Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Pletz.
Hi Emma, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always been someone who loves to create. Even as a kid, I was constantly making things like designing bookmarks for people, building little paper houses and “computers,” and finding any excuse to turn an idea into something real. Art was always my favorite class, and as I got older, I took every creative class I could fit into my schedule.
Creating also became something much deeper for me over time. I was diagnosed with multiple mental health conditions at a young age, and I’ve had to learn how to navigate that while still showing up in everyday life. Art and creating became one of the only things that could truly calm my mind. It’s always been a space where I can slow down, focus, and feel grounded when everything else feels overwhelming.
In high school, I explored different forms of creativity, including web design, which I loved so much that I started taking college-level classes early. I also had artwork displayed in my school district and local galleries, and developed an interest in interior design. Around that same time, I started working in childcare and quickly realized how much I loved it. I naturally brought creativity into everything I did with my students including projects, activities, classroom decor, and personalized materials.
I started EKC Boutique during my sophomore year of college. I began with digital posters because they were accessible for me at the time… they were low cost, easy to create, and didn’t require inventory or shipping while I was living in a shared space. But from the beginning, the goal was always to build something bigger.
More recently, I started creating hand-painted banners, and that’s really where things began to shift for me. What started as something small, like making a banner for a student, quickly turned into something people were genuinely excited about. I’m known for always loving to be very “extra” and over the top with my creativity, and banners gave me a way to fully lean into that. Seeing people’s reactions has been one of the most rewarding parts, especially when something I made makes someone feel celebrated or seen.
Working in childcare and studying social work has shaped how I approach everything I create. I’ve seen how meaningful small, thoughtful details can be, especially for kids and families. That perspective carries into my business. I’m not just creating products, I’m creating things that help people feel seen, celebrated, and cared for.
Long-term, I want EKC Boutique to grow into a brand centered around creativity and personalization… something that reaches beyond just products. I want to create things that make people feel excited, seen, and cared for with a focus on making everyday moments feel more special, whether that’s through art, custom pieces, and hopefully eventually expanding into resources for kids, families, and teachers.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. One of the biggest challenges for me has been learning how to value my own work. I tend to want everything to be affordable and accessible, which is important to me, but I’m still figuring out how to balance that with the time, effort, and materials that go into each piece.
There’s also a lot that people don’t see behind the scenes. Creating isn’t always easy or relaxing… it can be mentally and physically exhausting. I’m very hard on myself and have a habit of restarting projects, even when other people think they’re already perfect, because I hold my work to a really high standard.
Balancing everything has been another challenge as well. Between working full-time and building my business, there are a lot of late nights where I’m working on projects into the early morning and then getting up for work just a few hours later. It’s something I’m still learning how to manage in a healthier way.
I also deal with a lot of self-doubt. I question myself often and wonder if what I’m building will actually work, but at the same time, I still believe in it enough to keep going. That balance has been a big part of the journey.
At the same time, I’ve been really lucky to have a strong support system. My friend Reagan is always willing to jump in and help me when I need it, especially when I start to feel overwhelmed. My mom has also been a huge support. She’s the one who talks me down when I get frustrated and want to scrap everything and start over. And my work family has been incredibly encouraging and supportive of everything I’m trying to build, which has made a big difference.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I would describe myself as a creative who blends art with everyday life, especially through my work in childcare. My style is very personalized, colorful, and detail-oriented, and I tend to lean into being a little “extra” in the best way possible. I love creating things that feel specific to a person, a moment, or a memory rather than something generic.
Right now, I especially love making hand-painted banners and custom pieces. Banners have become one of my favorite things because they allow me to go all out creatively and make something that really stands out. Whether it’s for a birthday, a classroom celebration, or a special event, I love knowing that what I’m making is becoming part of someone’s experience.
A huge part of my inspiration comes directly from my job working in childcare. I work closely with young children every day, and, while I have a wonderful work family and don’t have to do it nearly as much anymore, I’m still constantly creating and thinking of things for my current, past, and future classrooms, including decor, learning materials, activities, student and parent resources, and personalized touches that make the environment more engaging and meaningful for them. I’ve always naturally brought creativity into my teaching, and I often go beyond what’s required to make things feel special for my students.
Working with kids has also shaped how I think about creativity overall. I’ve seen how much impact small details can have and how something as simple as a personalized item or a thoughtful visual can make a child feel seen, excited, or celebrated. That perspective is something I carry into everything I create through EKC Boutique.
I really enjoy custom work because it allows me to create something completely unique every time. I want people to have that reaction of “this is so me” or “someone really thought about me when they chose this,” whether it’s a student, a parent, or anyone receiving something I’ve made.
That’s also what makes my work different from something you’d find in a store. It isn’t mass-produced or one-size-fits-all. Everything is created with a specific person, purpose, or moment in mind. A lot of what I create is shaped by real-life interactions with kids, families, and everyday experiences, which makes it feel more intentional and personal.
At the end of the day, I want my work to make people feel excited, seen, and appreciated. Whether it’s something small or something big, I want it to feel meaningful and memorable.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something surprising that some people don’t know about me is that I’m extremely hard on myself and constantly questioning whether what I’m making is “good enough.” I am a lot more in my head than I think most people realize (they realize, just not the extent of it). From the outside, people often see my work and assume I’m very confident in what I create, but in reality I am very very hard on myself.
I also struggle a lot with perfectionism. There are many times where I will completely restart a project, even after spending hours on it, simply because it doesn’t meet the standard I have in my head. Most people don’t see that side of the process at all.
At the same time, I think people would be surprised by how much emotion goes into everything I create. A lot of what I make and/or have made is somehow tied to how I’m feeling or what’s happening in my life or my classroom, even if it doesn’t look like it on the surface.
Even though I tend to feel very all over the place internally, creating is the one thing that helps me slow my mind down and feel grounded again. It’s something I rely on more than most people realize.
Pricing:
- At the moment, my pricing is still something I’m actively working through as my business continues to grow and evolve. For my digital posters, I offer a range of affordable designs on Etsy, typically starting at a low price point to keep them accessible for as many people as possible. For my custom work, including banners and other handmade pieces, pricing varies depending on size, detail, and materials. Since each piece is fully custom, I’m still developing a more structured pricing system that reflects both the time and care that goes into each project while still keeping things reasonable and accessible.
- Digital posters range from $3 – $30+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://etsy.me/4w4iuTi
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ekc.boutique/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18Xe2JVn5P/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ekc.boutique?_r=1&_t=ZT-96RtuMcamU9
