When I started Paisley Grace Makery almost ten years ago, I wasn’t trying to build a movement.
I was trying to survive.
The company I worked for shut down while I was pregnant. Life felt uncertain. I had two little ones depending on me. And somewhere in that chaos, this tiny spark of an idea became a DIY studio.
Not because I had it all figured out.
Not because I had investors.
Not because I had a franchise manual.
I had a laser. Some wood. A lot of grit. And a belief that creativity changes people.
Over the years, that little spark turned into something bigger than I could have imagined — workshops, paint parties, laser classes, team-building events, kids camps, retail, e-commerce… and a studio that has now been operating for nearly a decade.
And along the way, creatives started asking me:
“How did you start?”
“How do you price workshops?”
“How do you make money with wood signs?”
“How do you add laser crafts to your paint party business?”
“How do you actually keep this profitable?”
At first, I answered casually.
Then consistently.
Then constantly.
And I realized something.
There are so many talented creatives who don’t fail because they lack talent.
They struggle because they lack structure.
Why I Chose Mentorship Over Franchising
I’ve been asked more than once why I didn’t franchise Paisley Grace Makery.
It would have been the “obvious” next step.
But here’s what I know about creatives:
We don’t thrive in “one way or the highway.”
Franchises can be wonderful for some industries, but they often come with:
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Strict branding rules
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Locked-in pricing
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Product limitations
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High startup fees
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Ongoing royalty percentages
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Contracts that can feel heavy
And I couldn’t imagine telling another creative woman:
“You can build your dream… but only exactly how I say.”
That didn’t sit right with me.
I didn’t build my studio to hand out rulebooks.
I built it because creativity needs space.
So instead of franchising, I created Raising Makers — a place where I could teach the systems behind running a DIY paint party business, wood sign workshop studio, and laser craft studio… without taking ownership of someone else’s dream.
You keep your name.
You keep your community.
You keep your pricing.
You build something that reflects you.
I just share what I’ve learned.
I’m Still Running a Studio — And That Matters to Me
This isn’t advice from someone who ran a studio for two years and pivoted to coaching.
I’m still in it.
I’m still:
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Cutting wood and designing laser projects
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Hosting DIY workshops
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Refining pricing when lumber changes
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Testing Shopify strategies
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Debriefing events
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Hiring and training staff
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Figuring out what works this year, not five years ago
Ten years in, I still learn every single month.
And I think that matters.
Because the DIY workshop business isn’t static.
Marketing shifts.
Customer behavior changes.
Costs fluctuate.
When I teach about starting a DIY paint party business, pricing laser-cut wood signs, running mobile workshops, or building a profitable creative studio — it’s coming from current reality.
From a studio that’s still open.
Why I Keep It Accessible
Starting a creative studio already feels risky.
I remember those early days — wondering if anyone would sign up, calculating if I could afford materials, trying to price projects without scaring people away.
The last thing a new maker needs is a massive franchise fee hanging over their head.
I wanted Raising Makers to feel like a hand up — not a financial weight.
Because this isn’t about building mini versions of me.
It’s about helping other creatives experience what it feels like to work for themselves, to build something sustainable, and to serve their communities in a way that feels aligned.
The Joy Part (The Real Reason)
Yes, there are spreadsheets.
Yes, there are SOPs.
Yes, there are pricing models and marketing plans.
But the reason I started Raising Makers isn’t business strategy.
It’s joy.
It’s watching someone walk into a studio unsure of themselves and leave proud.
It’s seeing a mom create income while still being present for her family.
It’s hearing, “I didn’t know I was creative until I found this.”
Working for yourself is not easy.
There are slow seasons.
There are mistakes.
There are months you rethink everything.
But there is also:
Ownership.
Flexibility.
Community.
Creative freedom.
And I believe more makers deserve to experience that.
Why I’m Still Here
Paisley Grace Makery will always be my first love.
It’s where I learned.
It’s where I failed.
It’s where I grew up as a business owner.
Raising Makers exists because I don’t want other creatives to feel alone in that journey.
Not locked into someone else’s plan.
Not pressured into someone else’s pricing.
Not told there’s only one right way to run a DIY paint party business or laser craft studio.
There are principles that work.
There are systems that protect you.
There are strategies that help you grow.
But your business should still feel like yours.
That’s why I started Raising Makers.
Not to control.
Not to franchise.
But to walk alongside other creatives who are brave enough to bet on themselves.
And if you’re in that season — dreaming, building, or rebuilding — just know:
You’re not crazy for wanting more.
You’re not behind.
And you don’t have to figure it out alone.
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