Our story — Meet Amara
In 2017, I was sitting in my Sydney office, staring at yet another spreadsheet. I’d just finished a 14-hour day in finance — my third that week — and realised I couldn’t remember the last time I’d done something for myself. Growing up in Ballarat, my grandmother taught me how to sew, bake, and fix things around the house. Those small, practical skills had always grounded me, but they felt so far away from my life now. That night, I googled 'how to make candles' and ordered a starter kit. It wasn’t a grand plan. I just wanted something to do that wasn’t tied to emails or deadlines.
Before this, I’d spent ten years climbing the ladder in Sydney’s finance sector. The work was fine, but it wasn’t what I’d call a life. I’d wake up early, take the train from Redfern, and spend my days in meetings and number-crunching. On weekends, I’d try to shake off the exhaustion by going to Pilates or meeting friends for overpriced brunches in Surry Hills. But the burnout crept in. By 30, I was tired in a way I couldn’t sleep off. It wasn’t just the hours — it was the sense that I’d traded time for money without thinking about what else I wanted.
Delilah Goods officially started two years after I quit my corporate job. I moved to Castlemaine in 2019, thinking I’d take a break and figure out what was next. In my spare time, I kept tinkering: making small batches of candles, trying out natural wax, and testing wicks that didn’t crackle or tunnel. I’d sell the odd one at local markets around Bendigo and Daylesford, and people kept coming back for more. By the end of 2020, I’d made 850 candles and realised it might actually work as a business. I registered the name, set up a website, and started thinking about what else I could make.
These days, I’m in a small workshop just outside Castlemaine, making things I’d want to use in my own home. It’s a mix of quiet mornings testing new ideas and busy afternoons packing orders. There’s still spreadsheets, but now they’re tracking stock, not someone else’s KPIs. I work with a few other locals now, and we ship Australia-wide from here — around 1,200 orders a month and growing. It’s not fancy, but it’s mine. And that’s enough. — Amara
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— Thanks for supporting what we’re building — Amara, Amara Kinslow
Journal
Meeting the Supplier Behind Our Wool Throws
Visiting the Bendigo wool mill taught me a lot about the people and process behind our Heritage Wool Throw Blanket.
I drove up to Bendigo last week to meet the folks behind the wool for our Heritage Wool Throw Blanket. The mill’s been running for decades, tucked away in an industrial area, and it still has that faint lanolin smell clinging to the air. It’s not a big operation — just eight staff on that day, working everything from scouring to spinning — but there’s a real rhythm to the place. Everyone seems to know when and where to step in without needing to ask.
Their wool comes from several farms across Victoria, with most of it sourced from Corriedale sheep. I didn’t know this, but Corriedales are a dual-purpose breed, good for both meat and wool, which makes them more sustainable for smaller farms. The batch we’re using right now came from a property near Ararat. I could see the fleece quality even before it was spun — smooth and creamy, with just the right crimp to hold warmth.
What struck me most was how hands-on the process still is. There’s machinery, sure, but it’s not all automated. A woman named Janice walked me through the carding stage, where the fleece starts to look more like fabric. She’s been at the mill for 14 years and said she can spot a weak batch of wool just by running her hand over it. That kind of expertise feels rare these days.
I left with a renewed appreciation for the throws and for the work involved. It’s easy to take warm, soft textiles for granted when you’re curled up on the couch with a book. But standing there in Bendigo, watching the raw fibre become something beautiful and useful, I felt connected to the entire process in a way that emails and invoices can’t replicate.
If you ever find yourself in Bendigo, I highly recommend visiting one of the wool mills. Even if textiles aren’t your thing, it’s fascinating to see how much effort goes into something as simple as a blanket.
Five Ways to Use a Vintage Leather Journal
A few ideas for making the most of your blank pages — from recipes to garden plans and beyond.
There’s something both satisfying and intimidating about a brand-new journal, especially our Vintage Leather Journal. The heavy leather cover and unlined pages almost demand to be used for something special, but then you’re left wondering: special how? If you’ve been staring at blank pages, here are five ideas to get you started.
First, recipes. I use one of our journals to jot down tweaks I’ve made to family favourites. My go-to banana bread recipe now has notes like “add 1 tsp cinnamon” and “works better with overripe Cavendish bananas”. Having it all in one place beats trying to remember which website I saw it on.
Second, garden plans. My notebook from last spring is full of scribbled layouts for the veggie patch, sketches of tomato trellises, and reminders like “mulch before October”. Our garden’s small, but keeping track of what worked and what didn’t has saved a lot of time and second-guessing.
Third, a reading journal. This one’s more structured: title, author, date finished, and a few thoughts about what I liked or didn’t. I’ve filled three journals with book notes since starting in 2020. It’s fun to look back and see how my reading habits have changed.
There’s no wrong way to use a journal, of course, but sometimes a nudge helps. Whether you’re sketching, writing, or just listing things, the important part is to leave the first smudge or scratch on the page. After that, it flows.
Behind the Scenes: Spring Shipping Scramble
Spring is our busiest season for orders, and this year the chaos started early thanks to an unexpected delivery hiccup.
Every retail business has its busy season, and for Delilah Goods, it’s spring. Between picnics, outdoor entertaining, and people prepping their homes for the warm months, our orders tend to spike from September through November. This year, the madness started a bit earlier — and not in the way I’d planned.
The first hiccup came when a shipment of Bamboo Fiber Picnic Sets got delayed at Port Melbourne. Something about customs clearance taking longer than usual. I’d accounted for a two-day delay, but it stretched to six. By the time the boxes arrived, I was already knee-deep in packing other orders. There’s nothing quite like staring down a wall of cartons when you know customers are waiting.
What saved me was the neighbour kids. Sam and Lily, both teenagers, were on school holidays and offered to help for pocket money. I set them up with packing tape and a checklist, and they turned out to be naturals. By the end of the first day, we’d packed 120 orders and cleared the backlog.
Spring always has a way of throwing curveballs — last year it was running out of bubble wrap halfway through an order frenzy. But it also comes with those satisfying moments, like seeing the last truck of the day pull away and knowing someone in Perth or Brisbane is about to unwrap something from our little workspace in Castlemaine.
As much as I grumble when things go wrong, I wouldn’t trade this kind of chaos for my old office job. At least here, the stress comes with a sense of purpose. And good neighbours.
Summer Evenings and the Coastal Breeze Candle
Some thoughts on summer, scent, and how our Coastal Breeze Candle ties them together in the quiet moments.
There’s a particular feeling to late summer evenings here in Castlemaine. The heat lingers long after sunset, but the light turns soft, and the cicadas ease up just enough to hear the wind through the gums. It’s my favourite time of day, and it’s what I think of every time I light a Coastal Breeze Candle.
The scent itself leans more coastal than bush — sea salt, driftwood, and a hint of lime — but it still feels at home in this dry inland town. I spent weeks tweaking the blend last year, testing it in different rooms and against different moods. It turns out 10% more lime makes all the difference between ‘fresh’ and ‘harsh’.
One customer told me they use the candle during those in-between moments, like folding laundry or winding down with a cup of tea. I get it. I’ve started lighting one in the studio after a long day. The familiar scent is grounding, almost like a marker for shifting gears.
Candles are often treated as decorative or indulgent, but they’re also incredibly practical in their way. They make a space yours, even if it’s just for an hour. That’s been my experience with the Coastal Breeze, anyway.
With autumn creeping in now, I know these long, warm evenings won’t last much longer. I’ll miss them when they’re gone, but for now, there’s still tonight.
Customer reviews
Laura T. — Fitzroy, VIC — 2024-02-15 — 5/5
Love this candle!
I ordered the Coastal Breeze Scented Candle and it smells amazing! It arrived in just two days and was packaged so neatly.
Michael B. — Bondi, NSW — 2024-07-03 — 4/5
Great picnic set
The Bamboo Fiber Picnic Set is sturdy and lightweight. It’s been a hit on weekend outings, though I wish it came with cutlery too.
Sophia R. — Paddington, QLD — 2025-01-18 — 5/5
Best blanket ever
The Heritage Wool Throw Blanket is perfect for cold nights. It’s heavy, warm, and the colour is gorgeous. Worth every penny.
James L. — Newtown, NSW — 2024-11-28 — 5/5
Vintage feel
I bought the Vintage Leather Journal and it’s exactly what I was hoping for. The leather feels great and it’s the perfect size for travel.
Chloe M. — South Melbourne, VIC — 2024-05-10 — 4/5
Soft and luxurious
The Eco-Soft Bamboo Towel Set is really soft and absorbs well. My only feedback is that the colour faded a little after the first wash.
Daniel K. — Hobart, TAS — 2025-03-06 — 5/5
Fast shipping!
Ordered the Coastal Breeze Scented Candle as a gift, and it arrived in three days. The recipient loved it!
Emma P. — Cottesloe, WA — 2024-09-20 — 5/5
So handy
The Bamboo Fiber Picnic Set is perfect for beach days. Lightweight and easy to clean after use. Shipping was quick too.
Lucas N. — Darwin, NT — 2025-06-12 — 4/5
Good but pricey
The Heritage Wool Throw Blanket is beautiful and well-made. It’s quite expensive, but the quality justifies the cost.
Returns
We accept returns within 30 days of purchase for items in their original, unused condition. This includes all original packaging and tags intact. Refunds are processed back to the original payment method within 5 business days of receiving the returned item.
Under Australian Consumer Law, you are entitled to a refund or replacement for major faults or defects. If you believe an item is faulty, please contact us at hello@delilahgoods.com.au with your order details and photos of the issue.
Please note that some items, like gift cards and sale items, are excluded from our return policy. Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer unless the item is faulty.