Your cart is currently empty!
Tag: Woodworking Business
-
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!
-
11 Weeks In: From Workshop Dreams to Pitch-Ready Reality with The BOTOX® Cosmetic Confidence Project
I am so excited to announce that I am one of @botoxcosmetic’s 2025 program participants for The Confidence Project! #TCPEmpoweringWomenEntrepreneurs
Hey there, Sarkanys Rising family!
I’m sitting here with my water bottle and I can hardly believe where we are — we’ve just begun week 11 of 12 in The BOTOX® Cosmetic Confidence Project, and in just days, I’ll be pitching Sarkanys Rising for a $20,000 grant. My hands are literally shaking as I type this, but it’s the good kind of shaking — the kind that comes from being so close to something you’ve worked incredibly hard for.
The Journey That Changed Everything
Eleven weeks ago, I thought I knew our business pretty well. Rex and I have been pouring our hearts into every piece of reclaimed wood art, every resin experiment, every custom cutting board that becomes part of someone’s family story. But this program? It’s been like looking at Sarkanys Rising through a completely different lens.
The expert coaching sessions have pushed me to think bigger than I ever imagined. We’ve refined our business model, strengthened our financials, and learned how to tell our story in a way that connects our passion for beautiful craftsmanship with real business potential.
Rex keeps asking me what I’m learning in these sessions, and honestly, it’s everything from “How do you scale a custom business without losing its soul?” to “What does sustainable growth actually look like for a veteran-owned woodworking operation?” The answers aren’t always easy, but they’re always eye-opening.
The Reality of Being This Close
Twenty thousand dollars. I’ve been carrying that number around in my head for weeks now, and it feels more real every day. That’s not just funding — that’s Rex finally getting that floor drill press he’s been eyeing for two years. That’s expanding our workspace so we’re not playing wood-storage Jenga in the resin room. That’s being able to say yes to those larger custom projects without worrying about whether we have the equipment to deliver.
But here’s what I didn’t expect: the confidence that’s come from just being in this program. Learning that women founders receive less than 3% of all venture capital funding used to feel discouraging — now it feels like fuel. We belong at this table. Our story of giving new life to reclaimed materials, of creating functional art that lasts generations, of building something meaningful with our hands — that story matters.
What These 11 Weeks Have Taught Us
The program hasn’t just prepared us for the pitch; it’s changed how we see ourselves as business owners. I used to introduce us as “just a small woodworking operation,” and now? Now I say we’re a sustainable artisan business with 40+ years of craftsmanship expertise, creating one-of-a-kind heirloom pieces from reclaimed materials.
Same business. Completely different confidence.
We’ve learned to quantify things that felt unquantifiable — like the environmental impact of every piece of wood we save from the landfill, or the generational value of creating pieces that’ll outlast us all. We’ve discovered that our “problems” (like every piece being unique, making it hard to scale) are actually our biggest strengths in a world hungry for authentic, handcrafted goods.
The Pitch That’s Coming
In just a couple of weeks, I may stand in front of a panel of aesthetic entrepreneurs and business leaders from Allergan Aesthetics and Hello Alice. I’ll have just three (count them 3) minutes to capture years of passion, months of preparation, and a lifetime of Rex’s woodworking mastery in a presentation that could change everything for us.
Am I nervous? Absolutely. Am I ready? More than I ever thought possible.
What This Means for Our Family
Whether we receive a grant or not, this experience has already been worth everything. The connections I’ve made with other women entrepreneurs, the business strategies I’ve learned, the confidence I’ve gained in talking about what we do — these are gifts that’ll keep giving long after the program ends.
But I’ll be honest with you — I want this. I want it for Rex, who’s spent four decades perfecting his craft and deserves tools that match his talent. I want it for every piece of reclaimed wood that’s waiting to become something beautiful. And I want it for every one of you who’s believed in what we do and helped us get to this moment.
The Thank You That’s Long Overdue
You know what’s wild? None of this would be possible without you. Every spoon or cutting board that’s found its home in your kitchen, every serving tray that’s hosted your gatherings, every pen that’s signed important documents in your life — you’ve been building this business with us. You’ve shared our pieces with friends, tagged us in photos, and made us feel like we’re creating something that matters.
This pitch isn’t just about Rex and me. It’s about everyone who’s ever believed that beautiful, functional art deserves a place in everyday life. It’s about proving that small businesses with big hearts can compete with anyone when they’re given the right opportunity.
Here’s to Week 12 and Whatever Comes Next
So here we are — 11 weeks of learning, growing, and preparing almost behind us, and one final week before the pitch that could change everything. I’m scared and excited and grateful and determined all at once.
As always, we’re here if you have questions or just want to chat about wood (or business dreams, or the beautiful mess of following your passion)! Thanks for being part of our story — especially during this chapter that feels like it could be the beginning of something even bigger.
Until next time, keep making beautiful moments in your everyday life — and maybe send us a little good luck for the pitch ahead!
With gratitude and hands that won’t stop shaking (in the best way),
Dawn (and Rex, who’s already cleared space in the workshop for that dream equipment)
BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to temporarily improve the look of moderate to severe forehead lines, crow’s feet, frown lines, and vertical bands connecting the neck and jaw in adults (platysma bands).
Talk to your doctor about BOTOX® Cosmetic and whether it’s right for you. There are risks with this product—the effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic may spread hours to weeks after injection causing serious symptoms. Alert your doctor right away as difficulty swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems or muscle weakness can be a sign of a life-threatening condition. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities. Patients with these conditions before injection are at the highest risk. Swallowing problems may last for several months. Side effects may include allergic reactions, neck and injection-site pain, fatigue and headache. Don’t receive BOTOX® Cosmetic if there’s a skin infection. Tell your doctor your medical history, muscle or nerve conditions, and medications, including botulinum toxins, as these may increase the risk of serious side effects.
For Boxed Warning and Medication Guide, see @botoxcosmeticpi.
Intended for U.S. audiences only.