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.
11/04/2026
Closing Handmade Hippo is the end of a huge chapter… but it’s also the beginning of something new.
Over the past few years, alongside running the business, I’ve been on a personal journey, learning more about my own brain, receiving my ADHD diagnosis, and finding ways to better support my neurodivergent children.
Alongside this lived experience I have been throwing myself into education & gaining qualifications in:
👉🏻 Autplay Therapy
👉🏻 SEND law
👉🏻 Principles of special educational needs
👉🏻 Understanding Autism
👉🏻 Understanding Child & adolescent mental health
👉🏻 Essential helpline skills
👉🏻 Safeguarding
and more!!
That journey has led me here… to my next chapter:
✨ Kind of Extraordinary ✨
This new business is focused on supporting neurodivergent children and families, and although it’s very different from Handmade Hippo, it comes from the same place: care, creativity, and wanting to make life a little easier for others.
I’m nervous, excited, and ready for something new.
Thank you for being part of where this all began 💜
09/04/2026
Handmade Hippo is now closed 💜
After nearly 10 years, this little business has officially come to an end… and it feels very strange to say that out loud.
What started with a very dribbly baby and a need for something that fit around family life grew into something I could never have imagined. Handmade Hippo has been part of our everyday for so long… in the background of family life, school runs, late nights sewing and early mornings packing orders.
It’s emotional, it’s bittersweet… but it also feels like the right time.
Thank you for being here, whether you ordered once, many times, shared a post, or sent a kind message. It has all meant so much.
This isn’t the end of me, just the end of this chapter 💜 Come and follow me over on @kindofextraordinary to keep up to date with me and my new business for neurodivergent families!
07/04/2026
10 years of Handmade Hippo in numbers… 💜
This little business has been part of my life and family for nearly a decade, and looking back at some of these numbers feels a bit surreal.
✨ 1394 online sales
✨ 25 in-person markets (and yes they were still nerve-wracking every time)
✨ 5 virtual markets direct from my home to yours
✨ 4 stockists who supported Handmade Hippo along the way
✨ 5 collaborations with other small businesses
And in the sewing room…
🧵 551 Aprons
🧵 140 advent cushions
🧵 Plenty of memory blankets, tooth fairy pockets and keepsakes sent to your families
🧵 Countless scrunchies, wipes, pins and so many everyday essentials… And it all started with one very dribbly baby and a pile of super-absorbent bibs!
Every number represents time, care, creativity and support, from me, but also from you.
Thank you for helping Handmade Hippo become so much more than I ever imagined 💜
21/03/2026
There is something deeply satisfying about a mystery box… especially when it’s filled with the last ever Handmade Hippo pieces 🥹
The lucky dip boxes are a great chance to grab a bundle of surprises before the shop closes. Think practical everyday favourites, creative pieces, and a few nostalgic gems that you may have missed the first time around.
Deluxe boxes include a larger “hero” item alongside smaller seasonal pieces, while Large. and Small boxes are perfect if you want a mix of useful little extras like wipes, scrunchies, key fobs or decorate-your-own kits.
If you already own some of the items, pop them in that emergency gift cupboard we all have, future you will be grateful!
🚨 Don't forget to join me live at 8pm on Sunday (tomorrow night) for my final ever Live Virtual Market!
💜 Handmade Hippo closes tomorrow at midnight 💜
20/03/2026
Just a little reality check… things are starting to sell out.
Once something is gone, it’s gone forever. 🙈 It feels so weird saying that!!
There won’t be any more fabric orders, late nights sewing, or emergency restocks.
If there’s something you love, don’t wait until Sunday, it might not be there.
Handmade Hippo closes midnight Sunday.
19/03/2026
FINAL EVER VIRTUAL MARKET 🚨
Join me Sunday at 8pm GMT on Instagram for the last ever Handmade Hippo live market. I’ll be showing remaining products, chatting about the journey, and you’ll be able to order live.
But if you’ve had your eye on something, grab it now. 💜 Things may sell out before Sunday.
18/03/2026
If you love a surprise… you are going to LOVE the Handmade Hippo lucky dip boxes 💜
As we head into the final days before closing, I’ve created a limited number of lucky dip bundles filled with all year round or seasonal Handmade Hippo goodies.
✨ Handmade Hippo orders close on Sunday at midnight
✨ All stock is final
17/03/2026
We are officially in the final week of Handmade Hippo (that feels so surreal to write).
After nearly 10 years, the website will close this Sunday at midnight
There will be no restocks, no last-minute makes, no “just one more batch”.
If you’ve had your eye on something, this is your moment.
Everything left is ready to post and all stock levels are final.
Thank you for being here for this last chapter 💜
15/03/2026
Retrieving a tiny tooth from under a sleeping child’s pillow can be a risky operation. 🙈🦷
These handmade tooth fairy pockets hang safely on the bedpost, making the visit easier for the tooth fairy and adding a little extra magic to the experience.
They’ve been one of Handmade Hippo’s most loved products and once they’re gone, they won’t be returning.
Last orders 23rd March 2026. 💜
12/03/2026
These handmade key fobs are made from remnant cotton, lined with fleece and finished with a lobster clasp, perfect for finding your keys at the bottom of a bag, slipping over your wrist on the school run, or attaching to a changing bag or backpack. They’re small, practical… and surprisingly life-changing!! 😆
They’re one of those everyday items you don’t realise you need until you have one… and then you never want to be without it.
As Handmade Hippo is closing, all stock is final.
Last orders: 23rd March 2026
09/03/2026
Some gifts get used. Some gifts get loved. And some become part of everyday family life.
If you’re looking for something a little different this Mother’s Day, Handmade Hippo pieces are designed to be practical, meaningful and made to last, from scrunchies to key fobs, wipes and little everyday luxuries.
With Handmade Hippo now in its final chapter, this will be the last Mother’s Day to shop the full collection. If you’ve had your eye on something special for a mum, grandma or someone who deserves a little appreciation, now is the time.
I’ve even got one ‘Best Mummy Ever’ slogan banner left in stock!
Last orders for all products: 23rd March 2026
Once stock is gone, it won’t be restocked.
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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.
