About Olly & Elena

Crafting Joy with Colorful Creations

Olly and Elena – Handmade with Love began in 2022, when Helen—affectionately known as Elena in Italy—reignited her lifelong love of sewing alongside her adorable grandpuppy, Olly.

A passionate maker since childhood, Helen stitched her first dress at just 10 years old and never looked back. For 32 years, she ran a thriving printing and graphic design company, where her sharp eye for colour, detail, and design truly shone.

When her son took over the family business, Helen returned to her roots at the sewing machine—starting with baby items and bags. Her love of texture and colour quickly expanded into crafting bags of all styles and materials, from vibrant cottons to faux leather, jelly vinyls, cork, and buttery-soft leathers.

That creative spark naturally led to teaching. Soon she was hosting bag-making classes, sun hat workshops, and a growing number of fabulous Mystery Classes, each filled with clever, useful creations.

Her latest adventure?

Sneakers – Made – By – Me™!

After discovering SneakerKit—designed by Studio Roderick Pieters in the Netherlands and adored by makers around the globe—Helen was hooked. She now runs hands-on workshops where you can craft your very own custom sneakers.

With the incredible range of fabrics available, the possibilities are endless. Whether bold, quirky, classic, or clean—there’s a style for everyone.

These aren’t just sneakers.

They’re wearable art.

And they’re made by YOU.

Contact Us

Reach out for inquiries about our quirky handmade sewing products.