Tag: veteran-owned business

  • 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.

  • Taking Our Story Live – Entrepreneurship, Wood, and Real Talk

    Taking Our Story Live – Entrepreneurship, Wood, and Real Talk

    This week in the workshop, something unexpected happened – we got invited to share our story in a whole new way.

    On Saturday, October 4th at 7 PM Eastern (that’s 4 PM here in Arizona), I’ll be joining MVC on The MVC Show for a live TikTok conversation about entrepreneurship, the realities of running a handcrafted business, and what it’s really like to build something from reclaimed wood and pure determination.

    Why This Feels Important

    After more than four decades of Rex turning wood into beautiful things, and several years of us turning that craft into Sarkanys Rising, we’ve learned that the business side of art is just as complex and rewarding as the creative side. The successes, the setbacks, the moments when you’re not sure if you’re building a legacy or just really expensive hobbies – it’s all part of the story.

    MVC reached out after we connected through the Confidence Project, and she’s interested in the real talk behind small business ownership, especially when you’re creating something that can’t be mass-produced or rushed. How do you price handmade work fairly? What happens when health challenges threaten everything you’ve built? How do you stay true to your values while still paying the bills?

    These are the conversations that matter, and honestly, they’re conversations we don’t get to have often enough.

    The Timing Couldn’t Be Better

    This live interview comes just days after we launch our October bundles and baskets sale – a celebration of how individual pieces can come together to create something even more special. It’s perfect timing to talk about how sustainable business practices and quality craftsmanship aren’t just buzzwords for us; they’re the foundation of everything we do.

    We’ll be discussing the challenges we’ve faced this year, how we’ve learned to adapt when plans don’t go according to schedule, and why we believe there’s still a place in this world for businesses that prioritize relationships over transactions.

    What to Expect

    MVC’s approach is refreshingly honest – no scripted questions or polished talking points. We’ll be diving into the messy, beautiful reality of entrepreneurship when your “factory” is a workshop and your “inventory” starts as raw wood that needs to be coaxed into beauty.

    Topics we might cover:

    • How a love for woodworking becomes a sustainable business
    • The unique challenges of veteran-owned enterprises
    • Pricing handmade work in a world obsessed with cheap and fast
    • Building customer relationships that last beyond the purchase
    • What “sustainable business practices” actually look like day-to-day
    • The reality of health challenges when you ARE the business

    Plus, we’ll be taking questions from the live audience, so if there’s something you’ve always wondered about the business side of handcrafted work, this is your chance to ask.

    A Special Thank You

    MVC has been incredibly supportive of small businesses and authentic entrepreneurship, so as a thank you for the platform and the conversation, we’re creating a special discount code just for her community. It’ll be good through our holiday season, lasting until our annual year-end clearance sale that starts December 26th. You have to listen to get it!

    Join the Conversation

    Whether you’re an entrepreneur yourself, curious about the handcrafted business world, or just enjoy authentic conversations about building something meaningful, we’d love to have you join us live on October 5th.

    You can find The MVC Show on TikTok at @the.mvc.show, and the live stream starts at 7 PM Eastern/4 PM Arizona time. Bring your questions, your curiosity, and maybe a cup of coffee – we have a feeling this is going to be the kind of conversation that runs longer than planned.

    Beyond the Live Stream

    This conversation is part of something bigger – our commitment to transparency about what it really takes to build a business that aligns with your values. Too often, entrepreneurship gets painted as either a fairy tale of overnight success or a nightmare of endless struggle. The reality, at least for us, is somewhere in between: challenging, rewarding, frustrating, and deeply satisfying all at the same time.

    We’re excited to share that reality, to answer your questions, and to be part of MVC’s mission to showcase authentic business stories.

    Mark your calendars, follow @the.mvc.show, and get ready for some real talk about entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, and what happens when you decide to build something that matters.

    See you live on October 4th!

  • We’re Staying Home for the Holidays (And Bringing Something Special)

    We’re Staying Home for the Holidays (And Bringing Something Special)

    This week in the workshop, Rex discovered something we’d almost forgotten – the joy of sleeping in our own bed while still sharing our craft with an incredible community of art lovers.

    After a year that has tested us in ways we never expected, we’re beyond excited to announce that Sarkanys Rising will be part of Tucson’s Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair at Reid Park this Thanksgiving weekend. For the first time in what feels like forever, we get to be part of something magical right here in our hometown.

    A Fair with Four Decades of Heart

    This isn’t just any craft fair – it’s a Tucson tradition that’s been bringing together artisans and art lovers for more than 40 years. Over 140 vendors from across the Southwest gather at Gene C. Reid Park, creating a marketplace where every single item is handmade, unique, and crafted with the kind of care that’s becoming harder to find in our world.

    When we read that requirement – “all items must be unique, handmade goods” – we knew we’d found our people. This is exactly the kind of event where stories matter as much as the pieces themselves, where customers appreciate the difference between mass-produced and carefully crafted.

    Why This Feels Like Coming Home

    After months of cancelled events due to health challenges and financial pressures that seemed determined to test our resolve, the simple pleasure of driving across town instead of across state lines feels like a gift in itself. No over-packing the van & trailer, no wondering if we’ll have everything we need, no sleeping in unfamiliar places while fighting to feel our best.

    Instead, we get to wake up in our own home, make sure every piece is perfect, and drive just a few miles to share what we love with a community that gets it. Sometimes the best adventures happen closest to home.

    What We’re Bringing (And What We’re Not Telling You… Yet)

    You’ll find our full range of handcrafted treasures – those chatoyant mahogany boxes that shift and shimmer in the light, cutting boards with stories that span decades, pens that turn everyday writing into something special, and pieces that defy easy categorization but somehow find their perfect homes.

    But here’s where we get a little mysterious: we’re also bringing something extra special that we haven’t talked about before. Starting November 1st, we’ll be launching a gift with purchase program that we’re honestly more excited about than we probably should be. Rex has been working on these pieces in between everything else, and seeing them come together has been one of those bright spots that reminds us why we do this work.

    We can’t spill all the details yet (October has its own surprises we want you to focus on first), but let’s just say that anyone who finds us at Reid Park will discover there’s more to the story than what meets the eye.

    The Details That Matter

    When: Saturday, November 29th (9 AM – 4 PM) and Sunday, November 30th (9 AM – 3 PM)
    Where: Gene C. Reid Park, 920 S. Concert Place (west side of the park off Country Club Road)
    What to Expect: Over 140 Southwest artisans, all handmade goods, and the kind of community gathering that makes the holidays feel magical

    We’ll have our full range of pieces, from affordable treasures to investment heirlooms, plus those special surprises we keep hinting at. And as always, every purchase comes with the stories, the lifetime guarantees, and the kind of personal connection that turns customers into community.

    A Thanksgiving Weekend to Remember

    There’s something perfect about spending Thanksgiving weekend surrounded by the work of makers and creators, celebrating what it means to build beauty with your hands and share it with people who appreciate the difference. After a year that challenged us in every possible way, being part of this community tradition feels like exactly where we need to be.

    Come find us at Reid Park. We’ll have coffee, stories, and pieces that are just waiting to become part of your holiday celebrations. Plus, if you’ve been curious about that gift with purchase program we keep mentioning, well… let’s just say good things come to those who show up.

    Mark Your Calendars

    This is our first local event in longer than we care to admit, and we’re ready to make it count. Whether you’re starting your holiday shopping early, looking for something truly unique, or just want to support local artisans doing what they love, we’ll be there with bells on (and probably with Rex demonstrating his craft because he can never resist a good audience).

    Thanks for being part of our story, Tucson. We can’t wait to be part of yours.

    See you at Reid Park, November 29th and 30th. Come early, stay late, and get ready for some surprises.

  • The Magic Jupiter Pen Finds Its Perfect Match: A Review That Made Our Day

    The Magic Jupiter Pen Finds Its Perfect Match: A Review That Made Our Day

    You know that feeling when you create something with your hands, pour your heart into every detail, and then wonder if it’ll find the right person? Well, folks, we just got one of those moments that reminds us why we do what we do.

    Meet Daniel Alexander: Storyteller, Creator, and Now Part of Our Community

    Before we dive into his wonderful review, let’s introduce you to Daniel Alexander—though you might already know him as @dalecsander across social media. Daniel is a storyteller with an impressive following of nearly 380K on TikTok and over 223K followers on Instagram, where he shares his adventures in the literary world.

    But here’s what makes Daniel especially fascinating: he’s the creator of the Valthakaverse, where “an ancient entity that has since stumbled her way into Daniel’s mortal coil, the Crone is notorious for her adventures, advice, and general disdain for capable young women getting fridged by the Pregnancy Trope.” Talk about creative storytelling!

    Daniel also publishes The Valthakan Times, a newsletter where the Crone shares her wisdom while “Daniel acting as a transcriber and enjoys outsmarting her various enemies both magical and tax collector.” We love a good story about outsmarting tax collectors—that’s the kind of creativity that speaks to our hearts.

    A Review That Made Rex Grin (And That’s Saying Something)

    When Daniel’s written review arrived, we knew we had to share it with you:

    “5 stars, the Magic Jupiter pen is a beautiful blend of metalwork and wood carving. Writes perfectly even as a lefty! I was also lucky enough to receive a custom travel case and pen holder. It’s a perfect addition to my desk space, and I love knowing everything is handmade!”

    Thank you so much Daniel! We are so glad you enjoy your pen and the custom box we included!

    But Wait, There’s More (And It’s on Video!)

    Daniel didn’t stop at a written review—he featured our Jupiter pen in a video that perfectly captures what we love about our customers. You can catch his segment right here at the 3:02 mark.

    Watching someone genuinely excited about a piece you’ve crafted? That’s the kind of moment that makes every hour spent in the workshop worth it.

    The Magic Jupiter Pen: Where Function Meets Fantasy

    For those who haven’t met our Jupiter pen yet, Daniel’s review captures exactly what makes it special. This isn’t just a writing instrument—it’s a conversation starter, a daily reminder that beautiful things can also be perfectly functional. Each Jupiter pen features Rex’s signature woodturning combined with carefully selected materials that make every piece genuinely unique.

    The fact that it writes beautifully for a lefty? That’s no accident. Rex is left-handed himself, and after 40+ years of struggling with pens that weren’t made with lefties in mind, he makes sure every pen he turns works perfectly for both righties and lefties. It’s just good engineering meeting good design—and a little personal experience. Rex always says that a pen that doesn’t write smoothly isn’t worth the wood it’s made from, especially when you understand the frustration of fighting with your writing instrument every day.

    Custom Cases: Because Beautiful Things Deserve Beautiful Homes

    Daniel mentioned the custom travel case and pen holder, and we’re especially proud of those pieces. When you invest in a handcrafted pen, it deserves protection that’s just as thoughtful as its creation. These aren’t afterthoughts—they’re designed to keep your pen safe while looking right at home on any desk or in any travel bag.

    What This Means to Us

    Reviews like Daniel’s remind us why we chose this path. We’re not just making pens (or cutting boards, or any of our other pieces)—we’re creating tools for storytellers, instruments for important moments, and objects that become part of people’s daily rituals.

    When a professional storyteller like Daniel takes the time to share his experience with our work, it tells us we’re doing something right. His appreciation for the handmade aspect, the functionality, and the beauty of the piece together? That’s exactly what we hope for every time someone picks up one of our creations.

    Ready to Find Your Own Magic?

    If Daniel’s review has you curious about our Jupiter pens, you can explore our current collection here. Each one is individual—just like the stories they’ll help you tell.

    And if you’re thinking about a custom pen box or need something specific for one of our larger pens, we’d love to work with you on a custom order.

    Join the Conversation

    Do you have a Sarkanys Rising piece that’s become part of your daily life? We’d love to hear about it! Share your story with us at info@sarkanysrising.com—because every piece has a story, and we love being part of yours.

    Thanks for letting us share Daniel’s wonderful review with you, and as always, we’re here if you have questions or just want to chat about wood, stories, or the magic that happens when functional art finds the right hands.

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

    Rex & Dawn