Organising a wedding can be one of the most stressful, wonderful, overwhelming, fantastic logistical challenges a couple may go through in their lives. When Miss Directory manager Kate and partner Peter were planning their 2026 wedding, the goal was to use local vendors and suppliers to help tick off as many to-do list items as possible. And the top of the list? Outfit alterations! Luckily she came across local Rochedale South resident Emily Mills who took on the job of altering the suits of their 13 year old best man and 12 year old ring bearer. Below is our interview with Emily about her journey from graphic design into motherhood and building a creative business from home.
About Emily
Emily Mills https://www.helloemilymills.com/
Personalised embroidery services and thoughtfully crafted gifts
Emily Mills is a seamstress and creative business owner working from home while raising her young daughter. Her career has evolved across graphic design, web development and hands on making, each step gradually shaping the way she works today and the business she has built from home.
When asked whether graphic design had always been intended as a long-term career path, Emily Mills shares her perspective on how that part of her career came to be. “I didn’t know that I was going to end up there. I’ve been working for a bit over a decade and it was initially just retail and admin. I wanted to explore what kind of professional skills I could get beyond that. I went into web development like coding websites. That was fun and creative! I was surprised at the creative side of it. Then that kind of led me into graphic design because a potential employer had seen that I designed a website and he said “oh, you could be a designer.” I was like…okay! So it kind of all kind of happened by accident. I’m not sure if it would have been my long-term thing because I hadn’t found the right job that I wanted in graphic design. I had a corporate job as an in-house designer and it wasn’t quite matching what I wanted. So who knows, but it was definitely in the right direction to move closer to whatever I would have done [if I hadn’t become a mum].”
Looking back on that creative foundation, Emily is also asked how her background in graphic design carries into her current work as a textile artist and business owner. “It definitely benefits me as a business owner. The art of graphic design is helping people trust you by the way that you present your business. So it’s definitely helped me with making my website, social media posts and packaging.”
Before stepping into her current role, Emily had already begun developing her creativity in other ways, prompting reflection on how her relationship with sewing first began. When asked whether textile designs have always been part of her life, Emily Mills reflects on how her connection to sewing and garment work first began and how it has developed over time
“When I was 21, my Mum gave me a sewing machine for Christmas. From there it became my number one hobby.”
“My first project was making a drawstring bag. It then led into things like homewares, cushions and table runners. I went to a class where they taught a whole room full of people how to make a garment. I made a jumpsuit and that was what gave me the confidence to be like, oh, okay, I can actually make clothes too.”
Switching career paths wasn’t unfamiliar territory for Emily Mills, who reflects on how her transition away from graphic design unfolded alongside becoming a mother and rethinking her work priorities. “It kind of just happened, leaving graphic design to be a mum. I wanted to devote my full attention to my daughter. So I left the job to be a mother and then it was like, okay, maybe I can make a few bucks on the side to help me stay at home. It was a financial challenge trying to live off one income. So it kind of developed probably about 6 months after she was born. I was able to do a little bit, to use my hobby skills and turn it into an income.”
When asked if working from home has also reshaped Emily’s outlook on balance, she shares her thoughts.
“I think so. It’s inspired me to slow down a lot. Home is where we live, How can we romanticise the house? What can we enjoy at home? I’ve been making sourdough bread almost every morning. Just like a little loaf that I can have that day because it’s best when it’s warm! Definitely slowing down. Motherhood has reinforced that because when she was in her early weeks and months, the hardest thing for me was learning how to feel good about myself when I wasn’t being productive. I’m not producing anything, even though I’m sustaining a human life, what’s more productive than that? In our society, so much of our worth is tied to what we do, because we’re so used to working.”
Balancing motherhood with running her seamstress work from home has shaped a very different kind of daily routine for Emily.
“Everything kind of gravitates around the baby’s nap times. We’ll have a few hours and then have a break. I do find it really hard to be honest. I need to have either my husband around when he’s not at work, or maybe my Mum over to help watch her. Otherwise, it can just be a stressful experience. I’m still kind of working that out.”
Juggling both roles continues to be an evolving process, with Emily reflecting on how she manages the overlap between business and parenting.
“There’s definitely been times where I’m like this is so stressful. Why have I bothered doing this? It’s definitely been a refinement process over the last 6 months that I’ve been doing it. I’m constantly refining as I learn certain jobs are too hard with her. Before her, I could have hours and hours to dive into doing something perfectly. A big thing has kind of been letting go of my perfectionism. Letting a bit go of the ultra perfection idea in my mind that other people don’t even notice.”
– Emily Mills
Working from home has also given Emily flexibility in how she structures her work around family life. She explains how she manages this. “It’s flexible. I don’t have to worry about having things in separate places or taking them with me. I can set things up the way I want. When 5 or 10 minutes arises because she’s occupied with something, I can quickly do a little bit here, a little bit there. It’s nice to just have things set up the way you want and to be able to work the hours that you want.”
Creatively, she finds joy in the tactile, material side of her seamstress work.
“I love working with natural fibres. So cotton and linen, they are a joy to work with. Sometimes things like polyester and stretch materials can be a little bit of a nightmare. Someone came in a couple of weeks ago, with this beautiful black linen dress for me to hem, and it was just a delight.”
Alongside her alterations work, Emily Mills provides a Gift Shop on her website. In reply to this, she shares her plans to expand her gift offerings.
“I have a couple of Montessori balls, they’re baby toys that I make. A while ago, I used to make them for baby shower gifts back before I was a mom. I actually love something that I can have a hand sewing element in, so it’s not all on the machine. To be honest, I haven’t really had the time to make more gifts for my website. I have a vision, I want to make modern quilted wall hangings or sculptural decor. I haven’t had the time yet to go there.”
Reflecting on her journey so far, Emily is asked what advice she would give her past self before starting out.
“That’s a tough one. I’m still only 6 months in. I’m still looking for things to figure out. Go a bit easier on yourself. You don’t have to have everything figured out before you start. My dad used to say this analogy to me. Just start peddling the bike, and then you can steer it. You can’t steer a bike if the bike’s not moving. Get moving, and then you can figure it out on the way. You can change things.”
Article & Interview by Makenzy Morris
Emily Mills photography by Jessica Higgins
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Thank you Emily for your wonderful work adjusting the boys’ suits before our big day. We’re excited to see what you come up with next as you step away from alterations to focus on your handmade embroidery items. Kate, Pete and the boys
