Tag: behind the scenes

  • Good News: The Website Fixes Are In (And We Need Your Eagle Eyes!)

    Good News: The Website Fixes Are In (And We Need Your Eagle Eyes!)

    Remember those pesky website gremlins we mentioned? The ones making product variations jump around and throwing off the whole look of the site? Well, Dawn rolled up her sleeves (metaphorically, she pulled on her big girl panties and contacted help desks), and we brought in some help to get things sorted.

    Here’s what’s fixed:

    The product variations are now behaving themselves—no more musical chairs with the dropdown menus. And those proportion issues that made everything look a bit wonky on certain screens? Gone. The site should now look the way we intended it to, whether you’re browsing on your phone during your morning coffee or on your laptop while planning your holiday gift list.

    We’re Offering a Thank-You (With a Discount)

    Here’s where you come in, and where we get to thank you for being part of our community: If you spot anything that’s still not working right—a broken link, a wonky image, text that’s doing something weird—send us an email. We’ll send you a code for 10% off your next purchase, good through Christmas.

    We figure you’re already looking at the site, and your fresh eyes might catch something we’ve been staring at too long to notice. Plus, it gives us an excuse to say thank you for helping us make things better.

    Some New Things We’re Trying

    We’ve added a few features to the site, and we wanted to be upfront about what they are and why they’re there:

    Blog Subscriptions: You can now subscribe to get our posts delivered right to your inbox. We promise not to flood you—just the occasional story from the workshop, updates on new pieces, and maybe a behind-the-scenes peek at what Rex is working on.

    Voluntary Contributions: If you’ve been following along and want to support what we’re doing, we’ve added a way to contribute. No pressure whatsoever, but we’re grateful to everyone who believes in what we create.

    Testing Ads: This is the big one, and we need your honest feedback here. We’ve added some advertising to the site. We know—we’re not thrilled about it either. I hates pop-up ads (seriously, Rex has had to listen about them more than once). Unfortunately, with our current setup, we can’t just turn off the pop-ups alone. It’s all or nothing, at least for the next 90 days.

    Here’s the truth: this year has been challenging income-wise. We’re exploring different ways to keep doing what we love while also, you know, paying for materials and keeping the lights on. If the ads are too annoying—and we mean really annoying, not just “eh, I could do without them”—please let us know. We’d rather figure out something else than make your experience on our site frustrating.

    Why We’re Sharing All This

    One of the things we’ve learned over the years is that our customers aren’t just customers—you’re part of our story. When things are going well, you celebrate with us. When we’re trying something new, you give us honest feedback. And when times are tough, you understand because you’re real people with your own challenges.

    We could pretend everything is always perfect, but that’s not who we are. Rex spent three hours yesterday on plans and blanks for a new product (honey pots!), and he refused to settle for “good enough.” That’s the kind of honesty and dedication we bring to our work, and it extends to how we communicate with you too.

    What Hasn’t Changed

    Even with all these updates and new features, the heart of what we do remains the same. Rex is still in the workshop every day, turning reclaimed wood into something beautiful. Dawn is still sourcing materials, creating resin blanks, and updating every product page for consistency (we have over 400 variations, it takes time). We’re still committed to creating functional heirlooms that bring beauty to your everyday moments.

    Every cutting board still tells a story. Every pen is still one-of-a-kind. Every piece is still made with the same care and attention it would get if we were making it for our own family—because in a way, we are.

    We’re Here for Questions

    As always, if you have questions about the website updates, concerns about the ads, or just want to chat about wood (Rex is always up for that), reach out to us. We read every email, and we genuinely appreciate hearing from you.

    Thanks for sticking with us through the updates, the experiments, and the occasional technical hiccup. Your support means everything, and we’re honored to create pieces that become part of your family stories.

    Until next time, keep finding beauty in the everyday moments.

    — Rex & Dawn

    P.S. — Seriously, if you find an error on the site, don’t be shy. That 10% off code has your name on it, and you’d be doing us a real favor.

  • Back to the Drawing Board (Again): A Website Update from Dawn

    Back to the Drawing Board (Again): A Website Update from Dawn

    Ever wonder what happens when a former SQL programmer meets WordPress? Well, you get someone who knows just enough to be dangerous — and stubborn enough to keep trying until something works.

    Here’s the honest truth: I’m rebuilding our website. Again. For probably the sixth time this year.

    The Problem (And Why I’m Not Giving Up)

    Our beautiful pieces deserve better than a website where product variations don’t show images. I mean, who’s going to buy a pen when they can’t see what the different wood options actually look like? Nobody, that’s who. And after switching themes to fix one problem, suddenly we’re stuck with black and white everything and a store page that’s acting like a moody teenager.

    The numbers don’t lie either — $30 in online sales over 12 months tells the whole story. Rex is creating incredible work daily, but if people can’t see it properly online, how can they fall in love with it?

    What’s Different This Time

    I’ve switched hosts, I’m learning WordPress and WooCommerce from scratch (again), and yes, I know there are professionals who do this for a living. In fact, I’ve got one lined up for when the grant funding comes through. Until then, it’s me, my former programming brain that keeps expecting SQL logic, and a whole lot of determination.

    The silver lining? I’m getting faster at this. Almost all our existing products are back up and running, and I’m already planning how to showcase new pieces as Rex finishes them.

    What This Means for You

    More new products: Without the constant website emergencies, I can focus on photographing and listing Rex’s latest creations. There’s some amazing work coming out of the shop that deserves to be seen.

    Blog posts might be a bit sporadic: My days are currently split between coding and everything else that keeps Sarkanys Rising running. But I’m going to push Rex harder to share more “day in the workshop” stories because, honestly, his are way more interesting than “Dawn fought with WordPress again.”

    Things will keep moving around: As I figure out what works best, you might notice changes. That’s me making improvements, not breaking things (well, mostly).

    The Real Talk

    My back hurts from hunching over the computer, I dream in CSS code, and sometimes I miss the straightforward logic of databases. But every time I see one of Rex’s pieces — like that walnut pen he spent three hours perfecting yesterday — I remember why this matters.

    We’ve got beautiful work that deserves to be shared with people who’ll treasure it. If that means learning WordPress the hard way while applying for grants daily, then that’s what we’ll do.

    Until Next Time

    Thanks for your patience while I wrangle this website into submission. Keep an eye out for new pieces (they’re coming!), and as always, we’re here if you have questions or just want to chat about wood, resin, or the joys of small business website management.

    Now, back to figuring out why my shopping cart keeps disappearing…

    — Dawn

    P.S. Rex wants everyone to know that while I’m wrestling with pixels, he’s still turning wood into magic. The workshop never stops, even when the website throws tantrums.

  • Behind the Grain: Our Website’s Growing Pains (And Coming Improvements)

    Ever wonder what happens when a woodworker and resin artist try to wrangle the wild world of websites? Well, grab your coffee and settle in—we’ve got a story to share.

    The Workshop vs. The Web

    Here’s the thing about us: Rex can coax beauty from the most stubborn piece of mesquite, and Dawn can create resin magic that makes people stop mid-conversation. But this year? Our website has been more challenging than a piece of burl with hidden cracks. We knew computers before. Now we know too much.

    We’ve been dealing with what we like to call “digital growing pains.” Remember those bot attacks we mentioned? Turns out, when you’re focused on creating beautiful, functional art, the internet sometimes has other plans. We suddenly found ourselves hosting what felt like half the bitcoin universe on our little corner of the web—and none of them were interested in handcrafted cutting boards.

    Learning New Tricks (Even After Four Decades)

    Rex always says you learn something new every day in the workshop, and apparently, that applies to websites too. Through our connection with the Confidence Project Cohort, we discovered there’s a whole science to something called SEO. Who knew?

    We also found an absolute gem in Janice at Odd Duck, whose expertise has been like finding the perfect grain in a piece of reclaimed walnut—it changes everything. Her guidance via blog has already started transforming how we share our story online.

    What’s Coming Your Way

    Just like Rex won’t let a pen leave the workshop until it’s perfect, we’re not settling for a website that doesn’t serve you well. Here’s what we’re working on behind the scenes:

    Smoother Shopping Experience: We’ve been reformatting every page and product listing to make your browsing as enjoyable as running your hands over a perfectly sanded cutting board. If you run into any hiccups beyond variations or bundles (we know about this one!), please let us know at info@sarkanysrising.com—we want to make things right. We are offering a 10% off your order coupon to the people who report an issue the first time!

    Better Accessibility: We’re adding descriptions to all our images so everyone can experience the beauty of our work, whether they can see Dawn’s resin swirls or need to hear about Rex’s precise turning techniques.

    Consistent Storytelling: Every page is getting the same attention to detail that Rex puts into balancing a pen. We want the story of each piece—and our story—to shine through clearly.

    Planned Content: No more scrambling to share updates at the last minute. We’re building a content schedule that lets us share workshop stories, finished pieces, and behind-the-scenes moments with the care they deserve.

    The Reality of Small Business Growth

    Here’s something we’ve learned: when you’re passionate about your craft, everything feels like a priority. Website updates, new product photography, organizing the workshop (there’s currently a roomful of beautiful wood waiting for attention), and actually creating the pieces you love—it’s all important.

    But we’re taking it one step at a time, just like we approach each piece of wood. Some days it’s figuring out the perfect finish for a walnut bowl. Other days it’s untangling website code. Both require patience, attention to detail, and the willingness to start over when something isn’t quite right.

    Our Promise to You

    While we’re working through these improvements, our commitment to you stays the same: every piece we create will be one-of-a-kind, made with care, and backed by our lifetime guarantee. Whether you find us at a Renaissance festival, an art fair, or here online, you’re getting the same quality and personal attention.

    We expect most of these website improvements to be complete in the coming months, but honestly? We’re more interested in getting them right than getting them fast. Just like Rex’s approach to turning—it’s done when it’s done properly.

    Thank You for Your Patience

    If you’ve stuck with us through website hiccups, slow loading times, or any other digital bumps in the road, thank you. Your patience means everything to a small business like ours. Every email, every order, every kind word at a show reminds us why we do what we do.

    As always, if you have questions, need help finding something, or just want to chat about wood grain patterns, we’re here. Technology might challenge us sometimes, but connecting with the people who appreciate our work? That’s the easy part.

    Until next time, keep making beautiful moments in your everyday life.

  • Why We Share Our Workshop Mistakes

    In a world of perfectly curated Instagram feeds and flawless marketing photos, we’ve made a different choice. We talk about our mistakes. We share the pieces that didn’t work out, the experiments that failed, the moments when even 40+ years of experience can’t prevent a “well, that’s not what I planned” situation.

    Rex has his own collection of humbling moments. A few weeks ago, he was turning what should have been a simple bowl from a beautiful piece of burl. Halfway through, a hidden crack revealed itself, splitting the piece in a way that made it unusable for the original design. Instead of throwing it away, he pivoted, turning it into two smaller pieces that ended up being even more interesting than the original plan.

    We share these stories because they’re part of the truth of handmade work. Wood that grew on a tree with much more humidity, resin that responds to temperature, finishes that can be affected by everything from the weather to how much coffee Rex had that morning — unpredictability is part of the process.

    These mistakes teach us things we couldn’t learn any other way. That failed resin pour led Dawn to discover a technique for creating more subtle color transitions. Rex’s split bowl taught him to look for stress patterns he’d been missing before. Our failures become our education, and ultimately, they make our successes better.

    But there’s another reason we’re honest about the imperfect moments: they remind everyone, including us, that these pieces are made by real people with real hands in real time. In an age of AI-generated everything and manufacturing precision, there’s something powerful about admitting that humans make human mistakes — and that those mistakes often lead to unexpected beauty.

    We’ve noticed that customers connect with these stories in surprising ways. When we post about a project that went sideways, we get messages from other makers sharing their own disasters, from customers saying they appreciate the honesty, from people who say it makes them value their purchases even more knowing the human process behind them.

    Some of our best pieces have come from happy accidents. That gorgeous rolling pin with the dramatic resin? It started as a piece of walnut with a crack that Rex was going to work around. Dawn suggested filling the crack with resin instead, and now it’s one of our most beautiful pieces.

    Perfection is overrated anyway. When something is too perfect, it loses its humanity. The slight variations, the evidence of hand work, the knowledge that this piece survived the unpredictable journey from raw material to finished art — that’s what makes handmade special.

    So yes, we share our mistakes because they’re part of our story. And in a world full of perfect facades, maybe a little authentic imperfection is exactly what people need to see.