Hi, I’m Ellie, the designer and creator of everything LILLA.
Hi, I’m Ellie, the designer and creator of everything LILLA.
Life is busy and it can be hard to find the time to slow down and make time for yourself. I believe everyone is happier after getting creative so I design things that inspire you to put pen to paper and make a beautiful and unique keepsake that embraces your individuality, however much time you have.
I've always had a passion for design, drawing, and doodling which lead me to a career as an interior architect, But it was love for creating handmade gifts for friends and family that was the true starting point for LILLA. It all began in 2017 when I gifted a hand drawn Bullet Journal to my sister. She took it to cafes, on holidays, and for day trips to fill in the pages and people noticed and commented on it. I started getting requests from friends and strangers for their own version.
I started work on designing a book that I could self publish, filled with spreads that act as a framework to take away the intimidation of a blank page, but leave enough space for whoever is filling it in to make it their own. I wanted to encourage everyone and anyone to express themselves, get out of their heads, off their screens, and make something with their hands - no matter how much time they have. Importantly, I wanted each page to have the feel of something that has been individually handcrafted.
In 2018 I was selling my first premade Bullet Journal, along with some colourful polymer clay jewellery, at a market stall on Portobello Road and looking for a baby memory book as a pregnancy gift for a friend. I was left uninspired by the gendered and prescriptive options available.
This sparked the idea for the Inclusive Baby Memory Book. I have carefully worded all the pages so the prompts to be interpreted in many different ways - with the intention that by not mentioning pregnancy, mum, or dad, the book could become a unique collection of memories for all family set ups - expecting couples, same sex parents, those with a surrogate, or those adopting.
In 2020 I moved to the seaside town of Falmouth, in (sometimes) sunny Cornwall where I now create all my designs and pack up your orders with the help of my 2 cats. I have started taking part in local markets and craft fairs so you can often find me in Truro or Falmouth if you are nearby and fancy a chat.