Handmade Hippo

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Handmade Hippo

Handmade Hippo uses patterned fabrics to create luxury handmade gifts as individual as your child. Visit my website to find the perfect gift for your child.

Handmade Hippo creates bespoke patterned textile gifts that are as individual as your child. My products for children and baby are all handmade in Northumberland by our small sustainable business. If you are looking for a
unique and eco-friendly gift for a new baby or a child’s birthday, I have a variety of colourful and ethically made gifts to choose from.

27/12/2024

As another year comes to an end, it’s lovely to look back at the memories we’ve made. I have loved making bespoke memory blankets this year, and my books are open for more of these projects in 2025!

My handmade memory blankets are a beautiful way to preserve cherished moments, crafted from clothes and fabrics that mean the most to you. A heartfelt keepsake to carry into 2025 and beyond. 🥰

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas from Handmade Hippo! 🎄🦛

Sending lots of love from our family to yours and wishing you all a cosy, relaxed and fun festive period.

Thank you so much for your support in 2024 and I can’t wait to see what happens in 2025!

Right, I’m off to eat my body weight in cookies, turkey and roast potatoes (not together obviously!), Merry Christmas! 💜

21/12/2024

Eek! I can’t believe it is almost the big day (and of course it's the start of Christmas holidays!) How are you feeling?

I try to switch off from socials over the festive period, and although you might see the odd prescheduled post or story from me now and then over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be having some much needed downtime with my family.

The website will remain open for orders, but nothing will be made or shipped now until the New Year.

I hope you have the most wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year! 🥳💜

20/12/2024

Need to keep the kids busy while you get sorted for Christmas? There are downloadable colouring sheets on my website that are perfect for just that!

Just print it out and leave the little ones with some colourful crayons and voilá - a bit of peace… well relatively speaking of course!

15/12/2024

TONIGHT at 8pm on Instagram I’m going live (again)! Come along to my last virtual market of the year, say hello and let’s get excited for Christmas together!

I’ll be sharing what I have in stock and ready to post so that you can tick those last presents off your Christmas list. You can place orders live during the market and all email subscribers will receive a code for 10% off your market orders.

Can’t wait to see you there. 😊

13/12/2024

The order date for made to order products has now passed but don’t worry, you can catch me this Sunday at 8pm on Instagram live showcasing all of the products that are ready to ship.

Plus if you’re on the newsletter list you’ll get a 10% discount code to use on your virtual market listings!

Get your last minute Christmas shopping sorted and come along for some festive cheer this Sunday. 🥰🎄

12/12/2024

Have you added the date to your diary yet? THIS SUNDAY 15th December at 8pm I’ll be doing one last virtual market for 2024. This is your chance to get your Christmas shopping finished with ready to post products from Handmade Hippo. 🤩

Items will include:

👉🏻 Handmade aprons
👉🏻 Bedtime cushions
👉🏻 Decorate your own banners
👉🏻 Scrunchies
and more!

Remember to sign up for the newsletter. All subscribers will receive a code this Sunday to get 10% off their virtual market orders!

10/12/2024

Virtual Live Market - all gifts are ready to post! 🥳💌

This Sunday 15th of December I’ll be going live on Instagram at 8pm to showcase you all the products & gifts I have in stock, ready to ship, which means you’ll get them before the big day.

A big favourite of yours is handmade aprons, and there will be lots to choose from in the most gorgeous fabrics & patterns (not just Christmassy prints, so they’ll be perfect for all year round!)

AND all email subscribers will get a code to get 10% off their virtual market orders. 👀 So make sure you’re signed up via the link in my bio (if you have previously signed up, you will need to do so again. Head to the link in my bio to sign up again. You’ll get the 10% code this weekend just before the market starts!)

You can even get the prezzies sent direct to the recipient - just make sure you include their shipping address and add a gift message at checkout!

27/11/2024

It might be the festive season, but that doesn’t stop the tooth fairy from doing her job!

Make those childhood milestones magical! My tooth fairy pockets are a charming way to keep lost teeth safe until the tooth fairy arrives.

Perfect for little ones who believe in magic and parents who love keepsakes.

26/11/2024

🚨 LAST POSTING DATES REMINDER! In order to get your order before the big day, make sure you place your order by 1st December.

All orders placed after this date may not get made and sent until the New Year. 💜

25/11/2024

These scrunchies are a must have for the festive season, right?!

Available in mini and large sizes, they’re eco-friendly and sooo cute when you match with your little ones. Perfect as stocking fillers or to keep your hair in check while wrapping presents.

🚨 LAST POSTING DATES REMINDER! In order to get your order before the big day, make sure you place your order by 1st December. All orders placed after this date may not get made and sent until the New Year.

22/11/2024

Unfortunately due to the weather warnings that are in place for this weekend, Ford & Etal have made the difficult decision to cancel this weekend's fair. Obviously this is the sensible decision - but it is not great for my small business. 😖

As you can imagine, I’ve spent a lot of time & money prepping for this market - buying new (and exclusive!) fabrics, making products (honestly, you wouldn’t believe how many ‘Decorate Your Own Banner kits I now have) and all the other jobs that need to be done when prepping for a market. And the biggest kicker for me is the loss of financial income.

Therefore… I have had to PIVOT!! *Cue Ross from Friends…* 🤣

I figured, just because I can’t go to the market, why not bring the market to me? I know a lot of people had a list of things they wanted to come down and buy in person to say hello, and a few of you couldn’t make it but wanted to see the exclusive fabrics and whatnot… so I’m inviting you all to a virtual market!

On Sunday 24th night at 8pm GMT I’ll be going live on Instagram. This will be an opportunity to see my market stall, see the products I’ve made and place orders! 🥳

How it will work:

If you see something that you like, you can let me know in the comments on the live what you want. I’ll make a note and on Monday I’ll create listings for you on my website. Once you’ve paid, I’ll send your order out. Simple!

I hope to see you there. 😊 Emma x

21/11/2024

Who’s ready for some festive kitchen fun? 🎄🤩 My twinning aprons are the cutest way to bake cookies and whip up Christmassy magic with your little ones!

Match with your mini chef and create memories that you’ll both remember. Bonus: They’re sustainable and handmade with love, just like those cookies will be! 😋

20/11/2024

Make your Christmas table one-of-a-kind! My colour your own fabric crackers are the ultimate festive activity. Let the kids decorate them before Christmas dinner or use them as a fun craft to keep them busy while you prep!

These crackers come ready to go, filled with crayons and even a kid friendly joke (approved by my very own elves of course!)

Eco-friendly and reusable, these crackers are a sustainable alternative to

🚨 LAST POSTING DATES REMINDER! In order to get your order before the big day, make sure you place your order by 1st December. All orders placed after this date may not get made and sent until the New Year.

19/11/2024

It's my birthday! I'm spending the day a *little* bit more relaxed than the rest of the week (I'm deep in market stock-making mode!😅) with a trip out for lunch. Here are some pics of mini Emma for you to enjoy - normal service will resume tomorrow! 😆

18/11/2024

It’s market week, and I’m so excited to see you all in person! This Friday, I’ll be at the Lowick School Winter Fair (22nd November), and over the weekend, you can find me at the Ford & Etal Christmas Market (23rd & 24th November).

Both events are packed with festive fun, so come along to browse my handmade, sustainable goodies—including all your Christmas favourites like stockings, scrunchies, bedtime cushions, and more!

I’m only doing three markets this season (because last year taught me that balance is key!), so don’t miss out on your chance to shop in person, say hello, and grab those special holiday treats! This is a great opportunity to see (and feel) my work in real life.

Will I see you there? Let me know in the comments!

15/11/2024

Sustainable living starts with simple swaps. I am a big advocate for people taking it slow and swapping out one thing at a time - no overwhelm here! (Been there, done that! It wasn’t fun)

My reusable bamboo wipes are here to make your everyday routine kinder to the planet. From wiping sticky fingers to cleaning up spills, these soft, durable wipes are perfect for busy families.

Pop them into a Christmas stocking or keep them for yourself - because even Santa loves an eco-friendly upgrade!

13/11/2024

I’m so excited to share that you can find me at three festive markets this year! I’ll be at:

✨ Lowick School Winter Fair on 22nd November
✨ Ford & Etal Christmas Market on 23rd & 24th November
✨ Longridge Towers Christmas Fair on 6th December

I’ve decided to have a quieter market season this year after pushing myself way too hard last year. It’s all about finding balance while still bringing you my handmade, sustainable goodies!

Come along to say hi, shop local, and get into the festive spirit.

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Our Story

Handmade Hippo is a small, home grown business. My name is Emma and I design and make all the products sold by Handmade Hippo!

Originally from London, I studied for my foundation diploma in Art and Design at Central Saint Martins before moving up North and studying Fine Art for my BA (Hons) degree at the University of Sunderland. During my studies I developed an obsession for printed fabrics and pattern. After a couple of years living in Hong Kong, my then fiancé and I moved back to the UK shortly before our wedding. While studying for my Masters degree in Art Museum and Gallery studies at Newcastle University we fell pregnant with our son Rory and somehow I managed to finish my course (handed in the dissertation 8 months pregnant!) and the rest is history really! When Rory was teething he was dribbling non-stop! Fed up of changing dribble bibs a minimum of four times a day, I decided to make some that where more absorbent but still with lovely prints. As a full time stay at home mum, I thought I would start making super absorbent dribble bibs to sell as a way of bringing in extra money while being at home with Rory. When I started Handmade Hippo in October 2016, the only products I made were dribble bibs; since then I have added memory blankets, cushion covers and bunny ear teethers, teething necklaces, Christmas stockings, muslin swaddles and most recently handmade aprons to the range.

In September 2018 we welcomed our daughter Daisy to the Handmade Hippo family so running (or crawling depending on how much sleep I've had) after a very busy 4 year old a.k.a hurricane Rory and an equally active Daisy keeps me very busy during the day so most of my work is done once the kids are asleep or if David is at home and I’m able to hide in the office. I will always try to answer messages as soon as I can but please be patient if you don't have a reply immediately.

With the addition of another member to our family (and maternity leave) I started thinking about products that could be added to the shop. Straying from fabric slightly but staying true to the original inspiration to the company (a teething baby) I decided to add teething/fiddle necklaces to the shop. In 2019 I also added handmade aprons to the shop along with my first “designed by” products in the form of Extra Large Muslin Swaddles. This year I have an exciting collaboration in the pipeline which I look forward to sharing with you all.

All printed cotton items are handmade from start to finish by myself (with a little help from my sewing machine) and come gift wrapped in lovely grey tissue paper as standard. Teething necklaces are also made by me packaged with a recyclable, glue free cardboard tag and come with a free hand-stamped cotton gift bag. Buying a gift for someone? A gift message can be added on request. Bib and teether fronts are 100% cotton and backed with super soft bamboo towelling. All bibs are lined with bamboo fleece which naturally antibacterial and absorbent, making sure to keep your little dribbler dryer for longer. All bunny ear teethers are wrapped round untreated beech rings from a sustainable source making them a great alternative to plastic teethers. I have quite a large selection of fabrics but please contact me if you can't find exactly what you want and I will accommodate your needs if possible.

Available in 3 colour choices, Handmade Hippo teething necklaces are perfect to occupy little hands while feeding or while being worn in a sling. Silicone beads can be chewed to help relieve teething related pain. All materials for the necklaces are tested for safety and toxicity and meet European Safety Standard EN-71. All beads are BPA, PVC, phthalates, heavy metal and lead free. They are non toxic, hypoallergenic and washable. Threaded using nylon cord and using a breakaway safety clasp.

Extra Large Muslin Swaddles are 100% cotton, designed by myself and available in 3 lovely monochrome prints which are great for supporting your little one’s eye development. They can be used as play mats, changing mats, a light blanket and of course for mopping up all the usual spills that come with a baby or toddler! Aprons fronts are 100% cotton, backed with calico and have adjustable neck and waist ties. Available in 3 sizes, the adults aprons also have a large double pocket on the front. All aprons can be personalised on request making them the perfect gift for the whole family. Memory blanket pricing and information is available on request so please get in touch if you have any questions or custom order requests.