A man and woman stand together on a wooden boardwalk with a fence, overlooking the beach and ocean, under a bright blue sky.

Hi, I’m Emily — but you can call me Em.

Welcome to Rustic Road Creative, where rural life meets creative grit.

I wear a lot of hats (some dusty, some digital):
I'm a stay at home mama, wife, metal artist, short-term rental host, construction company, small-town dreamer, and online entrepreneur. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to build multiple income streams from your home in the country — you’re in the right place.

This blog is where all the pieces of my life come together.
It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how Alan & I turned:

  • A CNC plasma table into a custom metal decor business (Alston Design Co.)

  • A quiet riverside home into a peaceful Airbnb stay (RiverView Cottage)

  • A tract of land HLM grading work

  • My love for designing into downloadable planners and digital products

  • My faith + rural lifestyle into a wellness for mamas like me (Rural Living Mama)

And now, I’m bringing it all here — not because I have it all figured out, but because I believe your story can be your strategy too.

Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world.

Whether you're looking to decorate your home, start a side hustle, run an Airbnb, or simply slow down and build a creative life you love — I’m here to share what’s working, what’s not, and how you can do it too.

Pull up a chair. You’ll find stories, how-to guides, product roundups, digital freebies, and real talk about life off the beaten path.

Let’s build something beautiful together.

— Em
Rustic Road Creative

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Dream it

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest.

Build it

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.