses on fiber crafts, meaning I use lots of different types of cord and yarn to create my pieces. I make small accessories like keychains and car charms, as well as bigger pieces of wall art, baby mobiles, and garlands. I believe what sets me apart from other businesses is my attention to detail and my desire to create magical custom pieces that bring my clients joy. My favorite projects to take on are custom baby mobiles. My clients give me a theme and a color palette, and trust me to come up with something that will hang in their baby’s nursery every day. Ultimately, I want my clients to feel like they can trust me to bring their vision to life, knowing I’ll work my hardest to create something absolutely magical for them.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative has been putting my work out there when I felt vulnerable and having it be met by so many wonderful people that love and appreciate it. Nothing feels better than spending countless hours bringing an idea to life and having even one person express love for it.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Shop small!!! I cannot even tell you how many times people have come into my booth at a pop-up market and have mumbled under their breath “I can find that cheaper at Walmart.” I’m sure you can, but we need to support our local artists and communities and help each other thrive. When you support local artists, you’re supporting real people with real families.

Contact Info:

• Website: craftedbyarielle.shop
• Instagram: @craftedby.arielle