Refreshed: My Next Level Maker Conference Recap

The Next Level Maker Conference just wrapped, and just like that, it's over.

The theme this year was Refreshed. And I kid you not, I genuinely feel refreshed. Am I tired? Yes. Am I dreading work? No. My heart and my cup are full.

This is one of the biggest, most important gatherings in our entire industry, and the networking and connections alone make it worth the trip every single time. I walked in ready to soak up every bit of it.

Setting Up the Booth

This was my first time ever having a booth at a conference, and I loved every minute of it.

I got to bring Sara with me, who works with me at the shop and co-hosts The Maker Hour. Speaking of The Maker Hour, catch our Conference recap podcast here: 

Having Sara there made all the difference. Setting up together, laughing through the chaos of boxes and luggage backstage, figuring out where everything went. That's the kind of thing you don't get to do alone, and I'm so grateful I didn't have to.

Once it was up, our little corner had a LightBurn Help Desk, a "Join the Club" shelf styled out with pieces from Mom's File Club, and an Instagram photo frame that turned into the surprise hit of the whole weekend. People lined up just to hold it up and snap a picture. It was silly. It was fun. It was exactly the kind of thing I didn't know I needed until I had it.

Now let me laugh at myself for a second.

Before the event, I had what I thought was a genius idea. Get a DTF sticker made of my logo and heat press it right onto the fabric arch at our booth. Simple. Clean. Branded. 

Everything seemed to be going smoothly right up until I actually put it on the arch, and it came out stretched and bubbly and, honestly, kind of hideous.

I couldn't fix it.

So I flipped the arch around and went without my logo showing at all.

If you've been wondering why that background looks the way it does in some of these photos, now you know. I don't regret trying it. I learned something, I'm wiser for it, and I will absolutely be attempting this again. We'll conquer it next time.

A Different Kind of Trade Show

Most trade shows are theoretical. Companies show you what could be made with their equipment, and you're left imagining the rest.

My booth wasn't like that.

I make everything I show. So when fans and YouTube followers came by, they weren't looking at samples. They were touching projects they'd already watched me build. They were finally holding the things they'd only seen on a screen.

That was one of my favorite parts of the whole weekend.

It was also the perfect place to let people get hands on with this month's Mom's File Club drop, which might be one of the best drops I've ever done. People loved flipping through the book coasters. And the voice boxes? Everyone at the booth was predicting those will be a bestseller this holiday season. (If you're in the club and want to get your hands on last month's files too, remember you always have the option to grab previous drops even after the month has passed.)

Cuban Coffee and Getting to Say Hi

Every year I go in telling myself I'm going to make Cuban coffee at least once a day. This year? I was so swamped I only got to it on the last day.

But when I finally did, it was a highlight for so many of us standing around that little cup together.

Here's what always catches me off guard at these events. I know how many interviews I'll do. I know the schedule going in. And I'm still surprised every single time by how many people actually want to meet me.

It is humbling. Every time.

Getting to connect with the people who actually watch my videos, who've been following along from behind a screen, is my favorite part of these conferences. No booth display or stage moment beats standing face to face with someone who tells you their laser journey started because of something you shared.

The Hat Squad Got the Memo

Last year, I gave everyone on stage a hard time about how trendy laser engraved hats had become. Nobody showed up to Dallas wearing one except me and the hat queen herself, Jill.

This year, some people got the memo.

I could spot them from across the room. We'd lock eyes across a crowded booth or hallway, both wearing our engraved hats, and just know. No words needed. Just a little nod that said we're in sync.

I've got some photos of the hat squad sprinkled through this post, and honestly, it made me so happy to see the trend catch on with the people who were paying attention.

And this year, I finally got to wear it. The absolutely stunning hand painted custom hat that the one and only Gummy Thunk made for me. I'd been saving it, and Laser Maker Con felt like exactly the right moment to debut it.

Taking the Stage for xTool

One of the biggest honors of the weekend was being invited to speak on center stage for xTool, alongside a handful of other influencers and small business owners, talking about what it really takes to run a small business.

I'll admit, when xTool first showed up in this industry, I wasn't sure what to think. New companies pop up constantly, and you never really know which ones you can trust. But over time, xTool has proven itself. Not just as a trustworthy company, but as a genuinely powerful one, offering the whole package: great equipment, great software, great support, all under one roof.

Joining the xTool family has been a warm welcome, and I walked away seriously impressed with the culture inside their team. Getting to be part of their giveaway on top of all that was just the icing on the cake.

If you've been curious about xTool, you can check them out here.

I also got to see firsthand how much excitement is building around the XL laser, ACCELaser's flying galvo system. I've been slowly dabbling with the one in my own shop, and there's something really satisfying about watching a crowd get genuinely excited over technology you already believed in. It's a good reminder that when I recommend something to you, it's because I trust it, not because it's trendy. You can see what the ACCELaser lineup is all about here.

Maker Studio Has Me Excited

I have to talk about Maker Studio, formerly known as Laser Map Maker, because I am beyond impressed with everything they're adding to their pipeline. And with news I'll be sharing more of soon, since I'll be joining as an owner.

Their app already has 3D scans of most of the major tumblers in the industry, and it can instantly wrap your image right onto that shape. Sign me up. That kind of tool saves makers so much guesswork and so much time.

Beyond the tech, I got to go out to an escape room adventure with the Maker Studio team, and let me just say, we make a great team. Both in and out of an escape room.

LightBurn, Epilog, and a Little Hint

I have to give a huge thank you to LightBurn for how supportive they were this year. They collaborated with me to set up a small LightBurn Help Desk right at my booth, and they showed up to both of my LightBurn lessons. Together we found some things that could genuinely help users, and I'm excited to see where that goes.

Speaking of LightBurn, here's a little something I've been sitting on.

I've always had a lot of respect for Epilog Laser. During the conference, I got to talk to their team, and I told them honestly that my one hang up has always been that Epilog isn't compatible with LightBurn.

Next thing I know, LightBurn and Epilog were talking. 😍

Seeing My People Show Up

Honestly, one of the most encouraging parts of the whole weekend had nothing to do with a stage or a booth.

It was watching so many Laser Launch Academy alumni show up to my LightBurn sessions.

I joke with my students all the time that I've taught them everything I possibly can. And yet there they were, sitting in on another lesson, telling me they still learn something new every time. That kind of loyalty means more to me than any giveaway or panel invite ever could.

If you've been thinking about joining them, enrollment for Laser Launch Academy is open right now, with class beginning September 7th. You can learn more and save your spot here.

Watching Friends Shine

While I'm at it, I have to mention one more thing that filled my cup this weekend.

There is something so fulfilling and rewarding about watching your friends step up on stage, shining, sharing their gifts with the world. I snapped a few photos along the way, though I certainly don't have one of everyone who deserved it up there.

And can we talk about being that friend in the crowd? The loud one. The one whooping and cheering like she's at a concert instead of a business conference.

Turns out being loud and Cuban comes in handy for something. I'm proud to be loud for them.

To all of my inspiring, hardworking friends who took the stage this year, I am so incredibly proud of you.

Sunrise Zumba, Because Apparently I Hate Sleep

I have to give a shoutout to Kendra and Alexis from Madera Designs 1819. Alexis, who also happens to be a Zumba instructor, decided it would be a great idea to schedule Zumba for six thirty in the morning. This, after most of us had stayed up half the night networking and catching up with friends.

I was running on a few hours of sleep. But facing the wrath of my fellow Latinas over skipping Zumba felt scarier than just getting up and going.

So I went.

And honestly, I regret nothing. Dancing it out that early and then watching the sunrise with all my friends was one of those unplanned, unforgettable moments that made the whole weekend even better.

Thank You to the Team Behind It All

Before I wrap this up, I want to say a sincere thank you to Mark and Will and the entire Next Level Maker Conference team. Events like this don't happen by accident. They happen because a team works tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure every single detail lands right, from the stage to the swag to the headshots to the little moments in between.

Thank you for creating something truly unforgettable.

Why This One Stays a Priority

If you're a small business maker working with lasers or UV printers, and you want to see the newest gadgets while connecting with the right people, this is an event worth attending. This year's conference ran August 26th through 28th, 2026, and the next one has already been announced for May 27-30, 2027. You can find all the details and grab your tickets here.

Of all the physical conferences in this industry, this is the one I make my highest priority every single year.

This weekend was one of the highlights of my whole year. Growth, networking, connection, all in one place. I'll be back next time. I hope to see you there too.