Meet Our Makers
We are partnered with some amazing woodworkers and small businesses from across Ontario and Québec to bring Ottawa families quality local wooden toys! Click each makers' logo to learn more!
Melissa and Jordan started JL Woodworking in 2016 after they moved from Toronto to Ottawa. What started out as a hobby in a single car garage quickly turned into a side business (in double garage) and eventually a full time job in a workshop with a team of great staff!
Jordan went to Humber college for cabinetmaking and worked for over ten years building and designing kitchens before moving on to kids toys and furniture.
They have two children and a fat cat out in the country. It has been a crazy journey and it has still only just begun!
At Wandering Tree, we love making natural, sustainable toys that inspire little minds to wander freely as they explore, create, and learn.We make everything in our shop which provides us the freedom to fine-tune each idea and of course thoroughly test using our in-house 4-year-old quality assurance department You can follow us @wanderingtreeco
The Wooden Kind is a small independent workshop in Sudbury, dedicated to the production of hand-crafted wooden toys for babies and children. The simple & modern designs of their toys are meant to help spark the imagination and creativity of little ones all while offering a plastic-free toy alternative in the home. Not only do their toys bring a feeling of nostalgia to Parents and Grandparents, but they can also double as beautiful “minimalist” home decor.
The Wooden Kind believes that Families should start looking at their toys the same way they look at their food - they should know where it came from and what's in it. All of our toys are eco-friendly, sustainable, non-toxic and handmade with local materials. The Wooden Kind stands behind making the world a healthier place for both our children & our environment. These hand-crafted, all-natural Wooden toys hope to foster positive change in our world, inspire creativity and capture nostalgia
WoodWhim Toys is the wooden toy dream of Child and Youth Care Practitioner, artist, and momma in Gatineau, Canada. Using local woods, and a little imagination, I try to create unique puzzles, games, and small world play pieces that will spark joy and fuel the development of the littles that get to play with them, hopefully for years to come.
My name’s Ashley. I’m a mom of three living in Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada. My passion for sensory and wooden toys began with my daughter, Amaya (Mymy). I loved creating little peg dolls and sensory activities that were inspired by her play. I also used to run a home daycare and would set up lots of different sensory and playdough kits for the children I cared for.
In 2020 I decided to turn my passion of creating sensory kits and wooden toys into a business. I love planning out different ideas and am always inspired by my own children and knowing what my past daycare children loved as well.
I'm passionate about working together with other small and local businesses so I like to incorporate products and pieces from other small shops whenever possible.
Find us on Instagram
We are a husband and wife team operating out of Ottawa Ontario, with a small staff of one child and three dogs! LittleStep Co. came to fruition shortly after we had our son Cooper in 2019. Our desire to provide him with a safe and beautifully crafted kitchen helper was the start of our whole journey. Our prototype sparked lots of interest from family and friends who encouraged us to sell them and voila- LittleStep Co. was born! From there we have expanded to include steps stools and blocks sets. With the ongoing support of our community and customers we plan to continue to dream, create, and build.
ARK Wood Toys is a small husband & wife wood working shop located in North Bay, Ontario dedicated to creating beautiful hand crafted wooden toys for children.
Our toys are an excellent way to develop imagination and creativity, and allow children to run wild and explore through open ended play. Each toys is handmade using high quality wood pieces, carefully cut and sanded, painted with water-based, non toxic paints, and finished with a homemade beeswax & oil mixture.
At ARK Wood Toys we strive to make the very best toys for your children, and we absolutely love sharing our love of these toys with you!
Shop Emmylou handcrafts wooden toys that bring imagination to playtime! Owned and operated in North Bay, Ontario by owner Maddy, Shop Emmylou helps parents and educators by providing quality learning tools and activities for children aged 0-8. You can shop all of their educational toys and decor at shopemmylou.ca
Birch and Bark Natural Wood Website
Hi I’m Angela, the maker behind Birch and Bark Natural Wood. Since childhood I have immersed myself in nature and its grounding environment. I have many early memories of summers at the cottage making booklets and canoes out of birch bark with my mom and using mud and sticks to build the imaginations of childhood. So it is not too much of a surprise that my children gravitate towards doing the same. The idea of Birch and Bark came out of the want to bring the elements of nature that my children love, and incorporate them into their everyday play.
I am a strong believer in the power of play as I feel it encourages imagination and empowers little minds to express themselves freely and creatively, which is amazing for brain development and life skills for the future.
Flamingdoh Sensory Materials Website
Sarah is the maker and creator behind Flamingdoh Sensory Materials. Inspired by her two very busy, activity loving children she found herself quite often making dyed rice and play dough for different play trays. After more than a few good pushes from friends – Flamingdoh was born.
Sarah makes dyed rice, multicoloured play dough and is currently working to try and perfect a gluten free recipe. All with ingredients that are simple, easy to pronounce and prepared with families in mind.