Toms River Crafters Excel in Online Venue

Handmade crafts are one of the most personal items money can buy. They are created with passion to provide another with something unique. Some do this for a hobby and others diligently pursue dreams of having their own business. Today, through technology, the Internet offers a window to the world with great potential for Internet entrepreneurs that take the initial step to market their handmade crafts. 

Toms River residents Sherri Crilly, Megan Walsh and Kerri Ambrosino are just three of the many Internet entrepreneurs who took that step and launched their business with Etsy.com known as the “World's Handmade Marketplace”. Putting their passion to work; Sherri, Megan and Kerri market their beautifully handmade items such as paintings, scarves, gloves, jewelry and other items at their Etsy.com retail shops, which are proving to be lucrative. All three women say their shops at Etsy provide a source of income for their families and they exude such passion for their products.

Sherri Crilly creates and sells handmade scarves, jewelry and many other items at her online shop. After twenty years in the fitness industry, Sherri decided it was time to find a new path in life.  A request from a friend to provide some knitted scarves and stockings for a fundraising event led her to the creation of My Sassy Scarf’s in October 2011. “Much to my surprise, my merchandise sold like crazy!  All in all, it is turning out to be more profitable than I imagined. However, it does require work,” said Sherri Crilly.

Megan Walsh owns Megan’s Menagarie and creates handmade cowls, scarves, neck warmers, and other items. Megan, a recent RN grad, has been creating things for as long as she can remember.  Megan was so excited to hear about Etsy.com, which finally gave her the opportunity to bring people her handmade items. She opened her shop in July 2009.  “Opening this shop has not only let me bring others my work at affordable prices, but it’s a great way to earn some extra money while doing something I truly love,” said Megan Walsh. Much thought and care goes into each piece that Megan creates and her goal is to bring the customer unique items that they can't live without and can't wait to show off.  

Kerri Ambrosino, a self-taught artist, joined Etsy.com in October 2008. The adventures of her cats and dogs have been the source of joyful inspiration in many of her paintings. Kerri has also donated to local animal shelters and charities to help raise money for the cause. She is best known for her bright, bold and happy tree paintings, and the buildings and street scenes she experienced fondly growing up in New York City. Kerri also enjoys exploring her festive side by painting modern Mexican folk art and owls which are now in high demand. Her style is distinctive and charming; it can easily be recognized before you even see her signature. “While there is a lot of hard work that goes into marketing my paintings, it has been a great source of income,” said Kerri Ambrosino of KERRIAMBROSINO.  

These three amazing and talented women from Toms River have shown that a lot of hard work, a great deal of passion and a spirit of entrepreneurship can be truly rewarding when utilizing technology for an online business. Their shops are thriving and continuing to contribute to their income. With the world at their fingertips through the Internet, Sherri Crilly, Megan Walsh and Kerri Ambrosino seized the opportunity to market their beautiful handmade crafts online at amazingly great prices, which has led to the success of their Etsy.com shops.