Every time December rolls around, I find myself looking back—usually while elbow-deep in a glaze bucket mixing and testing new colors—and wondering how we got here so fast. This year feels like a blur of pivoting, planning, laughing, learning, and occasionally questioning my life choices while unloading a too hot kiln and trying not to burn myself.

I’ve Learned… So Much. Maybe Too Much.

Running a small business is a crash course in, well… everything.
This year, I’ve learned:

• How to market to real humans (not just “target audiences”).
• That people can’t support you if they don’t know you exist (we’re working on that part—if I had a dollar for every “Wow, I didn’t know you were here!”...).
• When to pivot fast, and when to slow down and let something bloom.
• That not every idea will land—and that’s okay.
• That community matters more than product.

I’ve also learned that helping other small businesses grow, cheering people on, and knowing when to give advice (and when to shut up) are skills you learn through trial, error, and coffee chats with people who just need someone to say, “You’ve got this.”

What Changed—And What Grew

This year looked different than I originally imagined—and honestly? I think it’s better that way.

We launched the Ritual Glow fragrance bar (which was a blast), expanded our Paint Your Own Pottery area, and rearranged the entire shop setup more times than I want to admit. We welcomed new artists, said goodbye to others heading off to their next adventure, and continued to build a place where creativity feels like home.

We also expanded our studio offerings and opened the space to artists who just needed a place to work, think, and get their hands messy. That part feels really special—like the soul of the space got a little bit fuller.

And after years of running outdoor markets, I made the very hard decision not to do them this year. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. Choosing to focus on the shop and studio meant better energy, more intention, and fewer 5 a.m. setups in questionable weather.

What I’m Still Figuring Out

Balance. That elusive thing.
Juggling the shop, the studio, my full-time job, and trying to have a life outside of all that? Still working on it. Sometimes I get it right. Sometimes I don’t. But I’m learning how to give myself grace—and to celebrate the small wins, even if I’m doing it in stretchy pants with clay in my hair.

What Kept Me Going

You did. Truly.

Every time someone came in to say, “This place is magic,” or signed up for a class, or bought a mug that I almost didn’t put on the shelf because the handle was a little too crooked… that kept me going.

Every artist who poured themselves into their work and shared it here.
Every kid who made a glittery mess and called it art (because it was).
Every vendor who said, “Thank you for the opportunity.”
Every friend who texted, “I see what you’re building, and it’s amazing.”
That’s the good stuff.

Your Turn: What Did You Make This Year?

Whether it was a piece of pottery, a bar of soap, a new business, a bold decision, or just space for yourself to rest—we’d love to know.

Come by, tag us, send a photo, or just say hi.
You’re part of this story too.

Until next Tuesday,
❤️ Jen