Meet Sarah Wilson | Maker Monkey Workshop – DIY for Kids

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Wilson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
In some respects, the idea for Maker Monkey Workshop felt like a “light bulb moment”. Prior to starting Maker Monkey, I was a jewelry designer/metalsmith, but as an entrepreneur, my day-to-day actually consisted mostly of looking at website statistics, creating sales campaigns, and tracking inventory. Without really meaning to, I had become a salesperson instead of an artist. I was at a crossroads. It was at this moment that my son asked me to come to his preschool class for career day to talk about the very career that I was considering leaving. I decided to take a hands-on approach with my son’s class. I brought in my toolbox and gave the kids a chance to use real tools to make art using hammers, forging their initials into metal, getting tactile. Not only was this incredibly exciting to a classroom of 4-year-olds, but it was also exciting to me! I was already in the mindset of making a change, and the second I saw those kids light up with hammers in their little hands, I knew exactly what that change was going to be. Watching the kids work reminded me of everything that is magical about the creative process. It also made me realize what I was missing in my own career. I started laying the groundwork for what would become Maker Monkey Workshop. It was an opportunity for me to get back to my artistic roots while sharing my passion for creativity with the next generation. Maker Monkey Workshop’s mission is to empower young kids to explore their creativity using tools and to bond with their parents’ in the process. Today, Maker Monkey Workshop offers a wide variety of at-home DIY building kits for kids of all ages with projects that can be completed within an hour. We use upcycled materials sourced locally to respect our found world and allow you and your little ones to build confidence and memories through the creative process. www.makermonkeyworkshop.com

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
We are living in a very high speed, high tech era. What Maker Monkey Workshop offers is a chance to slow down, turn off the screens, and connect to the world in a very hands-on way.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My kids are the reason Maker Monkey Workshop exists and the inspiration behind so many projects and ideas. I’m building this business with them, for them, and because of them and I couldn’t think of a more fulfilling way to spend my days.

Website: www.makermonkeyworkshop.com
Instagram: @makermonkeyworkshop
Facebook: facebook.com/makermonkeyworkshop

Image Credits
All Photos by Maker Monkey Workshop