It was an honor to give back to a community that has given me so much. This experience caused me to dig deeper and think more closely about how the mission of little miss workbench is brought to life.
Read Morekidolo for the win yet again!
Kidolo may be a fan of ours, but we are a huge fan of theirs. They continue to love and support our small business as well as many other amazing small businesses. It is refreshing to feel the connection, even when it is miles and miles away. Thank you, and thank you.
LITTLE MISS WORKBENCH LIMITED EDITION WOODEN TOY BINOCULARS
JUNE 14, 2016
We spy with our little eye a bird, a plane, and the top of a palm tree! Little eyes get a boost thanks to the wooden toy expert behind Little Miss Workbench. Kids now get a telescopic view with the limited edition IPE 1 x ∞ binoculars!
We first fell in love with Little Miss Workbench earlier this year when we picked up the signature Zoom Flash Mali wooden camera. Founder and head woodworker Michele Chiaramonte continues to remind us to see the world through a child’s enchanting vantage point with these limited edition binoculars.
These wooden toy binoculars will continue to spark the explorer in every child. Made of maple wood and cherry, the design is simple and playful. Take them on a hike in the city to view the tallest skyscraper, or in the country to view the littlest bird, perched in a tree.
In addition to the binoculars, Little Miss Workbench has added a chalkboard camera to the shop!
Little photographers are now able to capture their “pictures” by drawing the image right on the camera. Flowers, bugs, and siblings (a few of the more common artistic subjects) can now be immortalized with this imaginative camera. Well, until the next picture is taken…
So whether your little nature lover is enjoying the world through toy binoculars or wooden cameras, Little Miss Workbench will be there for every sight.
Kidolo is awesome.
Kidolo is awesome. If you haven't taken a moment to check them out, please do right now. Thank you for believing in me and little miss workbench kidolo. Had to repost this article from January because hindsight really is 20/20. Much love. Enjoy!
LITTLE MISS WORKBENCH WOODEN TOYS
JANUARY 19, 2016
Hindsight is 20/20, right? We’ve all been there; in the moment we may think “why am I doing this?” But looking back you realize every decision perfectly led you to where you are today. It’s this wonderful phenomenon that makes life so exciting.
This is the case for Michele Chiaramonte, founder of Little Miss Workbench, who can look back on her professional career with similar amusement and pride. From business marketer, to school teacher, to mommy, to woodworker, the book of Michele’s life has had many chapters. KIDOLO virtually sat down with Michele to hear more about Little Miss Workbench and how she wound up as a master artisan.
Michele and her husband were avid New Yorkers before giving birth to their daughter, Mali. Though the city had their heart, they wanted to raise their family in Long Island, where they had both grown up. But as Michele fondly notes, if she were going to trade in city life she would have to gain beach life.
Michele now found herself in a beautiful old home with a beautiful new baby. Mali, to her parents’ delight, was a mighty sleeper – like, a really deep sleeper. Having burned through every book and having completed every project she could think of during the long nap times, Michele would sit and dream about remodeling her home. She envisioned custom built-in bookshelves and handcrafted tables. These day dreams, however, didn’t include someone else making them; she imagined herself doing the work. So Michele began woodworking. She made bookshelves, a kitchen island, and a kid-size activity table for Mali. It was Mali who inspired her to take this hobby in a new direction.
Mali loved playing with the extra wood from Michele’s projects. This propelled Michele to blend woodworking into another favorite mother-daughter activity – photography. Michele and Mali would take many photos during their daily walks and eventually Mali herself became transfixed by photography. Michele created her first wooden camera for Mali complete with magnetic parts for her to move and imitate the motions of a real camera. As Michele is explaining all of this to us, Mali bellows from the other room, “Don’t forget the zoom!” (Note: Mali was an integral part of our conversation. Thank you for making sure we got every detail right!)
Soon Michele made more Zoom Flash Mali cameras to sell and later added a version without the magnetic features, the Say Cheese camera, for younger children. Mali was not the only three year old who adored her wooden apparatus. There seemed to be something magical about a kid and a camera. Little Miss Workbench’s cameras allow parents to see the world through the eyes of their child. Such a unique vantage point makes life a little sweeter.
The wooden toys of Little Miss Workbench foster imagination and mask education with fun. Kids master fine motor skills and coordination while learning to focus and appreciate their surroundings. Additionally, every Little Miss Workbench toy is made with plant-based dyes and is sealed with a beeswax sealant.
As if we couldn’t love Little Miss Workbench more, Michele’s company also helps support a local charity, four girls for families, which helps provide clean water for rural Cambodian villages.
Everyone has a “little miss” in them. No matter if you’re a boy or a girl, you truly can do anything your heart tells you. “All things happen for a reason. Simply find what you love and love what you find.”