Behind the Heart of Brushwood Corners: A Week That Wouldn’t Quit

brushwoodcorners
2 days ago
4 min read

“Some weeks take everything you’ve got, and somehow you still keep showing up.”

Sun-Up to Sun-Down

This week was a long one — the kind that starts before sunrise and doesn’t quit until you’re staring at the clock wondering when you last sat down. Most of my days were spent getting ready for Saturday’s craft show — wrapping, labeling, stacking, checking my lists, and then checking them again. The kind of week that smells like tallow and coffee and feels like living proof that small business owners run on stubbornness and caffeine.

Midweek Decisions

By Wednesday, I finally made the leap and committed to Rhodes Marketplace. It had been sitting in the back of my mind for a while, and I knew it was time. So off to Amazon I went, in search of a shelf that could somehow hold the heart of Brushwood Corners in a two-foot space. That’s when I stumbled upon this awesome coffee rack — sturdy, simple, perfect for my little setup. 👉 Find it here on Amazon https://amzn.to/3WDi7i5

It felt like one more step forward, like putting a stake in the ground saying, “Yes, this is real. This is growing.”

Thursday Hustle

Thursday disappeared fast — spent working my other jobs, trying to juggle it all while still dreaming about where I want this business to go. I balance a part-time evening job while still searching for something full-time nearby. It’s not easy. By the time I get home, there’s not much left in the tank — but somehow, I still find myself scrolling through label designs or checking on curing racks before bed.

Friday Late Nights

Friday was spent designing and printing 115 brand-new labels, this time with prices added for Rhodes. Then it was straight into my evening shift. When I finally got home, I opened the Amazon box and started putting together that coffee rack, feeling oddly proud just to see something come together. I gathered up baskets, signage, and enough soap to fill every inch of that shelf. Why I was already focusing on Sunday before even surviving Saturday, I couldn’t tell you — but that’s the way it goes sometimes.

Saturday: Show Day

Saturday morning came too early, after finally going to bed at 3am that 6am clock hit hard . I showered, packed the truck, double-checked my totes, and made sure my daughter was ready for her lemonade stand. She brought 10 gallons of lemonade, and by the time the show started, we’d already hauled in 61 pounds of ice and two huge totes holding 250 bars of soap — about a hundred pounds worth. Watching her set up her table and light up when people stopped by was one of those mom moments I’ll hang onto for a long time.

The show went well — steady faces, friendly chats, and a few new folks discovering Brushwood Corners for the first time. To everyone who came out: thank you. I took notes on what I’ll tweak for next time — maybe cut my inventory in half just to save my back and my sanity.

The next show is November 15th, which gives me a little breathing room to make more bars and maybe catch up on the mountain of house chores waiting at home.

Sunday Reset

By Sunday, the house had finally quieted down. Hope and I rearranged the entire soap room, moving shelves and sorting supplies until it finally felt cohesive — a space that works with me instead of against me.

Then we headed to Rhodes Marketplace to set up my display, grabbed a bite to eat, and picked up groceries for the week. It wasn’t glamorous, but it felt productive — the kind of normal that feels good after a whirlwind few days.

Sometimes I stand in that little soap room and wish I had millions to make it everything I dream of — the perfect workspace, all the storage, all the light.

But then I look around and realize I already have the most important parts: a daughter by my side, the smell of soap in the air, and a dream that somehow keeps going even when I’m bone-tired.

Looking Ahead

It’s turning cold here in Ohio — the kind of chill that smells like wood smoke and reminds me that the pool still isn’t closed. This week ahead will be more computer work (ugh), more writing, more slow, steady building behind the scenes.

Halloween came and went — always mixed with emotion. Some days, no matter how busy I stay, I still hear my sister’s last screams from that 911 call echoing in the back of my mind. Grief doesn’t care about checklists or show schedules. It just rides along quietly until you least expect it.

But even through all of that, I’m still here. Still building. Still showing up.

“Handmade work keeps the hands busy, the heart steady, and the memories alive.”

xo, KariAnne

Brushwood Corners

Rooted in tradition, crafted for today.

Affiliate Note

Some posts include affiliate links or products I use personally in my small business. If you choose to shop through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep Brushwood Corners growing — and I’m so thankful.