About HollyEmilyDesigns

Where it all began

My name is Holly, and what began as a hobby and a passion for working with clay gradually evolved into hollyemilydesigns. In 2019, my small business was born. From the outset, my vision was to create meaningful, handcrafted pieces designed to be treasured for years to come, celebrating the uniqueness of personalised keepsakes.

Working from a small space on my dining room table, my Etsy store steadily grew. Then, during the uncertainty of lockdown in 2020, the unexpected happened. What had started as a creative outlet developed into a fully operational, full time business.

It was an extraordinary period. Late nights often stretched into the early hours, days were filled with urgent trips to the post office, and much of my time was spent carefully packaging orders. I remain incredibly grateful for every purchase, every kind word, and the support of the community that grew alongside my brand. Without it, hollyemilydesigns would not be where it is today.

As the business expanded, I created a dedicated craft room, thoughtfully designed and equipped to support my growth. Following the momentum of 2020, and with thousands of Etsy orders behind me, I took the next step and launched my own website.

A great deal has changed over the past four years, and those who have followed my journey may already be aware of some of the challenges along the way.

What changed

In 2021, our family life shifted significantly. We sold our home and moved to my husband’s family farm, where we built our new house. It was a demanding and emotional time, but continuing to develop my business and create with clay provided focus and stability.

As my children have grown and life on the farm has become busier, the day to day demands on my time have increased. At the same time, the landscape of running a small business has evolved. Social media requires greater investment, material costs have risen, selling fees have increased, and postal services have become more challenging. Managing these constant changes as a one person business began to take a considerable toll, both mentally and physically.

Despite working longer hours, it often felt as though I was falling further behind.

In the spring of 2025, my health declined. I found myself caught in a cycle of brief improvements followed by setbacks, and it became clear that something needed to change. I was forced to re evaluate everything, which was both overwhelming and frightening.

By June 2025, without clear answers regarding my health, I felt certain that I would have to close my business. The thought of losing something I had built from the ground up, after years of seven day weeks, late nights, and relentless dedication, was heartbreaking. hollyemilydesigns is more than a job. It is my achievement, my livelihood, and a huge part of who I am. Instead, I chose to pause.

Over the past summer of 2025, I have stepped back and committed to a complete redesign. Previous collections have now retired, and I am carefully rebuilding hollyemilydesigns with renewed clarity and purpose.

What happens next

With a stronger mindset and, thankfully, progress in managing my health, I am now in a position to move forward.

I will be gradually introducing new designs and personalised keepsakes to the website. This next chapter returns to my roots, with a focus on simplicity, timelessness, and a more rustic, natural aesthetic. This direction will be reflected not only in the products themselves, but across the brand as a whole.

Thank you for the continued support, patience, and encouragement you have shown throughout this time. It truly means more than I can say.

I am excited for the future of hollyemilydesigns, and I look forward to sharing regular updates of new collections . 

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Holly x