Rise Up Designs

  Last week I shared about hitting one year in business. And with a full year under my belt, I’ve started noticing something really important: Patterns matter. When you’ve been in business long enough to see your busy months and your slower months, you stop reacting… and you start preparing. Whether you’re on Etsy, Shopify, Square, doing manual tracking, selling at craft fairs, or running an online shop — the data is there. You just have to pay attention to it. For me, February was slower than January this year. Still grateful for every sale. Still moving. Just… slower. And instead of panicking, I prepared. That slower month gave me space to: Prep inventory Test new products Organize bundles Get ready for my first craft fair in March That’s the shift. Slow doesn’t mean failing. Slow can mean building. When you start recognizing your own rhythms — seasonal shifts, market cycles, customer behavior — you can move with them instead of fighting them. Busy months are fo...

On February 12, I quietly celebrated one full year on Etsy. One year of listings. One year of late-night packing sessions. One year of figuring it out as I go. One year of truly stepping into my business. And I’ve learned a lot. Not the flashy, viral-growth kind of lessons. The steady, grounded kind. The kind you only learn by doing. 1. Stay in Your Lane If you start a business, especially a creative one, everyone will have advice. “Try this.” “You should sell that.” “Have you thought about adding…?” “You’d make more money if…” And listen — most of it comes from a good place. People mean well. But here’s what I’ve learned: You don’t have to make everything. Just because something sells doesn’t mean it’s yours to sell. Just because someone else is successful doing it doesn’t mean it belongs in your shop. There were ideas I chose not to pursue — not because they weren’t good, but because they weren’t me. And that clarity matters. Your lane is powerful when you stay in i...

It’s  been a minute since I’ve posted a Sippin’ Sunday—and if I’m being honest, the break was needed. Between writing my book, diving back into the groove at work, and juggling all the things, Sundays just came and went. But today? We sip and we share. I’m excited to get back into it—especially because there’s so much good stuff happening. My Etsy shop is growing in new ways, and I’ve been experimenting with some fun ideas I can’t wait  💡 Notebook Wraps – Yep, you read that right! I’m testing out wraps designed just for notebooks, and the testers are looking really promising. 🎁 Bundle Sets – Think matching notebooks and tumblers, wrapped and ready as thoughtful gift sets. 📚 Blind Date with a Book – This idea has me really excited. I’m brainstorming how to bring this concept to life at my March Easter Market—a little mystery, a little magic, and a lot of heart. Even though I haven’t been posting here, the creative wheels have definitely been turning. Sometimes stepping...