Welcome to Mailis's shop

Mailis Design OÜ is a micro-enterprise established in 2013. Hand-sewn patchwork quilts, bags, doll clothes and home textiles from natural and upcycled materials, beautiful and practical, delighting the eye and warming the heart.

Mailis Design

In my work I place great emphasis on quality and sustainability. I mainly sew handmade products, for the home, office, kindergarten, and as school and gift bags, from large-scale production leftovers and materials sourced from second-hand shops (upcycled/zero-waste). Mailis Design products have supported various youth sports and cultural events, scouts and the local village society, Tallinn Zoo, children with cancer, homeless animals, large families and more. Mailis Design products are made in a smoke-free and pet-free environment.

Mailis Design

Mailis Kess

Mailis Design

Sewing Lady

OÜ Õmblusmamsel is a small company from Pärnu, Estonia's summer capital, born out of a great love for patchwork. I sew patchwork home textiles, from sweetly cheerful little baby quilts to exclusive bedspreads. In my quilts I use natural, pre-washed cotton fabrics. All products are made in a pet-free and smoke-free environment.

Sewing Lady

Krista Harvere

Sewing Lady

Videos

See the craft up close

Short videos of my work, patchwork quilts, bags and other handmade pieces.

Baby blanket, sensory play mat

Baby discovers the world with their fingers, a brightly coloured play mat for little ones.

Patchwork quilt MOUSE IN THE FOG (240 × 240 cm)

A large bedspread with mice keeping watch over your sleep along the edges.

Patchwork quilt SPRING IN ØKSFJORD (235 × 235 cm)

A bedspread inspired by spring in Øksfjord, Norway.

Spa bag, pool bag, shoe bag (34 cm)

A swim-gear bag for the new season, larger 34 cm version, smaller 26 cm.

Handmade pencil cases

Textile pencil cases and cosmetics bags, sewn from production leftovers; decorated with lace and crocheted flowers.

Rescued dolls

A little doll rescued from a second-hand shop, restored and paired with a large set of hand-sewn and hand-knitted clothes.

My values

Why my handmade work is special

Hand-sewn in Estonia

Every piece is sewn by hand with care and love.

Natural materials

My products mainly use linen, cotton, wool and lace. I avoid synthetic materials wherever possible.

From upcycled materials

I give old fabric a new life, production leftovers, jeans and old uniform sweaters are reborn as beautiful pieces.

Ready to gift

I pack orders carefully in a linen bag, ready to give as a gift with no extra wrapping.

How my business began

A slightly longer story, from 2014.

How it all began

When I became unemployed a couple of years ago, I decided not to return to salaried work but to become my own employer. The local music school suggested that, as a seamstress, I could start sewing instrument bags, for zithers, drums and other instruments. As a trial I borrowed a leather sewing machine and made a couple of piano covers; the result was unexpectedly good, and I really enjoyed sewing thick, sturdy material. The first bags were made from upcycled materials, denim, an old uniform sweater and corduroy.

From business plan to first machine

At the same time I wrote a business plan and applied for a start-up grant. The answer was negative at first; I appealed it: no again. There was nothing to do but rewrite the business plan twice as long. This time, in December 2013, I finally received a positive answer. So the company was registered and the leather machine ordered; by Christmas this 'wonder beast' had arrived, been assembled and its first test seams sewn. I was so happy, that is how Mailis Design began.

The Mailis Design story, a patchwork quilt and a book

Find your favourite

Browse my handmade pieces, patchwork quilts, bags, doll clothes and home textiles, all hand-sewn from natural materials.

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