I Went on a Girls Trip, Signed Up for a Vendor Show, and I'm Still Figuring It All Out

Let me catch y'all up.

Because life has been a LOT lately and I feel like I owe this space — and honestly myself — a real moment to just sit down and talk. No filter. No highlight reel. Just me, like we're catching up over brunch and the mimosas already hit. 🥂

I went on a girls trip.

Galena, Illinois. And before you ask — no, I had never been. And yes, it was exactly what I needed.

I went with my childhood friend who I recently reconnected with, her bestie, another friend, and a coworker. Five women. One trip. Zero judgment. Just laughs, good conversation, and the kind of exhale you didn't even realize you were holding.

We found a waterfall. A WATERFALL. Just stumbled upon it and I stood there for a minute longer than everybody else because something about it just... reset me.

But here's the part that felt the biggest — it was my first time spending a night away from my toddler. My FIRST time. And I won't pretend like I wasn't in my feelings about it. But I also won't pretend like I didn't need it. Mamas, you know what I'm talking about. You love them with everything you have and you also need to remember that YOU exist outside of them. That trip reminded me of that. 💛

I signed up for my first vendor show with these products.

QC Magic Makers Market. May 30th. Kavanaugh's Hilltop.

I'll be showing up with a Hat Bar, a Shirt Bar, and a Keychain Bar — where YOU get to customize everything on the spot. I press it right in front of you. You leave with something made just for you that day.

I am equal parts EXCITED and terrified. Like — this is the first time I'm putting Brenderella Designs in front of people in this way. In person. Face to face. No algorithm deciding whether they see me or not.

And that matters more than I expected it to.

I'm trying to grow. And it's hard.

I'm going to be real with y'all because that's what this blog is for.

I started craftinassblkgrl.com because I needed a space that was MINE. A space where I wasn't just somebody's mom, somebody's wife, somebody's employee. A space where the creative, messy, figuring-it-out version of me could just exist.

And I'm trying to expand that. More visibility. More followers. I'm out here chasing that first purchase on my site like it's a whole milestone — because for me, it IS.

But some days? It feels like I'm screaming into a void. The support isn't always there the way you hope it'll be. And that discouragement is real. I'm not going to dress it up.

What I will say is — I'm pushing anyway. Not because it's easy. Because it means something to me. And that's enough of a reason.

So here's where I am.

Coming off a girls trip that reminded me I'm a whole person. Prepping for a vendor show that scares me in the best way. Building something slowly but intentionally. And refusing to quit on myself even when it's quiet out here.

If you've been rocking with me — thank you. For real. Every follow, every click, every share matters more than you know.

And if you're new here — hey babe. Pull up a chair. It's chill, it's real, and there's always room at this table. 🖤

Come find me May 30th at QC Magic Makers Market, Kavanaugh's Hilltop, 11AM–3PM. And shop the collection at brenderelladesigns.com.

Love Always,

Your Favorite Craftin Ass Blk Grl ✨️🫶🏿