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Mai Creation

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The Backyard Picklery

Glory Box Designs

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thechairoom

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!

5 Questions with Judi & Mulapa Aboriginal Art

How did you originally become involved with Mulapa Aboriginal Art

"Mulapa" means 'really' or 'true' in Pitjantjatjara which is an Aboriginal language.  This is why when I started this business in 2010 I named my business "Mulapa Aboriginal Art" to highlight my number one principal: that I sell "really true" ethically sourced Aboriginal art.

I knew I didn't want to open a gallery to sell the art but I wanted to sell from home. Once that idea was in my mind, I needed somewhere to advertise my business.  I decided to sell on a stall at Orange Grove Markets (because they are my local markets and I had been going there weekly since they started) and now recently in the new addition to Marrickville Market in the Hall which I am incredibly pleased about.

Also my home is close to both the markets, so it made sense to attract people from the local area or who were familiar with the area around the markets.

Part of your ethos is "Mulapa Aboriginal art is a signatory to the Indigenous Art Code and Australian Indigenous Art Trade and Fair Trade".  For those who may not fully understand "Indigenous Art Code" and "Indigenous Art Trade" could you explain in layman's terms exactly what this means

As a dealer in Aboriginal Art being a member of both organisations lets people know that I believe in and support the practise within the industry.

Membership of both organisations is voluntary. (nb: if you would like to learn more about Indigenous Art Code click "here" and for Indigenous Art Trade click "here").

The Indigenous Art Code ensures that artists are treated and paid fairly by dealers who work directly with them.  Australian Indigenous Art Trade Fair also makes sure that art works sold (usually through galleries) have been ethically sourced and that dealers behave at all times in an honourable manner when dealing with artists, communities and clients.

Not all galleries are members of both bodies, so if you do got to a gallery to buy, please check to see that they (the gallery or auction house) are members or if not, ask them why!

It would be difficult to say, hand on heart, that there are some pieces you fall hopelessly in love with and really do not want to sell them at market.  What is the process behind selecting exactly which pieces you do take to market to be sold

You are right!  Sometimes when I return from a buying trip a few pieces never make it to the markets...it's usually because my partner or I have fallen in love with the piece and we don't want to sell it.

I select paintings that appeal to me and that I would be happy to hang in my own home.  When I am packing the stock to take to market, I try to select from several communities and I certainly try to take different paintings each month.

I take a variety of sizes and prices because my goal is to entice prospective clients to my home to view and select from the 300+ pieces I have there.

How often do you return to the local areas to select new pieces

Over the last 4 years I have been to Alice Springs and several remote communities in the Central & Western Desert at least once every year and sometimes twice a year.

I recently returned to Yuendemu (350kms North West of Alice) for several days as a volunteer.

Judy Watson Napangardi (in centre wearing red) painting one of her amazing masterpieces

This was an amazing experience: watching artists paint, cleaning paint and brushes, priming canvases, making teas for the artists, toasties for their lunch and generally helping out when needed.  I chose to do this because I wanted to get an idea of what exactly was involved in getting this amazing art out into the world.

I went back to Alice in September last year for a week participating in "Desertmob" which is an annual event where all the art centres converge into Alice for meetings, exhibition and a market place where they sell the art!  I had never been before but it was an incredible experience and one I felt honoured to be part of!

We always ensure we ask permission before photographing items at market out of respect to both culture and artists.  For you personally, what is the most satisfying aspect of selling these incredible pieces at market and what has been one of the more profound reactions by a customer

My goal is to sell ethically sourced Aboriginal Art at fair and reasonable prices.  As a home-based business the overheads are minimal, so my prices are very affordable.  I am a firm believer that you should not buy a painting unless it makes your heart sing, so I am always encouraging people to take the painting home for a few days to check if it's right before making a purchase.

Mulapa has a not-for-profit philosophy of "giving back" to the artists and their communities as an act of reconciliation.  This year, the local high school has already received $375 to provide some extras for the Gifted & Talented Aboriginal students.  I will also be working with a local school to raise additional funds.

In fact, Mulapa's goal for the next year is to raise $5,000 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation from sales of art works. 

As a retired Early Childhood professional, this organisation is close to my heart. I do this because I want to do something personally towards reconciliation outside of membership of a group or an organisation. 

Selling ethically sourced art allows me to follow my two passions: Aboriginal Art and Reconciliation.

The most profound reaction to a painting at the market came from a woman who stood in front of a painting with tears in her eyes.  She stood like that for several minutes before even asking anything about the painting.  I told her a little about the artist and showed her the story of the painting as documented on the Certificate of Authenticity.

When I told her the price she was so relieved that she could afford it and bought it on the spot.

The following day I received an email from her thanking me and telling me the painting still brought tears to her eyes every time she looked at it.

That makes me feel good!

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Judi recently featured in Ciao Arts and we thank them for allowing us to reproduce this article for our blog

So once a month you can find Judi in the Hall and we can only urge you to get in and have a look: once seen, once experienced, you will will find yourselves drawn to a piece and if (as she says) it "talks", it's best to buy a stunning original piece for you will never regret it

The Chai Room....it's all the groove you know

For those who may be unaware or unsure, can you explain exactly what "chai" is

Chai as a direct translation actually means "tea" in many languages.  However, in India "chai" is made with a variety of spices depending on what region you are from.

Over time as "chai" with spices has been introduced into many other countries the name Chai seems to have stuck and become associated with "spicy" or "masala" tea. Masala is the term used for a mix of spices.

What role has chai played in your life personally and what drove you to want to share this with others

Chai has been part of my life since I can remember.  It has deep cultural roots as I grew up in a traditional Indian household.  Chai was the drink that we would always welcome our guests with when they came over.  My mum would usher them into our front room saved for "best" and immediately get to work in the kitchen brewing up a magic creamy spicy chai concoction while my father kept them entertained.

I would watch in awe as she put it all together with expertise and of course we would have a mountain of Indian sweets and savouries: all presented beautifully on her best trays and her best chinaware.  Even strangers would become at ease as they sipped on my mum's chai and listen to her soft nostalgic stories.

Since my childhood this is a tradition I have always upheld no matter where I have been living in the world.  When I would make chai, it was everything to me....my comforter when I missed home, a welcome ice-breaker amongst friends and a way to reconnect with my history.

The ritual of making chai itself gives one time to wind-down and re-energise which is what I have always loved.

I have also found in times of loneliness, making chai brings back the warm memories of our fully happy home and since then I have been able to recreate that here with my own family and this is what motivated me to share it with others.

There never seems to be the "right time" or "enough time" for anything these days, but you can find a balance.  Through learning from my mum's generous soul, she taught my sister and I to do our best to give and not expect anything back. 

One thing that money cannot buy is time and it's a wonderful thing to be able to give someone a little bit of yours (time) to listen: I feel that I can that when I make someone a cup of chai....hence the name "The Chai Room", as whenever our mum had a pot of chair brewing on the stove we always knew the house would be full of good company.

What we particularly love is that inviting aroma (which seems to be a beautiful extension of yourself with your genuine enthusiasm and delight with each customer interaction) that greets folk as they discover what's in the Marrickville Market Hall.  But what we absolutely adore is your take home sachets and blends.  Is there a standard 'base' level to each type blend before adding other spices or is it more of an accidental discovery each time you have that creative urge to push that chai boundary a little bit further

The recipes for our chai is a family recipe that tell the story of the journey of our ancestors from India via the trade route in the early 19th Century, to then settle in East Africa (Tanzania) and then my parents migration to England in the early 1960's.

So the spices I use are a blend of Indian and Zanzibar (where my mum was born) and of course coming to England made the process even more formal with an ethnic twist!

Zanzibar has also been known as Spice or Clove Island. So that is why I prefer to use cloves instead of peppercorns or star anise.  The ginger is the "Indian" component.  I also use vanilla and cardamom and cinnamon as these spices are what gives the chai a balanced taste.

Throughout the whole process I try to keep the spices as authentic as possible, which is why I prefer to make my own ginger for the Ginger Masalas Blend by drying it and grinding it myself.

How important are markets in the world of The Chai Room

Throughout the world I believe that markets are the beginning of anything great, creative and free.  I have been brought up around markets all my life and have always used them as a source of inspiration.  It is a wonderful platform to be able to express your ideas and passion and with so much support not only from the market organisers themselves, but the community of the market from stallholders to punters. 

I especially love being part of Marrickville Markets due to the diversity it offers to everyone that is a part of it.  I meet people from many walks of life and  the interaction is genuine.  I love hearing people's stories and creating a connection and Marrickville Market certainly is the central hub for this.

For those who have yet to try, what 5 words would you use to encourage them to at least try some chai (or the chai cupcake even!)

Spicy yet smooth and palatable
Mouthwateringly delicious
Ambrosial
Scrumptious
Delightful!

(sorry!  I cheated)

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The love, the warmth and the tradition is truly felt in these words, so why not be part of Fatema's world albeit for a few hours every Sunday.  As you meander through the markets up to the hall, let the waft of chai sweep you in to the Hall, purchase a cup, taste a cupcake, even buy some to take home so you can continue that comfort feeling throughout the week with family, friends or that special "me time" moment.

A massive thank you to Fatema for bringing some of her world in to ours and yours every Sunday and we look forward to seeing many many MANY happy Chai faces wandering around our markets!

Mai Creation talks hairy beards

Share with us a little bit of the story behind Mai Creation

Being from the 7th state of Australia (New Zealand!), Mai in Maori means "close" and for those that are unsure of how it is pronounced: Mai is "My".

All of the Mai products come into close contact with and your skin and the combination of Mai and creation is a play on the fact that all the products are made and created by myself but in effect become yours.

What was it in particular about men's skincare that attracted you initially and then go on to specialise in providing good old fashioned care and accessories (eg: shaving brush, shaving mugs etc)

I wanted to make natural products that are good for men, that men would enjoy using and are gentle and enriching for their skin.  To encourage guys to take up, or dust off their double-edged razors and master the old art of the wet shave (hopefully without too much injury in the process!)

The wet shave is the best for your skin, cheapest and definitely the most environmentally friendly shaving option.  If you wear a beard of moustache you still need to look after not only the hairy facial fluff, but it is also important to look after the skin underneath.

Male grooming should be a ritual that is enjoyed and is a beautiful art and skill to be passed on from father to son.  

And so from this came the concept for developing the Mister Brand by Mai Creation.

I am currently working on broadening the range to incorporate razors, combs, natural oil based pomade and aftershave.....so look out men folk!

What would be your best selling product or does it depend upon season and demographic

Due to current popularity and trend of beards, I would have to say our beard oil 

and the moustache wax would follow closely behind

but interestingly in the last couple of weeks there has been a definite spike in the shaving soap sales are we heading to the end of the hairy beard!!??

How important are markets like Marrickville to both your business, your product development and yourselves personally

Markets such as Marrickville are hugely important to Mai Creation and our Mister Brand!  This is where we have direct contact with our customers

We love knowing who uses our products, having immediate feedback regarding our products is great as this helps us to further develop or modify the formula's.

It is our mission to provide the kindest most nourishing products to our skin as well as our environment.

What 5 words would you use to sum up the world of Mai Creation

Natural
Handmade
Beneficial
Gentle
Edgy .... pun intended!

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What we particularly love about these guys is that not only do they show us that "everything old is new again", but they have an ever increasing following, they have diversity of scents and they are in the hall at Marrickville Markets and we LOVE them, as will you when you find them!

Keep an eye out for the groovy set up and you will have found the hairy beard haven!

Lee & Wami talk free range, organic and biodynamic

From free range eggs to biodynamic fruit and veg: you are now a well entrenched and much loved stallie at Marrickville Market.  What do you love most about market life

The markets are where you go to get something that is not available at your local store, an experience, something unusual or just a bargain.  We love being the one who brings this to people.

Your eggs literally "fly" out the door.  Can you explain what defines "organic" and "free range" and why they not only taste better, but more importantly, why we should choose to buy these types of eggs as opposed to those in the local supermarket

Well freshness is always a consideration and the usual story of supporting the little guys is a nice one too. What can I say: they are certified organic free range, no beak trimming with an open gate policy eggs: so if you ever want to pop in an ensure they are what they say they are then, you can!

Miso: we love it, the customers love it, it's something unique and you sell it ready to serve with hot water AND as a cookie!  What exactly is miso

Miso is a fermented condiment that is hugely popular in Japan and other Asian countries.  It has a strong pungent and very salty flavour.  This is the base stock which is used to make miso soup and has a whole variety of other uses and applications.

One of my personal favourites is miso on bread or crackers (whatever suits) with avocado: yum, yumm, yummmmmm!

It also makes a great dressing diluted with a little water or Mirin (Japanese rice wine vinegar), it is excellent as a marinade for meats (especially seafood)...the list goes on and on.  If ever you are stuck for ideas, do an online search for some suggested recipes.

The basics of making making Miso are:

Par cook brown rice/barley and soya bean.  Add a culture called Koji, water and salt. Put the mixture in a special room to ferment.  Once fermentation has taken place the Miso is then brought out and blended into a paste which some people think looks like peanut butter (I say this because this is the most common question we are asked..."oh! I thought it was peanut butter").

Miso is a wonderful superfood which is alive: if you look up the health benefits of Miso you will be richly rewarded!

Amongst your produce, you have biodynamic blueberries, mangos and insane tasting dragon fruit.  For those who may not fully understand, can you give us a bit of insight as to what "biodynamic" means, how it aids our overall wellbeing, why it's an important part of our daily intake of goodness and how it differs from say, organically grown produce

The quick answer for bio-dyniamic is "super organic".  You have all the organic principles that you must follow and then have another set of principles above and beyond that which must be adhered to.  The benefits to the earth and land have been shown many times over in research that has been carried out.

And what about us?  Well, I solemnly believe we should eat what we are guided to by our own intuition as we have the ability to make the right choice for ourselves at each step of the way.

From your perspective, what is it about markets like Marrickville Market that form an integral part of the community and why should we, as consumers, support it as much as we can

The basic premise for markets, in our opinion, is it gives people a chance to experience something which is outside the norm of what you would find in other places.

If it tickles your fancy or floats your boat then head on over and join the fun!

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Reckon there's something in that for all of us don't you?

Take it from us, there is standing room only for these guys and once you taste their produce you will too will become enslaved to their goodness and have a bit of a laugh while you're at it

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!