Glory Box Designs

Who is Glory Box Designs

I started designing in the 5 years I lived in China­ I had such great access to tailors and fabric that my wardrobe grew to epic proportions. As I couldn't fit into the local clothes, I had to buy my wardrobe seasonally on my trips back home, and I felt that there was a big gap of easy fit clothes in bright, bold colours. 

I started developing a range of swimwear and kaftans in larger sizes but my technical knowledge was letting me down, so I came back to Sydney to study fashion design at East Sydney TAFE, and then moved in to Textile Design where I was really able to let my imagination fly. Combining my love of print with my desire for an endless summer, and my background in Drama and Film­ I develop unique prints that I then translate in to either my homewares or fashion and accessories ranges. I feel very strongly about keeping production Australian, so I do all of my screen printing, sewing and pattern making myself, and have my digital printing done locally. 

At the core of Glory Box Designs remains one constant, making pieces that leave no woman behind. I work at an approachable price point, breathable styles and easy care fabrics. Life is too short not to have beautiful, comfortable clothes.

What is it about colour that inspires you

I think I was born that way. I grew up on a beautiful farm in the bush by the beach, in a house filled with colour and beautiful objects. The influences of my mother and her sister have proved to be very strong, as I always keep them in mind when designing. 

I find colour so comforting, nothing upsets me more than beige. I use colour as an expression of feeling and am always attempting to evoke emotion through my use of it. It's definitely quite innate­ when painting walls at home I have these grand plans that freak everyone out, but once they're on the wall they love them. 

I have never had any intention to just blend into the background, and I love that when I am at my most colourful it gets smiles from strangers. They don't call
me "The Sequin Terrorist" for nothing.

Your  jewellery is tactile, durable and not only absorbs but reflects whatever the wearer has on.  So the question must be asked: why resin in particular

Resin is a medium that I stumbled on by accident, and a happy one at that. It is so versatile in that I can make it into an infinite amount of shapes and colours, it experiments nicely yet also is able to provide consistent results for moulding. 

I can use it to mimic the intricate details of crystal, or make it smooth as stone, transparent as glass or as opaque as the night in a range of high octane colours.

As a kid I loved staring into blown glass paper weights, tiny little worlds frozen in time­ I get to do that with resin. It also has the benefit of being strong and light, a must for my pieces as I believe they should be worn with reckless abandon. I want you to be able to just throw it on and know that you can get about your business of being fabulous and relaxed. 

My jewellery can be used to complement an outfit,  or be the star of one.

Traditionally pink is a soothing colour and somehow you have managed to strike the balance with explosive mixtures yet peaceful glam.  Is this a deliberate method or was it more of an accidental happening

I love that phrase 'peaceful glam', as it really is the essence of my aesthetic, I am always trying to show that bright prints and good taste are not mutually exclusive.

As a lot of my prints are subversive and cheeky, using colours that directly contrast with the idea of the print and just another way that I like to play with design. For example, I did a print range called "Obnoxious Weeds" and I took my inspiration for the motifs from the cane toad, the indian myna and the prickly pear, and then used these inviting, complementary colours with them, to make the concept of toad skin more appealing. It's always worth asking me the story behind the print, I can be pretty silly at times.

How would you sum up the world of Glory Box Designs in 5 words

Cheeky design irreverence, with heart

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No arguments here!  We love her, we love love LOVE her designs, energy and everything that come with it as will you!  Swing by the Marrickville Market Hall and see where the lovely Lara's creative juices have led her and we reckon you too will become forever a fan of this most talented creator!

The Backyard Picklery with Patrick & Francesca

Can you give us a little bit of the story behind The Backyard Picklery

The Backyard Picklery started a little over 2 months ago, but the idea of it started late last year.  After getting engaged we (Patrick & Francesca) wanted something we could do together to support our future family and which would be our creation and made through our own hard work.

Patrick has always been interested in food and you can definitely see where he gets his passion: his father building his own food industry business has been a great role model and a wonderful support to him.  Where Patrick is the major "brain" behind all our creations, I am more the quality assurance girl, second opinion person, and let's not forget work minion!

But we both love food and experimenting and we get to do all the things we love together and give people food they can enjoy!

Why pickling

(Patrick) Firstly, I love pickles & jams!  Everything about them is amazing: from the way they taste to the way you make them.

The fact that you can make something in Summer and be able to enjoy it in Winter is just great.  So I think we chose to do pickles because it's just something we both enjoy making AND it's something that lasts beyond a season.

Pickling traditionally were derived from the need to not "waste" anything.  What has been one of the more unusual experiments that you have done which despite/inspite of the odds works and is a seller for you

As we are only starting out we really haven't done much experimenting (yet). Everything we have tried so far has worked out.  Our chilli onion marmalade would have to be our most unusual product (so far) and it's our best seller!

Firstly because it's unusual and secondly because it tastes amazing.  It's absolutely packed with flavour and goes great in anything from salads to steak sandwiches.

So despite (or inspite perhaps) people saying it is different and "out there", it's loved and we have to make more every couple of weeks to keep the stock available.

What is it about market life that keeps it real for you

Selling at market is way more personal than selling to a name or a number over the internet.

You put faces to names, you watch customers return and tell you how they used the product they bought and how much they enjoyed them.

Market life isn't just about setting up early in the morning, selling your product and then packing up again.

You are part of a community, building relationships with everyone around you.  And we can honestly say if wasn't for the markets, we wouldn't have gotten to know the people we have in our lives now, or be open to the opportunities we have been able to be part of.

The markets are an eye opener to culture, peoples lives and others ideas!  We learned so much and been given so many ideas from simply having conversations with people about food!

No week is ever the same.  THAT and the relationships you build....that is what keeps it real!

How would you sum up the world of The Backyard Picklery in 5 words

Relationships
Exciting
New Ideas
Creative
Passion

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So now you've read it, we reckon it's time to get in and taste these wonders!  But where to find?  SIMPLES!  Just go in to the hall and there you are....they have insane samples, sensational packaging and if you know what's good for you, you'll not just sample you will buy up BIIIIG!

Huge shoutout and thanks to the crew from The Backyard Picklery for not only sharing some of their time with us, but for being soldiers and purveyors of all things jams, salts and pickles!