Meet Antonise Crane | Creative & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Antonise Crane and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Antonise, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
The quote I live by is “Keep Moving Forward.” I first heard it in the movie Meet the Robinsons when I was about eleven years old. Back then, it just felt like a nice, uplifting line — I didn’t realize how much it would stick with me. Over the years, it’s become my personal mantra. Life is going to keep moving whether we’re ready or not, and challenges are part of the journey. We always have a choice: we can stay stuck and focus on what’s wrong, or we can take a deep breath, learn what we can, and keep moving forward. For me, those three words are a reminder that even the smallest step counts as progress.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m the owner of Annie Sharae Creations, an online shop specializing in notebooks, journals, including custom and personalized designs. My love for journaling started at a young age, and over time, it became more than just a hobby. I wanted to create products that felt personal, inspiring, and tailored to the unique stories people carry with them.
What sets my work apart is the heart I put into every product. Whether it’s a premade design or a custom creation, I want each piece to reflect the personality, goals, and passions of the person who will use it. My customers aren’t just buying a notebook — they’re getting a tool to help them dream, plan, reflect, and create.
Getting to where I am today wasn’t easy. Like many entrepreneurs, I started with big dreams but quickly learned there’s so much more to running a business than creating beautiful products. I’ve faced challenges with marketing, understanding my audience, and finding the right resources to grow. The turning point came when I sought out mentorship, joined entrepreneurial programs, and allowed myself to be open to learning from others.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that progress doesn’t have to be perfect. Every step, even the small ones, moves you forward. My journey has taught me the value of resilience, community, and staying connected to my “why.”
What I want the world to know about Annie Sharae Creations is that it’s not just about selling products, it’s about inspiring people to write their stories, capture their ideas, and embrace their journey. Every page is a fresh start, and I’m honored to create tools that help make those fresh starts possible.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting for a week, we’d start our mornings with coffee or matcha at some of my favorite spots — like Valley Coffee Company or Daydreamer. From there, we might spend a few hours wandering the Phoenix Art Museum, or, on another day, head to Acres Marketplace on Roosevelt for some light shopping and to discover unique local vendors.

Lunch might be at Tap That Downtown or Carcara, depending on our mood, casual or elevated. We’d also check out any local festivals or markets happening that week, since Phoenix always has something creative and community-centered going on.

For a fun afternoon, we could catch a movie at the AMC Arizona Center, explore what’s new at Retail Therapy, or lace up our skates for a session at Zoni Girls. And of course, no trip would be complete without catching a Diamondbacks baseball game or a Phoenix Mercury basketball game for that electric hometown energy.

At night, we’d start with happy hour cocktails at Pigtails and Little Rituals, then end the night dancing at Valley Bar, the perfect way to wrap up an unforgettable Phoenix visit.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When I started my business two years ago, I thought I had crossed every “t” and dotted every “i.” I believed I was fully prepared for the entrepreneurial journey ahead. About a year in, I realized just how much I still had to learn — and that’s when the right people and organizations truly made a difference.
I’d like to give a huge shoutout to Local First Arizona and specifically the We Rise Program for providing invaluable resources, mentorship, and a sense of community that have guided me along the way. I’m also grateful to Arizona’s Coalition for Change and their Reginald F. Lewis Fellowship Program, which I had the privilege of joining this past summer. Ivan Alexander and the entire team there opened my eyes to new possibilities for my business and encouraged me to dream even bigger.
And lastly — but most importantly — I have to thank my mom. She has been my biggest supporter and cheerleader from day one. There were moments over the past two years when I questioned whether I should keep going, and her encouragement and unwavering belief in me kept me moving forward. I truly wouldn’t be here without her.

Website: https://anniesharaecreations.com/

Instagram: @anniesharaecreationsllc