Rise Up Designs

This week’s Sip & Sunday looks a little different. Last week, I was in Nebraska watching my niece compete at nationals, and seeing her step onto that floor has been such a reminder of what it takes to believe in yourself. There is the talent people see, of course. But behind that are the hours of practice, the mistakes, the hard days, the nerves, the lessons, and the decision to keep going anyway. Watching her has also reminded me how important support is. Sometimes believing in yourself starts with borrowing a little belief from the people around you—the people who show up, encourage you, remind you how far you’ve come, and see something in you before you fully see it in yourself. I think we all have moments when doubt gets loud. Moments when we question whether we’re ready, whether we’re good enough, or whether we really belong in the room. But doubt does not mean you are incapable. It means you are human. You can feel nervous and still move forward. You can have doubts...

Today, I gave myself permission to do something simple but important: create for the sake of creating. No deadlines. No “Will this sell?” mindset. No pressure to post or promote. (No spreadsheets, no Etsy panic, no praying to the Pinterest algorithm gods.🧎🏻‍♀️‍➡️) Just me, my little workshop, a few supplies, and the joy of making something just because it fills my cup. ✨✨ (Also, my literal cup. I was definitely sipping coffee while doing it. Priorities. ☕) Making Space for Creativity (and Maybe a Little Mess) It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle. Create a product. List it online. Market it. Sell it. Stress-eat snacks while refreshing your Etsy dashboard. (Been there. Bought the T-shirt. Ate the snacks.) But at the core of it all, I’m a creator first . That’s who I am. That’s who I’ve always been. And sometimes, it’s important to honor that part of myself without expecting anything in return (other than maybe a little glitter glue stuck in my hair). The Power of Creating for YOU S...

 Let’s talk about what happens when you go from cha-ching-ing every day to… crickets. Yep. I hit that moment this week. For a solid stretch, I was doing an order or two every day . It was exciting, validating, and if we’re being honest… kind of addicting. Then suddenly? Nothing. And I’d love to tell you that I handled it with total grace and chill vibes—but, I’m human. So yes, I panicked a little . And yes, I stared at my Etsy dashboard like it owed me an explanation. But then something really unexpected happened:  I stopped spiraling and got to work. The Slow Days Gave Me Room to Breathe (and Catch Up on the Stuff I Usually Avoid) Because let’s be real—when I’m busy making, selling, and shipping, I’m not exactly sprinting to balance my QuickBooks. But during this slow stretch, I: ✔️ Cleaned up my inventory. What I had on hand didn’t totally match my Etsy listings ( oops ), so I reconciled everything. ✔️ Organized my receipts and logged expenses into QuickBooks. I ...