Meet the Maker:
Meet the Maker: Laura Greenlee-Karp (She/Her)
Lady Fern Woodworks | North St. Paul, Minnesota
Nestled in a small town best known for the world’s largest concrete snowman, Laura Greenlee-Karp creates tiny, magical worlds that spark wonder and joy. As the artist and founder behind Lady Fern Woodworks, she designs miniature treehouses for plants, bookshelf décor, and laser-cut curios that invite whimsy into the everyday.
A lifelong learner and feminist at heart, Laura’s journey into woodworking didn’t start in a studio—it started with a canoe paddle and a stubborn sense of adventure. She’s led month-long expeditions through the Canadian subarctic, tackled class IV rapids, and was named to the Division II All-American Women’s Rugby Team. Her career in experiential education gave her the tools to explore, connect, and create—and her artistry grew from there.
When she bought her first home, necessity sparked curiosity. A simple DIY project led her to a local makerspace, where she fell in love with woodworking. She taught herself to use a laser engraver and started designing tiny treehouses for her houseplants, gifting them to friends. What began as play quickly became purpose.
Laura’s work is rooted in story, imagination, and heritage. Inspired by her grandmother—a spirited Irish nurse with cookies in her pockets and a Brandy water in hand—Laura crafts every piece with a deep love for joy, nostalgia, and the strength of the women who came before her. She works with basswood, acrylic, and paint in her basement studio-turned-creative-haven, where Taylor Swift, mystery audiobooks, and the occasional feline supervisor set the mood.
Each piece she makes is designed, cut, painted, and assembled by hand. It’s a solo operation powered by grit, humor, and a village of hype women. Her favorite reactions come from customers who pause, smile, and ask, “Who lives here?” Because that’s the point: her work invites you to imagine again—to believe in small stories with big heart.
Outside the studio, Laura lives a full, joyfully chaotic life with her wife (her biggest cheerleader), their two wildly creative kids, a flock of chickens, and a rotating crew of pets. Whether she’s planting a garden, planning a summer camp, or packing orders at midnight, Laura brings the same intention to it all: to build a world where wonder and equity grow side by side.