Meet Emma McKelvey, a Marple Newtown High School (MNHS) graduate and self-taught woodworker/maker who at just 26 years old has turned her hobby into a business. From coffee tables to wedding signs to personalized cornhole sets, Emma’s House of Me shop is a plethora of original, handcrafted wood pieces. “House of Me also stands for HOME,” said Emma. “I like to tell my customers that each handcrafted piece is like a piece of my home to theirs.”
Emma grew up in Broomall and attended Loomis Elementary School, Paxon Hollow Middle School and MNHS. Ever since she was a young girl, she had a love for creating, building and woodworking. “I was always helping my dad and grandfather with house projects,” explained Emma. “They are both very handy and spent a lot of time in my grandfather’s barn working on home renovation projects. My brothers and I were always around them working and running to get anything they needed. I was usually the one holding the screw gun or getting a two by four.”
When Emma was a student at Loomis Elementary, each child made their own handmade penguin to bring for their annual March of the Penguins parade. You can probably guess what Emma’s penguin was made out of. “I think I was the only student that year who made a penguin out of wood,” she recalled.
As a high school student at MNHS, Emma said she loved her art classes with Mrs. Can and loved doodling but at the time she wasn’t planning a career in the art field. After graduation, she was planning to take the traditional route of going to college and then finding a job. But Emma said that “conventional” has never really been what has worked for her, and her life has been missteps and trial and error to get to where she is now.
She did head off to college and began pursuing a degree in Psychology. While she was commuting from her home in Broomall to West Chester University, she started woodworking again as a hobby and as an outlet. Her first project was a bed frame that her dad helped her build. “I was a college student living at home in my childhood home,” explained Emma. “I figured it was about time to give my room an updated look.” Emma said it’s always been fun to work with her dad. “He’s my right hand man and always a second set of eyes,” she said fondly. “He’s really taught me everything.”
Emma also began making other projects like signs and other fun items, eventually posting them on Instagram. “At the time I was really looking for some direction and this was a great outlet,” she said. After earning a degree in Psychology, she found a job as a paraprofessional and continued to make woodworking projects on the side. She later earned another Bachelor’s degree online in Graphic Design.
As Emma continued to get requests and orders for more and more projects, she created a website where customers can shop for various products, and she’s always open to collaborating with clients on new ideas. Eventually Emma was getting so many orders she decided to take the chance to make this her full time job. “I created this space to learn and explore myself along with my interests and find a sense of purpose,” she added.
Emma makes everything in her grandfather’s barn in Broomall, where there is every tool she could possibly need. The barn has become more than a workplace, but a home for Emma. “The best part is all of the time I get to spend with my grandparents. My grandfather, who has always taught me how to work smart, has got enough tools there to open his own hardware store,” she said. “If there’s a tool he doesn’t have, he says it’s probably because I don’t need it!” Emma’s grandmother is always there too, coming into the barn with a snack or reminding her to take a break.
Visit Emma’s website where you’ll find her one of a kind pieces. “Wood can be challenging,” she explained. “There are so many species of wood, so I had to learn what works best for what product.” She creates all kinds of custom pieces–wedding signage, tables and business signs to name a few. She recently made one for local restaurant Joe’s Pizza. “I’m really willing to try anything and everything!” she added.
So, what’s next for Emma? “I’d love to have my own barn someday or even storefront,” she said. For now she’s just happy to use her creativity. “It’s never been about making money. I’ll always be making something as long as my hands allow it. My hope is just to be constantly growing, thinking and stepping out of my comfort zone.”