Since 2001 I have made a living by my hands. However for much of that time I've felt like I work for my business, rather than the other way around. This blog is about my personal journey towards making a life (rather than a living) by my hands; about creating balance & time; about living locally; and exploring sustainable living on our little patch of earth.
Especially for our ocean lovers, I’m thrilled to introduce our new Ombre Atlantic collection of Chapel candles. A play between deep blue, aquamarine and white, our signature textured wax echos the beauty and drama of waves meeting the shore. Pouring three colours at the same time has it’s technical challenges (especially for the two handed),… Read more »
I wasn’t prepared for 2020. I wasn’t prepared for the heartbreak, for the overwhelming loss, and for the shifting world we find ourselves living in. Like so many, I have felt speechless, powerless and hopeless. But now, I’m ready. I’m ready to stand up, to have the courage to face these days, and to shoulder… Read more »
“Embrace your imperfections. Celebrate your unique shape and character. You have no idea how your beauty shines.”
Drumroll please….. I am thrilled to announce that I’ve been selected as a finalist in the 2019 Ausmumpreneur Awards for Handmade Businesses! It’s not easy or natural for me to ‘sell’ myself or what I do, but looking back over the past 18 years of A Little Light, I felt I had a story to share,… Read more »
Black or Charcoal? What do you think? I’m currently test burning a few different shades to see how dark we can go while still creating a candle that burns beautifully and showcases our trademark texture. Achieving a true black wax has been such a hard task. So many black or grey dyes age to a… Read more »
I recently braved my fear of public speaking and joined about a hundred other local individuals and businesses to share my journey towards sustainability. This community event, Sustainability Matters, was hosted by the Darebin Council, and was all about sharing our ideas, our successes, and our growing commitment towards sustainability. Growing a small business… Read more »
Welcome to A Little Light. I thought you might like a little behind the scenes glimpse of my workshop. This is where the mess and magic happen. This is where wax, wicks and dyes transform into something more. This is where good conversation reins while our hands are busy making. This is where you’ll find… Read more »
Perhaps baby brain is over, because I suddenly have energy for more. This is my first craft project since I was pregnant with my daughter in 2017. And I LOVED every moment of it. I’d forgotten how soothing and addictive and rewarding crochet can be. I’m making this as the top of a canopy over… Read more »
Where are you in your dream? At the start, gripped by inspiration, energised by possibility? On the way but battling through unexpected hurdles and giving more than you thought was possible? Is your dream now your everyday life? Would you choose another path or is this right for you? My dream is now 18 years… Read more »
I started my business with great passion and a big dose of optimism, but absolutely no relevant experience. I knew next to nothing about the gifts & homewares industry. I had never worked in a retail store. Terms like ‘merchandising’ and ‘PoS’ meant absolutely nothing to me. Looking back, I realise that a lot of… Read more »
The 8 months since the electrical fire that destroyed our workshop haven’t been easy; I won’t pretend otherwise. The times when everything was out of our hands, and we were trapped in months and months of bureaucracy were some of the most frustrating periods. I think the sense of helplessness was the hardest to bear. … Read more »
I’m thrilled to announce the launch of our new Handmade Gifts collection. While our candles are still a couple of months away, I have teamed up with some of our best local makers & designers to recreate our little shop in Westgarth and bring it straight to the convenience of your laptop or smart phone…. Read more »
I think it’s fair to say that I’ve made almost every mistake possible in running my small business. Sadly, I don’t feel destined to be the next billionaire entrepreneur. I’m an artist, not a business mogul. I run my business as an expression of my creativity, and as a way of creating the life that… Read more »
One of the best things you can do for the future success of your business is to start trialing it now. A successful business requires not just a strong idea, but planning and research. While understanding your costs, margins and bottom line will be important in the long term, dipping your toe into the market… Read more »
A huge thank you to everyone who has pressed the ‘love’ button and shared their favourite products on Facebook. I have been overwhelmed by the response, and I love hearing your feedback about your favourite colours and sizes, as well as styles. Oops, my mistake! Unfortunately Facebook has outsmarted me, and due to the privacy… Read more »
With the prevalence of smart phones and DSLR cameras these days, it’s easy to think that anyone can take professional photos. Instagram filters, free editing programs and the lovely thrill of having your posts ‘liked’ give us so much encouragement to think that there isn’t much difference anymore between ‘what I can do myself’ versus… Read more »
I need your help. As soon as the workshop is rebuilt, I want to get my hands straight back into what I love doing, and that’s making beautiful handmade candles. I won’t be able to make our entire range again straight away, so I need to know what you love, and what you most miss…. Read more »
To help you find our candles (that are rapidly disappearing from shelves), we are launching #findalittlelight on Facebook and Instagram. While our online shop is currently unable to take orders, we have some wonderful stockists around Australia that you can visit or order from online. It’s a good idea to call ahead to check what… Read more »
After the heartbreaking destruction of our workshop, stock and production equipment in mid February, I am happy to report that the skies are brightening, and change is in the air. We are working very hard to finalise the insurance process so that we can begin the process of rebuilding. So far the insurance process hasn’t… Read more »
It is with great sadness that I have to report that our workshop, stock and production equipment were completely destroyed in an electrical fire late last week. No one was hurt, and I am so grateful to the fire fighters who worked so hard to protect the surrounding homes and buildings. While the next few… Read more »
The end of summer glut of tomatoes is my favourite time of year as a gardener. I discovered this recipe a few years ago, and I delight in being able to make it from our own garden from mid-late summer. It’s easy, delicious, and perfect to share for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Tomato Tarte Tatin… Read more »
A big motivation in starting my own business was to find a job that fulfilled me, where I could pursue my passion for art and design, and make something beautiful and real. In my previous jobs, I had always felt that I was simply selling my time, and waiting to live outside work hours. I… Read more »
In the absence of our yet-to-be-constructed veggie patch, we decided to do some veggie gardening on a smaller scale this year, and to be a bit more experimental. After reading an article online about a US gardener who had great success growing tomatoes by planting them around a half buried 50 gallon drum of water… Read more »
From humble beginnings in Mum’s kitchen, A Little Light (like many home based businesses) gradually grew to take over the shed, the spare bedroom, the hallway, and eventually the lounge and dining rooms. By 2008 it was time to give Mum and Dad back their house, and find a bigger space for what was rapidly… Read more »
As home renovators, we had the rare experience this weekend of planning a project, and actually completing it within the allotted time. And even more satisfying, is that it was done almost entirely with recycled materials (with the exception of four pine sleepers and four metal pegs). We have found that once people know that… Read more »
There is a magic that fills me when in the grip of a good idea. I lay awake half the night dreaming about all the possible permutations and opportunities it might lead to. I start each day with a spring in my step. I clearly see the actions I need to take to start making… Read more »
In 2005 I was very close to walking away from my business. After some great growth in the first few years, the economy was changing, and I was feeling this acutely. I spent hour upon hour trying to get my products out there – to think outside the box, approach new stores and restaurants, and… Read more »
In 2006, I was incredibly lucky to be featured alongside eighty Melbourne artists and designers in the first edition of the book Handmade in Melbourne. In this beautifully written and presented coffee table book, co-author Janet De Silva’s talent for creating images with words tells the story of the early days of my business far… Read more »
The candle making industry, like the health food industry, is dominated by rumours and pseudo-science, which are often only half understood, and then passed around as fact. Throughout the past 12 years I have made it my priority to understand the science behind the wax industry, and to sift through all the rumours to find… Read more »
When I started my business, I had a very clear vision: to create beautiful handmade candles that could become functional art pieces for the home, with their strong sculptural and textural style. Here is a photo of one of my first market stalls at St Andrews Market in 2001. … Read more »
Every so often I’m lucky enough to be part of something really exciting, a project beyond the normal scale of what I do. In 2003 I found myself saying yes to one such project, which lead to the making of the largest candles I have ever attempted. They were to mark the entrance for a… Read more »
“I tried to be normal once. Worst two minutes of my life.” An apt subtitle to her most recent painting, and a fitting description for this dynamic, bold woman. I was lucky enough to meet Asphyxia when she wandered in to my shop one day and asked if we could do a skills swap, to… Read more »
In February 2008 I signed the lease that gave my business a home for the next seven years. I was rapidly growing out of my little shed at home, and boxes of candles filled the lounge room, dining room and hallways. It was time to expand! This new location gave me a wonderful opportunity to… Read more »
I love big changes in life that give us the feeling of a blank slate – that wonderful prospect of being able to re-create our everyday life according to our new priorities and ideals. When I closed my shop in January 2015 and moved my workshop to home, I suddenly realised that I could re-shape… Read more »
Born and bred in Daylesford, Victoria, naturopath Bree Melotte grew up surrounded by hippies and farmers. Those strong roots can be seen in her work, in her connection to the land and her drive to reach out and help others. I love Bree’s inspiration to use her training as a naturopath to create products that… Read more »
Last year we bought a little house; a yellow brick veneer complete with 60s wallpaper. And one year on it essentially looks the same inside. We’ve gotten to know it now, and we have big plans for this house. But rather than following our instincts to tear wallpaper off the walls and rip up the… Read more »
The pros and cons of running your own business are not to be under-estimated. For instance, the occasional sleep in or day off when you need it, coffee with friends who pop by, and the satisfaction of creating something that you are passionate about all weigh heavily on the ‘pro’ side. But when you find… Read more »
Pear Candles
$39.00 – $49.00
Australian Bush Soy Candles
$15.00 – $42.00
Egg Candles
$37.50 – $215.00
Ombre Pillar Candles
$24.50 – $425.00