Heirlooms by Em is a Kildare-based sentimental embroidery studio creating meaningful pieces inspired by the people, places and moments that matter most. The studio specialises in stitching personal details such as handwriting, children’s drawings, family homes, wedding venues and pet portraits into embroidered heirlooms, preserving each detail as faithfully as possible.

Alongside its bespoke work, Heirlooms by Em has a Heritage Collection celebrating the familiar symbols, places and traditions that make Ireland feel like home.

Rooted in the belief that the most meaningful memories are often tucked away safely at the bottom of a drawer, each piece is created to bring those memories back into view, allowing them to be cherished, revisited and woven into the home.

What’s a typical day in the studio like for you?

No two days are really the same. I might begin by tracing a customer’s handwriting or turning a photograph of a family home into an embroidery design, then move between digitising, thread choices, test runs, embroidery and framing. Because so much of my work is commissioned, there is usually a story behind whatever is on my machine that day. I also spend time developing my Irish Heritage Collection, photographing pieces, packing orders and doing all the less glamorous jobs that come with running a small business on your own.

What do you like most about your work?

The stories behind the pieces. People trust me with things that are incredibly personal to them, from the last card written by someone they loved to the house they grew up in or a drawing their child made without a second thought. I love taking something that could easily be overlooked and giving it a place of importance.

What do you like least about your work?

Probably the amount of time spent behind a computer. The creative side of the business is what I naturally gravitate towards but running a small business also means admin, emails, websites, accounts and content. I have learned to appreciate that those things make the creative work possible, even if they aren’t the part I’d choose first.

What’s your favourite craft item in your home?

My favourite piece in my home is actually the piece that helped inspire my own business. It is my wedding bouquet preserved in a clear frame alongside my husband’s boutonnière & our wedding vows in the centre. It was created for us by another Kildare business, Síog Botanicals. I really wanted our vows preserved and displayed in our home and this piece inspired me to find a permanent way to capture and display our vows in our own handwriting.

Tell us about the first craft item you made

Where do you get your inspiration?

Mostly from memory and belonging. I am fascinated by the way a very ordinary object or place can carry enormous meaning for one person. A handwritten phrase or an Irish road sign can immediately transport someone somewhere else. I love finding those small details that make people say, “That feels like home,” even when nobody else would fully understand why.

What’s the most challenging part of your craft?

Translating something deeply personal into embroidery without losing what made the original special. Handwriting, children’s drawings and old photographs are rarely neat or technically perfect, but those imperfections are often the very reason they feel like the person who created them. The challenge is making the design work technically while resisting the urge to over-correct the details that give it its character.

Is sustainability an important aspect of your business?

Yes. I create pieces with longevity in mind rather than following fast moving trends. The idea behind an heirloom is that it should be meaningful enough to live in a home for many years and potentially be passed on. I also try to work thoughtfully with materials and quantities, particularly because much of my work is made to order, which helps avoid unnecessary production and waste. I use recycled OKEO TEX fabric in all of my pieces.

Have you ever had a “happy accident” while making something?

Absolutely, I believe my whole business was a happy accident. The first piece I made for someone else was handwriting from an old card my friend’s late mother had written her. When I saw her reaction and how she treasured it, I realised woah, this isn’t just me who ‘gets it’. This could work!

What made you choose your discipline?

I was drawn to embroidery because it gives memories a physical permanence. Handwriting can begin as ink on a card, a drawing can begin on scrap paper and a photograph can sit forgotten in a phone, but embroidery gives those things texture, weight and a place within the home. I loved that contrast between something very modern and digital at the design stage and something tactile and traditional in the finished piece.

What would you say to anyone thinking of becoming a DCCI member?

For me, joining felt like a natural next step as an Irish maker. Being connected to a wider community of designers and craftspeople, and to an organisation that champions Irish-made work, gives small independent businesses a valuable sense of connection beyond their own studio. I am still at the beginning of my DCCI membership, but I am really looking forward to becoming more involved in that community.

How do you balance creativity with the business side of things?

I am still learning. Running a creative business means moving constantly between being the artist, photographer, administrator, marketer and customer service department. This year has also taught me a lot about allowing the business to move at the pace life allows. Going through chemotherapy treatment following a cancer diagnosis on my 33rd birthday forced me to step away from the idea that productivity always means progress. I have learned to protect the creative part of the business, work when I am able and trust that slowing down does not mean losing momentum.

Favourite book?

I’m engrossed in my teenage nostalgia with the Irish Boys of Tommen book series at the moment!

Favourite film?

Anything spooky!

Best concert you have ever been to?

Coldplay. There’s something unforgettable about looking around a stadium when all the wristbands light up and the fireworks go off. For a few hours, thousands of strangers feel part of the same moment.

What do you listen to?

Anything from Fleetwood Mac to Kneecap, depending on the day!