From Passion to Purpose: The Journey of Homestead Emporium Part 1
When I started Homestead Emporium back in 2004, at that time it was called Homemade Mama, I could never have imagined the incredible journey that lay ahead. At the time, I was simply a mother to five young children and a crafter. Determined to create an income from home so I could be with my children and to find solutions for my family that were more economically friendly, sustainable, comfortable, and aligned with my core values. What began as a personal need has grown into a business that touches lives around the world—helping people embrace eco-conscious alternatives while celebrating beauty and individuality in every day reusable products.
Where It All Began
I was born in the Netherlands and moved to Canada as a young child. During my childhood, we moved around as my father was a home builder, but my very favourite home was the one we built on a small acreage in Alberta. We moved away from that small acreage back when I was only a preteen, but I never forgot just how much I enjoyed being surrounded by the beauty and peacefulness of nature in my every day life. From the time we moved away I found my heart longing to get back to that lifestyle for many years to come.
It was twenty three years later that I would finally live on land once again!
I began the business at home in 2004, while my husband, children and I were still living in a small city. Known as HomemadeMama at the time, it started as a way to bring in extra income to stay home and homeschool our five children. We knew we wanted to raise our kids on an acreage, and in 2005 we finally found a fixer upper 5 acre property we could afford! It was our dream come true and we jumped right into cleaning up that property and starting homestead life on a small scale! Soon we had horses, chickens, then pigs and even ducks! All five kids worked right along side me in any way their hearts desired as the years went on, from creating their own products to helping with the cutting of fabrics, putting snaps on the pads, and even packaging orders! Each one of them earned their own income and used it to purchase and care for their own animals. It was such a blessing for us all!
However… it wasn’t too long before we realized we would quickly outgrow our property.
As our kids grew, some of them wanted even more animals and I truly desired a HUGE garden and LOTS of trees! Our next goal was more land where we could raise and grow anything and everything any of us could possibly ever want. However, the cost to buy property of any kind on Vancouver Island was becoming SO high that we just couldn’t afford more where we were. We also knew it was only a matter of time before our children would be faced with possibly moving off the island to afford their own homes one day. As beautiful as the island is, there was no getting past the constant feeling of being ‘stuck’ on an island. The added cost and complications to travel off the island to visit family, or to travel, was always an issue. We knew that would only become much worse if our children grew up and moved off the island in the future!
So began the search for a larger homestead elsewhere. We began a search Canada wide! Through MANY years of great difficulty, many ups and downs, all at a time that the market went bust, my husband finally landed a job in 2012, in Saskatchewan! A province between both our families, mine in BC and his in Ontario! Perfect! People always say to me, “Why would you want to live in the middle of nowhere?” to which I always reply, “We actually live in the middle of EVERY where!”
Our time in Saskatchewan did not begin easy. In our first year here we moved THREE times. Not just ourselves, but our five horses, dogs, cats and even ducks! Each time we’d find a home and expect that it would be THE final destination! We built fences and even structures for the horses at every property. But each time we settled in, some sort of unfortunate event that we had no control over, forced us to find yet another place to move to and start all over again. Through it all, God was directing and working, and blessed us through the help of many new friends. The homestead we finally moved onto in April of 2013 was the homestead we’ve enjoyed ever since.
Home, we were FINALLY home.
I’ve often joked that we need a sign at our place that says,
“The FINALLY HOME-stead”
During the years, working the business has been my grounding place, my retreat.
A way to relax the mind through creativity and busy hands during some very difficult times. I poured my heart into creating the very best reusable products that I possibly could! I wanted products that were luxuriously soft, absorbent, and functional, without sacrificing beauty. Before long, the business grew as word spread. I very fondly remember the Friday afternoon’s that the kids and I would watch as all our handmade products became “live” on our shopping page, at that time it was Hyenacart, now called Indiecart. All the items would sell out in mere hours, sometimes even minutes! The kids would get SO excited by our customers enthusiasm! Truthfully, so did I. I felt like a child myself from the excitement!
It’s been so wonderful to see all our hard work being appreciated through some of the toughest times we’ve been through as a family.
Our Mission and Values
At Homestead Emporium, our mission is simple: to provide sustainable, reusable products that bring comfort and joy to everyday life. I believe that small changes—like switching to reusable cloth pads—can make a big difference for both the earth and our personal well-being.
Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. I am very much a ‘waste not-want not’ kind of person. I always have been. Each product is handmade with care, using thoughtfully chosen fabrics that are gentle on the skin and the environment and even cutting the fabrics in ways that wastes as little as humanly possible. I personally hand-dye most of the materials we use, turning each piece into a work of art. It’s a true labour of love that reflects the uniqueness of every customer we serve.
From our Homestead to the World
Running Homestead Emporium from our Saskatchewan homestead has its challenges, but it also keeps me grounded in what matters most. My faith, our family’s lifestyle, raising animals, tending the land, and embracing the rhythms of nature— it inspires everything I create.
The connection between my personal life and my business is seamless. The same care that goes into nurturing our land is mirrored in the care I put into every product. Whether it’s a hand-dyed cloth pad or another one of our reusable cloth products, each item carries a piece of our homestead with it.
A Community of Change-Makers
One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been building a community of like-minded individuals. Our customers aren’t just buying products; they’re making a statement about the kind of world they want to live in. They’re parents teaching their children about sustainability, individuals embracing healthier options for their bodies and homes, and people of all backgrounds who want to leave the earth better than they found it.
Through our shared commitment to reusable products, we’re creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond our homes. Together, we are reducing waste, conserving resources, and proving that handmade, sustainable solutions can be both practical and beautiful.
Looking Ahead
As Homestead Emporium continues to grow, I remain deeply grateful for every customer, every story shared, and every step we’ve taken together toward a more sustainable future. My hope is that our products will inspire others to embrace small changes that make a big impact—not only for the earth but for their own sense of joy and connection.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you’ve been with us since the small beginnings in 2004 or are discovering Homestead Emporium for the first time here in 2025, I invite you to explore our collection, share your story, and join the movement toward mindful living.
Explore our full range of reusable cloth products at Homestead Emporium’s Etsy Shop.
Let’s work together to create a future where handmade comfort, beauty, and sustainability go hand in hand, every day!
