I’m re-posting this review from a few days ago, because I have great news! Brooke is offering LDB readers a special discount on all items now through June 14th. Just enter LDBSale at checkout!

Happy shopping!

————————————————————

I recently came across a beautiful new line of handmade resin jewelry on etsy by an Australian company called Trove Designs. I was drawn to these pieces for their classic elegance with a hint of texture and uniqueness that isn’t communicated in all resin jewelry. Brooke McAlary is the design mind behind this line. From the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney, Australia, Brooke spoke with LDB about what inspired her to create Trove and what lies in store for her company…not just in Australia, but around the world.

What inspires her:

I’ve always been drawn to the intricacies of pattern, the simplicity of basic, geometric shapes and the boldness of colour. But really my inspiration comes from the papers I source from around the world.

If I come across a beautiful piece of paper I will immediately think of how I could incorporate it into my jewellery. The myriad of patterns and textures mean I am constantly coming up with new designs and the resin gives such a depth to the materials I use. It seems to unlock their beauty and I’m often amazed at how a plain piece of paper is transformed by the resin.

Her process:

It’s quite a time-consuming medium to work with, not to mention very temperamental (variations in temperature and humidity can wreak havoc with the curing time and the finish) but I think they’re some of the reasons I love working with resin. It presents me with a challenge and has taken at least 2 years of dedicated experimentation and trial and (lots of!) error to get to this point.

Resin is such a transformational medium. Plain paper can morph into delicate, silky art. I’m always amazed at what emerges from the papers when I combine them with the resin.

Her career:

I began learning about resin 3 years ago and have been refining my skills ever since. I started Trove in January 2008.

I have always been a creative-minded person but never had an outlet to express it. I tried my hand at painting when I was at school and took photography and film courses at university, all of which I enjoyed. But I found that nothing ever stuck, I didn’t feel like I belonged to it and it to me. I stumbled across the idea of using resin a few years ago and the rest, as they say, is history.

As for knowing it was the right career for me, I knew a long time ago that I would end up being self-employed. I have been a lack-lustre employee most of my working life and just couldn’t imagine working for someone else for the remainder of my career.

Her experience:

In April this year, I had the privilege of exhibiting my Elements collection at Australian Fashion Week. 25 emerging designers were selected to showcase their debut collections for domestic and international buyers and media. While our daughter, Isla, was only 8 weeks old at the time (I found out I had been accepted on the day we brought Isla home from hospital) it was the opportunity of a lifetime and my husband and I decided we didn’t want to die wondering.

It has brought fantastic exposure to Trove and as a result we’re working to further expand our network of stockists both domestically and internationally. I gained a lot of confidence over that week and we’re looking to exhibit at trade shows on a regular basis now.

Her business:

I started out selling on Etsy and took some time to grow in confidence and learn about running my own business. I began selling at my local craft market and by the middle of 2008 I had been accepted into a number of large markets in the city. This face-to-face selling experience gave me the opportunity to better understand who buys my jewelery, what they think of it, what they like about it, etc.

Trove is now stocked in select boutiques in Australia and this year has seen an expansion into a number of international stores, namely in Asia and the US.

I still use Etsy as my online shopfront, but plan to add a shopping cart feature to my website over the coming months.

Her life:

My husband and I have a baby daughter, Isla, who is three months old so I spend as much time as possible with her. She’s such a gem and we are totally smitten by her!

We’re also novice gardeners. Having moved to the Blue Mountains last year we now have a backyard and have taken great delight in digging it up and planting a vege garden, mini orchard and herb/cottage garden. As I say, we’re novice gardeners so we’ll see what the yield is in a few months time, but we’re enjoying the process!

Aside from that, I love to read, drink coffee and go camping when time allows.

The Elements Collection that Brooke refers to can be found here on her website. I enjoy browsing through all of Brooke’s work, but Elements is my absolute favorite! I have had the privelege of meeting many jewelry designers over the last few years, but there really is something special about Trove. Thank you, Brooke for taking time to speak with LDB. We wish you great success during the growth of your business!