06/13/2026
As we celebrate our first year of Tinker & Makes, I wanted to share a bit of the story behind it. We love a good story, and this year I’m looking forward to sharing more maker stories and the people behind the work in the shop. Thank you to Erin Dorbin for working with me on this story.
Beth Weedman recognized, “There is a need for creative spaces in small towns.” Although she lived in an artist cooperative in St. Paul for several years and was surrounded by artists and makers, Beth didn't consider herself an artist at the time. Inspired by the creative community around her, she later taught herself the craft of weaving. In 2023, Beth began designing and selling her own weaving patterns online. She dreamed of creating a physical space to sell her own makes, too.
That experience continues to shape her work today. Beth says many people walk into Tinker & Makes and immediately say, “I'm not creative.” Having once felt similarly herself, she hopes the shop helps people see creativity differently—not as something reserved for artists, but as something anyone can explore and develop.
Before opening, Beth worked as the director of the Harmony Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center. “People would often come into the Visitor Center and ask where to go for local art,” Beth recalled. Rather than sending people out of town, she began imagining a space where visitors and residents could discover local makers right in Harmony. This motivated Beth to seriously begin planning for the arrival of Tinker & Makes.
Part of Beth’s overall process was recognizing the vulnerability makers often feel in showing their work. “There is a certain vulnerability in showing your work to the public,” Beth notes. Through Tinker & Makes, she hopes to help remove those barriers for makers, creating a welcoming space to share their work and connect with others in the creative community.
Today, Tinker & Makes showcases the work of regional makers and small businesses. The shop features handmade goods from across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Visitors often enjoy learning where makers are from and discovering the variety of creative talent found throughout the region.
Looking ahead, Beth is exploring various in-person maker and craft classes while developing a creative reuse space inside the shop for local makers to swap supplies and ideas. She is also fine-tuning her consignment option for the most local makers.
