Lawrence Lady Boss: Jessica Mooneyham

LAWRENCE LADY BOSS JESSICA MOONEYHAM

At one point or another a lady boss takes a giant leap from the known and jumps into the unknown. She takes the path untraveled and follows the road not yet mapped. Most of us will never know the level of courage required to take a dream and turn it into a reality. If it were not for these brave women, businesses like Cisco, Build-A-Bear Workshop and Spanx would not exist. Here in Lawrence, Kansas we are blessed to live in a town thriving with incredible woman owned businesses.

Meet Jessica Mooneyham, the proud owner of AR Workshop Lawrence, a new boutique DIY workshop located at 1520 Wakarusa St. Jessica and her husband, Kirk, opened AR Workshop just a few months ago filling a local need for that creative meeting space that offers just about everything DIY. Through hands on classes, they offer wood signs, canvas wall hangings, pillows, chunky knit blankets and each day they add new and exciting projects that visitors are able to create themselves. Most pieces are home decor made from raw materials with a custom aspect to it, but all pieces are handmade and unique to each guest. This space is one that will hold many memories of laughter and celebrations that mark the essence of what life truly is. Jessica is also a mom of two boys and someone you can’t help but feel drawn to in that she makes you feel at home the minute you walk in the workshop doors. The following conversation does a good job of showing you someone with a dream that had the courage to turn it into a reality.

What is your favorite thing about being a lady boss in 2019?

“I am amazed constantly by the way the Community of Lawrence steps up to help it’s people and I am so honored to be amongst those who have witnessed and helped firsthand. My husband and I opened AR Workshop Lawrence as a place FOR the community to create and connect. We’ve already met THE most amazing people and spent quality time with them. I have enjoyed learning and working with all of the members of my team. Each and every one of them brings something different to our space and we can’t wait to watch them grow and develop as we go on this journey. I love being lifted up by all of the other women business owners who strive to shine their light on each other and not try to steal all the spotlight for themselves.”

Who or what inspires you?

children to local artists like Megh Knappenberger, who is extremely well-known, to those who dabble in creativity and walk in my doors with a fresh idea to the completely non-artistic patron who I get to witness experience fear turn into pride as they make an amazing piece of decor for their home. Watching or listening to art in any form is truly what inspired me to open a space for all to create and find their outlet in any way possible.”

How do you see yourself making our community better?

“If nothing else comes from my experience as the owner of AR Workshop Lawrence, I can say with utmost pride that I have created a safe, friendly, and welcoming environment that strives daily to leave the town of Lawrence (and surrounding small towns) a little better every day. Art, at it’s truest sense, is creation and I am honored to provide a place for people to laugh, love, learn, share, create, make and experience the joys of art with others in a space where they can put their phones down, look each other in the eye and walk out with their heads high for what they’ve made. In a grander sense, Kirk and I have grand goals for charities and organizations with which we want to work with to leave a mark on our community. Our family has been very blessed and we look forward to finding a true cause that our family can support more regularly.”

Where do you see your business 5 years from now?

“I see my sons working there after school every day on their homework and then stepping up to help at events as much as they can. I see my team having a sense of pride for what they have helped me build and, in turn, considering AR Workshop Lawrence their own. I see large corporations and small non-profits in our doors. I hear music continuing to blast within our walls. More laughs than one can count. More stories of what brought a mother/ daughter in to celebrate or honor a lost one. More stories of people creating art for their homes with words that are meaningful to them. I see Kirk and I on the beach more regularly and our parking lot full of friends gathering in love.”

What piece of advice would you encourage others with?

“If you do nothing else in this life, what good is living without trying? You may fail..you WILL fail...but you MUST try. Fear is no reason to not try or to quit...fear is a lie and you just have to look it in the eye and say, ‘not today!’ Also, get a good coffee machine because caffeine will keep you alive.”