Long associated with pirates and forgotten hoards of jewels, the word ‘trove’ typically refers to ‘a store of valuable or delightful things’; and that’s the perfect description for this handmade co-op shop.

A collaborative project between seven local artists and craftspeople who bonded while selling their creations on e-commerce website Etsy, Trove stocks a vast array of one-of-a-kind products, from boldly coloured kids’ clothes and hand printed textiles, to wooden toys and intricately beaded jewellery.

“We decided that we wanted to get more in touch with the local community,” says Carrin Holmes, one half of the husband-and-wife-duo behind Creations By Holmes.  “We had a Canberra Etsy group where we used to talk on Facebook, and a group of us decided we wanted to open up a shop so we can touch base with the consumers, rather than just do it all via the internet.”

Carrin and her husband, Michael, started producing handcrafted wooden rocking horses and toys “more out of necessity than inspiration”, Carrin tells me.  When a back injury forced Michael into an early retirement in 2011, he kept busy by building rocking horses in the garden shed.  This hobby soon became a business, with the pair since expanding into children’s toys, bookends, clocks, and other wooden items for kids.

Similarly, Seona McDonald learnt to bead and crochet as a pain management technique for her chronic arthritis.  She tells me it “became addictive”, leading to the creation of SeonaMargaretDesigns, an exquisite collection of delicate jewellery incorporating crystals, shells, semi-precious stones and fine crochet.   “They don’t really photograph all that well,” Seona tells me, when I ask about her transition from Etsy to the real world.  “With crystals (in photographs) you get shine and shadows; they look much nicer in person.”

Trove will also stock jewellery made by Anne Keep of Silver Sparrow, and Jessica Coombs under the banner of JACJewellery.  An interior designer by day, Jessica’s modern, off-beat designs feature random motifs such as moustaches and Mondrian prints.  “I really like finding things that weren’t supposed to be worn as jewellery and turning them into jewellery,” she says. “A lot of mine I make out of reclaimed spoons and copper piping, those sorts of items; I change the intention of them.”

This focus on re-using and recycling is reflected in Trove’s décor, with the group selecting second-hand items from The Green Shed to provide an eclectic backdrop to their diverse array of products.  Local printmaker Abby French, responsible for Trove’s wonderful range of bespoke printed cushions, tea towels, cards and gift wrap, also aims to reduce waste and support local industries.  To do this, she utilises Australian-made sustainable paper, organic fabric, and locally-produced printing inks.  Abby has recently established the label Bursaria Workshop, after spending many years creating handmade soft toys.

Softies are also the business of another Trove member, Gemmie Alliston, the brains behind the brand Handmade by Gemmie, and the creator of some of the cutest and quirkiest kids products in the land.  Indeed, there’s plenty on offer for kids at Trove, with Wombat and Poss’ Kylie Waring knitting and stitching up a range of colourful products for babies to tweens.  “I just started doing it as a hobby,” she says.  “I have small children, so I’ve been making them for my kids.  Clothes just always look good on kids.”

As for venturing outside Etsy, Kylie tells me she’s hoping to forge a more personal connection with Trove customers at the shop front.   “Customers can interact with us when we’re making things, and we can find out what they’re after and what they’re interested in, and tell them a bit about what we make,” she says.

This view seems to be unanimous, with several members of the co-op saying they’re looking forward to making custom pieces, and personally helping individuals find products to suit them and their lifestyle.  Trove will be staffed by the local artists and designers behind the products, and is open Tuesday-Sunday at 7 O’Hanlon Place, Gold Creek.

the essentials

What: Trove
Where: 7 O’Hanlon Place, Gold Creek
When: 10am – 4pm Tuesday to Sunday
Phone: 0448 341 151
Email: trovecanberra@gmail.com
Web: trovecanberra.wordpress.com