Despite living with a debilitating neurological disorder, or perhaps to help cope with it, Emma has built her own business creating personalised gifts, décor and clothing that celebrate special people and treasured moments

22 November 2019

Designer Spotlight: Bumblebee Creative

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Mother, designer, and personaliser of things, Emma: ‘It is lovely being able to post off that little parcel of happiness, knowing that it will be part of a joyful moment of celebration’

Hi, I'm Emma. I'm the maker behind Bumblebee Creative. I create personalised gifts and clothing to help celebrate special moments and our loved ones. I opened my Madeit store in June 2018 and enjoy being part of the Madeit community.

Personalised name, birthday, and name meaning baby onesie designs by Bumblebee Creative

I live in beautiful Botanic Ridge in Victoria with my husband, three children and a cute three-legged rescue pup named Polly.

One of Emma’s favourite local spaces; the botanic gardens in Cranbourne, near the Bumblebee Creative home workshop in Victoria

We love where we live. Botanic Ridge has so many walking tracks, parks and a wetland area. We are 5 minutes from the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens, 20 minutes from the beach and are close to bushland with an abundance of native flora and fauna.

Despite living with a debilitating neurological disorder, or perhaps to help cope with it, Emma has built her own business creating personalised gifts, décor and clothing that celebrate special people and treasured moments

Most days, I can be found in my crafty space trying to be productive while being distracted by a cute puppy clamouring for attention. My crafty space was originally in a corner of our bedroom. I quickly outgrew that space and my husband graciously offered to pack up our media room to give me more room to spread out my creative mess.

Emma’s bright, yet cosy home work / craft space; previously the family media room

My craft space has three zones. The desk is in the middle of the space where I admin, design, edit and plan social media. I create my designs with my Silver Bullet Cutter, it's an amazing workhorse and I still haven't used it to its full potential.

Emma at work in her home craft space, applying designs to end products; ‘I have a standing workstation at the other end of my desk where I… sometimes just stare into space trying to remember what I was doing’

I have a standing workstation at the other end of my desk where I do all the vinyl weeding, applying stickers and sometimes just stare into space trying to remember what I was doing. I have a separate zone on the far wall in front of my desk with a wrapping and packaging station. I have a separate zone on the far wall in front of my desk with a wrapping and packaging station.

Emma’s assistants; ‘I am lucky to have three assistants, my 11-year-old daughter who loves to be involved, our pup Miss Polly and her adorable puppy friend Bodhi’

I am lucky to have three assistants, my 11-year-old daughter who loves to be involved, our pup Miss Polly and her adorable puppy friend Bodhi. They are all often a great distraction from what I am supposed to be doing, but so much fun to have around.

Some tools of the trade; cutting and applying personalised designs to hairbrushes

I have always been a creative person and over the years have enjoyed sewing, baking, scrapbooking, papercraft and digital design. Since early adulthood, I have made many personalised gifts for family and friends. I always loved being able to give a handmade gift that was created for a special occasion. As personalised gift-giving always appealed to me, it seemed like the perfect fit for my business.

Part of Bumblebee Creative’s Christmas range; a personalised calico Christmas Eve bag / Santa sack

I love making personalised pieces, sometimes it's as simple as putting a name on a ready-made item. Other times it's a real creative process coming up with a new design to meet a client's need. My favourite thing to make is a pregnancy announcement bodysuit. It is lovely being able to post off that little parcel of happiness, knowing that it will be part of a joyful moment of celebration.

A cute Bumblebee Creative pregnancy announcement bodysuit that says ‘hello Grandma & Grandpa I can’t wait to meet you’; ‘My favourite thing to make is a pregnancy announcement bodysuit’

I'm a chronically ill crafter. I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation in 2008 a few months after the birth of my third child. Chiari is a serious neurological disorder with many debilitating symptoms. Chiari malformation occurs because of a structural defect in the skull. The brain pushes down through the skull, crowding the spinal cord putting pressure on both the brain and spine.

Emma at work cutting a personalised design in her Victorian home craftspace

Chiari completely changed my life and my ability to function. The past 11 years have been tough and have redefined who I am and my capabilities, but I am determined to keep moving forward.

Personalised ‘Clark Family’ wreath tea towel by Bumblebee Creative; ‘I needed to show my kids that you don’t quit because things are hard’

I originally started Bumblebee Creative because I needed to do more than survive and function. I needed a focus outside of my health and my little family. I needed to show my kids that you don't quit because things are hard and even if you can't do what you want, you can still find something that gives you a sense of accomplishment and purpose. Bumblebee Creative has done this for me. If things don't go according to plan, find a new plan!

Scissors, labels and twine with a personalised Bumblebee Creative gift packaged and ready to send from the Bumblebee Creative wrapping station

It took me over 12 months to make the decision to start Bumblebee Creative. There were so many reasons not to start, the possibility of me being unreliable because of my health was a huge one. I researched for months, agonised over a name for a few torturous weeks and when almost every name that had meaning to me was in use or registered to another business, I almost took it as a sign to give up. Then one night I had a 'now or never' moment and jumped in headfirst.

A personalised sparkly dinosaur Christmas bauble by Bumblebee Creative; ‘I love that Madeit is an Australian selling platform filled with creativity, support, and a real human connection’

Finding Madeit has been a blessing to my little business. I love that Madeit is an Australian selling platform filled with creativity, support, and a real human connection. Madeit owner, Louise, is always just a message away and has created a fantastic marketplace for buyers and sellers.

A Bumblebee Creative order wrapped in twine and ready to post

Madeit isn't my first online selling endeavour. 15 years ago, I ran a busy little eBay store selling scrapbooking supplies and collectable resin teddies. I did this while juggling two young children and working part-time in a gift store. I loved the buzz of selling online, connecting with buyers and sending parcels all over the world.

A Baby’s First Christmas clear Christmas bauble decoration by Bumblebee Creative; ‘I loved the buzz of selling online, connecting with buyers and sending parcels all over the world’

Right now, at Bumblebee Creative you will find many options in store from vinyl decals to personalised money boxes, personalised clothing to colourful icy pole holders, personalised makeup bags and a cute Christmas range including Baby's first Christmas, personalised ornaments and Christmas Santa Sacks for you and your pets.

Personalised pet’s name Santa Sack ‘Merry Christmas from Santa Paws’

Bumblebee Creative's Christmas range is a fun way to get you in the Christmas Spirit and if you subscribe to Madeit’s weekly newsletters you can get 15% off everything at Bumblebee Creative for the next 2 weeks, so your Christmas spending money will go a little further.