Rise Up Designs

Grab your coffee—although this morning, mine happens to be in Guadalajara. ☕️🇲🇽 I’m heading home later today after a wonderful few days here for a family wedding, and somewhere between the celebrations, food, laughter and probably a little too much wine, I had a small-business moment that made me smile. Before our trip, I decided to make custom tote bags for the ladies traveling together. Nothing complicated. Just something fun that said Guadalajara Gals — October 2026 , with each one made in a different color. At the time, it was simply a cute idea for our trip. But then I saw everyone carrying them here. We took pictures with them. We used them while we were out. People chose their colors. We laughed. And suddenly those little canvas bags weren’t just something I made with my heat press before vacation. They became part of the trip. And it reminded me of something I sometimes forget when I’m busy thinking about inventory, markets, pricing, packaging and sales. Sometimes W...

You know that moment when you’re scrolling through social media or walking through a market and suddenly you stop. Wait a minute. That looks…familiar. 👀😂 Well, I had that moment recently. Twice. At another market, I saw someone selling Blind Dates with a Book. No big deal—lots of people sell them. But the card they were using to describe the book looked very similar to the cards I created for mine. Then I came across another shop online with merchandise curated and presented in a way that also felt awfully familiar. And I’m not going to pretend my first reaction was: What a wonderful compliment! 😂 There was a little frustration. Because when you run a creative business, you know how much time goes into the things customers never see. You experiment. You change packaging. You move things around. You create something, decide you hate it, and start over. You listen to customers. You figure out what works at markets. You tweak the little details until something finally feel...

​ The last three weeks have been a whirlwind. If you’ve been following along, you know I was in Nebraska, then came home and had a market, then the Monday after that market I had the APCO conference, and the Saturday after that…another market. So when this weekend finally came around and I didn’t have anything scheduled, I was grateful. Really grateful. And at first, it almost felt strange. No market to pack for. No booth to set up. No event to rush to. Just a little space. And I realized how much I needed it. Not because I wanted to do nothing, but because I needed time to catch up on the things that are easy to ignore when you’re constantly moving. I checked inventory. I ordered new UVDTF wraps. I started updating some of my signage. I finished special orders that needed my attention. I looked at what I had, what I needed, and what could be improved before the next market. And honestly, it reminded me that slowing down is part of running a business too. When you’re c...

​ This week officially kicked off my spring market season—and if I had to sum it up in one word, it would be:  learning. My first Fiesta-themed markets are officially behind me, and I’ll be honest… they weren’t my strongest. I stepped a little outside of what I normally do to lean into the Fiesta vibe, and while everything didn’t land the way I hoped, I’m really glad I tried it. Because that’s part of this journey, right? Trying something different. Seeing what works. Figuring out what doesn’t. And adjusting for next time. And speaking of next time—I’m really excited about what’s ahead. I had the chance to collaborate with  @customcreatedbyjess  on a few pieces that complement my product line, and I’m looking forward to introducing those at my May market. That’s one of the best parts about doing in-person markets… the connections. Not just with customers, but with other creatives who are building something of their own. That part never gets old. This week also came with a...

Last  week was a creative marathon — and every bit of it reminded me why I do what I do. 💛 ✨ We kicked things off with a tween craft party, which was bursting with energy, glitter, and big smiles. ✨ I popped up at a local neighborhood market and made some new connections (and even better — a few future collabs 👀). ✨ And the grand finale? A beautiful wreath-making party with 12 amazing humans — 10 ladies and 2 kids — who made my heart so full. Was it exhausting? Heck yes. Was it worth it? Every single second. There’s something special about creating a space where people can come together, relax, and make something beautiful — and I’m so grateful that this little business gives me the chance to do that over and over again. Next week will be my time to rest and recharge — because we’ve got a big holiday season ahead. But for now, I’m holding on to the joy, the laughter, and the quiet moments in between. Here’s to honoring the hustle and the stillness that follows. I’m movin...