Our story — Meet Harjot
I spent nearly 20 years working as a plumber in northern NSW, fixing leaky taps, unblocking drains, and crawling under houses in all kinds of weather. It was good, honest work, but after a while, I felt like I wanted to build something more lasting, something I could call my own. Around 2016, I started fiddling with designs for small homewares in my free time, using leftover bits of material from job sites. It started as a hobby more than anything, but it got me thinking about how much I enjoyed creating something from scratch.
Back then, I'd often be driving past local markets in places like Mullumbimby or Byron Bay, seeing the kinds of home goods people were selling. I noticed there was a lot out there that looked good but didn’t last. A few times, I’d even buy something, only to have it fall apart after a few weeks. I thought, 'I could make something better.' That idea stuck with me, and I started sourcing simple, durable materials to experiment with at home. I remember one weekend in early 2017, picking up 20 kilos of bamboo fabric from a mill down near Lismore to test for a project.
By mid-2017, I decided to take the leap. I quit plumbing and set up a small workshop in the Barossa, where my parents had moved years earlier to run a vineyard. That’s where Sparkle Goods really started. The first product I made was a scented candle — I poured the first dozen by hand in my kitchen and trialed them at a local craft fair in Nuriootpa. They sold out on the first day, which was a big 'aha moment' for me. From there, I gradually added more products, always keeping things simple and practical, like a tradie would.
These days, Sparkle Goods is growing, but it’s still me tinkering away in the workshop most days, alongside a small team. We source as much as we can locally — the soy wax for the candles comes from a supplier in Adelaide, and we’ve got a setup now where we can make 500 candles a month. It’s hard work, but it’s satisfying to know that what we’re making is built to last.
— Keep things simple and solid — Harjot, Harjot Singh Rai
Journal
How We Source Fragrances for Our Candles
The Radiance Candle scent journey started with a road trip through South Australia's flower farms and nearby suppliers.
I’ll admit, I didn’t know the first thing about candles when we started this. But I know what smells good and what doesn’t. For our Radiance Scented Candle, I wanted to keep things local, so I started with South Australia’s flower farms. The Barossa is close to home, but I also drove out to Nuriootpa and Willunga to visit small suppliers. One lavender farm had been around for 40 years, run by the same family. They spent half an hour explaining how different growing conditions — droughts, frosts, the lot — can change the scent of the oils they produce.
What caught me out was how many choices there were. Even within a single ingredient. Lavender, for example, has varieties like Grosso and Angustifolia, each with its own distinct scent. I ended up going with a blend of the two. Plus, there’s lemon myrtle from a grower outside Gumeracha and a hint of white cedarwood for balance. Once we had those three oils sourced, the next step was testing blends. This involved a lot of wrist-sniffing and more than a few headaches from overdoing it.
I’ve got a mate who’s a builder, and he loves to remind me how 'soft' this work sounds compared to laying bricks. But I don’t think he appreciates how exact this kind of sourcing needs to be. If the lemon myrtle is too citrusy, or the cedarwood is overpowering, the whole thing feels off. It's like fitting timber joints; even a millimetre out can mess up a frame. Only here, it’s your nose instead of a tape measure.
Once we nailed the formula, the oils go into production here in SA. We use a natural soy wax blend, which holds scent better, and each candle is poured in small batches. This isn’t some mass production line — it’s just a small team of us with a lot of patience (and a bit of swearing, when things go wrong). If you’ve ever poured wax, you know how temperamental it can be. Too hot, and you’ll ruin the scent. Too cold, and it won’t set properly.
The first run of candles sold out at the local market in under two weeks. I’m still tweaking the process and trying new blends when I have time. But for now, it’s good to know the Radiance Candle has a little bit of Barossa and the surrounding regions in every burn.
Five Ways to Style Velvet Cushion Covers
Luxe Velvet Cushion Covers are versatile, but here are five ways I’ve seen them work in real Australian homes.
I get a lot of questions about how to use our Luxe Velvet Cushion Covers around the house. It’s funny because when we made them, it was just about creating something soft and durable enough to survive kids and pets. But people seem to use them all sorts of ways. So here are five I’ve seen recently that actually work.
1. Layered on a big couch: One customer in Adelaide paired the emerald green cover with a light grey sofa, mixing it with soft linen cushions in cream and brown. The velvet adds texture without being over the top. 2. On a bed: Another favourite is a set of three in a row on top of crisp white linen. Someone in Noosa sent me a photo of this with their rustic timber bed frame, and it looked spot-on.
3. Window seats: This wasn’t on my radar when we designed them. A couple in Gawler used four of them to soften an old window seat. It’s practical too — the cushions are machine washable. 4. Statement chair: I saw someone use a navy Luxe Cushion in their reading nook. The chair was this vintage leather armchair, and the velvet worked as a softer counterpoint.
5. Outdoor spaces (under cover): I wouldn’t leave them in the rain, but they can handle covered patios or verandahs in mild weather. A lady in Port Lincoln set up a whole corner of her outdoor space with our cushions and a chunky knit throw. Looked like something out of a design mag.
In the end, they’re just cushions. They’re not going to change your life. But they do make things a bit more comfortable and a bit more personal, which I reckon is enough.
Why We Hand-String Every Pendant Necklace
Every Glittering Star Pendant Necklace is strung by hand at our workshop — here's why we do it this way.
When we first started making necklaces, I tried outsourcing the stringing. To be honest, I didn’t have the skills for it, and I wasn’t keen on learning. But after a few rounds of samples came back wrong — uneven spacing, clasps that didn’t align — I realised the only way to control the quality was to do it ourselves. So now, every Glittering Star Pendant Necklace is hand-strung in-house.
It’s not glamorous work. It’s fiddly, and there’s no shortcut to getting it right. We use a specific nylon-coated stainless steel cable because it’s durable but flexible. Each strand is measured to 45cm, which gives the pendant a nice drop while still sitting comfortably on most necklines. After threading the beads, we double-check the balance before adding the clasp. If it’s even half a millimetre off, you’ll notice when it’s worn.
The pendants themselves are cast from a mix of brass and zinc, then hand-polished and plated. It’s a bit like woodworking in that every piece has its own quirks. Sometimes, the surface doesn’t take the plating evenly, so we have to redo it. My old boss in carpentry used to say, 'Measure twice, cut once.' Here, it’s more like, 'Polish three times, inspect again.'
One of the reasons we’ve stuck with hand-stringing is that it lets us make small adjustments. If someone orders a necklace and requests a specific length — say, 50cm instead of 45cm — we can accommodate that without much trouble. It’s not something you can do with pre-made stock.
There’s always a temptation to automate, especially when orders stack up. But I spent 20 years in trades and know the difference between something rushed and something made properly. This way isn’t fast, but it gets the job done right, which is what matters.
Autumn Light and Aurora Crystal Earrings
The light in April has this golden quality that makes everything shimmer — especially our Aurora Borealis Crystal Earrings.
April in the Barossa feels different. The mornings start cooler, the vineyards are turning shades of red and orange, and the light in the late afternoon has this warm, almost honeyed glow. It’s the kind of light that makes you stop and pay attention. I’ve been noticing it more when photographing our Aurora Borealis Crystal Earrings.
The crystals are something else this time of year. They catch the lower autumn light differently, breaking it into a spectrum of colours that feels richer than in summer. I’m not a photographer (most product shots I take are just on my phone), but even I can’t mess up a shot when the sun hits those crystals just right. It’s always around 4:30 PM when the effect is strongest.
The crystals come from a small supplier in Sydney who specialises in high-clarity Austrian crystal. Each one is precision-cut — 32 facets per piece — which is why they shimmer the way they do. A jeweller mate once told me, 'Facets are everything,' and looking at these, I get it. The more facets, the more angles light can bounce off.
I’ve had customers tell me they save these earrings for special occasions, but I reckon they work just as well with a plain jumper and jeans. Someone wore them to a winery lunch the other week, and they sent a photo of the earrings catching the light against a backdrop of Shiraz vines. Felt very South Australia.
This time of year doesn’t last long. By May, the colours fade, the light shifts, and everything feels a bit greyer. But for now, there’s this golden hour each day that makes everything — earrings, vineyards, even the kitchen sink — look a little brighter.
Customer reviews
Emily R. — Newtown, NSW — 2024-02-14 — 5/5
Better Than Expected
Ordered the Glittering Star Pendant Necklace for a friend's birthday, and it was even more stunning in person. Shipping was quick too.
Mark T. — Fremantle, WA — 2024-06-23 — 4/5
Lovely Bathrobe
The Bamboo Luxe Bathrobe feels great and fits well. Took a little longer to arrive than expected, but worth it.
Sharon L. — Brunswick, VIC — 2025-01-08 — 5/5
Perfect Candle
The Radiance Scented Candle smells amazing and lasts a long time. Packaged securely and arrived in great condition.
Liam G. — Adelaide CBD, SA — 2024-12-20 — 5/5
Stylish Cushion Cover
Bought the Luxe Velvet Cushion Cover for our living room. It’s soft and looks fantastic. Delivery was smooth.
Natalie P. — Bondi, NSW — 2024-08-04 — 4/5
Elegant Earrings
The Aurora Borealis Crystal Earrings are gorgeous. The clasp feels a bit delicate, but no issues so far.
James W. — Darwin, NT — 2025-03-30 — 5/5
Great Gift Idea
Purchased the Glittering Star Pendant Necklace as a gift. It came in beautiful packaging and arrived faster than I expected.
Claire B. — Paddington, QLD — 2024-09-15 — 5/5
Love This Bathrobe
The Bamboo Luxe Bathrobe is so comfortable and lightweight. Perfect for Queensland weather.
Sophie H. — Hobart, TAS — 2025-05-05 — 4/5
Beautiful Necklace
The Glittering Star Pendant Necklace is lovely. Shipping to TAS took a bit longer than expected, but overall happy.
Returns
We accept returns within 30 days of receipt, as long as the item is unused, in its original packaging, and accompanied by proof of purchase. Refunds will be processed back to the original payment method.
Certain items are excluded from returns, including sale items, gift cards, and products that show signs of use. Postage for returns is the responsibility of the customer unless the item is deemed faulty.
Our return policy complies with Australian Consumer Law. If your product arrives damaged or is defective, contact us within 7 days for a replacement or refund, and we’ll cover return shipping.