Where did you come from Lover Boy?
Lover Boy has been floating around in the dreamy pockets of my brain since 2022.
Whilst on maternity leave, I dreamt up the idea of opening a store, as a way to keep myself sane during the sleep deprived nights and long days filled with, what seemed like never ending pram walks.
After the birth of my son, everything changed, which I am sure all parents can relate to in some way or another. Suddenly, it felt like paid work needed to be paying huge amounts of money or fulfilling all of my creative needs to become important enough to leave my baby in the care of others. I struggled between the urge of wanting space from my life as a new mother and the guilt I would feel walking into work after a hard daycare drop off. While these feeling are not unique, they are often shrugged off and not spoken about.
Returning back to work in 2023, the weeks were busy and the weekends busier. Leaving little to no time to dream of my Lover Boy, left on the sidelines waiting for some brain-space to open up so that the flame could ignite again.
The brain space did come, and at the same time, a huge tree change for my family took place. We moved from the hustle and bustle of the inner-city suburbs, to the golden sunlit hills of Castlemaine in regional Victoria. We took the time to settle in to our new home, making friends and enjoying the summer, when one sunny day, a small corner store in town had a sign in the window 'For Lease'. The space has huge arch windows, with natural light streaming through from every angle. I peeked inside to see dark timber floors and an old boarded up fireplace. It was what I had been waiting for.
With Lover Boy back at the forefront of my mind, things are starting to take shape. Every night after my son went to bed, I dedicate hours to finding the perfect brands and local flower growers to fill this space with. Designing custom packaging, acquiring furniture from local antique stores to make this store feel part of the Castlemaine community, rather than a blow-in from Melbourne setting up shop. Lover Boy will be a nod to it's Melbourne roots with the comfort and warmth we have found in our new community of Castlemaine. Providing locals and tourists alike with a space that feels homely and welcoming.
A final note of Motherhood and paid work. Although, Lover Boy will take my time away from my family throughout the week, I am now much closer to home, creating a job for myself and hopefully others in the future. I am creating something that fills my cup, and I think that is important for our children to see, especially as mothers.
I look forward welcoming you into this space, I hope it feels homely and there is something inside that makes your heart sing.
All the Love.
