Rise Up Designs

​ 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...

​ There are moments in life that make your stomach do flips. Not because something is wrong…but because something just might change everything. When I was asked to bring Wrap & Rise Mobile Craft Parties to APCO International, I was excited. I was also terrified. Wrap & Rise has always been about gathering people together around a table. Birthday parties. Friends. Families. Community. An international conference with more than 5,000 attendees? That wasn’t exactly in my business plan. I questioned myself more than once. Could we handle it? Would people participate? Would they think it was silly? Would anyone even stop by? Then something happened. One person sat down. Then another. Before long, hundreds of people were creating bracelets, bookmarks, and keychains. More importantly, they were smiling. Talking. Laughing. Taking a breath. Many of them told us they just needed a place to slow down. In careers where they spend every day responding to someone else’s...

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...

One thing markets have taught me is that growth is not always about bringing more. More products. More displays. More signs. More things packed into every available inch of the table. Sometimes growth looks like learning what to leave behind. When I first started doing markets, I wanted to bring everything. I thought the more choices I gave people, the better chance I had of making a sale. And honestly, that made sense to me at the time. But after doing markets for a few years, I’ve learned that too much can become overwhelming—not only for the customer, but for me too. A crowded table can make it harder for people to understand what I sell. Products can get lost. My best items may not stand out. And instead of creating a warm, inviting space, the booth can start to feel like I simply brought everything I own. Now I try to be more intentional. Before I pack for a market, I ask myself: Does this product fit the direction of my business? Does it work with the rest of my displ...