Our story — Meet Suzanna
I spent nearly a decade living between London, Berlin, and New York, working in set design and prop styling. The big cities teach you how to think quickly and make things work in tight spaces, but I always missed the light and air of home. By 2017, I found myself back in Australia, unpacking boxes of ceramics and fabrics collected from flea markets in Berlin and tiny shops in Osaka. That move home got me thinking about the things we surround ourselves with — what makes a space calm, functional, and personal.
Before starting Clara Goods, I was in Brisbane, taking freelance jobs for styling shoots. One job asked me to source tabletop items, and I couldn’t find anything Australian-made that fit — just mass-market stuff. I ended up using some bamboo trays I’d brought back from Tokyo, and the team loved them. A few weeks later, I asked a friend with a wood workshop in Redcliffe if we could make a stackable version with a more Australian feel. It was one of those 'what if' ideas, but it stuck.
By mid-2018, I'd relocated to Daylesford and started sketching out designs between jobs. The first batch of bamboo organisers came from a local supplier in Ballarat and weighed 15kg to ship. I packed orders myself from the kitchen table, worrying about every detail from the finish to whether the wrapping paper would rip in transit. By the end of that year, we'd sold out of the first 100 sets through word of mouth. That’s when I realised this could grow into something more than a side project.
These days, Clara Goods has a small workshop here in Daylesford where we develop new designs. We still keep production as close to home as possible — our wool throw blankets come from a mill in Geelong, and the stoneware dinner sets are fired in Bendigo. It's not fast work, but it’s rewarding knowing every piece has a clear link to its origins.
— Thanks for being here — Suzanna, Suzanna Graczer
Journal
Why We Use Only Aussie Merino Wool
Merino wool is iconic in Australia, but not all wool is created equal. Here’s where ours comes from and why.
I’ve always loved Merino wool, even before moving back to Australia. In Brooklyn winters, I lived in my Merino socks — lightweight, warm, and no itch. When I decided to design our Clara Throws, it was a no-brainer to use Australian Merino. But sourcing it properly was a challenge I didn’t quite expect.
After a bit of travel and a lot of phone calls, I finally found a farm I loved in the Macedon Ranges. It’s run by the D’Arcy family — fourth-generation wool growers with a flock of 2,400 sheep. The D’Arcys are big on ethical animal care and focus on non-mulesed wool, which was one of my non-negotiables.
The wool is processed locally in Geelong, not far from their farm. It's an old mill with a rich history — they used to handle wool for Ansett Airlines back in the day (remember them?). It’s incredible to see the machines still going strong.
Our Merino throws are woven to be oversized (130cm x 200cm) because I wanted something that actually covers you without that awkward tug-of-war over the blanket. And they don’t just live on the couch — they’ve been through camping trips, school sports days, and one memorable breezy wedding rehearsal dinner.
If you’re curious about that slight lanolin scent, yes, it’s from the natural oils in the wool. I could strip it out completely during washing, but I prefer leaving a bit in. It reminds me where this started: on the backs of some very happy Victorian sheep.
How Our Bamboo Organizers Fit My Life
Our Clara Bamboo Organizer Sets solved an issue I didn’t even realize I had: too many small things in too many places.
Before launching Clara Goods, I didn’t realize how much I relied on stuff being neatly corralled. Especially in the kitchen. A few months ago, I found a photo from our Berlin flat circa 2017 — drawers packed with mismatched containers, lids missing. I’d convinced myself it was fine because... city living. But it wasn’t.
I designed the Bamboo Organizers to work where life feels messy. For me, that’s the junk drawer (because every house has one, right?) and the shelves above our desk where keys, receipts, and random nothings tend to congregate. I also keep one in our entryway for sunglasses and letterbox mail.
The bamboo comes from a supplier in northern Queensland who works exclusively with fast-growing crops. It's lightweight but feels solid, and the grain patterns are beautiful. No two sets look quite the same — it’s part of the charm.
Each set comes with three nesting boxes. The smallest one? Perfect for tea bags. The middle size? That’s our go-to for charging cables and USB sticks. And the largest? It spends summer holding fruit and winter catching scarves.
I’m not saying an organizer’s going to change your life. But I am saying I haven’t lost my phone charger since putting one of these in the kitchen. So there’s that.
Behind the Scenes: Clara Granite Dinner Set
Our stoneware dinner sets aren’t churned out in a factory. Here’s what went into developing every gradient and curve.
Granite Stoneware was one of those accidental ideas. I was at a market in Kyoto when I saw local potters experimenting with speckled glazes. It reminded me of light bouncing off the rocks at Wilsons Prom. A year later, I had clay under my nails trying to get it right.
The dinner sets are made in a small family-run studio near Bendigo. They’ve been throwing pots for three decades, though they joked that I was their trickiest client. Getting that granite-effect pattern required 12 glaze tests and three kiln recalibrations, thanks to my perfectionism.
Each set takes about two weeks to complete: thrown, trimmed, dried, bisque-fired, glazed, then final-fired. The plates are 26cm wide — not dainty because Australian meals aren’t dainty. The bowls are designed with the perfect depth for laksa, which I tested far too many times in the name of ‘research.’
I get asked how to care for them often. Short answer: you don’t need to baby them. They’re microwave- and dishwasher-safe. Long answer: don’t bang them against granite benchtops (I learned this the hard way during Christmas cleanup).
Stoneware is meant to be lived with, not stuck in glass cabinets. I keep a ‘seconds’ plate from our earliest batch that chipped during glazing. It’s my favourite dish for toast and Vegemite. Imperfections have their place, too.
The Candle Scent Inspired by Daylesford
Our cedarwood candle scent came from walks around Wombat Hill. Local elements became the foundation of this blend.
When I moved back to Daylesford, one of my small joys was rediscovering Wombat Hill on morning walks. It’s a strange mix of towering exotic trees and the scent of eucalyptus if you catch the right breeze. I wanted to bottle that feeling.
The scented candle project was tougher than I imagined. After weeks of trying to mix my own oils, I waved a white flag and called in a local perfumer based in Melbourne. Together, we tried 19 scent variations before landing on this one: cedarwood, orange blossom, and just a whisper of tea tree.
The wax is plant-based and sourced from a supplier in Ballarat. I didn’t want anything too smoky when it burns, and this mix stays clean and subtle. Each set includes three candles, hand-poured into matte ceramic jars designed to be reused (mine currently holds a hybrid tea rose cutting).
I like lighting one in the late afternoon when the house starts to cool down. Something about the cedarwood just makes everything feel grounded, even when life’s chaotic. It’s not just a scent — it’s a little anchor.
You know that moment when the sun dips low and the gum trees seem to turn golden? That’s the vibe we’ve tried to capture in these candles. Wombat Hill, in a jar.
Winter Things I Do Without Planning
Winter crept up fast this year. Here are the small comforts I gravitate toward when it just gets too cold.
Every year, without fail, winter surprises me. Daylesford mornings drop below freezing, and our house feels impossibly drafty. Some things, though, I’ve got sorted. The Clara Merino Throw has been living on my lap almost daily. It’s become my winter-season uniform.
Breakfast goes hot and porridge-y for months. I like my oats thick and add golden syrup — no fancy chia seeds here. I love eating it by the window, where our neighbour’s wattle tree practically glows through the mist.
Candles burn earlier in winter. I’ve been lighting the cedarwood one from our own set at about 4 p.m. these days. It’s nice company when writing emails feels grim.
The dogs love winter here, too. I spend more time outside in mornings than I used to; there’s something grounding about watching frost steam off the grass while they chase each other like they’re puppies again.
The trickiest part of winter? Dishes. I’ll admit I’ve avoided washing up after dinner a couple of times this month because our tap water is glacial no matter how long the heater’s been on. But that’s another story.
Organizing the Studio Ruined Me (a Little)
I finally tackled the studio’s chaos last month. My decision to micro-label jars is now my personality.
I spent a full weekend ‘tidying’ the Clara studio and emerged slightly different. It started innocently enough: just clearing out the corner where extra stock lives. But then, I discovered the label maker.
Every jar, box, and tray now has its own little tag. Glaze swatches? Labelled. Spare wax wicks? Labelled. I’ve gone so far as to label a drawer ‘labels.’ Maybe I need help, but right now, I’m thrilled with myself.
The bamboo organizers were a godsend during the cleanup. I used four sets for sorting tools, samples, and small hardware like ceramic brushes and sandpaper. Amazing how quickly things devolve without a system.
The space feels better now. It’s easier to find everything, and there’s actually room to experiment again. I’ve already started prepping some small-batch giftware for summer markets.
Funny thing is, I still can’t bring myself to tackle the desk drawers at home. Progress, not perfection, right? (But don’t tell Future Me I said that.)
My Favourite Summer Table Styling
I love a summer lunch spread outside. Here’s how I keep it simple but not boring with what we already have.
Summer tables are probably my favourite. Growing up in Brisbane, we never had a ‘formal’ lunch; it was always more of a backyard vibe, paper napkins flying away on the breeze. I’ve been trying to marry that nostalgia with something a bit more grown-up.
I usually start with the Clara Granite Dinner Set. I like the imperfect speckles against a bright tablecloth (ours is yellow, from a linen maker in Castlemaine). Plates are big enough for family-style serving, so you don’t need extra platters stealing table space.
Add in simple flowers — usually something straight from the garden. I’m not a florist, so this month it’s been daisies in vintage jam jars. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere with flowering gumtrees, snip a couple of those — they’re stunning.
Keep glassware mixed. Mine’s an assortment of op-shop finds because, honestly, perfection’s boring. It’s just about creating something interesting to look at (and very forgiving if the kids don’t understand stemware).
One rule though: never fold napkins. Just toss them on the table in a tidy-enough pile. It feels less like a magazine spread and more like actual humans live here, which is the whole point.
Autumn Stock Delays and Realities
Our usual smooth shipping hit a snag this season. Here’s how it’s impacted production and what we’re working on.
Autumn’s been a bit of a slog for Clara Goods. Shipping delays hit this season hard, and a lot of it’s outside our control. Cedarwood oil for the candles was held up by two weeks because of port issues in Melbourne. Not ideal.
On top of that, the Macedon farm where we source wool for the throws had a tricky lambing season, which means some of our quantities are smaller than usual. The sheep are healthy, though — I checked in with the D’Arcys last week, and they sound relieved it wasn’t worse.
Production setbacks aren’t new, but they always remind me how connected we are to so many small systems. It only takes one domino to wobble before the whole line slows down.
The silver lining, if I can call it that, is how much we’ve learned about resilience over the years. Everyone who touches Clara — from our suppliers to our kiln operators in Bendigo — takes the hiccups seriously. The shared patience feels rare in a world where everything’s supposed to be instant.
For now, we roll with it. The delayed stock’s due later this month, and I’m trying not to stress. Autumn in Daylesford has its own timeline, and clearly, so do we.
Customer reviews
Emma T. — Fitzroy, VIC — 2024-03-15 — 5/5
Perfect organizer set
I ordered the Clara Bamboo Organizer Set and it arrived within 3 days. It’s well-made and fits perfectly in my kitchen drawers.
Liam M. — Bondi, NSW — 2024-05-22 — 5/5
Warm and soft
The Aussie Merino Wool Throw Blanket is so cosy. It’s lightweight but gives great warmth. Delivery was on time too.
Sophie L. — Paddington, QLD — 2024-07-03 — 4/5
Dinner set worth the splurge
I bought the Granite Stoneware Dinner Set and absolutely love the look. One plate had a small nick on delivery, but customer service replaced it quickly.
James B. — Newtown, NSW — 2025-01-12 — 5/5
Lovely scent
Got the Cedar Wood Scented Candle Set as a gift for my partner. The scents are subtle but lasting, and the packaging was neat and protective.
Amelia K. — South Melbourne, VIC — 2024-08-26 — 4/5
Soft cushion covers
The Eucalyptus Leaf Cushion Covers look beautiful on my couch. Fabric is nice, though I wish they came in a larger size option.
Oliver S. — Norwood, SA — 2024-11-09 — 5/5
Exceeded expectations
I ordered the Granite Stoneware Dinner Set for a family dinner. Everything arrived intact, and the weight and finish are excellent.
Chloe D. — Fremantle, WA — 2025-02-28 — 5/5
Quick delivery
Bought the Cedar Wood Candle Set and it arrived faster than expected. Burns clean and makes my living room smell amazing.
Tom R. — Hobart, TAS — 2024-06-17 — 4/5
Organizers very practical
The Clara Bamboo Organizer Set is simple but effective. Would order again for other rooms in the house.